To appreciate Christmas, we need to define what Christianity is.

“Christianity is a firm faith that Christ within you makes you perfect before God, and that you demonstrate your justification by evident actions of love.”

It is Pauline statement of faith combined with Johannine exhortation to love.
Christianity is a two-sided coin – faith and love. You know that you are a Christian by your faith and the world knows that you are one by your actions.

It is easy to spot any one whether they are Christians or not, by whether their actions are guided by love or not.

If we accept that definition, Mother Theresa was a Christian, Pat Robertson is not and Jim Jones was not even though each one claimed that they were. Good Samaritan was, Levi was not.

What has that to do with Christmas?

The first Christmas was God’s demonstration of love to humanity - we in turn each year in remembering the original Christmas give thanks for God’s love and spread the love around.

The true spirit of Christmas shines more in Dickens’ “Christmas Carol”, than in the non-stop commercial that is currently passed as Santa Claus.

With that in mind, let me wish you all a very merry Christmas, and very many happy new years.