Crèches

Crèches

Judy and I went Christmas shopping at a gift store here in Bozeman. As we looked at the beautiful display of gifts, Judy mentioned that there were no nativity sets. In past years, at the same store, you could find at least half dozen different ones. This year there were none.

What's happening to Christmas? It comes at no surprise that retail sales have overshadowed the baby in a manger. It is now illegal in many places to display any Christian symbols on public property. Here in Bozeman a beautiful Ten Commandments monument which was prominently displayed on Main Street was removed and later relegated to an obscure corner in a community organization park.

As Christians, it is another reminder that we have to come to terms with the fact that our culture has turned a corner. No longer is the Bethlehem story heralded in the market place. We are left with the cold reality that our world has little interest in a Savior who has come to heal our hurts and fears. Without the hope that the Christ Child brings, we are left with a plastic tree laden with ornaments, colored lights, and tinsel. How sad!

What shall we do? This past week I saw a post on Facebook that challenged me. The title: Want To Keep Christ In Christmas? “Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.”

It's not religious ornamentation that defines Christmas. It's Christians who are willing to put feet to their convictions and do what Jesus does. We maybe losing public appeal but there is growing opportunity to show our stuff. Into the darkness have come many shining lights: us!