Putting Christ back in Christmas

[Stan]

Avoiding the Sins of Sodom During Christmas

 

The statement “sins of Sodom” is a topic that often makes quiet people very vocal, and vocal people even more so. Memories of television evangelists speaking of the evil come back to life when these words are heard. But before we go much further, what is the biblical definition of the sins of Sodom? According to the Bible, “Sodom's sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door” (Ezek. 16:49, NLT).

            I hear religious groups state that we need to “put Christ back in Christmas,” calls to protest stores that say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” and even read about possible boycotts of entire shopping centres. But I believe that if we want to put Christ back in Christmas, we must avoid the sins of Sodom—by practising sincere Christianity.

            James 1:27, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (NLT). We can help struggling single mothers by providing gifts for their children and tasty food for a Christmas dinner. We can help the widows who face spending the holidays alone by inviting them to our family table. That is putting the Christ back in Christmas.

            I know a group of people that sends gifts to children with a tag that reads, “Love, Mom.” The compassionate part is that they send these gifts on behalf of mothers who are locked up in prison. This group of women knows how to put Christ back in Christmas. I remember the story of a police officer that came to arrest a desperate single mom who was caught shoplifting presents for her children. The officer told the store manager that he would personally cover the cost of the goods. That officer knew how to put Christ back in Christmas. There are students at our Adventist boarding academies who cannot go home at Christmastime, so staff and community welcome them into their own homes. Those people know how to put Christ back in Christmas.

            We can avoid the sins of Sodom by doing things to give folks a helping hand and strengthen their families and lives. Show them love and let them talk about love.

 

Let’s all put Christ back in Christmas.

 

Stan Jensen

 

PS: One additional way of avoiding the sins of Sodom is to help ADRA Canada reveal Christlike compassion, by contributing to their gift catalogue: (adra.ca/giftcatalogue/).