Putting Christ back into Christmas

Soon Christmas will be upon us again.  Some will be planning a sumptuous Christmas diner, Christmas trees and presents, maybe some time away.  But have we taken a moment to think about why all this is happening, why we have this “holiday” season in the first place? 

Has it concerned us we seem to see less and less of the Christ of Christmas than we used to?  Where is the Christ of Christmas?  We see everywhere “Xmas Sale”, “Xmas holiday special”, “Xmas Greetings”.  Even President Bush could not put “Merry Christmas” in his Christmas cards but had to put “Happy Holiday Season”.  They’re even selling “Holiday Trees” in the USA.  Isn’t that silly! 

Don’t people know why we have this “Christmas” time in the first place?  We all enjoy celebrating, we all enjoy giving and receiving, we all enjoy wonderful food, we all enjoy some time off work, we all usually enjoy hearing from friends and family either by the traditional Christmas Card or nowadays by an e-card, and all the other things that go with “Christmas”.

Whether we believe in Christ is not really the issue, but taking out the very reason for the season is pretty hypocritical.  It’s a known accepted historical fact that the man Jesus Christ was born, lived and died, and that this season we now call Christmas is the celebration and recognition of that one Man’s birth on planet earth.  There’s more historical proof for His existence than for all of the Roman Emperors. 

What a shame it is for our society to remove the Christ from Christmas.  What a shame to remove the very reason for the season.  What a shame to deceive our citizens as to the meaning of Christmas.  Come on businesses, let’s put Him back!  Let’s be true to our children and grandchildren and generations to come, as to the truth of Christmas.  They’ll find out one day anyway, so let’s do it right.  Let’s start something influential!  This Christmas, let’s wish all our family and friends a “Merry Christmas”. 

Brief Word #36 December 2013, Making Room For the Miracle Of Christmas

Hi,

Brief Word #36 December 2013, Making Room For the Miracle Of Christmas is now available on the Brief Word page at www.goodwordsnz.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

Blessings,

Stephen

The Abortion Debate!

An organisation sets up practice in Tauranga, and following that 25 local Pastors take out an advert (in August) offering their support to women considering an abortion.  The Advertising Standards Authority has made a decision on that advert saying they “found a section of the advertisement, titled ‘Medical abortions and collateral damage’, presented extreme cases ‘in an alarmist and misleading manner that went beyond the provision of robust opinion’".  (Bay of Plenty Times 28 November 2013). 

I have some questions.  How many complaints were there about that advert?  Society seems to race to embrace the minority view.  And what is society coming to when a group cannot voice their opinion?  Freedom of speech is being quashed, which is another form of the corruption of political correctness. 

Here’s another question.  I wonder if the Advertising Standards Authority is aware of the amazing work those 25 Pastors do every week.  They have in their offices people who have suffered the trauma of an abortion, and though professional counselling helps there are scars for life.  Or what about the young wife who now has trouble conceiving.  Or the older woman, who has carried guilt and shame all her life.  These are just a small part of the “collateral damage” of “medical abortions” Pastors do their best to help regularly.  Thankfully those Pastors know and engage with a Higher Power Who is able to bring healing and hope. 

There will always be different opinions about certain subjects in society.  Thankfully we’re not created as robots pre-programed to think and act in the same way.  Any government or local authority who tries to align the population’s opinions into one stream of thinking is verging on dictatorship, or at the least socialism or communism.  And none of us want that form of government. 

Can’t we have robust discussion and debate on even tough topics without people being offended?  Can’t we be secure enough in who we are, in our opinions culture and character that we’re happy to have them challenged, and, happy to defend them? 

So when a group of men and women voice their opinion on a touchy painful-for-those-involved subject they deal with regularly, surely they should be allowed to voice the truth of that opinion.  After all, those who need the support and help offered by these 25 Pastors, may well be thankful they know a place where they can access it.