I enjoy Christmas. I like to listen to Christmas songs. I watch my share of Christmas movies. I get out to enjoy the Christmas markets. And I’m sitting by my Christmas tree as I write this. But I think I know why it makes so many people miserable. To see why, you may not have to look any further than your Christmas playlist. Consider the Christmas message of this year’s most popular Christmas songs. What you’ll see is that what started off as a holiday to celebrate a religion became a holiday celebrated as a religion. Let me explain.
1. The Rule of the Christmas Religion: Thou shalt not busy yourself shopping.
Every religion has rules and commandments that seek to define evils to avoid and virtues to uphold. The religion of Christmas, at least as its presented in popular Christmas songs, seeks to outlaw busyness and over-shopping. This is a common theme but is probably nowhere more clearly articulated than Mariah Carey’s Christmas anthem, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” She upholds the ideal of Christmas-gift-selflessness in those immortal words, “I don't want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing I need. I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree.” This year, Katy Perry joins the chorus in her song, “Cozy Little Christmas.” She actually tells Santa to, “Take the day off,” because she doesn’t need what he’s got. “I don’t need diamonds, no sparkly things,” she declares. And the message is that neither do you.
2. The Saviour of the Christmas Religion: Put your trust in a romantic partner to save you.
The Christmas religion’s commandment is answered by its Saviour. The way you can avoid the busyness and materialism of the season is by putting your trust in a romantic partner to save you. Obviously, this message is prominent in Mariah’s, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” But it’s interesting how songs will even revert to explicitly religious language to express the faith that a romantic partner can save you. Katy Perry exchanges, “Jesus is the reason for the season,” for “cause you’re the reason for the season,” in speaking of her romantic interest. Liam Payne portrays himself as a modern-day Magi in his song, “All I Want (for Christmas),” writing of his partner with the words, “And I followed you, the brightest star, I just wanna be where you are, right where you are.” The Christmas religion preaches that romance is what fills you, completes you, satisfies you and delivers you.
3. The Hope of the Christmas Religion: Eggnog, mistletoe and tinsel can heal you.
While a boyfriend or girlfriend, or in the words of the Hallmark movie, “A Husband for Christmas,” is definitely the Saviour of the Christmas religion, eggnog, mistletoe and tinsel are offered for your healing and comfort. The atmosphere of the holiday is presented as the point of the holiday. The Jonas Brothers’ ditty, “Like It’s Christmas,” has these words, “The snow on the ground, the love in the air, the sleigh bells are ringing – this is what it's all about.” They then go on to describe the lights and snow-covered scene in Central Park and conclude, “This could be Heaven.” Lea Michele’s song, “Christmas in New York,” covers similar ground but includes the ringing of the church bells, sounds of the carolers, and the Christmas nativity, but they’re all just there to serve the right Christmas mood, as if getting the right feeling right will make Christmas do its magic to you.
4. The Antidote to the Christmas Religion: Look to Jesus.
Some people will say that I take my music lyrics too seriously. But I think that the message is too consistent to ignore. I’m concerned with the message because I’m convinced that it hurts more people than it heals. In having us focus on the evils of shopping and materialism, we forget the greater danger of disregarding and disrespecting the Saviour God has sent us. In having us trust in a romantic partner to save us, it sets up for failure and disappointment. People can’t save us. No one can meet all of our needs. A boyfriend or girlfriend can’t forgive your sins or cover your shame. They can’t offer eternal life or peace in your heart when the storms of life attack. This is what Jesus came to do. This is what Christmas was originally intended to celebrate. But, when we worship the holiday and its trappings, we fail to worship Jesus. The Bible says, “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11). The life isn’t in Christmas, mistletoe, the right snowfall, the perfect tree or a well-timed kiss. And when you start thinking it is, disappointment awaits. This Christmas, follow the wise men to Bethlehem who said, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1-2).
In awe of Him,
Paul
