Can I get a reality check here?
What has become of us? Seriously. This is a war on Christmas? I thought the complaint was that Christ was being taken out of Christmas. I thought the uproar was about losing the true meaning of the holiday and that the materialistic commercialism was the problem. I thought that the clamor was over replacing nativity scenes with Rudolph and his merry band of misfits. But, no...
Now we've gotten all upset over ornaments and snowflakes.
Are we so amazingly privileged and bored that we just look for ways to be victimized? And, of course, since the gauntlet has been thrown we have the obligation to be ugly in return. I mean, the name calling just has to come into play too - right? Isn't it those left-wing gay loving hippies that voted for Obama and his healthcare who want all babies aborted and gun rights stripped from the constitution who are at the helm of this War on Christmas? Of course it is.
Here's an idea.
Instead of screaming foul at the top of our lungs, instead of demanding that our life preferences and beliefs be delicately wrapped in tissue paper and tiptoed around so that they aren't slightly bruised or inadvertently bumped, why don't we practice what He preached? If you believe that Christ should be in Christmas act like it. Don't scream about it. Don't get in the face of the nearest violator and demand your rights. Jesus! I mean literally. Jesus! That's what this particular one is about, right? What would He do?
First I doubt he'd have a 6 week birthday party every year, but that is beside the point.
I do think he'd be pretty tolerant. He seemed like a tolerant guy. I think there is something in Matthew about not judging, but I'm rusty on all that.
He seemed pretty focused on asking us to love one another. I don't think he was unclear on that. When he knew he was done for this world and his last words were being spoken, love was what he chose. I think it went a little like this:
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Maybe it's just me. As I said I'm rusty on all this. But if I'm reading this right, he's saying the best way to show people that you are Christian is to love each other. Love isn't screaming. It's not accusations and name calling. There's even a verse on that. It's in Corinthians. I'm sure you've heard it at somebody's wedding. And though that isn't straight from Jesus' mouth, I think it covers the topic he was trying to convey.
That is this:
Just love each other, people. Don't look to be offended. Stop screaming at everybody about how they are sinners and wrong and ugly and stupid. You want Christmas? Then be Christmas. YOU. Be the spirit of Christmas. Be faithful, generous and loving. Be tolerant, open and turn the other cheek. I'm pretty sure that would be the best birthday present he could ever ask for.
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