Christmas, bah humbug
I say this not because it is something I think but because it is what a very few people think, yet they are able to have a huge negative impact on Christmas. You can no longer sing songs in schools because a few people think that they are having Christmas pushed down their throats. That's funny because I do not hear them complaining when they get the day, or week off because of the holiday. Shouldn't they be standing at the door waiting to go to work, or their kids should be standing at the door ready for school because this holiday shouldn't affect them. How is it, how is it that a minority of the people make the policy. What if a few Chrstians took a stand and made the case that our rights are being trampled because they are simply pushing Christmas right out the door. Telling our kids that they cannot sing carols, and the like.
We have had Christmas around this country (built on Christian values) for over 200 years and now in the past two or three years a few people can complain, for honestly no other reason than to complain, and poof no more singing of carols, no more Christmas plays etc. It is the same thing with the pledge, a dad says his daughter's rights are being violated because she is made to say "under God." Are you kidding me? The daughter has never said a word about it, how about her dad forcing his views on her? As Christians, we are losing small battle after small battle and many continue to do nothing about or stand up for what we believe, even if we did we would be considered right wing fanatics. But maybe that's what this world (which is not getting any better needs) some right wing, on fire, could care what anyone else thinks, people on fire for Christ. I don't know, maybe its better if we just celebrate this holiday sitting back and just be thankful for what Christ did for us (which really wan't much) he was born for the sole purpose that we should live :)
Merry Christmas
posted by gonavy @ 3:12 PM
3 comments
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3 Comments:
"Happy Holidays" used to not bug me. Now it does.
Why, because people are making a point now of using this term to exclude the word Christmas.
It's irritating, but more than that, I don't think the removal of Christ or the word Christmas from the holiday is harmless at all.
I think it is a BIG deal because a small minority is making it a BIG deal.
For years, Christmas has been misused as a commercialized Holiday. I mean, look at our Christmas (er..I mean Holiday) Parade. Who's the main draw? Is it Jesus? No. It's Santa Claus.
That bothered me. But, apparently, now people don't even want to associate Santa Calus with Christmas.
It really is scary to me.
I've made a conscious decision to not support businesses who have decided that it is okay to offend me by leaving Christmas out of their marketing plan.
I love shopping at Target. But it's a small sacrifice for me to not shop there.
Speaking of Target, I saw the words Merry Christmas on several of their advertisements the other night. This from the company that just a week ago was adament they weren't going to say it. I guess money talks, huh? Seems like some Christians did make a stand and Target backed down. A little too late for me, but it's nice to see that when we can make a change.
I hear what you're saying, but have a couple questions:
1. Since when do Christians complain about their "rights"... Jesus calls us to die everyday... to pick up our cross and follow him... not to piss and moan about not having Target (a corporation) not wish us a Merry Christmas?
2. Didn't Jesus encourage his followers to look after "the least of these"... the minority which you say shouldn't influence the majority? Are the liberals the only ones looking out for the minorities? Seems like Christians would want a piece of that too.
3. What about areas of the country where Christians are the minority? In Utah should everyone celebrate Mormon holidays?
4. OK, the bracelets are out, but the question is still pretty good - WWJD? Do you honestly believe that Jesus would be complaining about this?
5. Whatever happened to having respect for other people and their religion. Paul on Mars Hill (Acts 17... in the Bible) actually praised the people for being religious, and used their religion as a springboard to share the message of Christ, rather than using it to ostracize them.
6. When you talk about the Christian majority do you mean just "good 'ol American's who believe in God", or people who genuinely follow Jesus? Because if you think the majority of people in American are really living for Jesus wholeheartedly, yet our culture is in the shape that it's in, we have a whole new set of problems my friend.
"We aren't like the pharisees; we ARE the pharisees. The same things we dislike about the pharisees are the things the world dislikes about us." -Reggie McNeal.
I'm not trying to bash you or your thoughts. I appreciate you sharing honestly, but just thought I'd throw my two cents in...
Happy Holidays ;-)
Here are a few thoughts:
I think that you (anonymous) missed what I was talking about. It is not about complaining, although I did use the term, it is about taking religious freedom away from Christians. I agree totally to the idea that their needs to be religious freedom, being in the minitary I understand it. However, when you start to take carols out of schools, stores cannot wish you merry christmas, yet they want to profit from it, I have a problem with this double standard. When you say looking after the minorities, I am not sure what you mean. Christians should look after the least of these, but when I say minorities I am referring to those who do not want Christmas as a holiday. There have been counties in the country that have taken off of their calendar and replaced it with winter break.
We live in a country that was founded on Christian beliefs, plain and simple. Maybe it is the idea of being tolerant, not of other religions, but of taking Christ out of the picture, maybe that has been the problem that has brought us to where we are today as a culture. When I talk about theh majority of people being Christian, there have been numerous studies done that have shown the majority of Americans are Christian. Now, I understand numbers are just that, numbers but I cannot tell you who is and who is not following Christ. The idea is that 80% or more Americans belive that Christmas should be celebrated, prayer should be allowed before sporting events, another option should be taught other than evolution, carols sung in schools etc. However, it only takes one or two people to complain about ant one of these and they get their way because Christians are not being tolerant of others. Well are they being tolerant of the majority who want these things? No! When is it going to stop? What if it comes to the point that we can no longer read the Bible in churches, or no longer have church services? Do we just lay down and say, "Well we need to be tolerant of this." Remember the reason for Christmas is because we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, not so that corporations can make money. If they are going to capitalize on it, and the majority of the people buying presents are Christians (again making them money) shouldn't we be able to hear and say Merry Christmas without feeling as though we are going to offend someone. My uncle is a Muslim, from Pakistan, and when he says "Happy Ramadan" I don't go "Oh how dare you say that to me" I simply say "Happy Ramadan" back. There are people who simply want to push Christ from the forefront and if we keep going as a society it will eventually happen.
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