Make Christmas Great Again. Skip Church!

I usually watch a few minutes of national news while getting ready for work. I know, call me crazy, but I like to at least make an attempt at knowing what's going on in the world.

Well, this morning I had to stop curling my hair long enough to watch an interview with, um, okay sorry, I don't recall the guy's name. He represented American Atheists and was there to talk about their Christmas billboard. Make Christmas Great Again. Skip Church!

It began as another one of those "Did I really just hear that?" moments and moved quickly to "Wow, I really did just hear that." He did his best to defend the sign by saying atheists all over America feel pressured to attend church at Christmas and church has nothing to do with Christmas...you know, the food, the family, the giving of gifts.

Sadly, even people who say they live in a "Christian" home and are raising kids in a "Christian" atmosphere will celebrate this season as the American Atheists do. They will give gifts and serve up wonderful meals to family members and might even sing White Christmas or Jingle Bell Rock.

It's important to note the definition of atheist. The American Atheists say "Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods." That quote is taken straight from an article in Pennlive.com. I had to read it and then read it again. It's not that they don't believe, it's that they lack belief.

Christmas isn't about the gifts, or the food or even the family. CHRISTmas is all about the moment God came to earth and made it possible for mere human beings to live eternally. That sweet baby, born in a manger, grew up to willingly take on the sins of the entire world. Christmas is all about God's love, redemption, hope. It is the promise fulfilled. God's promise to send the Messiah, The One who would be called Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Prince of Peace.

We can agree with the atheist man that church had nothing to do with Christmas back then. There was no church. But you know what? There was plenty of worship. Joseph and Mary worshipped. The angels worshipped. The shepherds worshipped.

If you have friends or family who are atheists, don't pressure them to go to church. Instead, live your life in such a way that they must look again at their lack of belief. Be the example of Christ that makes them second guess what they thought they knew.

But that "skip church" thing? For folks who say they are Christians, folks who say they have a Christian home, folks who want to raise their kids to love God...well, not only should you have your family in church Christmas Sunday, there are a few Sundays in between.

Plan to make your Christmas the very best celebration of the birth of the promised Messiah. Please do make Christmas great again. I'll see you in church!