The Four Kings of Christmas (Herod) (Part 2) (Mt. 2:1-8, 16-18)

Transition: What is it about Herod that causes us to be concerned?

HEROD WANTED TO ELIMINATE CHRISTMAS.

• Herod decreed that every boy two years old or less in Bethlehem be murdered.  By such drastic action, Herod sought to eliminate not only Jesus but also Christmas  
• What? You would never do that?  I'm glad to hear that, but you can eliminate Christmas in other, more socially acceptable ways.
• While you're rejoicing that you're not a murderer, that doesn't mean you can't kill Christmas. You can kill Christmas a lot of ways.
• You can kill Christmas through busyness.  Parties, shopping, baking, decorating, – go, go, go – Where will you find time for it all?  You can still have a holiday amid the busyness, but you might not have a holy day.  If you check everything off your holiday list but don't get to rest, reflect and rejoice, how is that worth it?
• You can kill Christmas through distraction.  
• Is anyone else tired of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Frosty, The Snowman”, “Silver Bells”, “Jingle Bells”, “Santa Baby” – I mean, where is the “Joy To The World” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful”?  And what's up with this joy-sucking song: “Last Christmas I gave you my heart; the very next day you gave it away”?  You can be distracted by frivolity and dysfunction.  
• Don't be surprised to find an uptick in stories about violence as Christmas approaches.  While each story is sad and should be a call to prayer and compassion, be careful that you don't lose your joy along the way.  You can be distracted by negativity and evil.
• We've already discussed busyness. Busyness is distraction through motion.
• You can kill Christmas through ritual.  
• Ritual is preference, tradition, routine, custom, a way of doing things.  
• Ritual is usually harmless unless its realm is the spiritual.  Spiritual ritual is habit without heart, form without faith, movement without meaning, participation without profession, routine without repentance.  For instance, every year at Christmas Eve, there are those who take Communion who shouldn't. They take Communion not because they are in right relationship with Jesus and others but because they don't want to stand out.  
• When you're done with your household Christmas ritual, will there have been any mention of Jesus?
• Will there have been any joy?
• Will there have been any thankfulness?
• Will there have been any peace?
• Will there have been any hope?
• Will there have been any wonder or worship?
• You can kill Christmas through rebellion.