Our View: The true reason for the season

Countless bumper stickers proclaim it. Numerous displays and billboards pronounce it. Yet, for half of Americans, the Christmas season has lost that religious feeling. It’s gone, gone, gone.

The Pew Research Center released a poll last week in which one-third of those surveyed said Christmas is a cultural celebration. About 81 percent – eight in 10 – non-Christians in the U.S. celebrate the holiday, according to the survey.

It’s more likely the “feel good” aspects of Christmas are the draw – the commercial hype, giving and receiving gifts, gathering with family and friends and spreading cheer. Sadly, lost on many is the real reason for the season.

It all started with a virgin blessed by God with a child who was born in a lowly manger. Christ was born to save mankind – God’s perfect gift.

Luke 2:1-20 in the New International Version tells us:

“In those days, Caesar Augustus issues a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

“So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

Merry Christmas, to you and yours, the Lord has come.