The War On Christmas
Christmas time has become a very interesting time in America. I have enjoyed the church's reaction to the secularization of Christmas. I recently read an article about a Wisconsin elementary School that changed the words of "Silent Night" To "Cold in the Night". I am certain there will be lawsuits. I am certain all of this will continue to be news throughout the month of December.
The Church often reacts as if America is the New Israel. Church leaders get all offended and worked up when the world does not recognize Christianity. Why should Target and Sears recognize Christmas? The answer of most church leaders is because the majority of Americans are Christians. Let us pretend that the majority of Americans were Jewish. Would it be alright with you if Sears and Target only recognized Hanukkah.
Now friends, I do not want you to think that I am on the wrong side of this issue. I find the schools, government, and stores ridiculous for not mentioning Christmas. I do not believe the majority of non-Christian people care if the word Christmas is posted on a store, and if they do care, they should be ignored for being petty and shallow.
Now that I have made my position clear, I want to challenge the church to be more concerned about how we celebrate Christmas than we are concerned about how the world celebrates the Holidays. For years and years, the Church was concerned with Christmas becoming too commercialized. Now the Church is worried that the commercialization of Christmas is becoming to secular. I believe we should stop worrying if Wal-Mart is going to keep the Christ in Christmas, and start worrying if we are being Biblical in our Christmas behaviors and attitudes.
Earlier this year, I saw a Church that had a sign in the front yard that stated they supported the 10 Commandments. At the first of December, the 10 Commandments sign was taken down and replaced by a nativity scene. Nativity scenes would not have been permitted in most Evangelical churches before the 20th century. Many evangelical churches would have considered the nativity scene a breaking of the 2cd commandment. "We are not to make any graven images." However, many churches saw the Catholics and the mainline denominations nativity scenes and found them beautiful. The nativity scene has quickly grown in popularity to the point where it is not a controversy to have them in front of an evangelical church anymore. Thus, there is one church in my community that has fought hard all year long for the 10 Commandments, and then proudly breaks one of those commandments in the month of December. I find this very funny in my own dry and boring way.
Even if there is nothing wrong with a nativity scene. I still think that many Christians fall head-first into the commercialization aspect of the Holiday. I think we would all be better off if we stopped and recognized Christ on Christmas morning. Maybe we should offer a prayer of thanks. Maybe we can read the Christmas story. Maybe we can talk about the gifts that were given to Christ, and the ultimate gift that God gave to us on Christmas day.
I saw a pencil one time that said, "Let's keep the Christ In Christmas". I am fine with this. However, I believe we should not worry so much about the world. We should focus on the Church.
The Church often reacts as if America is the New Israel. Church leaders get all offended and worked up when the world does not recognize Christianity. Why should Target and Sears recognize Christmas? The answer of most church leaders is because the majority of Americans are Christians. Let us pretend that the majority of Americans were Jewish. Would it be alright with you if Sears and Target only recognized Hanukkah.
Now friends, I do not want you to think that I am on the wrong side of this issue. I find the schools, government, and stores ridiculous for not mentioning Christmas. I do not believe the majority of non-Christian people care if the word Christmas is posted on a store, and if they do care, they should be ignored for being petty and shallow.
Now that I have made my position clear, I want to challenge the church to be more concerned about how we celebrate Christmas than we are concerned about how the world celebrates the Holidays. For years and years, the Church was concerned with Christmas becoming too commercialized. Now the Church is worried that the commercialization of Christmas is becoming to secular. I believe we should stop worrying if Wal-Mart is going to keep the Christ in Christmas, and start worrying if we are being Biblical in our Christmas behaviors and attitudes.
Earlier this year, I saw a Church that had a sign in the front yard that stated they supported the 10 Commandments. At the first of December, the 10 Commandments sign was taken down and replaced by a nativity scene. Nativity scenes would not have been permitted in most Evangelical churches before the 20th century. Many evangelical churches would have considered the nativity scene a breaking of the 2cd commandment. "We are not to make any graven images." However, many churches saw the Catholics and the mainline denominations nativity scenes and found them beautiful. The nativity scene has quickly grown in popularity to the point where it is not a controversy to have them in front of an evangelical church anymore. Thus, there is one church in my community that has fought hard all year long for the 10 Commandments, and then proudly breaks one of those commandments in the month of December. I find this very funny in my own dry and boring way.
Even if there is nothing wrong with a nativity scene. I still think that many Christians fall head-first into the commercialization aspect of the Holiday. I think we would all be better off if we stopped and recognized Christ on Christmas morning. Maybe we should offer a prayer of thanks. Maybe we can read the Christmas story. Maybe we can talk about the gifts that were given to Christ, and the ultimate gift that God gave to us on Christmas day.
I saw a pencil one time that said, "Let's keep the Christ In Christmas". I am fine with this. However, I believe we should not worry so much about the world. We should focus on the Church.
posted by Foundes Community Church @ 12:48 PM
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