Putting Christ in Christmas

Putting Christ in Christmas by Iris Carden

Throughout December, there’s often lots of posts on social media about putting Christ back in Christmas.

I would suggest the way to do that would be to follow Jesus’ own instructions, as reported in the Gospels.

• Don’t judge others. If you are concerned about “sin” be concerned about your own, not someone else’s. Reference: Matthew 7:1-5
• Treat others the way you want them to treat you. Reference Matthew 7: 12
• Forgive extravagantly and frequently. (Real forgiveness is difficult, takes time, and can only come from a position of strength. It also doesn’t mean to put yourself in danger) Reference Matthew 18: 21-22.
• Don’t place a high value on money. Reference Matthew 19:23.
• Care for the sick, the hungry, prisoners refugees, vulnerable people, outcasts, as if they are Jesus himself presenting you with the opportunity to care for him. Reference: Matthew 25:31-46.
• People’s basic needs are more important than rules. Mark 2:23-28.
• Love not just your friends, but also your enemies. Luke 6:27-31.
• Love your neighbour, even if your neighbour is someone whose culture or lifestyle is different from yours, or someone you consider a “sinner”, just as Jews of Jesus’ day considered Samaritans different, “sinners”, and someone to avoid associating with. Reference: Luke 10:25-37.
• Beware of hypocrisy. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t want the world to know about. And don’t follow leaders who have to hide their actions. Luke 12: 1-3.

Most of what Jesus taught was similar to the Old Testament prophets – that God wants justice for the oppressed, the weak, the poor, the refugees, the vulnerable, the people who are left out or overlooked, or even actively despised or mistreated in society. This is what Jesus often described as the “Kingdom of Heaven”, not just life after death, but life before death, here and now.

So if you want to put Christ back in Christmas: love others.

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas this year as a Christian or as a non-Christian, or celebrating any of the holy days of other faiths that also happen at this time of year, or are not celebrating anything at all, I wish you all the best.

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