It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Matthew 1:23

In 1951, a very special year, a man by the name of Merideth Willson wrote a song that would gain much popularity over the years. As a matter of fact, you can still hear it played on the radio; it is also included in nearly every collection of Christmas songs available. Perhaps even a few of us have hummed a few bars of this tune this week. I personally began singing it a week or so before Thanksgiving. The song? "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" Ten years after Mr. Willson penned those words, Eddy Arnold wrote another song with a similar theme. "Christmas can't be far away". Both of these songs talk about the 'look' of Christmas.

Shopping malls and retail stores began preparing in October. Even Al started selling his trees before Thanksgiving. You can't drive a block without seeing colored lights or those inflatable characters on someone's lawn. I would have to agree, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Many people will mail Christmas cards to their friends and family, and the cards they receive will be hung on the walls of their homes. Many employers will give out Christmas bonuses, and the employees will be thankful to receive them. The bell-ringers are out in force, except in front of Target. Churches are planning pageants and cantatas. In the theaters you can find titles like 'Surviving Christmas, Christmas with the Cranks, and Polar Express'.

Yes, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. But is this what Christmas is supposed to look like? That is the thought I would like us to consider this morning. The 'world' has an idea of what it should look like, but its view leaves out the most important part. Jesus Christ! Of course that is by design. At our schools we now have winter breaks rather than Christmas vacations. Merry Christmas has been replaced by Season's Greetings. Santa, reindeer, and snowmen have replaced Joseph, Mary, and the Wise Men. In Denver, a church was denied participation in the community Parade of Lights because the organizers didn't want to offend anyone by their float that would carry the banner 'Merry Christmas'. No doubt in an attempt to be politically correct, Mayor John Hickenlooper announced that next year the phrase "Merry Christmas" will be removed from the city building and replaced with "Happy Holidays." Yes, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but have we forgotten what Christmas should look like?

I. Christmas is Singing and Rejoicing

II. Christmas is Giving and Receiving

III. Christmas is Knowing Christ