A team of our LAC musicians is currently in Thailand to tell through music the story of Christmas. Check out their blog HERE! This invitation has come specifically because many people in Thailand love the Christmas Season. The malls and public places in Thailand are filled with nativity scenes and Christmas music. Trees, gifts in wrapping paper, colored lights, and tinsel are everywhere. All of this is taking place even though almost 95% of the Thai population is Theravada Buddhist.
When I’ve asked Thai friends why Christmas is so popular in their country, I have been told that there are two main reasons. The first is that the celebrations seem to be so much fun. Merchants love the economic opportunity to encourage people to give gifts. People enjoy being a part of a worldwide festival.
The second reason is that many Thai people appreciate as much of the story as they understand. As one man told me, “Who doesn’t love the beautiful story of a simple family making a long trip to their hometown? It’s all so lovely that a child born in such humility grows up to be an amazing man who wants everyone to experience peace and goodwill!”
I believe that many Southern CA people enjoy the Christmas Season for the same reasons. As long as Christmas is all about 1) celebrating and gift giving and 2) a nice sweet legendary story, it’s just fine.
Of course, the Bible insists that its story of Jesus’ birth is not simply a nice tale. When we take off all the external wrapping and get into the real meaning of Christmas, we find that the Bible says that God came to earth in Jesus as a part of a divine rescue mission. Jesus came not just to be an example of humility but to give his life as the only hope for fallen and mercy-needing people. And mostly, the Bible declares that the Christmas story is not simply a nice legend. No, according to eyewitnesses and the biblical writers, the things described really happened! We begin our Advent 2010 by looking at Luke’s declaration about the truthfulness of his account in Luke 1:1-4
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you…so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
To His glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor