| | Let me start this entry with certain qualifying comments about myself. I am a Christian. A Bible believing, Christ confessing, Conservative Christian. Some would even say that I'm a little to the right of Attila the Hun. That may be just a bit of exaggeration but it gives scope to what I have to say.
I believe that Christians should give the rest of the world a little, no a lot of a break. The Holiday season is coming up and the first thing I heard on Christian radio is that someone had a list of the Stores who have a policy against saying "Merry Christmas." I didn't hear much but I assume it was for the purposes of boycotting them.
My question is do we really want to do this? Is this how Christ has taught us to be? To bind the conscience of people is not according to the Spirit of God. There are many reasons and considerations for why the business community has this policy. One, maybe there are those companies who in fact are hostile to the Christian faith. Sad but true. Here's the thing. Our attempts to bind their conscience will only result in an increase of hostility. Only the Holy Spirit can change a person's heart. The Kingdom of God will not be advanced by our demanding our faith be observed by everyone. What keeps running through my mind is the passage, "This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me." Mt15:8. Forcing pagans and people from other religions to Say "Merry Christmas" is not what Jesus had in mind when He told us to "let our light shine".
I know that "Jesus is the reason for the season". I agree with that in general but only for us Christians. Jewish people celebrate Chanukah or is it Hanukkah. Should we expect Jewish people to say Merry Christmas? Is it wrong for us to say Happy Chanukah? Well interestingly enough Jesus celebrated Chanukah. Don't believe me? Look it up for yourself in John 10:22-23.
And what about those sincere Christians who believe that because the Bible never commands us to celebrate Christmas. There's a whole other subject. The same Christian liberty that allows for us to be able to celebrate Christmas also allows for them to not to celebrate. Or do we just decide to judge them for their belief?
It's interesting that we who shun the notion of the materialistic aspects of Christmas, will turn around and boycott certain businesses because they won't say Merry Christmas. Think about that...if a store won't acknowledge Christmas you will honor Christ by practicing your materialism elsewhere.
I like it when people say "Merry Christmas." I like saying it to other people. I think it's sad that others will celebrate Christmas without any thought to Christ. Yes, there have been times in the past when I have gotten angry at people who won't say "Merry Christmas" also. And yes I'd like everyone to Believe in Christ. Why wouldn't I? But I know I can't force on them. That's the work of the Holy Spirit.
This Christmas let us keep Christmas by being gracious Christians. GRACE FILLED CHRISTIANS Let us be filled with all the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control we can possibly contain. Then, by the fruit of the Spirit manifest in our nature, the world will come to Christ. Well at least some of them. I'm still a Calvinist don't ya know.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Edwin
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| | Posted 11/19/2008 1:19 AM - 19 Views - 2 eProps - 1 Comment
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