In our home, the weekend after Thanksgiving is traditionally reserved for putting up Christmas decorations. We hold off on all-things Christmas until the turkey has been served, but by Friday everything is free game. The Christmas music is turned on; the tree is put up; the stockings are hung; and all the wreaths, nativity sets, window decals and more find their place. This is a tradition that I used to do in my own family growing up, and it’s a joy, really, to continue it now with our own children.

There’s a lot of feelings and adjectives that I could associate with this tradition: beautiful, joy-filled, memorable, family-centered, fun. But dangerous? Certainly not. I don’t think I’ve ever associated preparing for the Christmas season with the concept of danger because in the U.S. there really is nothing to fear. Perhaps someone might think your decorations are gaudy or ugly, but that’s not really something to be scared about.

Decorations are Homing Signals

I recently read an article from Open Doors USA on the experiences of Christmas for persecuted Christians around the world, and the one word that recurs throughout many of their stories is “danger”.

In countries like Syria, Christmas decorations are either illegal or dangerous, a homing signal for terrorists looking to target Christians.

“We will have some special prayers in church, but we don’t have any decorations,” said Hanna, a mother of two living in war-torn Syria. “Having Christmas decorations outside the church would provoke the terrorist to attack us. They already send the Christians a message: they have special ‘Christmas gifts’ prepared for us: three car bombs.”

Immediately, after reading Hanna’s statement, I sat back in my chair, dumbfounded. Could I ever imagine or understand what it would be like to be in this mother’s shoes? Hanna will never put up Christmas decorations at her church, or in her own home for that matter, because it would put her children in danger of being bombed by terrorists. I looked around my living room at all the bright and shining red and green lights and thought, “If Syrian Christians decorated their homes like this at Christmastime, they would be dead.”

John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

A Time of Loss

Decorations are certainly not what make Christmas “merry”, as the song goes. In fact, decorations have nothing to do with the real reason for celebrating this holiday. Nevertheless, they can still hold a special meaning for us, can’t they? Having an advent candle or calendar, decorating a tree or playing with a nativity set (even the DaySpring Inspirational Christmas The Shepherd On The Search Advent Book, Blue (60946)) can all play a role in our reflection and celebration of Jesus’ birth, and I think that we, as American Christians, often take these items for granted.

In places around the world, Christmas can be a time of fear and isolation instead of a celebration.

In several countries around the world, like Brunei, Somalia, North Korea and Tajikistan, celebrating Christmas is banned outright.

In other regions, particularly in parts the Muslim-majority world, Christmas celebrations might be tolerated for non-Muslims, but Muslim converts or non-expatriates can be at significant risk for celebrating the birth of Jesus. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, there is no allowance for any Muslim to celebrate Christmas—and since all Saudi Arabians are officially Muslim and conversion is punishable by death, that means it’s functionally illegal for any Saudi citizen to celebrate.

Finally, in other places, Christmas is a reminder of how much has been lost because of peoples’ Christian faith and how much danger is still present. In countries like Iraq and Syria, Christians have begun to return to the towns and homes that were brutally destroyed by ISIS. But amidst the joyful Christmas celebrations, there are stark memories of what was lost and how much rebuilding there is left to do. In places like Egypt, Christians know that another bombing could be just around the corner, so even though they are legally allowed to celebrate, they know they can have a target on their head as they remember the birth of Jesus.

I think it’s worth reflecting on the fact that, while we are decorating our homes for Christmas, many Christians around the world will not be. Their homes will have no indicators at all of their faith either because it is unlawful or for fear of their lives or because it reminds them of things already lost. For me, that is a somber reality. This truth makes me all-the-more grateful for my own safety and privilege in the U.S., but my heart also breaks for the families, the mothers and children elsewhere who are experiencing great pain and suffering this time of year, instead of peace and stability.

A Reminder of Pain, a Celebration of Hope

As Christmas is only a few weeks away, let us pray for our brothers and sisters around the world. December brings increased persecution and requires greater caution for believers around the world, and that is something that we should never forget, especially as we decorate our homes, host Christmas parties or attend lighting festivals.  Even though this is a joyous and celebratory time of year for most of us, for others it is a time of pain; and this truth should spur us to pray fervently and compassionately for the persecuted church this Christmas.

Pray that our brothers and sisters will hold onto the hope that one day “Violence shall no more be heard in [their] land [or] devastation or destruction within [their] borders…but the LORD will be [their] everlasting light.” (Isaiah 60:18-19)

Pray that despite their circumstances and the darkness that surrounds them that our persecuted brothers and sisters can “walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). 

Pray for believers in those countries (Brunei, Somalia, North Korea and Tajikistan) where Christmas is banned and it is illegal to celebrate. Pray they will not be discouraged by the restrictions and will carry the joy of their salvation in their heart. May they also experience the peace of the Lord and be comforted through the prayers of their brothers and sisters around the world.  

Pray for church celebrations to experience peace before, during and after their services. Pray that any plans to bomb such celebrations would be discouraged and discovered in time to protect the lives of believers celebrating the birth of our Savior. 

Pray for persecuted Christians who will celebrate Christmas in prison. Comfort them and their families as they are apart during this special time of year. Pray, too, for those held captive and for their families who mourn their absence every day but all the more at Christmas.