A Christmas Message
by Guest
Listen — and celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ.
I grew up in Canada in a very pro-monarchy household. Each Christmas morning my father would pause the gift-opening festivities at 11 o’clock, turn on the television, and make us watch the queen’s Christmas message. Sometimes he would even make us stand in the living room for the royal anthem, “God Save the Queen.”
We’d all slightly roll our eyes at his enthusiasm, but that annual tradition shaped my siblings and me to the point that at 43 years of age, now living in the United States of America, I still look forward to the Christmas greeting of the monarch. It is special to think that there are millions of people from the Commonwealth (the former British empire) watching and listening to the same message around the world. Many heads of state record a Christmas message.
In 1927 President Calvin Coolidge wrote the first Christmas greeting to the American people on White House stationery. Since then, radio, TV, and now the internet have transmitted the president’s Christmas speech into countless American homes. Some may not relish the thought of hearing from political leaders on Christmas Day (of all days), but their words represent a sort of patriotic and spiritual reflection, meant to unify the country through the celebration of shared religious traditions.
It goes without saying that Christmastime in The Salvation Army is very special. Of course it’s equally special for every Christian church, yet many people associate our Army with the very celebration of Christmas.
For some, it’s not Christmas until they put that first $1 bill into the red kettle at the A Christmas Message local shopping mall while a volunteer in a red apron vigorously thanks them by ringing a silver bell, or until they hear the brass band playing a beloved Christmas carol on the corner.
For many years, the General of The Salvation Army has recorded a Christmas message. Thanks to the internet, nearly every Salvationist around the world can now hear those words of hope. Some of our great pioneers also shared their thoughts about Christmas, and we’re sharing them again here. Notice that, while joyful, these messages are free of the sugary-sweet sentimentality that sometimes characterizes holiday greetings. For the Salvationists of old, bringing people into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ was the best way to celebrate the birth of the true King of Kings.
William Booth
“There is a stale, old argument used by the Gentile world about forgiving your enemies and rubbing off grudges, and all that sort of thing, as being a peculiarly gracious duty to be practised at Christmas time. That does not apply to our ranks, surely? Your Salvation Army people don’t burden themselves with the memory of grudges and enmities.They forgive as they go along. But before the Lord there are some who, on trying their hearts by the great inspired tuning fork, the Word of God, will find they are too high—too sharp! To these we say, come down. This is the very time of the year to get low—not only into the village of Bethlehem, but to the stable—that is the penitent form, where you will be sure to meet your Saviour.”
“A Merry Christmas,” Salvation Soldiery, 1890
Bramwell Booth
“There was no home for Jesus in Bethlehem. There was no room for Him in the inn. There was no cradle in the stable. There was no protector when Herod arose to kill. What a strange world it is! … The King of Glory had not a place to lay His head! Mary, it is true, was strong in faith, but both she and Joseph must need soon fly into Egypt with the Babe. Refused at the inn, soon even the stable must cast them out! … But amidst it all, what a great heart of passionate love was His! Blessed be His Name for ever! Whether the poverty and suffering and hatred were or were not favorable to it, there it was—the Great Heart of all the world. What about you? Can you ever be again the same since you learned that He loved you? … Depend upon it, the world’s great need is ‘Great Hearts.’ Will you be one?”
“Contrasts at Bethlehem,” Our Master, 1912
Samuel Logan Brengle
“The heavenly host … appeared over the plain of Bethlehem. The first note of their song was, ‘Glory to God in the highest.’ They put heavenly things first. God was foremost in their thought, then His glory; afterwards they sang, ‘Peace on earth and goodwill toward men.’ … All who seek to keep God’s law and who embrace the Gospel are introduced into the life and spirit of Heaven and become citizens of Heaven. As heavenly beings therefore they must put heavenly things first; they must live the life of Heaven upon earth. In the light of these truths, the Christmas song of the angels, sung over the sleepy little town of Bethlehem, becomes a guide to us in these days. Our chief business is to give glory to God, to put Him first in our lives, to have a divine jealousy for His honor.”
“The Angels’ Song of Peace,” Love-Slaves, 1923
Evangeline Booth
“To some Christmas implies a round of ceaseless gaiety; to some a season of family reunion; to some a time of eating and drinking; to some many gifts both given and received. But to me Christmas means more—so much more—than any of these. First, because I was a Christmas gift myself. On the 25th of December, the snowflakes and I came into the world together. … It has always seemed to me that Christmas should be the world’s brightest day. … Christmas always stands to me for happiness, that rich and lasting kind, springing from the creation of happiness. Christmas is my busiest day in all the year. And the joy which grows as I hand out the packed baskets into thin hands, and see the faces of little children light up at the sight of our giant Christmas tree, and stroke the baby’s cheek as some poor mother thanks me with tears for its new coat, rests all my weariness.”
“What Christmas Means to Me,” 1907
About the Author: Guest
