A reader asked about our customs surrounding the celebration of Christmas. "Do Christmas trees, lights, and gifts really have a place in Christian homes?" asked this reader. Furthermore: "I have no problem with the tree, gifts, lights, etc., but why at Christmas and why is there an increase of this in our homes? Isn't this another way that we can show the world we are different also in not decorating our stores etc.? With the lights, gifts, etc., we are by no means putting the focus on Christ."

We thank this reader for raising the point. There is no doubt that Reformed people have more and more adopted the prevailing cultural habits with respect to Christmas. There used to be a firm resistance to the opening of gifts on Christmas day. Not anymore. There used to be a lot of discussion about the propriety of trees and lights, etc. Not anymore. And there was a time when Reformed people as a whole had no money for expensive gifts. Not anymore.

We can weep about this, if we want to, I suppose. After all, these changes in habits can hardly be attributed to increase in faith. It is not because we Reformed folk today are more devout than a previous generation that we have these practices.

Nonetheless, can we not find a solution in a different direction than by railing against a bit of greenery in the house or by scoring a few conservative points against "lights"?

Even the previous generation was not without happy inconsistencies in this matter. One household was a "no-tree" household. But sprigs of holly or cedar hung above the mantle were acceptable, as were wreaths and other homey items. You tell me the difference.

Most Reformed households strictly separated gift-giving from Christmas (perhaps by exchanging gifts on Dec. 5 or on Christmas eve instead of on Christmas morning). But giving books and mandarin oranges and chocolates to the children after a worship service on December 25th was acceptable to nearly all heads of these same households (and apparently also to consistories)!

Other households had trees but did not permit the accumulation of gifts under the tree (too materialistic, it was said). Instead, the gifts were hidden in various corners of the house until the appointed hour at which time they were gathered in laundry baskets or in some other receptacle and brought to the living room.

In the light of these reminiscences, I would not be too quick to allege deterioration of standards. Perhaps the Reformed community in America has always lacked a coherent approach to Christmas. And maybe there is a reason for that deficiency, too, as we'll endeavor to demonstrate in a moment.

Giving and Getting⤒🔗

It can be said that some of the "problems" surrounding Christmas celebrations are connected to the overall increase in wealth amongst Canadians since, say, 1960. There is nothing wrong with wealth, as we are perhaps too quick to say. But have we demonstrated a healthy, thankful response to increase in wealth? Today, even the yuppies are discovering that "cheap is chic." Too bad they had to learn that truth from hard economic realities and not from the illuminating example of committed Christians.

We say that we celebrate Christmas because the Saviour of the world was born. We remember the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9, 10).

Knowing the self-imposed poverty of our Lord Jesus, should we not separate ourselves from the frenzied consumerism of our day? Maybe our concern about the "secularizing" of Christmas needs a new focus – no longer on trees and lights but on blatant materialism. Christians, too, embark on wild shopping sprees. We all have our "list" of people for whom we simply have to buy a gift. Maybe we should make Christmas a time for giving to people who are truly in need, for example to our brothers and sisters who live in gross poverty in so many places of the world – like Brazil. We are anxious about whether to buy a stereo, a watch, or a record or a board game, while many fellow Christians worry about their next meal.

An Alternative←⤒🔗

What about it? Shouldn't we develop some more restraint and modesty in our life styles? Instead of catering to greed, let's look to legitimate need. Why not give up gift-giving altogether for a year? Not because this is the rule for all pious Christians, but because it is a glorious possibility for people who know Him who "though He was rich, became poor?"

Let's imagine that the average cost per gift is $10.00. Let's further suppose that all 13,000 of us Canadian Reformed people would direct our Christmas "gift" money to an organization that tries to help the really poor, an organization like Mission Aid or the Canadian Reformed World Relief Fund. Or else, why not hire a taxi to make an anonymous grocery delivery to a family in the church or in the broader community that is having a hard time? Did you ever consider how much relief $130,000 would effect amongst those in need? (By the way, don't you agree that $10 is a low figure?)

Maybe you think that I'm unfairly laying a guilt trip on you. But my only intention is to promote some thoughtful reflection about what I see as the real danger of "Christmas." Don't forget, I didn't say it was necessary to forego all gift giving. There's no rule I can point to! Besides, I like getting gifts, too! But the attitude I've described above would be more in keeping with the "spirit of Christmas" than our reckless and short-sighted drive for yet more luxuries and more "toys"!

Let's not forget that He who became poor often raged against materialism and consumerism. He warned His hearers that the true service of God was incompatible with a money and possession oriented lifestyle. He said that it would be hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. He praised those who would be willing to make great "sacrifices" in order to serve the cause of the Kingdom. Life, after all, does not consist in the abundance of our possessions.

If we keep these guiding thoughts in mind, I for one can't see the harm in improving the ambience of our homes with some twigs or a tree or lights or candles or a wreathe.

Christmas Not a Holy Day←⤒🔗

And finally, let it be said that Scripture does not command us to set aside one day or one season for the commemoration of the incarnation. The only holy day which the New Testament knows about is Sunday. It doesn't even hint at other "special days." Often people are made to feel guilty because their approach to Christmas day is not sufficiently "spiritual." But why should it be such a special day? It's not a Sabbath day! Don't we remember Christ's birth every day? Isn't every day "spiritual?"

Besides, what is so unspiritual about giving and receiving gifts (as long as we remember what the Bible says about materialism)? And what is so unspiritual about a good Christmas dinner? (Here's another happy inconsistency of Reformed people: giving presents on Christmas day is no good, but gorging yourself on a fabulous dinner is fine! As if presents are less "spiritual" than a turkey!)

Let's get away from a false spiritualization of "Christmas Day." Only in this way can we have a coherent approach to the festive season. We are free to have celebrations. We are free to give gifts. We are free to decorate our homes in any way that is not indecent. We are free to hang up lights (but it is a waste of electricity). And we are gloriously free to do all these things in the light of Christ who became poor so that we might be rich rich in the forgiveness of sins, rich in eternal life, and so rich in love toward God and man.