The controversy this year about retail stores saying "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas has been around for a while. As a Christian, I like to say merry Christmas. However, with multiple celebrations this time of year, I have no problem with people saying happy holidays ... which include Christmas, the New Year, Hanukkah, Kwanza and whatever. I have not seen happy holidays (plural) as a replacement of Christmas. But now I see the controversy has spread to the lighted trees which we use to celebrate Christmas (not Hanukkah, the New Year, or Kwanza). To refer to it as a holiday tree is to replace Christmas. If you don't want to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ ... fine! If you desire to celebrate it sans tree ... fine! But don't put up a tree and call it something other than a Christmas tree! I understand the desire to not offend people of different faiths (or no faith), but I am offended when you change the names of MY faith celebrations.
The mayor of Boston at least decided, that for him, it was a Christmas tree (after the lumberjack who felled it said if they call it a holiday tree then I should have just fed it into the chipper!). However, the town's attempt to explain why they want to call it a holiday tree is ... "We want to be sensitive to all ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs," said Marc Steczyk, a town spokesman. "We're in the business of treating all people how they should be treated." That apparently is true of all people except Christians!
Enjoy my faith celebrations with me, or choose to ignore me, but leave my Christmas tree alone!! It is after all a fairly innocuous portrayal of the Christian beliefs surrounding Christmas. The evergreen representing everlasting life that comes by faith in Jesus Christ. The tree reminding us that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world (believers and unbelievers alike). The lights reminding us that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, giving us God's Truth. You can enjoy the lighted tree without knowing the significance it shares, but you cannot spend eternity in Heaven without knowing the Savior that was born that Christmas night!
From Luke chapter 2 ....
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people (a carefully diverse invitation spoken by the angels that night).
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.
Merry Christmas to ALL ...
and to ALL a good night!
No comments:
Post a Comment