Faith Matters: Acts of love, not outrage, is how you keep ‘Christ in Christmas’

When the church loses its passion to demonstrate love to the world, it resorts in holding demonstrations against it” - Don Sturiano

After leaving a wonderful church service during the Christmas season, I saw a man holding a Bible and an anti-Santa-Claus sign standing on a corner downtown. I decided to pull over to ask him how much fruit has come from his efforts and how many people he has won to the Lord. He refused to answer my questions, but rather started to respond with what was clearly going to be “a rant of religious rhetoric.” So, I politely ended the conversation, told him that Jesus loves him and left to have lunch.

One year, I observed numerous “Christians” on social media communicating their outrage due to a coffee chain’s red coffee cups that no longer had snowflakes and snowmen on them. When did the message of Jesus Christ change from a Gospel of love and power to a gospel of outrage? And then we wonder why the world mocks the church. However, there are times we must take a public stand against that which offends God, coffee cups, is just not one of them.

I am delighted to be able to boast in the Lord that in my 35+ years of being a Christian, both through preaching and one on one evangelism, I estimate the Lord has used me to bring thousands to Christ.

My precious brothers and sisters in the faith, I do not believe we are a witness for Christ nor able to win souls by telling people what’s wrong with their Christmas. But rather by demonstrating what is right with ours. This is wrought through acts of love, acts of wisdom and acts of power, all done for the sake of Jesus Christ, His Glorious Kingdom and the lost and hurting souls who need The Savior.

Let’s keep the Christ in Christmas by allowing the world to hear the sound of heaven flowing through us, not the clanging gongs and clashing symbols of a religious spirit. That spirit that causes us to think we are serving God by correcting the cashier for saying “Happy Holidays,” who most likely is required to say that from their employer. Let‘s instead keep the Christ in Christmas by allowing the world to see us as a light that shines through the good we do, rather than a light that blinds through fault finding.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

With that being said, I feel compelled to campaign against those who are campaigning against Christmas – specifically some of my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who may not know the true meaning behind some of the concepts they believe take the Christ out of Christmas. My purpose is threefold: to educate, to perpetuate our witness, and to motivate us to demonstrate Jesus Christ.

So, I thought I would focus on everyone’s favorite; Merry Xmas!

Xmas is a common abbreviation of the word Christmas. The “mas” portion is from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass, while the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek alphabet; Χριστός which translates into English as “Christ.” There is a common misconception that the word Xmas stems from a secular attempt to remove the sacred from Christmas by taking out Christ; this is simply not true. The use of Xmas dates back to the 16th century.

So where is the witness in only saying, Merry Christmas, then treating a waitress, cashier with rudeness? Acting like Jesus, is the most excellent way to keep the Christ in Christmas? Here are a few ways you can do that, noting these principles are found in scripture:

• Buy an enemy a nice gift this year.
• Bless someone who may not be able to bless you back.
• Reconcile with family members and estranged friends, remembering reconciliation is more important than being right.
• Keep your witness when shopping.
• Invite someone to Christmas dinner who may be alone.
• Share your faith; invite the lost to your church to help lead them to The King of Christmas.

As believers we must stand fast that Jesus is the reason for the season, but also become conscious that the Heavenly Father’s reason for the season, is you, all of mankind, and His love for those who have yet to kneel at the manger.

Like many of you, my favorite two holidays are Christmas and Easter. Christmas was the promise, Easter is the promise victoriously made manifest.

We often hear as well as see various printed material during this time of year; “Jesus is the Reason for the Season,” I agree 100%! I would also like to state, that you, “loved one” are The Heavenly Father’s Joyous Reason for the Season!

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

I would like to bring your attention to a portion of this rich verse; “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross”.

Jesus was on a mission and that mission’s goal is you!

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 (NKJV)

Notice the choice of words here; “that” which was lost. First, we must look at who lost it, where it was lost and then what was lost. Adam allowed sin to enter into the Garden. The Garden of Eden was the where; the Garden represented Heaven on Earth.

What was lost was significant; it was a significant and tragic loss to God, to Adam and Eve and to all of mankind.

The first thing that was lost was intimacy, following the fall Adam and Eve no longer had that precious privilege of walking with God in the cool of the day; that perfect, sweet Holy Communion they had was lost.

Secondly, their identity was lost, they no longer knew who they were, that is why the Bible recorded that they were afraid and hid themselves. This was traumatizing for them and deeply heartbreaking for God, who as any father mourns when a child goes astray no longer knowing who they are.

Thirdly, their influence was lost on the earth, they no longer had dominion over the animals and now had to toil the ground. (I want to encourage you to read the first three chapters of Genesis to discover this truth in a deeper way)

As Jesus made His way up the hill of Golgotha, riddled in indescribable pain and agony. There was a source of strength that transcended the physical. It was a power that pulsed throughout His body with every beat of His heart, a heart that was beating for you. It was you, your face and the individual faces of all mankind. His love for you and knowing that which was lost would finally be restored was the joy that was set before Him that caused Him to endure the cross. That is why you are the reason for the season!

Pastor Don Sturiano is the senior leader of Kingdom Life Christian Church which meets at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 3700 26th St. W., Bradenton. Visit kingdomlifechristianchurch.org to learn more.

This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Faith Matters: Acts of love, not outrage, is how you keep ‘Christ in Christmas’."