For all the sound and fury about America not being a Christian nation, once again, we have come to that time of year when the government, and the retail temples for which little is sacred will close early, and then remain closed for a whole day to observe the holiday of Christmas…a day which bears the name of Christ.
While some outlets of government, such as public schools have chosen to remove his name from break which they take, his name is still attached to the holiday that the schools dare not name as it tumbles from the lips of excited children, who cannot be blamed for their jubilation and exuberance about all that the celebration brings, even if it does tend to detract from the reason we observe the celebration with his name.
This is a singular phenomenon. Government does not observe other religions in this fashion. It does not shut down for Muslim holy days. The birthdays of Buddha or Confucius are not marked with empty offices and closed stores. The radio is not filed with Zoroastrian carols at any time of year.
And while those who stridently believe in “a wall of separation between church and state” that the architects of our government never envisioned, and that would have indeed shocked and dismayed them attempt to erase these links in the name of preserving the wall that did not exist until 1949, we continue as if there is nothing at all arrogant in presuming that people more than one hundred and fifty years removed better understood what was intended than the people who wrote the blueprint. It is a fiction laid bare by what occurs this time of year, when we celebrate the birth, life, and death of a man who was God in the flesh, who came to freely give the ultimate gift, knowing that there would be too many who would reject what he gave, and would condemn themselves to a life of bondage, and an eternity of suffering before they would accept that which was freely given.
And during this time of year, when things fall still and silent, in his name, it is an occasion to reflect of the real harbinger of hope and change, humbly born, exalted and abandoned, and resurrected in real transformation. I know that people can still be sobered by the account of this life which came to save all others. I first heard this song a few years ago, and I still feel the gravity of it every single time I hear it.
Merry Christmas to all, even those who doubt or reject the gift…it is freely offered just the same.
Christmas Blessings, dear friend BiW.
Good news here in Texas. EVERYONE I encountered yesterday during their hectic shopping and errand experience was wishing each other blessings and a Merry Christmas unapologetically. Lots of folks of all shapes, sizes, colors and cultures! I think everyone is getting sick and tired of political-correctness, liberalism run amok, race-baiting and class warfare attacks. We are winning this spiritual battle because our Lord and King Jesus Christ promised us he would do it for us — and that is what he did! Fin.
Pretty song BIC…
I had never heard that and accompanied by the wonderful movies of the Nativity Story and The Passion, was made all the more special.
The irony of a story of the most awe inspiring and wisest man that ever walked this earth. I don’t think there is any reasonable person who could honestly say that Jesus has not had the most profound and lasting impact on our globe, no matter your belief or disbelief.
Born of a teenage Jewish mother and poor, adopted Jewish father, in a small village of little significance; the village itself overlooked by King Herod’s palace. The baby who would split eras, the child who was fully God born in the lowliest of places, a filthy cave reserved for domesticated animals. We know little of Him other than His birth and the last 3 1/2 years of His Life. But He would change the world forever.
There are many that choose not to believe Jesus the Christ – King Herod did and tried to have Him murdered before Jesus left the manger. This baby raised by a poor carpenter so terrified the Jewish High Council with the wisdom of His Word, they had Him crucified, carried forth by the most powerful empire the world had ever known.
If Jesus were but a man with good words and small following, the story would have ended there and faded into oblivion.
Less than 300 years later with nothing but the power of His message, the ruling empire that had killed Him declared Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the rightful heir to an eternal throne, the Living Christ. Western Civilization had begun.
And that Christ is…the Savior of the World, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Jesus is the One True Living God, for there is no other.
Merry Christmas to all!
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As Isaiah attest to more than 700 years before Christ was born.
Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
One thing I think you and I can agree on is that Casting Crowns are excellent musical ambassadors of your faith. As I’ve said on my own blog, I love their version of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” which I think has a message for believer and non-believer alike.
Since you are a fan of “While You Were Sleeping” I thought I’d point you to this live version where Casting Crown’s lead singer talks about how the song came to be, basically inspired by “O Little Town of Bethlehem”.
Merry Christmas to you and your family Sir. 🙂
I wish everyone a wonderful and very Merry Christmas.
Good to be here this morning for just a few minuets, reading comments, and again, sharing a blessing of eternal peace through Christ.
Hi Rutherford. Blessings to you and yours also. You may not join us in our celebration — but I still want to reach out and say hi and give ya a holiday hug.
Same back at ya, Cathy.
Thank you for the gentle reminder, BiW. I wish you and yours peace, love and joy during this special season.