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December 19, 2008
|-- CHRISTMAS AT HEARTLIGHT -------------------------------|
Find free e-cards, articles, devotionals, gifts
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Christmas Is Near, by Rubel Shelly
Santa is prominent this time of year. So are Rudolph, Prancer, and the
other reindeer. Frosty is big. I've even seen larger-than-life replicas
of The Grinch of Whoville. But, it seems increasingly difficult to find
shepherds and angels. Where are the Wise Men? What became of Joseph and
Mary? Does anyone else recall when Jesus was center stage during this
holiday season?
Did I just say "holiday season"? Why, there's another evidence of our
loss. What used to be "Merry Christmas!" is now more often just "Happy
Holidays!" A penchant for political correctness has taken us to the
point that strangers to our culture would hardly guess there was once a
religious celebration during this time of year.
It was years ago now that columnist Dave Barry wrote: "To avoid
offending anybody, the schools dropped religion altogether and started
singing about the weather. At my son's school, they now hold the winter
program in February and sing increasingly non-memorable songs such as
'Winter Wonderland,' 'Frosty the Snowman' and -- this is a real song --
'Suzy Snowflake,' all of which is pretty funny since we live in Miami.
A visitor from another planet would assume that the children belonged
to the Church of Meteorology."
In trying not to offend, a music teacher in Bethel, Washington,
replaced the word "Christmas" with "winter" in an elementary school
concert four years back. Although a few parents were offended by his
action, school officials backed the teacher. Thus Christmas carols
became holiday jingles.
"In honor of the Lord."
You might simply glance over the selection of greeting cards in your
favorite store. My guess is that you'll find what I've detected. Some
stores don't even stock cards with a religious theme -- no Star over
Bethlehem, Mary and child, Baby Jesus in a manger. Christmas has been
sanitized. It has been stripped of its historic connection to Jesus
Christ. It has been turned into a "secular" holiday.
There is no biblical commandment requiring Christians to celebrate
Mothers Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. But, Paul does lay down the
principle that any holiday Christians elect to keep should be
celebrated "in honor of the Lord" (Romans 14:5-6). So I'm not
suggesting that you tear down the secular trappings of the season. If
you do honor this holiday, however, do so with holy intent. Sing of
Jesus. Read of Bethlehem. Tell the real Christmas story.
The root of Christmas lies deep in God's love. Its fruit is borne by
generous hearts, confessing lips, and surrendered lives during this
holy time of year.
---------
(c) 2008 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly <rshelly@rc.edu>'s
"FAX of Life" printed each Tuesday. See Faith Matters for
previous issues of the "FAX of Life."
RELATED LINKS:
* Inflatable Christmas
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200712/20071216_inflatable.html
* Keeping Christ in Christmas
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200711/20071128_Christmas.html
* The Place of Christmas
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200612/20061223_placeofchristmas.html
* RubelShelly.com
http://www.rubelshelly.com/
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200812/20081219_christmasnear.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
RESURRECTION MORNING, by Max Lucado
Best-selling author Lucado brings to life the story of a Roman soldier
assigned to watch the garden tomb. What he sees pierces his soul!
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?257
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
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