Christmas
Chapter 77—Christmas
Christmas as a
Holiday—“Christmas is coming,” is the note that is sounded throughout our world
from east to west and from north to south. With youth, those of mature age, and
even the aged, it is a period of general rejoicing, of great gladness. But what
is Christmas, that it should demand so much attention? ... {AH 477.1}
The twenty-fifth of December is
supposed to be the day of the birth of Jesus Christ, and its observance has
become customary and popular. But yet there is no certainty that we are keeping
the veritable day of our Saviour’s birth. History gives us no certain assurance
of this. The Bible does not give us the precise time. Had the Lord deemed this
knowledge essential to our salvation, He would have spoken through His prophets
and apostles, that we might know all about the matter. But the silence
of the Scriptures upon this point evidences to us that it is hidden from us for
the wisest purposes. {AH 477.2}
In His wisdom the Lord concealed
the place where He buried Moses. God buried him, and God resurrected him and
took him to heaven. This secrecy was to prevent idolatry. He against whom they rebelled while he was in active
service, whom they provoked almost beyond human endurance, was almost worshiped
as God after his separation from them by death. For
the very same purpose He has concealed the precise day of Christ’s birth, that
the day should not receive the honor that should be given to Christ as the
Redeemer of the world—one to be received, to be trusted, to be relied on as He
who could save to the uttermost all who come unto Him. The soul’s adoration
should be given to Jesus as the Son of the infinite God. {AH 477.3}
The Day Not to Be Ignored—As the
twenty-fifth of December is observed to commemorate the birth of Christ, as the
children have been instructed by precept and example that this was indeed a day
of gladness and rejoicing, you will find it a difficult matter to pass over
this period without giving it some attention. It
can be made to serve a very good purpose.
{AH 478.1}
The youth should be treated very
carefully. They should not be left on Christmas to find their own amusement in
vanity and pleasure seeking, in amusements which will be detrimental to their
spirituality. Parents can control this
matter by turning the minds and the offerings of their children to God and His
cause and the salvation of souls. {AH 478.2}
The desire for amusement,
instead of being quenched and arbitrarily ruled down, should be controlled and
directed by painstaking effort upon the part of the parents. Their desire to
make gifts may be turned into pure and holy channels and made to result in good
to our fellow men by supplying the treasury in the great, grand work for which
Christ came into our world. Self-denial and self-sacrifice marked His course of
action. Let it mark ours who profess to love Jesus because in Him is centered
our hope of eternal life.2 {AH 478.3}
The Interchange of Gifts as
Tokens of Affection—The holiday season is fast approaching with its interchange
of gifts, and old and young are intently studying what they can bestow upon
their friends as a token of affectionate remembrance. It is pleasant to receive
a gift, however small, from those we love. It is an assurance that we are not
forgotten, and seems to bind us to them a little closer.... {AH 478.4}
It is right to bestow upon one
another tokens of love and remembrance if we do not in this forget God, our
best friend. We
should make our gifts such as will prove a real benefit to the receiver. I
would recommend such books as will be an aid in understanding the word of God
or that will increase our love for its precepts. Provide something to be read
during these long winter evenings. {AH
479.1}
Books for Children Are Recommended—There
are many who have not books and publications upon present truth. Here is a
large field where money can be safely invested. There are large numbers of
little ones who should be supplied with reading. The Sunshine Series, Golden
Grains Series, Poems, Sabbath Readings, [Note: reference is made in this
article to noncurrent publications. As the principles set forth in this
connection are applicable today, these specific references are left in the
article.] etc., are all precious books and may be introduced safely into every
family. The many trifles usually spent on candies and useless toys may be
treasured up with which to buy these volumes.... {AH 479.2}
Let those who wish to make
valuable presents to their children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces procure
for them the children’s books mentioned above. For young people the Life of
Joseph Bates is a treasure; also the three volumes of The Spirit of Prophecy.
[Note: early E. G. White books preceding the present “Conflict Of The Ages
Series.”] These volumes should be placed in every family in the land. God is
giving light from heaven, and not a family should be without it. Let the
presents you shall make be of that order which will shed beams of light upon
the pathway to heaven.4 {AH 479.3}
Jesus Not to Be
Forgotten—Brethren and sisters, while you are devising gifts for one another, I
would remind you of our heavenly Friend, lest you should be unmindful of His
claims. Will He not be pleased if we show that we have not forgotten Him?
Jesus, the Prince of life, gave all to bring salvation within our reach.... He
suffered even unto death, that He might give us eternal life. {AH 480.1}
It is through Christ that we
receive every blessing.... Shall not our heavenly Benefactor share in the
tokens of our gratitude and love? Come, brethren and sisters, come with your
children, even the babes in your arms, and bring your offerings to God
according to your ability. Make melody to Him in your hearts, and let His praise
be upon your lips.5 {AH 480.2}
Christmas—a Time to Honor God—By
the world the holidays are spent in frivolity and extravagance, gluttony and
display.... Thousands of dollars will be worse than thrown away upon the coming
Christmas and New Year’s in needless indulgences. But it is our privilege to depart from the customs and
practices of this degenerate age; and instead of expending means merely for the
gratification of the appetite or for needless ornaments or articles of
clothing, we may make the coming holidays an occasion in which to honor and
glorify God. {AH 480.3}
Christ should be the supreme
object; but as Christmas has been observed, the glory is turned from Him to
mortal man, whose sinful, defective character made it necessary for Him to come
to our world. {AH 480.4}
Jesus, the Majesty of heaven,
the royal King of heaven, laid aside His royalty, left His throne of glory, His
high command, and came into our world to bring to fallen man, weakened in moral
power and corrupted by sin, aid divine.... {AH 481.1}
Parents should keep these things
before their children and instruct them, line upon line, precept upon precept,
in their obligation to God—not their obligation to each other, to honor and
glorify one another by gifts and offerings. {AH 481.2}
Turn Thoughts of the Children
Into a New Channel—There are many things which can be devised with taste and
cost far less than the unnecessary presents that are so frequently bestowed
upon our children and relatives, and thus courtesy can be shown and happiness
brought into the home. {AH 481.3}
You can teach your children a
lesson while you explain to them the reason why you have made a change in the
value of their presents, telling them that you are convinced that you have
hitherto considered their pleasure more than the glory of God. Tell them that
you have thought more of your own pleasure and of their gratification and of
keeping in harmony with the customs and traditions of the world, in making
presents to those who did not need them, than you have of advancing the cause
of God. Like the wise men of old, you may offer to God your best gifts and show
by your offerings to Him that you appreciate His Gift to a sinful world. Set
your children’s thoughts running in a new, unselfish channel by inciting them
to present offerings to God for the gift of His only-begotten Son.8 {AH 481.4}
“Shall We Have a Christmas
Tree?”—God would be well pleased if on Christmas each church would have a
Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these
houses of worship. [Note: reference is made in this article to current building
projects. As the principles set forth in this connection are applicable today,
these specific references are left in the article.] Letters of inquiry have
come to us asking, Shall we have a Christmas tree? Will it not be like the
world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to
do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no
particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen and placing it in our
churches, but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action and the use
which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree. {AH 482.1}
The tree may be as tall and its
branches as wide as shall best suit the occasion; but let its boughs be laden
with the golden and silver fruit of your beneficence, and present this to Him
as your Christmas gift. Let your donations be sanctified by prayer.9 {AH 482.2}
Christmas and New Year
celebrations can and should be held in behalf of those who are helpless. God is
glorified when we give to help those who have large families to support.10 {AH
482.3}
A Tree Laden With Offerings Is
Not Sinful—Let not the parents take the position that an evergreen placed in
the church for the amusement of the Sabbath school scholars is a sin, for it
may be made a great blessing. Keep before their minds benevolent objects. In no
case should mere amusement be the object of these gatherings. While there may
be some who will turn these occasions into seasons of careless levity, and
whose minds will not receive the divine impress, to other minds and characters
these seasons will be highly beneficial. I am fully satisfied that innocent
substitutes can be devised for many gatherings that demoralize.11 {AH 482.4}
Provide Innocent Enjoyment for
the Day—Will you not arise, my Christian brethren and sisters, and gird
yourselves for duty in the fear of God, so arranging this matter that it shall
not be dry and uninteresting, but full of innocent enjoyment that shall bear
the signet of Heaven? I know the poorer class will respond to these
suggestions. The most wealthy should also show an interest and bestow their
gifts and offerings proportionate to the means with which God has entrusted
them. Let there be recorded in the heavenly books such a Christmas as has never
yet been seen because of the donations which shall be given for the sustaining
of the work of God and the upbuilding of His kingdom.12 {AH 483.1}