What's left? We already know how the world would answer that. We already know how nominal christians would answer that.

Simple. You take away all those things mentioned above and you don't have Christmas at all! You got nothing but boredom!

How about the believer taking that above possibility seriously.  As a true Christian, how does your heart, mind, affections fare when stripped of all those things at the Christmas season?  Honestly, do we feel full and content to praise God for Jesus' birth into this mean world for sinners like us? Without feeling the need for all those things?  Do we give Him any presents or do we feel it's just not Christmas if we don't give each other presents? Imagine if it's your birthday and everyone who comes to your birthday celebration is giving each other presents but not to you. 

The wise men did not give each other presents but to the Christ Child.

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh." -  Matthew 2:11

Did you know that we can still give gifts to Him on His Birthday even though He is not physically present with us?  (You'll find how at the end of the article.)

What do you and I really think inside when we think of Christmas and how do we really approach it?  Now, there is nothing wrong with using the appropriate decorations to celebrate the Savior's birth.  However, do we do right in the eyes of God concerning this or are we going through the motions and relying on all of the material and superficial ornamentations and activites to get us into that, "Christmas spirit?"  Have we backslidden over into a carnal mindset when approaching this most wonderful spiritual celebration? Or are we spiritually minded and have successfully separated and rejected the world's mold of Christmas and instead are rejoicing over God's  greatest Gift of Love: Jesus Christ?  Are we interested in showing men the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas season?  Where is our heart? Or better yet, where is our treasure?  There the heart will be.

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." -  Luke 12:34

Please go through once again the above mentioned list of things to minus from Christmas season and see if you are still left with everything necessary for a fulfilling and meaningful Christmas this year.  If we truly adore Jesus Christ and celebrate His birthday, then we would say especally on His birthday the following:

"Lord, how can I satisfy your heart today of all days as an expression of my gratitude and joy before You for entering into this godless world in order to save someone as vile as me?  Please help me to, "give you a gift, an offering of love in obedience to your command personally by assisting those who cannot pay me back.  Especially, giving to the household faith who are in need.  You have taught me that this means giving to you." 

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."  - Matthew 25:31- 46

 " Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. " -  Luke 14:12-14

Wishing you a Holy, Christ-centered Christmas,
Maranatha!