Is Christ Gone From "Christ"mas?

I love spending time with family on Christmas, and we try hard to not go crazy with the gift buying. However, I really wonder why we even call Christmas "Christmas" anymore. The stress, worry, and obsessiveness with stuff clearly says Christ has basically been forgotten. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all the "Keep Christ in Christmas" gestures, but the reality is that He's been removed. Our actions speak much louder than the nice statements we put on shirts, signs, and bumper-stickers. Our behavior gives much more perspective on how most people view Christmas than the crafty sermons we may preach and/or listen to within our churches.

According to the Pew Forum, 73% of Americans identify themselves as "Christians." A quick review of the gospels would clearly reveal our nation has greatly misunderstood what it means to be a Christian. Nevertheless, at least in the terms of what America has come to know as Christianity, "Christians" are to blame as much as anyone for the Christ-less-ness of Christmas since we "account" for 73% of the population.

Yes, I know, it ultimately comes down to how we each respond to Christmas and to Christ. Regardless though, many people today (the day after Christmas) will have more stuff in their homes because of "Christ"mas yet they care very little about whether or not they will live surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord. I'm amazed by how our seemingly "politically correct" culture isn't offended by the fact their money-making machine known as "Christ"mas primarily exists because of the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, who they've deemed to be politically "in-correct".

I don't have an answer that'll work to resolve this issue, and maybe all I've done is state the obvious. I just know the things that I wrestle with within myself lead me to feel like I'm often swimming upstream even in the midst of the waters known as "church" and "Christianity." However, I guess the result of going against the flow will only make me stronger and more desperate in my pursuit to know Jesus simply and authentically.

So You've Questioned, Rejected, & Become Frustrated with Church...

Me too.

I reached a point about 2 years ago where I found myself driving recklessly down a highway that only had one destination: depression and disillusionment with God. I had been a part of and even lead in every capacity there was in "the church." I had attended traditional, contemporary, and blended churches. I had volunteered, been paid "part-time" and "full-time" and even started a church, yet I found myself more frustrated than ever. It was in these moments that I realized how little of Jesus I really knew, followed, and embraced. My life had been lived in search of the ultimate church high, but not really for Jesus.

Because of these experiences... My heart breaks for people who have been taught (often without them even realizing it) to OVERLY depend on a church or a pastor for their spiritual vitality, and as a result, they find themselves less than fulfilled or disillusioned in their walk with Jesus. The role of any church or church leader should be to lead you toward dependency on Jesus and the Holy Spirit, which naturally means you depend less on the "church" and your pastor... 

I guess the fear in doing this though is that God may begin an actual transformation in your life that would lead you to radically fall in love with Jesus, reach people for Him, and continually step into new adventures with God, which may then take you away from their sermons, buildings, and programs.

I apologize to those I've led in an institutional/religious way. It was all I knew, but not anymore. I was most likely more passionate about "my church" than I was Jesus. I can't change the broken image of Jesus that's been painted in our culture. However, I can say to you that some of those things you've maybe questioned, rejected, or called hypocritical about the church most likely really aren't worth embracing because they aren't leading you to authentically encounter Jesus.

Basically, instead of starting with Jesus and letting Him lead us to being the church, we all too often begin with church and hope to get people to Jesus. The problem is the church isn't goal, and with this approach, many people never encounter a real relationship with Jesus. It's Jesus who has a church, not the church that has a Jesus. If we'll help people authentically encounter Jesus, a biblical expression of the church will then form out of that.

I'd love to hear your story, your frustration, or your concern. Email me at joshoverflowcollective@gmail.com.