One of the things I treasure most about Christianity, real Christianity, is its willingness to confront reality. While the rest of the world starts to put away the decorations and chuck out the Christmas trees, real Christianity says there is a lot more to the story. Real Christianity says that just a few days after all the celebrating over one birth, it is time to take a look at some other births as well. In my tradition, the 28th day of December is set aside to remember the innocent lives that were taken by King Herod when he went on his Bethlehem rampage and slew every child under two.

Real Christianity says that even as babies coo in a manger, others scream in fear and terror.

Wonderful as Christmas is, it is time to move on, to realize that children are crying for food, little boys and girls are wandering lost and alone, men and women are yearning for a life of meaning and purpose. Real Christians get up from bowing at the manger and get on with the work of Christ.