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6 Ways To Keep Christ In Christmas

6 Ways To Keep Christ In Christmas

Last updated on: November 11, 2022 at 2:02 pm by Jack Wellman

6 Ways To Keep Christ In Christmas 2022-11-11T14:02:03-06:00 Jack Wellman

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Here are six ways that you can keep Christ in Christmas.

Keep it Biblical

What I mean by keeping it biblical in trying to keep Christ in Christmas is to read the story of the nativity but go back even before Jesus was born, before Mary conceived, and even before the New Testament was written. Read the many prophecies of Jesus (Isaiah 7, 53; Micah, Psalm 22, 23) found in the Old Testament. Then turn to the New Testament and read about the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56 and then Luke 2:1-20). To further embellish the Christmas readings, you could have Christian Christmas songs in the back ground, hopefully instrumental.

Focus of Why

The fact that Jesus came is important, but understanding the exact reason that Jesus came is crucial. Paul writes about the reason that Jesus came at “the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal 4:4-5). At one time we “were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world” (Gal 4:3) so the “why” of Jesus’ coming was to make our adoption possible (Eph 1) and finally able to be called the sons and daughters of God (Gal 4:6).

Watch a Biblical Movie About the Christmas Story

There are some very good Christian movies about the birth of Jesus Christ. Some are very biblically accurate. Many Christmas movies can also bring more meaning to Christmas by focusing on the reason we celebrate Christmas, particularly those that bring the focus to Jesus Christ. The Hallmark Channel is a rich source for Christian Christmas movies that the whole family can watch, from the young child to the grandparents, but most of these don’t focus on the biblical reason that Jesus came to be born as a babe. I have so many Christmas movies that I love that it’s hard to recommend only one or two but I loved The Nativity Story. This movie is a favorite for many Christians and if you’ve seen it, you know why.

Give God a Gift

You surely know about the three gifts the kings or wise men (magi) brought so why not bring your own gift to Christ as Lord and King? That can be a gift one of your time working or serving in a food and clothing give away for the poor or buying gifts for a family in the church or in your neighborhood that doesn’t have enough to buy their children Christmas gifts. Maybe your children can create their own Christmas cards and they can be hand delivered to the local nursing home residents or those in the VA. Maybe you can be so bold as to sing them Christmas carols or even in a children’s hospital if there’s one nearby.

Listen to the Christmas Songs

I think what make the Christmas season so special is the Christmas songs about Christ. I don’t mean the many secular Christmas songs but specific ones about the arrival and birth of Christ Who came to save us from our sins and the wrath of God. Songs like “What Child is This,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and “Joy to the World.” These songs point to the Person of Christ and bring out the “Christ” in Christmas. There is a lot of good and bad theology in Christmas songs but there are enough that you can find a Christmas song that fits nicely with the biblical accounts of Jesus coming to earth as Immanuel. Perhaps the most inspiring of all is Handel’s Messiah where the phrase “Hallelujah” is part of the wonderful praise of our Mighty God Who sent His only Son to die for those who were separated from God by their sins (Isaiah 59:2).

Explain the Christmas Decorations

If you want to make all of the Christmas decorations make sense to your family, perhaps you can explain the origins or meanings of the many Christmas symbols like the star on top of the Christmas tree, the Christmas wreath, the candy canes, the angels, and many of the other Christmas ornaments and decorations that are included in the Christmas decorations. Your family may know what they are but maybe they don’t know the reason that certain ornaments and decorations are used. Tell your family about the symbolism or meaning of them to enrich the Christmas experience.

Conclusion

The very word “Christmas” means a “Christ Mass” or Christ service, dedicated to the Author of Life and giver of eternal life, Jesus Christ. We need to keep the “Christ” in Christmas or you’ll end up with a pagan holiday of buying and receiving presents and that will be the focus and not Christ. If Christmas is only about what you get, then we don’t fully understand what Christmas is all about and that is Jesus coming to die for us so that we might have eternal life (John 3:16).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.

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