As we continue tracking the life and ministry of John the Baptist, we are given one final Advent alert about the greatest threat to Christmas and the Christian story. It's not politics or paganism. Rather, according to John the Baptist, the greatest threat to Christmas is religion. During the height of his baptizing ministry, John came face to face with the Pharisees and Saducees coming out to the Jordan River. This prompted a harsh word of rebuke about their presumption and performance. This Christmas, we are invited back to the manger to abandon our religious attempts to please God. Instead, we celebrate the names of love: Jesus (God Saves) and Immanuel (God is with us). Divine love drowns out religion and reminds us of our only hope.