What does saying ‘Merry Christmas’ mean?

OPINION:

We all need something to believe in — something more than ourselves.

Pascal argued that there is a “God-shaped vacuum” inside every human heart and that this void is always filled with what we choose to believe or disbelieve. A person without God is a person who believes he is God. The vacuum is always filled.

No human being can live without meaning and purpose. If there is no God, you will always create one, but the problem is that we make very poor gods. In the words of Chesterton: “Of all the horrible religions, the most horrible is the worship of the god within.”

Saying “Merry Christmas” is more than just a pleasantry. It is the affirmation of a worldview. It is a declaration of your God. This greeting is a celebration of your life’s philosophy. It’s a statement of my First Thing, a summary of the rock-bottom belief system central to who I am. It is akin to shouting, “I believe there is a God, and it’s not me! I have found a savior bigger than myself!”

When I wish someone a merry Christmas, I join William Chatterton Dix in singing, “This, this, is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing!”

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Lion of Judah, the Son of Man, the Son of Mary, and the Son of God. He is the Word made flesh and dwelling among us! He is the heir of all things!

When I declare “Merry Christmas,” I affirm that “without him was not anything made that was made! He upholds the universe by the power of his word. He is the Holy and True One! His eyes are like a flame of fire. His voice is like the roar of many waters. His face is like the sun shining in full strength. He is the one with a sharp two-edged award. He is the Prince of Peace, the Living One, who died and is alive forevermore!”

When I say “Merry Christmas,” I join with the angel’s chorus: “Haste, haste, to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary. The King of Kings’ salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone him!” He is Emmanuel: God with us! In him, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell! For unto us was born this day in the City of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord! For us and our salvation, he came down from Heaven, was incarnate, and became fully human, and he has promised the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church!

In saying “Merry Christmas,” I remember the news of long ago when the light shone on the hills of Bethlehem and a new song was sung. “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy. And the government shall be upon his shoulders, and of his kingdom there shall be no end!”

When I say “Merry Christmas,” I join in Christ’s Mass! It’s not Buddha’s Mass. It’s not Muhammad’s Mass. It’s not Hare Krishna’s Mass, your mass, or mine. This is Christ’s mass!

So, this week, I wish everyone a merry Christmas! And in doing so, I beg you to remember what you believe:

That he is the Messiah, the beginning and the end, the way, the truth, and the life, the great I AM, the Word become flesh, incarnate; that he is your Savior and your King, your Lord and our God, the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God, your Redeemer, your guide, your peace, your joy, your comfort, your life, your light; that he is the risen Savior, the Son of God, the alpha and omega, the lens of all learning, and the Lord of our daily lives; that he is the light of the world, the good shepherd, the door, the resurrection and the life, the bread of life, the true vine.

The words “Merry Christmas” are words of belief. They fill the void in a way nothing else ever has or ever can. “See, the winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come.”

Christ asks all of us: “Who do you say that I am? What do you believe?”

To this, I shout, “I believe in Christmas! I believe Jesus is God because I am not!”

Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Merry Christmas! Long live the true king!

• Everett Piper (dreverettpiper.com, @dreverettpiper), a columnist for The Washington Times, is a former university president and radio host.