Does it matter?

Today's newspaper had a story about the "alarming" statistic that the majority of those that "celebrate" Christmas don't do so in a religious manner.  In fact, the study found that many of those trimming trees and buying presents weren't even Christian.  This was greeted with hand-wringing and dismay by several of the religious figures that were interviewed for the article.

So there are two things important in this article.  One is the obvious commercialization and secularization of the holiday.  There is the concern that the emphasis on Santa obscures the message of the birth of a Messiah.  The giving of presents overshadows the giving of thanks and praise.  This is all valid and worrisome.  It's also partly due to the mainline religions sticking to dogma and perhaps missing the point.

In our jaded and overly scienced world, the idea of a virgin birth and a baby in a manger seems all to fairy tale and unlikely.  Maybe it is, but does that matter?  The idea of virgin birth in humble surroundings is common to many of the religions of the world, especially those originating in the Middle East.  It is not unique to Christianity.  Again, does that matter?

Isn't the point really that God provided us with an individual that was able to, for a brief span of time, show us what a world could be like if we realized the potential that we all have inside us in the form of God (Holy Spirit, soul, quantum particles, etc)?  Does the surrounding mythology really matter so much more than the message?  Does it really matter whether George Washington really chopped down a cherry tree in order for you to understand the message that he was an honest man of integrity?  The story should not obscure the message. 

Mainline churches would do well to begin to focus on the message of God's interaction and desire for us to fulfill our promise rather than the mythology.  The story is nice, it makes a great pagaent, but it shouldn't be the focus of the holiday.  Instead, the fact that God did provide us a glimpse of how it could work, how there could be peace on earth and goodwill toward men, how we really are all His creation.  That should be the focus.

Thoughts anyone?