A few years ago a trend popped up among the evangelical crowd. “Put the Christ back in Christmas” was the call. Don’t shop at any places that say happy holidays. If they don’t say Merry Christmas as you’re buying your presents go to a different store. There were t-shirts, bumper stickers and all other sorts of paraphernalia, much like the WWJD “movement” of the 90′s.
I can’t really put my finger on it, but I was a little uncomfortable about all this. It seemed a little contrived and prideful. But the fact is, we need to focus on Christ during this season, but not just in word and bumper sticker but also in deed. If faith without works is dead, what are words without faith without works? Zombies? or American Christmas shoppers?
This morning as I was looking through my calendar and realizing that Christmas is a little more than 4 weeks away I began to worry. There’s always a lot going on during the holidays, especially when you work at a church. There’s little time to shop and decorate (which I really don’t like to do, that’s why my wife is awesome), spend time with friends, have parties, etc… On top of all this my family is going to be out of town the week before Christmas, so everything is very accelerated.
It’s my desire as a parent to really teach my kids that Christmas is about more than just presents. I believe that Christmas is about Christ! And, as an ex-retail manager, I’ve seen the horrors of the holiday seasons. But, and here’s the hard part, how do we say and teach and believe and especially LIVE, that Christmas is about Christ?
Ah, tension!
So this year I want to start preparing for Christmas now. I’m looking backward to look forward in my family. With my awesome life group I want to start looking at this season as not a one day event. We need the whole time. The liturgical church calls that Advent. I grew up baptist, so my experience with advent was a calendar my mom but on the wall with pockets that she would put toys in (I miss that thing). I don’t really know what we’re going to do. I’ve got a few resources for my family and my group but to be honest, I have no clue what it actually looks like!
If you want more information I’ll keep you posted (as much as I can) about this. I found a good blog post about advent and the history of it: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2002/dec6.html
I’ve got a book called Alternative Worship and YouVersion.com has an Advent Bible reading plan. I haven’t talked to my wife about it so, shhhh, don’t tell her. 
Let me know if you have some stuff that your family does during this season to focus on Jesus and the expectation and hope that this season should bring. I’d love to hear it!
