Where's the "Christ" in "Christmas"?

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men  Isaiah 29:3  

I hate, I despise your feasts….
Amos 5: 21a (Both verses from the English Standard Version)

Ever go down the street during this time of the year, and see this phrase, “Keep Christ in Christmas”?  You’ll usually see it on a bumper sticker of a Christian’s car, on a billboard, or on a sign in front of a church (or Knights of Columbus locale).  It’s the call to keep our focus on Christ as we celebrate the Christmas Season.

Sounds all well and good, however where’s the ”Christ” in Christmas?   I mean, is Jesus in the picture?  What do we do when it comes to Christmas?  Well, starting “Black Friday” we go out shopping until we drop.  We put our diets on Christmas vacation as we hit party after party.  We load up on gooey, mind-numbing Holiday specials on TV-especially those “heartwarming” movies and shows…ugh!  To me, it feels like we’re more focused on the “sweet little Jesus boy” than on Jesus the Christ.  We want the safe “babe in a manger” that doesn’t challenge us to higher living. We get off on our Christmas “porn” of sentimentality and “feel good” programs; but never embrace the Divine call for “Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men (and Women)”.

All we do is give lip-service to Jesus and what he called us to do while here on Earth.  We “praise” God  by mouthing sanctified quotes, bur don’t give Him/Her our hearts.  We have all this Christmas shit that makes God want to toss up His/Her Christmas cookies they’re so full of Christ-less crap.  All “Christ” is to us is the first six letters of “Christmas”.  In fact, if Jesus were to walk down a street in the West and see what we’re doing, he’d preach against it in a heartbeat.

Let’s put Christ back into Christmas by doing what Jesus did by ministering to those in need; for those for whom Christmas is not a merry time.  How about speaking truth to the powers that exploit the season for their own greed?  How about becoming agents of healing and deliverance in the lives of those around us?  Let’s screw celebrating “sanctified” consumerism and self-righteousness the last six weeks of the year.  Let’s instead celebrate Divine living every day of our lives; living in such a way it can make a true impact in our world

So please tell me: where’s the “Christ” in Christmas?

Peace.