No, I'm not trying to sell Christmas cards.  I'm trying to sell an idea about Christmas cards.  Here's a little poem that concisely expresses that idea.  It's followed by a more thorough explanation.

We celebrate it once a year with cards that herald yuletide cheer
We brightly decorate the tree and light it up for all to see
Our greeting, “Happy Holidays” conceals the purpose and decays
The meaning of this Holy Day.  Are we ashamed to simply say
We’re celebrating Jesus’ birth, and recognize throughout the Earth
The Son of God was born that day to show us all a better way
Messiah, Savior, King of Kings, the name of JESUS really brings
It’s sacred meaning here to stay.  Remember JESUS, Christmas Day

The poem above was written on November 11, 2002 after we had been down to the city in major department stores looking for “Christian” Christmas cards.  We were unable to find a Christmas card with the name “Jesus” on it.  Or even a Christmas card with the name “Christ” on it.  There were plenty of Christmas cards!  Snowmen, Santa Clauses, Christmas trees, wrapped gifts, bells, candles, winter scenes with sleighs, snowflakes, and children playing with toys.  Even wise men on camels were to be found in the “religious” section.  And “Madonna and Child” were antiseptically and impeccably displayed without the names of Jesus and Mary.

I believe there are two reasons why “Christian” Christmas cards are not in abundance.  The first reason is that to the world, the Word of God is foolishness.  And since Christmas is popular among the populace, merchants know that they can make a quick buck by selling Christmas merchandise.  To them, inventing stories and using non-Christian themes for Christmas is more logical than to relate to or even mention the true meaning of Christmas.  As a result, there is a magical Santa, pulled around the world by reindeer, led by a freak reindeer with a glowing nose.  That’s not foolishness to them, but the real purpose of Jesus Christ is.

The second reason that “Christian” Christmas cards are not in abundance is this:
We Christians are too afraid that we might “offend” someone if we appear too “religious” or if we ever mention Jesus’ name outside of church walls.  We don’t want to make a fuss, or require a card that reflects the true meaning of Christmas.  So we tolerate, and even encourage the desecration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by accepting the idolatry that has replaced Jesus the Christ in Christmas.  Not only in Christmas, but in our everyday lives.  If we care to preserve a real Christmas, we must be mindful of why there was the original Christmas.

Here, in a nutshell, is the reason there was a “Christmas:”

Mankind, originally created to have fellowship with God, has a sin-prone nature.  God cannot fellowship with sin.  He has pronounced a death sentence to sin.  Those who sin have earned the wages of sin, which is death (not only the physical death, but eternal torment in the Lake of Fire).  God is a righteous God and will punish every sin.  God is also a loving God and wants to have fellowship with His creation, mankind.  In order to have this fellowship, He took upon Himself the body of a man (the Lord Jesus Christ) and lived a perfect life.  Then willingly accepted upon Himself the punishment reserved for sin.  His sacrifice, the death of His body, was given to satisfy the death judgement we have earned, and is  given to “all who believe in Jesus and confess Him before others.”  In taking upon Himself this Death Sentence (our sins), Jesus gave His own perfection to those who believe in Him.  His perfection is not given to non-believers, who will experience not only the death of their physical bodies, but the eternal torment in the Lake of Fire. Believers gain perfection in God’s eyes because of Jesus’ sacrifice for them.  Believers will still experience the death of their physical bodies, but will not see the second death ...  the Lake of Fire.  So, to fulfill the prophecies of ancient scriptures, and to do the will of God the Father, Jesus (God the Son) was born into this world to live a perfect life.  That’s why we celebrate Christmas!  Christmas is about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Wishing you a new outlook on Christmas and a new life in Christ, as well as good fortune in finding the right Christmas cards,

Larry Myers  

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