I hate Christmas.

I hate the Christmas season.

I’ve been sitting and thinking now for over a day about how to follow that statement.

I usually don’t have a problem with words but this one is throwing me for a loop because I don’t know how to say what I want to say without sounding like a Grinch or coming off like an African Scrooge with dreadlocks.

Maybe I could start by amending that initial statement.

I hate the Christmas season because I think the devil loves the Christmas season.

Now how messed up is that?

The devil, the father of lies (whose mission is to steal, kill and destroy) loves the Christmas season. You know why?

Because we’ve managed to crop Jesus out of Christmas and the worst part is we don’t know.

Although we are quick to tell ourselves that it’s about Jesus, the chilling truth is, if an alien with no knowledge of Christ visited the earth and he observed us over this season, there’s no way he’d conclude that this is ultimately about Jesus. Not even close.

Please don’t be fooled.

Saying a prayer before our Christmas meals and reading Matthew 1 for ten minutes before we get the party started doesn’t make Christmas about Jesus.

Much like a musician publicly thanking Jesus for his Grammy doesn’t make his profanity laden record about Jesus.

Jesus might have 10 minutes of this season but the devil has 600 hours of greed, gluttony, debt and selfishness.

You better believe he loves the Christmas season. What a perfect bargain for him. Jesus gets his 15 minutes of fame at the Christmas eve service and he gets to drive the hook of greed and materialism deeper into our hearts when we get back home.

And everybody said Amen.

So yea, I hate Christmas because if we are all honest, it’s not ultimately about Jesus.

But don’t take my word for it, ask your kids. Or better yet watch them. Are they more excited about Jesus, the Messiah coming to earth than they are about that mystery gift under the tree?

Do they (or you) wake up on Christmas morning in awe of the truth that God sent his son into the world? Or is that the last thing on their hearts when they run down the stairs?

I know your kids (or you) will give the ‘right answers’ if you asked what Christmas was about just like mine would because I’ve coached her well.

But to be honest, when I look at my daughter, I know that what she really treasures about this season is under a tree. That’s the best part.

And I hate that.

I hate that our win on Christmas morning is our kids going "whoa! dad, I can’t believe you got me ____" as opposed to "whoa! dad, I can’t believe Jesus came to the earth"

Let me ask you a hard question. Has that second part ever happened in your home? With your kids or in your heart? Do you really treasure Christ more than the other 'stuff' during this season?

Again, I’m not talking about giving the right answers. This isn’t family feud. I’m talking about a heart racing, palms sweaty, teary eyed, genuinely excited response to the fact that God sent his son to save us.

Maybe it’s just me but I’m just having a harder time this year doing all this ‘stuff’ in the name of Jesus.

All the trips I’m gonna make to the mall. All the credit card bills. All the wrapping. All the lights. All the stuff my daughter is gonna stuff in a closet that’s already full of stuff. Yea, I’m having a hard time blaming that on Jesus.

I wanna live a simple life this season. I want to teach my kids to live a simple life. I want my family to give. And most of all, I want us to be in awe that Jesus came to the earth. Not manufactured or obligatory awe. Real awe.

Whoa Dad! Jesus came 2000 years ago. Whoa!

Yea, that’s the win for the Christmas season because anything less means the devil is probably winning.

I was gonna end this post by challenging us to redeem Christmas but then I realized how sad that is. Redeeming a season that celebrates the very essence of our redemption? :(

How tragic that the story of Jesus has largely become the story of stuff.

So, what do you think about all this?

P:S- This post is not about not giving gifts to your kids. If that's your takeaway then you probably missed the whole point. That or you could be trying to dodge or play the deflection game. Maybe.

P:S:S- For my take on giving/receiving gifts and practical ways to redeem this season, please read I hate Christmas part 2. Also, if you're encouraged by my work, I'd really love to connect on face-book.