I don't want to say much on this subject, especially since this has been a very busy time of the year for me. But Christmas and Easter are the two times of the year when I see so many Christians rolling over and playing dead. Let's consider some things that are not true of every Christian, but if present, are the reason that Christians need to be activists for Christ all year.
1. Have you ever noticed that sermons around Christmas time get so focused on the Christmas story that pastors forget to address the needs of the people listening to those stories. Honestly, the Christmas stories are the same every year. As a preacher, I feel that the pastor should always be concerned for his flock and never lose sight of that, even in the Christmas holiday. This is a time of celebration, true, but make sure you do not get so wrapped up in your personal celebration of Christ's birth that you lose the body of the church. This is also a time of great stress, depression, and hurt for many people who will sit in that pew on Sunday morning. Granted, there might only be one pastor who reads this, but sometimes I speak my mind just so I can remind myself of what I should be doing when I stand behind a pulpit.
2. It's ok to say "Merry Christmas." I have not yet met a person who got so offended that I said Merry Christmas to them that they lost their cool. True, I've had a few people inform me that they do not celebrate Christmas, but I simply reply to that by asking them politely if they do observe a holiday, then wish them well on that holiday. Does this seem like a compromise, perhaps. However, I look at it this way. I cannot choose for anyone to believe as I do, and I know they will not care a wit about what I believe unless I first show them that I am respectful and courteous about what they believe. It is not a sure fire win, but I have made more openings to share the gospel with this method than with any other method that I have ever tried. Remember, your beliefs are yours and nobody should be allowed to tell you not to believe them.
3. My final point for our activism this Christmas season is this: do not forget that the world is falling apart. Just because it's a season of celebration does not meant that we should ignore our responsibility to the world around us. It also means that this should not be the only time that we think of our fellow man either. Instead, we should continue to be involved in speaking out against social wrongs, support humanitarian causes, and even keep watch on our government to be aware of the moral direction of our nation. If you find yourself being more charitable during the holiday season, then you should try to find a means to keep that charity alive when Christmas has passed.
These are not the necessities of Christian life, and you all have the freedom to celebrate Christmas as you so desire. I hope, though, that I have encouraged some of you to put the Christ into Christmas by being a shining ambassador of our Lord. When life has passed us by, I hope that we will have done something to understand and communicate the truth of what Christ's birthday really means.
Blessings and Merry Christmas,
Ryan