7 More Ways to Decommercialize Christmas

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Do you feel that the true meaning of Christmas has become lost in the wrappings, trappings and political fights? Read on for 7 more ways to put Christ back into Christmas.

1. Memorize the Christmas Story from Luke 2: 1-20 and/or prophecy from Isaiah 9:6.

Meditating upon and memorizing these words will strengthen your resolve to have a meaningful Christmas.

2. Watch Christmas movies and read Christmas books that reinforce the vision you have for the Christmas season.

Talk about the themes and how and why certain characters act as they do. Movies like It’s a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown Christmas, and books like The Legend of the Poinsettia or Christmas in the Big Woods with the Ingalls family might be ones you’d enjoy. What would you add to this list?

3. Learn some of the old Christmas songs and the back story as to why they were written.

Or learn more modern Christmas songs like Mary Did You Know? Listen to Precious Jesus. While not a Christmas song, it definitely uplifts. Filling your mind, mouth and home with such melodies will bring you truth and encouragement. Learning these songs and back stories will let you know again how intimately involved God is with mankind. They will show you how blessed we are to have a Saviour like Jesus. Have any other song suggestions?

4. Make this Christmas about worshipping God.

How can you do that? Brainstorm some ideas. Maybe you could …

• Attend church more often …
• Tithe – maybe for the first time in a long time or give to the benevolent fund at your church …
• Sing worship songs to the Lord. Here is a sampling of songs …
• Thank God every day for your blessings …
• Participate in a Christmas program or live nativity at church, in the community, or at home …
• Ask God what you can do to worship Him more fully …

What are some ideas you came up with?

5. Make this Christmas about helping the less fortunate.

There are many ways to do this.

• Give to a Salvation Army bell ringer …
• Give a meal or practical present to a neighbour in need …
• Give to your church …
• Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision and CAMA Services all provide worthwhile help to the underserved …

You probably won’t have to look far to find a need. So what did you decide to do?

6. Practice gratitude.

Christ probably wasn’t born on December 25th, but that doesn’t take away from the intent of Advent or the meaning of December 25th. The world may view Christmas through the haze of advertisements and an adherence to external delights, “but, for the church, Christmas is an excuse for us to exalt Jesus Christ in the face of a world that is at least tuned in to his name” (M.P. Green). Let us thank God and Jesus Christ for the many gifts we have because of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. We can do this through daily prayers, writing on our blogs, and by living in such a way that men will praise God because of our lives.

7. Celebrate Jesus’ Birth.

Whenever one of my kiddos had a birthday, we celebrated. Ok – we celebrated the adult birthday’s too!! So why do less for Jesus? Have a cake, decorations, and presents. Get creative with the presents you give to Jesus. Will it be something you’ll give up like a bad habit or something you’ll do more of like pray 10 minutes a day. Or will you give presents to others in Jesus’ name like give money to the local crisis pregnancy center. See #5 for more ideas.

Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas became fed up with the folks he was surrounded by. Sally wanted “her fair share” from Santa, Lucy was ungrateful to the point of depression, and Snoopy decorated his home to win the prize not to share the magic with others.

At first, Charlie Brown was also depressed. Then he threw off that depression and started celebrating on his own terms. He bought a tree that needed a home. He listened to The Christmas Story. He let it impact his heart. He extended forgiveness to the “blockheads” around him. Finally he joined with the others in singing and worshipping God through the song, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.

Friends, refuse to follow the expectations and actions of others, the advertising aims of multi-national corporations, the agenda set by our polytheist culture, or even the claims that familial tradition has upon us. It’s not too late to make this a commercial-free Christmas.

Your Part . . .

• Do you think commercialism in Christmas is a problem today?

• What would you add to this list? Detract from the list?

• Is there something that you are going to do or are already doing differently to make it a commercial-free Christmas Season?

• Or are you satisfied with your traditions and balance for this holiday season?

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