'Tis the season

'Tis the season to be jolly -- at least that's what the message we hear everywhere we turn at this time of year is yet, it seems the older I get, the more I notice how much that has changed since I was a kid.

I remember the couple who owned the theater in the little town I was born in always had free shows during the Christmas holiday for us children -- we so looked forward to them -- and not only did it not cost us anything to attend the showings (regular admission was 10 cents) they made sure every child received a bag that had an apple, orange and, something that's nearly impossible to find nowadays, hard candy. Maybe you remember it? The ribbon candy that had the U.S. flag or flowers in the center and, of course, strawberry, cherry and all the fruit flavors? We'd sit and watch the show sucking on that candy and we truly considered that to have been one of the best Christmas presents we could have ever received. Imagine young people thinking that today (slight pause in the narrative while author recovers from rolling on the floor laughing for the last five minutes at the thought). I realize I could have shortened that last statement to: BRB ROLF 5 but WITP?

Yes, there have been many changes since I was young and not just in the way we communicate now with the technology-based language that seems to permeate everything. Attitudes have changed as well. It seems from one end of our country to the other that this time of year, instead of being the season bringing wishes of "peace on earth, goodwill toward man," the "season to be jolly" and a time of celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, it is now the season of waiting in long lines for sales (some start a month before Christmas) just to be one of the first to own whatever everyone has decided is the latest bestest and greatest "whatever it is" and heaven help the sucka that gets in the way. And, as for the celebration of the birth of the Savior, well, the battle lines are drawn.

On one side we have those that insist we say and put on signs and sale bills "Merry Christmas" NEVER "Merry Xmas" because doing so is "taking Christ out of Christmas." Others believe it doesn't matter, that we can do as we please.

The debate reminds me of a song my Dad and I played in the old days (he went home to Jesus in June of 1983) the chorus of which went like this:

"Now the race is on and here comes pride up the backstretch

Heartaches are going to the inside

My tears are holding back, They're trying not to fall

My heart's out of the running

True love's scratched for another's sake

The race is on and it looks like heartaches

And the winner loses all."

I can easily see this being how Jesus feels about our fighting amongst ourselves over such trivial things.

Yes, I said trivial. I don't care how you spell it, or even if you spell it at all, you can no more take Christ out of Christmas or stop people from praying in public (schools or anywhere) than you can stop the sun from shining. Hebrews 5:12-14 tells us: "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" and as long as we spend our energies on such trivial things, we're babies!

With all the suffering, and all the lost dying and going to hell (things we ARE told to be concerned about), the most important thing to us in this season is Xmas or no Xmas? Wake up! JESUS said "the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church!"

Quit wasting time on trivial things and get to work!

Jesus said: "I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

Here's a novel thought: Let's celebrate Christmas by remembering WHY Jesus came -- and be busy doing what he told us to do.

Oh, and Merry ....

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Editor's note: Charlie Newman is pastor of Avoca Christian Church. To contact him, e-mail [email protected], or write in care of The Times at [email protected] or P.O. Box 25, Pea Ridge, AR 72751.