I found the following quote here, it’s typical of the late Dr. Peale.

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
~Norman Vincent Peale

Perhaps that’s what happened for Dr. Peale at Christmas time, but it’s sure not true of everyone else.  In fact it’s not true at all. However the sentiments expressed above are the perfect example of the kind of romanticized nonsense that has surrounded Christmas.  Everyone talks about “the Christmas Spirit” as if it’s something real, when it obviously is not.

Like everything else, Christmas is what you make of it, and for years our culture made it a time to be nice, give gifts, and express all sorts of noble sentiments you knew you’d be ignoring the other eleven months of the year!

Now to tell you the truth, I really don’t care if people in general think this way or not.  It’s not exactly a bad thing to be nice, gather together as a family, give to the poor, etc.  That’s all good.

But what I am concerned about is when I hear Christians express this kind of nonsense! Then it becomes dangerous, because when we talk like this, we are separating Christ from Christmas.

And without Christ Christmas is a big fat ZERO!

Joy was expressed on that first Christmas because Christ the Savior was born! Nobody thought about getting together with their family and overeating!  Not one of the citizens of Bethlehem had maxed out their credit cards in preparation for that day. The original Christmas was a huge surprise, and was about one thing and one thing only – the Son of God and Savior of the world had arrived!

And that’s all folks!

So have a blast this Christmas season.  Enjoy whatever traditions you or your family has.  Be merry and happy and enjoy the love!  Just do me one favor if you would please -

DON’T SEPARATE CHRISTMAS FROM CHRIST!

Put him in the center of your heart and mind, and let him use you this Christmas season to touch a change a a few lives. Now that would be real cause for joy!