William T. Robinson, Jr.
Christmas is a social and revered holiday for Christians during which we celebrate the birth of Christ. It is a time to thank our most benevolent Creator for his most precious gift bestowed to mankind to offer us forgiveness and a way to eternal salvation. This gift has always been hailed by Christians as the epitome of the love God has for his children despite our often willing inclination to cater to sin. The gift of God’s son, Jesus, as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins was a sign that God’s love, grace and mercy is a given for those who accept him and follow his humanitarian teachings of love, forgiveness and mercy.
This year has been a turbulent and hurtful year for so many people with the pestilent Covid-19 virus, the loss of jobs, and the flagrant display of racial injustice leading to national and global unrest. Hopefully, during the Christmas season, we as Christians and observers will be reminded of the ultimate gift from God of his only begotten son as the sacrifice to save the world from itself. Only then will we as Christians rededicate ourselves to the mandate or precepts God gave us to follow by emulating the practices of his son, Jesus Christ.
The beauty to be found in following Christian principles includes humanity, peace, mercy, forgiveness, and good will toward you fellow brothers and sisters. Ironically, too many of those confessing to be Christians have fallen astray in a lack of acknowledging or practicing the Christian precepts we are taught in our churches and sanctuaraties. In fact, many professing Christians have become willing followers of self serving demagogues who lack most if not all the virtues we are taught to embrace and uphold, not only as Christians but as decent human beings. You can liken the practice to crowds following peddlers selling snake oil.
During the Christmas holidays, Christians specifically should take note and prioritize the true significance of Christmas and be thankful and grateful of being recipients of God’s love—an abiding love that should be practiced and manifested daily. All too often we seem to be ascribing to a Christian word that is habitually uttered but rarely practiced. Our daily actions should reflect the spirit of God in each of us.
Exemplifying the love a parent has for his/her child, you can understand and imagine the love God had for mankind when he gave his only begotten son to the world to be sacrificed for the sins of men—offering them a path to redemption and eternal salvation. It’s all about love and good will toward each other—something we can all do a better job practicing.
Let’s be honest and cognizant that as a nation or world, too many of us are alienating God and willingly pursuing the evils so prevalent in our mundane environments. It is when we put the world before God that we lose our footing in what is of the utmost importance on our spiritual journey. That is why Christmas for Christians should only help to solidify our love for God and our commitment to do his will through following the teaching of his Son. The truth is that regardless of your religion, Christmas is a season of good will, peace and joy that should be shared universally.
Sharing presents, enjoying time with family and friends, listing to Christmas music, adorning your homes and yards with Christmas decorations, helping those less fortunate, and just manifesting sincere good will to others go hand in hand with celebrating Christmas. Even Santa Claus has his place with young children as an ambassador of good will. But make no mistake, the main reason for Christmas for Christians is to praise and celebrate the birth of Christ the Son of God who came to save the world.
Christian values are presumed as spiritual values of love, good will and humanitarian practices universally acknowledged by all major religions. Only you personally know where you honestly stand, good or bad. The year 2020 has shown us that much improvement is needed to keep favor with God
I ask that, as Christians, we use this time to reflect, pray, and rededicate ourselves to be true followers of Christ. Be the best person you can be by manifesting love, empathy, and good will to fellow brothers and sisters on a daily basis. Although you may have faltered and fallen short this year in many of your actions, seek redemption and commit to what you know pleases God. Merry Christmas to all Christians and Happy Holiday Season to others not of the Christian faith.
