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Recently I heard something on the radio that jumped from the speakers directly into my thoughts.  The song was Here Comes Santa Claus.  Mind you I was not expecting much in the way of ecclesiology from this song, but it happened nonetheless.

The following tag line got my attention: “So let’s thank the Lord in heaven above, cause Santa Claus comes tonight.”  Really?  Translation: Let’s thank God because we are going to get something.  What a tragedy!  Yet, a moment of honest reflection reveals this is the practice of many Christians and churches.

Consumerism is alive and well in the local church and it is significantly entangled in her practice.  More to the point, it is keeping the church from her mission.  Below is a quick introspective survey for you to gauge your level of Christian consumerism.

Why do you celebrate Christmas?  Be careful with this one.  The traditional church/Christian answer is we celebrate the birth of Christ.  Nope!  Keep going.  Before Christ was born, Christ was sent.

Let me be clear, celebrating the physical birth of Christ is theologically important, but if all we do is think warm thoughts about a silent night; where is the missional context of Christ’s birth?

What do you like about Christmas at your church?  Is it because the church delivers on your need for tidings of comfort and joy?  Is it because of annual special services?  Is it because you get to hear the Christmas anthology read from Luke Chapter 2?  Now, what would be your response if your church decided to stop, or change any of these?

Ponder your happiness or comfort level to the following scenario: Instead of all the special services and fellowship activities, the Christmas practice at your church is that you are challenged to completely give of yourself. Instead of inviting you to attend children’s Christmas programs and special choir performances; your church expects to send you into the community for the purpose of making a difference in the lives of people far from God?

Challenged?  One more question. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being not comfortable at all, and 10 being very comfortable) rate your comfort level to my recommendation that John 3:16 makes a better Christmas text that Luke Chapter 2

Okay, enough meddling.  I’m not suggesting we upset the “Christmas apple cart”.  I am merely challenging Christians everywhere to balance the celebration of Christmas with putting “sentness” into practice.

We all get excited about the “wonder of the season.”  Special church activities are fun.  There is nothing more exciting than seeing the face of a loved one light up as they unwrap your gift.
Bottom line: Enjoying tidings of comfort and joy is easy; emptying ourselves and willingly being sent to people far from God is not.  But what would happen if we put sentness into practice?

Yes, celebrating Christmas is exciting, but what would happen if we were equally excited about giving up our Christmas celebrations in order to reach people far from God? What would be the impact on your faith?  Your church?  Your Community?

May the Christ who set aside the comfort of heaven in order to be sent to earth, be the light that guides and ignites your passion this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas!



Alan Chandler is a Consultant Partner with Church Doctor Ministries, a full-service church consultation ministry dedicated to helping Christians and churches become more effective for the Great Commission, to make disciples of all people.  Alan can be reached at alanchandler@churchdoctor.org