Morning Moments

Before we continue to discuss the events surrounding what we call "Christmas," let's take a look at "What's wrong with Christmas?" As never before there is an all out attack on the Christian emphasis on Christmas. In the first place, I KNOW it is a Christian celebration of the Incarnation. We certainly do not know the day of Jesus birth, and it is true that it probably was not in December, but what does that have to do with the price of eggs in China? THAT is NOT what's wrong with "Christmas".

I also realize that it is not the birth of Christ, but the death, burial and ressurection that is most important. But why, pray tell, cannot we who are Christians, who were reared with Christian values, in a nation that was certainly founded and IMPACTED by those Christian values, be told that we cannot have manger scenes in public places. Bah humbug!

The WISE men, who did not go to the manger, but came maybe as much as a couple of years later, came to WORSHIP HIM! They did so not because He had been born, but because they recognized that only GOD is worthy of worship and that God had become a Man as God designed man to be.

I certainly do not worship the god of the muslims, nor the Hindus, nor any other "false" religion, but I respect their right to do it. Isn't it interesting that when a Baptist preacher said something about Muhammud being a petafile the new media jumped on him like white on rice, and the muslim world went wild.

What's wrong with us Christians when Christmas is attacked? In the first place, we EXPECT the world to blampheme our God. THEY DO NOT KNOW HIM! By the way, Jesus said they can be forgiven for that. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to tell them about HIM. But let's be honest about this. The enemies of Christ have used anything and everything to attempt to discredit Him, because they know deep inside that they will stand before Him one day as JUDGE.

Another thing. God sent not His Son into the world to CONDEMN the world, but to save all who would come to Him through simple faith in Jesus Christ. The problem is that many of us who call ourselves "Christians" aren't, so we celebrate Christmas the same way the world does - commercially! We often place more emphasis on the giving of gifts than we do THE GIFT of God to us in Christ.

I don't know when He was born, and frankly it does not matter to me. What is important is that HE WAS, and He was in order to die for our sins and be raised from the dead to free me from the sin principle that for too long dominated my life.

We all need to learn a little RESPECT for one another, even when we adamantly disagree. Even our President elect has said this is no longer a Christian nation:(
The truth is we let this thing get out of hand a long time ago. Church has become a place rather than a people. Christianity has become commercialized because of substituting "coming to CHRIST" with "coming to church. Christianity is not a PLACE, it is a PERSON; not a religion but a RELATIONSHIP; not a day but THE DEITY!

I will place the emphasis where it belongs regardless of what this or any other country does. GOD was manifest IN THE FLESH! And HE (the WORD) dwelt among us. As Charlton Heston said regarding his gun, so I say regarding my Bible, "They will have to pry it out of my hand over my cold dead body." NOW let's be Christian about Christmas and let the world know that we do not expect them to understand our concern, but we DO expect RESPECT for our CHRIST! AMEN! So what's wrong with "Christmas"? Only "Christianity" without CHRIST! Commercialism is NOT Christmas - CHRIST IS!

PRAYER: Lord, it seems we have created a mess, just as Alexander the Great did when he marched his army into the sea for baptism and called it Christian. Help us to see that our true Christain faith, though personal, is public as we confess you before men. Help us, O God, not to be so caught in the world, but to be caught up in the WORD.