Guest blogger Teryn Oglesby is the Christian Fellow at the Buxton Initiative, a Case Foundation partner organization. We've asked Teryn to provide her faith perspective on the holiday season. For another faith perspective from the Buxton Initiative, check out Sarah's post on Chanukah.
The Christmas Season is characterized by time with friends and family, charitable giving, and an overall spirit of cheer and goodwill. Christmas carols waft into the streets as bundled up shoppers pass shiny window displays and Salvation Army bell ringers in shop doorways. But, where did this sense of urgency and spirit of giving begin?
Consumerism may appear to have a monopoly on the Christmas Season, but Advent is its heart and soul. The excitement in preparation for Christmas Day began with the first Christmas and the implication of that day has had a ripple effect on how we celebrate today.
Advent is the season leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ within the Christian church. Historically, it was a season of great distress and uncertainty in anticipation of a Savior. The Old Testament of the Bible is filled with stories of brokenness between man and God, prophets imploring faithfulness and hope, and the continual promise of the coming Savior. Even in the very last book of the Old Testament before the coming of Christ, the need for and promise of a Savior is present.
“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.” (Malachi 3:1)
In this passage, the Lord reminds His people that their desires will be fulfilled if they wait and trust in His promise.
Until this point in scripture, the people of God have known His character through revelations, visions, and the words of prophets such as Moses, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. Yet, there is a constant theme of things not being quite right. Individuals were required to give ten percent of their earnings to God and to do good works, but continued to fall short. During a time of great uncertainty in our Nation and the world’s future, many can relate to the feelings of those who were waiting for Jesus’ birth.
Christians believe that God came personally to earth to save His people from the weight of their sin. By becoming human, Jesus revealed God’s desire for helping and lifting up those in need through his actions. The season of Advent is a reminder of Christians’ need for a personal Savior and thus Christmas Day is cause for great celebration. When we think of the Nativity scene and sing songs about a tiny baby, the magnitude of his birth may seem small. Yet, as Joseph and Mary rushed to a stable, as wisemen and shepherds hastily followed the star, and as King Herod nervously waited to see if a greater king than he truly existed, this tiny baby was nothing short of a miracle. This unique birth represents the culmination of years of waiting for Emmanuel, God with us.
So, this season of goodwill toward men, charitable giving, and Salvation Army ringers finds its roots in a tiny baby lying in a manger. A tiny baby of humble beginnings who would grow to serve and teach others; most importantly, who would ultimately give his own life for them. In the midst of hectic preparation for December 25th, we are all reminded to follow Christ’s example of selfless love and giving. As a Christian, I give because God first gave the ultimate gift, His Son. Whether or not you are an individual that celebrates Christmas, we can all relate to the goodwill toward men and brotherly love.
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