So Christians everywhere are all up in arms over "Happy Holidays!" Really??!!
Of all the things to get yourself all in a tizzy over is this really that important?
Don't get me wrong, I am against the secularism, and commercialism of Christmas just as much as some.
Jesus is most definitely the reason for the season!
However, I think what I heard on the radio by dear old Focus on the Family is a bit over the top.
Boycotting stores, signing petitions, and sending in emails to change big corporations advertising and store front clerk greetings. Choosing the stores by their Christian/Christmas friendly rating. Wow.
Why so much energy and precious air time poured into this? Wouldn't it be far more fruitful if we just spent that drive and directed that passion into being like Christ this Christmas.
If you have got the "Keep Christ in Christmas" bumper sticker on your car and yet blaring from your livingroom big screen can be heard our Lord and Saviors name in vain during your favorite T.V. program, what reallys the problem?
If on Sunday is the only time your Bible is cracked open or your head is bowed... if you can look back over this past year and can't think of even one new person that you have shared the gospel with...Could it be that there might be a bigger issue?
It seems that Christians can get so caught up in a bandwagon mentality. "Oh, the nerve, the unrighteousness of it all, I am so offended, we must fight back!"
Seriously?
How about we keep the CHRIST in CHRISTIAN this Christmas and any of the other 364 days of the year. Lets encourage one another to focus on those things that really matter.
"And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him." ~2 Cor.3:18 (TLB I liked the simpleness of the verse in this translation)
When we pursue God, when we seek hard after Him we receive a heart like Him. That is our reward.
Don't settle for lesser passions. What is greater than a heart like Jesus?
Suddenly, your eyes are opened to what really matters. You see the pain and hurt and suffering all around you. You see the multitudes of lost souls. You hunger after truth, and righteousness.
What does that mean? It means you get off your duff and you do something about it! It means that not a day goes by where you haven't spent time on your knees crying out to God to change you, mold you, USE you to further His kingdom, bless those around you and LOVE.
Okay, so the Old Navy salesperson says "Happy Holidays!" you smile real big and say "Well, thank you and a very Merry Christmas to you!"
"And hey, let me tell you a little something about that Christ in Christmas..."
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,
7 comments:
Thank you!
Excellent post. I was actually thinking very similar thoughts this week.
I love the way you think.
Keep thinking. Keep writing.
Lots of love to you, my dear.
Thank you so much for your words, it seems we christians can be so righteously indignant that we are of no earthly good sometimes, thanks for the reminder
Amen sister!!! And I asked Emily (who works at Old Navy)...and she most certainly says Merry Christmas, but that would be because Christ is living in her!
Preach it sista!
you hit the nail on the head
love,
j
I agree whole heartedly with what you said about being more like Christ this Christmas and all through out the year. We get so wrapped up with what others should be doing that we are unaware of how we are not being Christ-like. However, I understand where these Christians are coming from that want to keep Christ in Christmas. I am one of those people. I make sure I wear my button that reads, It's Ok To Say Merry Christmas" and I make sure I tell those store front clerks Merry Christmas. My family and I try to be a witness and we go out and street preach as well. (I am not meaning to sound prideful,I am just saying we should do both) People say we can't expect a lost world to rejoice with us in the true meaning of Christmas. My belief is even though not all of our fore fathers and those in the past were Christian's, they all shared a mutual respect for the scriptures and confided in Christians. People back in the 1800's may not have all been saved but they did not get offended by Christmas and still respected our beliefs. They were not taking the Bible out of schools and turning Christmas trees into a "Holiday Tree" The whole reason why things have gotten so bad today is because a few atheists have gotten offended and the silent majority have been SILENT. If we continue not to fight as Focus On The Family does than this country will truly not be a Christian nation any longer and Obama's words will ring true.I do not believe it's over the top to boycott stores, sign petitions, and sending in emails to change big corporations advertising and store front clerk greetings. Remember it didn't used to be that stores were like this and theres a reason for that. Don't be silent any more than you would about Planned Parenthood feminism, and communism. America has ALWAYS had unbelievers in it but there still was a time when we could have a nativity scene in public. There was a time when movies spoke of God and we should not throw our hands up and say, "well it's a lost world...what do you expect" I say fight for whats right! You can still be a godly woman and be a witness all at the same time. And if by chance you do offend some people, Jesus and the apostle Paul were known to do that as well. It wasn't all about feel good messages. He spoke of sin and evil doing in this world. So should we.
WH Christian homeschool,
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. I agree with you! Like I said, I want others to know that Jesus is most definitely the reason for the season!
I do believe that we should stand up for what is right and fight for Gods truth to stand out in this dark world.
I'm not sure that I would put the same effort into emails, petitions and boycotting to do with Christmas as I would into educating people, donating and supporting "right to life" campaigns or into fighting planned parenthood agendas. I just see protecting human life as far more important than making a stink about a big corporations advertising.I am not saying that its not important, or that it doesn't serve a purpose. I just know that I have limited time and resources and would rather spend them where I feel REALLY matters.
We have so much luxury here in how we spend our time and money. We have so much freedom to share the gospel, exhort Christians, and support financially our brothers and sisters elsewhere in the world who are not so privileged.
I think that native missionarys in other countries would shake their heads at what would be coming from the radio or our mouths here. They would see it as such a waste of time. They are so limited and yet so on fire! Their poverty, hardship and persecution has empowered them. We on the otherhand in North America get petty and are so very asleep.
I agree we should fight for whats right and for what truly matters. I think a little persecution here in Canada/U.S is exactly what we as Christians might just need to wake up and do something!
I am so glad your family has a heart for evangelism as well. My husband and sons do a lot of street witnessing. A wishy washy gospel is something we are completely NOT interested in.
The thing is Paul and Jesus DID offend many, but who did they offend? It wasn't the lost desperately seeking...it was those that were full of themselves and their own pride, those that believed they had it all right and all together.
I would far rather use a humble approach like Jesus and love on the lost and share with them from my heart why I love this time of year and why its so very special than come out with both guns a'blaring spouting my self-righteousness and telling them how very wrong they are.
I hope you can hear my heart on this...thank you again for sharing yours.
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