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Santa doesn't come to the poor. Jesus did. Will we?
Santa doesn't come to the poor! For every child who is thrilled with a new bicycle or pair of roller skates, there is a child who feels neglected, unloved and inferior because his or her parents can't afford to buy presents. For all parents who overspend to give their children a "good" Christmas, there are parents who go into serious debts in response to cultural pressure to buy gifts. As one writer has so plainly put it, "No, Virginia, Santa doesn't come to the ghetto."
Jesus did! "You know how gracious the Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was rich, he became poor for your sake." (II Corinthians 8:9) When we consider that the Santa Claus tradition is observed in conjunction with the birthday of Jesus Christ, who came to "bring good news to the poor" and who warned the non-poor of the dangers of materialism, the irony in our Christmas celebrations becomes truly overwhelming.
Will we? As Paul continued in his letter to the Corinthians, "I do not mean to be easy upon others and hard on you, but to equalize the burden, and in the present situation to have your plenty make up for what they need, so that some day their plenty may make up for what you need, so things may be made equal...." There are ways to celebrate the birth of Jesus that honor him and the work he came to do.
- Christmas Commitments, not Christmas Baskets: This Christmas, consider offering 25% of the time, energy and money you spent last Christmas as a "birthday gift" commitment to work year-round with those to whom Jesus brought "good news."
- Inclusive, not Exclusive Celebrations: When you gather your circle of family and friends at Christmas, include some from outside that circle. Their presence will remind you of the purpose of this celebration.
- Honesty and Sensitivity: Help your children understand the real purpose of Christmas and how it is undermined by our popular culture.
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Page updated 21 Dec. 2015
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