The power that Christmas holds over people is becoming increasingly evident. Christmas truly is a religion in and of itself. The emotional attachment that people feel about it is profound. When one raises questions about this the reaction from the adherents of this religion is also very emotional.

I have never been one to crusade against Christians taking part in this cultural tradition. I have always recommended that we make the most of every opportunity to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  But, I have recommended that followers of Jesus recognize Christmas for what it is and not be seduced into the religion of Christmas, trusting the Lord for us to somehow be in the world but not of the world.

The religion of Christmas has various factions who zealously battle one another for their view of their religion. But they don't realize that they are still adherents of the same religion! You have those who promote Santa Claus and/or those who promote materialistic consumerism/corporate marketing and/or those who promote "community" and the "human spirit" and altruism and giving and service and/or the religious icon and relic and mystical aspects of the religion. Even those who promote non-sectarian, multi-cultural holidays or celebration of winter are all still part of this religion of Christmas, because this religion predates Christianity anyway!

This is a religion that is effective in uniting Roman Catholics with Mormons and Freemasons, with corporate-climbing fortune seekers, with drunken hedonists with Unitarian-Universalists and Presbyterians and Methodists and Yule Log Celts and Wiccans and Seeker-Friendly Mega-Churches and agnostic do-gooders, etc. etc. The religion of Christmas is also promoted by those who see it as a front in the culture wars. Both the polarized culture wars within American society and the broader, far more deadly, global culture wars. The battles of this world system are not our battles, brothers and sisters.

Lord Jesus, help us to be YOUR ambassadors in the midst of this corrupt world system. Help us to preach the real Gospel in the midst of all of these counterfeits.