If our nation’s collective behavior could be diagnosed this week, I am sure we would be pronounced mentally ill.
Exhibit A. Click here to read how our President’s staff has decorated the White House with trees, lights, and nativity sets to celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus. Click here to read how our President’s staff is punishing military staff for displaying their personal faith in Jesus.
On the one hand, we want to enjoy the warm, fuzzy feelings of Christmas, while on the other, we don’t want people to embrace its results. It’s okay to sing the songs and soak in the sentiment, but letting it effect our behavior is a no-no. It’s fine to enjoy the peace, love, joy, and prosperity of the Christian Christmas, but the lifestyle that produces it must be publicly squelched.
Exhibit B. Christmas is all about the birth of the One who gave His life so that the rest of humanity could experience abundant life. Seven days before Christmas, our elected representatives passed a huge bill that fully funded, among other things, the baby parts merchant called Planned Parenthood. Both of my senators voted for it. My representative didn’t even bother to show up. But I imagine that sometime this week all three of them will sit in a church and smile as a dozen small children act out the Christmas story. I wonder if they will even think about all the babies whose organs will be harvested and sold this next year thanks to their Christmas week actions?
Merry Christmas?
Exhibit C. The University of Tennessee issued a guide to ensure that campus holiday parties couldn’t be confused as Christmas parties. No Santa (are we even sure he is a Christian?), no Christmas gifts exchanged, basically an order to pretend that December 25th isn’t on the calendar and hasn’t been the centerpiece of American life and commerce for centuries. But, you can go here and purchase official UT ornaments for your Christmas tree. The University of Tennessee will profit from your purchase, but guess where the one place in the United States is where you will get in trouble for displaying it? You guessed it: the UT campus.
(Due to public outcry and pressure applied from political leaders, UT’s leadership has backed down from its latest attempt to reshape American culture, but the absurdity of their mindset can’t be ignored.)
So, Merry Christmas! Unless you are in Knoxville. Then you must acknowledge that different people celebrate in different ways and on different days. Good grief! We learned that in kindergarten. And here in the United States, folks have celebrated Christmas on December 25th for centuries. When are these elitist going to learn that? Trying to shame us into forsaking our traditions makes a joke out of your Office of Diversity. At the very least, the official name should be changed to The Office of Selective and Politically Correct Diversity As We Choose To Define It.
Merry Christmas! Why is that greeting so offensive? Is it because the religion these champions of diversity want to elevate has no holiday to compare? No time set aside each year to give thanks for each other, to be mindful of the less fortunate, and to promote peace and goodwill to all men? Is it because they have no joyful songs that every child, regardless of color or culture, can stand shoulder-to-shoulder and sing with enthusiasm? Is it because, instead of drawing us together in love, theirs pulls us apart in hate?
I’m not sure what happens to our representatives when they get to Washington or to our experts when they earn all those degrees, but I am hoping we can find the cure.
Christmas and Jesus are either good or not. An unbiased look at history will show that our nation and our families were better off when it was okay to fully embrace them both.
My prayer this Christmas is a variation of Tiny Tim’s from A Christmas Carol. While I certainly want God’s blessing, we need Him to “help us – every one!”
No other carol captures the whole meaning of Christmas like O Holy Night! – my favorite. May the fullness of all God intended be yours this Christmas.
1. O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Chorus
Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night, O night divine.
2. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand:
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land,
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;
Chorus
He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King! before him bend!
3. Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,
And in his name all oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his Holy name!
Chorus
Christ is the Lord! O, praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!
