Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
The Christmas Holiday season has just passed. It is a wonderful time of year and has long been associated with an increased level of cheer and goodwill with most people. It has also been a time of deep depression for a few, as they battle loneliness and separation from loved ones at a time that they believe should be the most happy time of the year.
It has now become a new battlefield for the people who continue to try and divide our country. There is a drive to try and define a war on Christmas. It is unbelievable to me how some people will use anything to drive a wedge in the country. This is a non issue as far as I am concerned.
As I have told you before, I am a Christian. I believe Jesus came to earth, lived, died, and rose again to save us. Christmas is the celebration of that fact. It likely wasn't on December 25th that he was born, and wasn't even likely that it was in December. Since the shepherds were watching their sheep in the field, it was more than likely warmer months. The celebration date was set much, much later. However, that does not change the reason for the celebration. The reason for the season.
Approximately 83% of US Citizens are Christain, according to the most recent polls. That is an overwhelming majority of our citizens. Certainly, they are of differing denominations, but still christian. Our founding documents and the constitutions of our states refer to God. Many of our principles of governing came from the Judeo Christian traditions. We are free to worship openly. We can minister in all areas of our great country. We advertise, we meet, we send newsletters and information through the USPS. We use e-mails to pass along information without any interference. We are able to travel to any country in the world as long as we have some type of relationship as a country to work as missionaries and to promote our faith. We probably have the greatest freedom to worship in this country of any country in history. Still, some want to say we are being persecuted.
It must be in the psyche of some people to have to feel they are being persecuted. Finding people that do not agree with everything you say and do is not persecution. I think much of this posturing is used to sway opinions and to prey on the faith of individuals. To create anger against someone or something. Not very Christian sounding though.
Everyone in this country is not Christian. I want to pray for them. I want to help them. I want to help them find what I have found, and I cannot do that by only condemning them. God has said that He would that all should be saved and none perish. I am proud that there has been and is a separation of church and state in this country. I believe that is more important for the church than it is for the state. That does not mean that there is no religion at all within the state. It only means that our government will not establish a religion as the religion of the state. However it also means that we will protect the rights of our citizens to worship freely and without interference from the government.
Christmas itself has become more of an event for most to buy more things than a true worship time of Jesus Christ. I am guilty of enjoying this part of Christmas as well. I have enjoyed Santa Claus and all that goes with that. I love the Christmas lights and decorations. I love hearing from friends and loved ones through the Christmas Cards. I love giving and receiving gifts.
I also love to get to a quiet time and reflect on what this holiday is really about. I have tried to read the Christmas Story from the Bible for my children over the years on Christmas Eve. Sometimes we have gone to Christmas Eve services.
Now I am being told by some people that if I say Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings that I am being un-Christian. I don't believe that. And every business I have heard being targeted for boycotting for having a sign out that uses one of those phrases, has also had Merry Christmas in their stores as well. If I say have a good holiday during Christmas, it means Merry Christmas too. I use all these greetings during the Christmas Season and it takes absolutely nothing away from my faith to do so.
The premise behind this conservative media driven idea is completely wrong in my view. They say that 'these people' are taking Christ out of Christmas. No matter what you to do, not do, or say, you cannot take Christ out of Christmas. Christ is Christmas. The Christ I believe in is all knowing, all seeing, omnipotent and omnipresent. We have no power to take him out of any day. He will always be there no matter what anyone says. The over commercialization of Christmas is a bigger threat to the real meaning of Christmas than someone saying Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings. At least they are acknowledging the season for a time of greeting and goodwill instead of promoting it for the purpose of profits.
It has now become a new battlefield for the people who continue to try and divide our country. There is a drive to try and define a war on Christmas. It is unbelievable to me how some people will use anything to drive a wedge in the country. This is a non issue as far as I am concerned.
As I have told you before, I am a Christian. I believe Jesus came to earth, lived, died, and rose again to save us. Christmas is the celebration of that fact. It likely wasn't on December 25th that he was born, and wasn't even likely that it was in December. Since the shepherds were watching their sheep in the field, it was more than likely warmer months. The celebration date was set much, much later. However, that does not change the reason for the celebration. The reason for the season.
Approximately 83% of US Citizens are Christain, according to the most recent polls. That is an overwhelming majority of our citizens. Certainly, they are of differing denominations, but still christian. Our founding documents and the constitutions of our states refer to God. Many of our principles of governing came from the Judeo Christian traditions. We are free to worship openly. We can minister in all areas of our great country. We advertise, we meet, we send newsletters and information through the USPS. We use e-mails to pass along information without any interference. We are able to travel to any country in the world as long as we have some type of relationship as a country to work as missionaries and to promote our faith. We probably have the greatest freedom to worship in this country of any country in history. Still, some want to say we are being persecuted.
It must be in the psyche of some people to have to feel they are being persecuted. Finding people that do not agree with everything you say and do is not persecution. I think much of this posturing is used to sway opinions and to prey on the faith of individuals. To create anger against someone or something. Not very Christian sounding though.
Everyone in this country is not Christian. I want to pray for them. I want to help them. I want to help them find what I have found, and I cannot do that by only condemning them. God has said that He would that all should be saved and none perish. I am proud that there has been and is a separation of church and state in this country. I believe that is more important for the church than it is for the state. That does not mean that there is no religion at all within the state. It only means that our government will not establish a religion as the religion of the state. However it also means that we will protect the rights of our citizens to worship freely and without interference from the government.
Christmas itself has become more of an event for most to buy more things than a true worship time of Jesus Christ. I am guilty of enjoying this part of Christmas as well. I have enjoyed Santa Claus and all that goes with that. I love the Christmas lights and decorations. I love hearing from friends and loved ones through the Christmas Cards. I love giving and receiving gifts.
I also love to get to a quiet time and reflect on what this holiday is really about. I have tried to read the Christmas Story from the Bible for my children over the years on Christmas Eve. Sometimes we have gone to Christmas Eve services.
Now I am being told by some people that if I say Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings that I am being un-Christian. I don't believe that. And every business I have heard being targeted for boycotting for having a sign out that uses one of those phrases, has also had Merry Christmas in their stores as well. If I say have a good holiday during Christmas, it means Merry Christmas too. I use all these greetings during the Christmas Season and it takes absolutely nothing away from my faith to do so.
The premise behind this conservative media driven idea is completely wrong in my view. They say that 'these people' are taking Christ out of Christmas. No matter what you to do, not do, or say, you cannot take Christ out of Christmas. Christ is Christmas. The Christ I believe in is all knowing, all seeing, omnipotent and omnipresent. We have no power to take him out of any day. He will always be there no matter what anyone says. The over commercialization of Christmas is a bigger threat to the real meaning of Christmas than someone saying Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings. At least they are acknowledging the season for a time of greeting and goodwill instead of promoting it for the purpose of profits.
posted by NHThomas | 1:06 PM
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