The Trouble with Keeping Christ in Christmas

I cringe a little every year when the old "Keep Christ in Christmas" signs and stickers come out of hiding.  It's not that I believe in excluding the Christ child from the celebration of his birth.  On the contrary, I believe He should have more prominence in our festivities, and on that point I agree with the "Keep Christ in Christmas" signs.

Additionally, in an age when "Happy Holidays" replaces "Merry Christmas," and communities dispute permissible content of "holiday displays," the "Keep Christ in Christmas" campaign has a clear, indispensable purpose.  We must not allow the birth of the Saviour to be buried under political correctness.  Nor must we allow materialistic greed to devour the wonder of God's infinitely generous gift to humankind.  Keeping focussed on Christ is a challenge in our frantic age, particularly in the frenzied month of December.  The slogan is a reminder, albeit a somewhat worn out reminder, to hold fast to Christ rather than be swept away in the festivities, to remember the Lord as we strain our brains to make sure we haven't forgotten gifts for any of our family or friends.  In this busy time between Thanksgiving and the new year, we do have great need to "keep Christ."

My disagreement with the slogan boils down the to matter of the rest of the year.  Keeping Christ in Christmas is all well and good, but what about the other 364 days?  Are we keeping Christ in January 22, May 3, August 17, November 30?  "Keep Christ in Christmas" seems a tad cliche, like we're merely paying our annual dues before going back to whatever we were doing before Santa showed up.  I may be asking a lot of myself and others, but honestly, we need to keep Christ daily, not just on Christmas.

Again, I firmly believe we should remember the birth of the Saviour.  We should keep our hearts fixed on the miracle, purpose, and grace of God assuming the form of a helpless human baby, living among us and ultimately dying to live again for our salvation.  We should rejoice deeply in Christ on Christmas.  But it shouldn't stop there.  Jesus Christ is not the wrapping paper, pretty to look at but quickly tossed aside; He is the cherished gift, the long-desired teddy bear that fits snugly in a child's arms from the first moment till forever.

It is easy, natural and good to remind ourselves and others to remember Christ at Christmastime.  The greater challenge - yes, it is a challenge - is to keep Christ throughout the rest of the year.  In truth, we need to realize that it is not we who keep Him, but He who keeps us.  When we truly realize that, "keeping" the Christ who keeps us will be our joy and strength, and we will need no reminder to "keep Christ" in Christmas or any other day.