What can a kid’s enthusiasm teach us about Christmas?

Christmas Greed or Christian Joy?

Christmastide is almost upon us, and my home is bustling with excitement. My kids are obviously contributing to this enthusiasm, which caused me to wonder, is this enthusiasm a bad thing?

For those of us from more puritan and protestant backgrounds, any enthusiasm is often met with a sour look of disdain and disapproval.

Fear of being excited for “the wrong things” lurks just underneath these shame-bearing glances, particularly IF they could lead the perpetrator down the wrong path to idolatry.

Perhaps a stern-faced Rector or a pious minister glaring down his nose at a misbehaving child comes to mind. 

But is that really taught in the Bible? Is shaming a child’s enthusiasm for “the big day” really that essential to their overall well-being? I’ve met plenty of anti-Christmas “believers” who think so. 

But Christmas enthusiasm isn’t wrong, even if it can be admittedly annoying.

Consider the alternative. I’ve met plenty of children in my life where the tragedies of this world have already cast oppressive shadows on their hearts (Jeremiah 17:9). And I’ve met plenty of adults who describe their family holiday memories in more tragic terms than that of magical cheer. It’s heartbreaking.

As a father and a bishop, I want to scoop them all up in my arms and fill their hearts with love. But I can’t. It’s not my place. That work belongs to Jesus. 

But we can model enthusiasm for Jesus by how we approach Christmas.

So, where do we look to find a model for such enthusiastic anticipation?

We don’t need to look very far. The answer is found in the birth of Jesus, where the angels lit up the sky in a celestial party that genuinely rocked the universe!

So let’s have a look at the Christmas story through their lens.

Party Like An Angel

I love the King James version of the Christmas story, mainly because of the 1965 holiday animation special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. In the movie, the main character, Charlie Brown, read the Christmas Story in the old King James Version.

When I close my eyes, I can still hear Charlie’s voice saying, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10).

The old word “tidings” here merely means announcing news or information. But the poetry of the Charlie Brown version enhances the intensity of the message. Jesus’ birth was an incredible announcement for the whole world. And, once again, we find the Christian idea of “gospel” in the Greek translated here as “good tidings.”

What were these tidings heralded by these celestial messengers? The angels proclaimed “the gospel” of Jesus, the good news that the Son of God had finally arrived in the world.

On that first night of Christmas, God sent his messengers on a heavenly public relations event unlike anything the world had ever witnessed. And it was a BIG party.

Luke continues describing this heavenly party where a “multitude of angels” lit up the sky, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (2:14).

Far from moribund and boring, that very first Christmas night was a party, and it changed everything. The angels “lit” the sky with praise and worship of God the most high!

Circling back to our rascally children and their infectious and often annoying enthusiasm, we should pause and ask, are we as excited about Christmas as they are? Is there something within their anticipation that reflects a more profound inner spiritual need of longing and expectation for Jesus that reflects the first Christmas night?

Personally, I’ve grown weary of Christmas shaming, particularly the puritan kind that over-worries about infectious joy. And I’ve also grown tired of the opposite, the secularist attempt to erase Christmas altogether with their tepid words of “Happy Holidays.” Seriously, two and half billion people worldwide aren’t gathering together to send “warm feelings” unless there is a legitimate reason. And I absolutely detest “friendsmas parties.”  But I digress.

How we commemorate and remember that very first Christmas party is primarily up to us, but it should be a celebration tied to the original one.

Here’s the rub about Christmas.

If Christmas is supposed to be a party, then let me tell you what it isn’t.

Christmas is not the time for mourning or lamenting over seasons that didn’t go as you wanted or anticipated. Frankly, that misses the entire point of Christmas and actually contributes to the puritan concern of misguided enthusiasm over the wrong things. The word selfish comes to mind. 

It’s about Jesus, the Son of God, entering the world.

It’s about God fulfilling his promise.

It’s about celebrating and worshipping Him.

And it’s about embodying the good news of the angels, “peace on earth and goodwill towards men.”

Circling back to those overly enthusiastic and sometimes annoying and admittedly slightly greedy kids, we should pray for the same enthusiasm to once again define our spiritual lives. 

Perhaps the world would be more enthusiastic for Him if we were as excited for Jesus as children are for whatever gifts they may anticipate.

If after reading this, you say, Jonathan, you just don’t understand all that I’m facing.

Well, I get it. I’ve been a pastor long enough to hear the stories. And if you don’t enjoy the holiday season as you wish because of loved ones or spouses who are no longer with you, that’s what we call “being normal.”

But here’s a reminder for us all, that little baby born 2000 years ago doesn’t just represent a sentimental story. It was the fulfillment of the promise of God that one day, “all things will be made new.” 

So when faced with the temptation to despair, hold on to that vision! And in the meantime, seek to enjoy as best you can this season. After all, it comes around more often than you think.

Maybe a starting point this Christmas season is merely praying, “Jesus, help me recover the joy and love of Christmas. After all, it’s your birthday, and it’s all about you!”

And for goodness sake, go have some fun!

Merry Christmas

Bishop Jonathan