Tonight Michelle and I celebrated our Christmas together. Ever since we have been married, which is almost 15 years now, we have faithfully celebrated Christmas the same way. As Brett Blair says, “The second time you do anything it becomes a tradition.” Here are some of our traditions: We start off with putting out all the lights (except the Christmas lights) and lighting candles followed by a reading of the Christmas story from Luke Chapter 2. After that we pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the past year and a prayer of blessing for the coming year in our lives and the lives of our friends and loved ones.  

Then it’s time to open presents. This year I gave Michelle two necklaces and a bottle of perfume. She, in turn, upon my request, gave me two sets of books, which included the New Dictionary of Christian Apologetics and a three volume set of church history books entitled The Creeds of Christendom. I know what you are thinking; The Creeds of Christendom are you kidding? My love of the Church and its history supersede all other things I might want. It also makes Christmas shopping easier on my wife – “just get me books, honey!”

However, the point I am attempting to make is the value of tradition. In our erudite, sophisticated, progressive society things like traditions are scoffed at or looked upon as some antiquated ritual that is devoid of any spontaneity. Certainly the word tradition in the contemporary, protestant church is looked upon as something less than palatable. However, I believe traditions can be both good and bad.

Traditions are ineffective if they become devoid of meaning. The mantra that we do it because this is what we do every year is meaningless. Going to the Christmas Eve service should have a motivation that is birthed from an attitude of worship, not for the sake of ritual alone. When we do these traditions with a wrong motivation our children will see through it and will either choose not to carry on the torch, or will do so for the wrong reasons themselves.

However, I believe that traditions can also be very good and teach lessons we and our children will remember all the days of our lives. For instance, the tradition Michelle and I do together is extremely meaningful to us. It is an opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, start the New Year right, with the blessing of God, and the mutual offering of gifts to one another. 

I would personally like to offer my best wishes to you for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

God bless,

Pastor Tim

p.s. I would love to hear what your traditions are as well.