No Shame about Christmas

When everyone around you seems to have forgotten why Christmas is important, it can be awkward keeping focus. We are fasting. ‘They’ are feasting. We are praying. They are shopping. We are serving others. They are demanding special treatment at the checkout lane.

Being a Christian is hard enough in modern America. Being an Orthodox Christian, especially during ‘The Holiday Season’ can outright be impossible at times. Sometimes it is just easier to pretend we aren’t who we are and keep our faith to ourselves. Think again.

TIMOTHY, my son, do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

2^nd Timothy 1.1-18

There is peace in the Orthodox way of preparing for Christmas. Look around at your friends. You will see anxiety and depression sharing brain space in the same person. People are anxious about finding ‘the right gift’ and depressed because no amount of partying helps.

Christmas carols on the radio help keep our mood ‘shiny and bright’ but fall short of the peace that only comes from a life of prayer and fasting for Christmas. I have news for you. You don’t have to ‘play their game’ anymore. You can prayerfully prepare and STILL enjoy Christmas.

The best part is that your friends will envy your peace. At first, they will be confused. Yes, you’re shopping. No, you aren’t spending every waking moment drinking eggnog and wearing ‘ugly’ sweaters at Christmas parties. The peace you feel will transfer to your interactions.

Most of the time we are in control of our own peace. We get to choose if we get anxious about Christmas. We get to choose which parties we attend. We get to choose Church services and fasting for Christmas, and we don’t have to be ashamed of our choices.

If our friends ask why we aren’t panicked about Christmas, THEN and ONLY THEN, we can share that we are focusing on spending time in prayer and fasting for Christmas. There is enough time AFTER Christmas to celebrate. The best part about waiting is we aren’t exhausted.

This year might be a good year to remind our friends about Christ, not just Christmas. In the first centuries of Church history, the Gospel spread not by street preaching, but by changed attitudes. Peaceful lives drew attention to Christ, not raging parties.

Ancient Christians found a way to live peacefully in a world without peace. Even in persecution our Christian ancestors were never ashamed to share the source of their peace. Peace comes from the King of Peace, Christ the Lord. Christmas is only the beginning of that peace.

Now for the really outrageous way to keep your peace and prepare for the celebration. Plan YOUR Christmas party AFTER Christmas. Invite your friends to the house AFTER Christmas. Your friends may be confused but you can always say you’re honoring Christ, not Amazon.

Tell your friends they don’t have to bring a gift to exchange. You’re inviting them to celebrate Christ, not to compete at shopping skills. This may all sound a bit strange, but if you are already anxious and stressed, preparing with prayer and fasting is the only way to find peace.

You never have to be ashamed of peace. You never have to be ashamed of honoring Christ. You never have to be ashamed of not following the crowd. Feeling shame about Christmas is a choice you don’t have to make. You never have to be ashamed of Christmas.