Christmas in July, isn’t it like Mocking Christmas?
Christmas is an awesome time of the year. It’s our favourite, we love the season, the festivity, decorations, celebrations, gifts, parties, food, carols, holidays, Christmas movies, Christmas sales and not to forget Santa Claus. We love it so much that we can’t have enough of it and we wish we didn’t have to wait that long for the festivity and fun.
We now have Christmas in July, in most parts of the world and is increasingly becoming popular with time. Most businesses have their highest sales during Christmas and if there’s a mid-year Christmas, it would be great, instead of waiting for once in a year sale at Christmas.
In some parts of the world its summer during Christmas, and so celebrating Christmas in July, gets the real feel of Christmas. The winter snow around you, makes you feel like your dreams of a white Christmas has come true.
Some like the idea of Christmas in July, because it helps them plan for the real Christmas, way ahead of time and get ready for the splendid season. For the rest of the folks who love Christmas in July, it’s just a reason to celebrate the season, to enjoy, eat, drink and be merry.
Most people will find nothing wrong with the spirit of Christmas in July. Let’s reason together, if it’s really alright to celebrate Christmas at odd-times of the year. How would you feel, if your friends threw a surprise birthday party for you at some odd-time of the year? How would you respond?
You would probably say something like this, “Thank you for the celebration, but it’s really not my birthday today”. Your friends may say, “Yes, we know, it’s not your birthday, but we had such great fun at your birthday last time, that we couldn’t wait to celebrate it again. We really don’t care about your birthday, we just need an excuse to celebrate.”
Depending on your temperament, you may feel deeply offended and rejected or you may just shake it off, join your friends and enjoy the party. Christmas is not about you, it’s not your birthday. It the birthday of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What would Jesus say about celebrating His birthday party in July?
Jesus would never approve of anyone that mocks Christmas, taking His birthday lightly or having a celebration without glorifying Him. Do you remember the commandment where it says, “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name (Exodus 20:7).”
Christmas in July is taking the Lord’s name in vain, celebrating His birthday without celebrating Him. The true spirit of Christmas is not in the glittering lights, the snowfall, the costume dressed Santa Claus or the expensive gifts. The true spirit of Christmas is to have the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ in you, to reverence Him, to worship Him, to love Him for all He has done for us. For our sake He was crucified, took on the punishment that we deserved, was scourged, died and rose again, so that we could live eternally.
How can we forget all that He has done for us? How can we allow Christmas to be so commercialised? How can we celebrate Christmas without celebrating Jesus? How can we make a mockery of Christmas? How can we be guiltless when we dishonour God? Therefore the LORD God of Israel says, I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever: but now the LORD says, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed (1 Samuel 2:30).
Is it right to take God’s name in vain, have fun, enjoy the season without the reason? Christmas is not any person’s birthday, but it is the birthday of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We must pay homage to Him, and celebrate Christmas with reverence and holiness. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).