Got your attention didn’t I?
I should point out as I begin here that this is really a kind of “family discussion” among Christians. I don’t often post these and you’re more than welcome to read it if you’re NOT a believer but I just thought I’d let you know from the start. Ok? Ok, enough for the disclaimers.
Brothers and sisters there IS a war on Christmas whether you choose to believe or not, whether you listen to/watch Fox News or not, whether you know the history of the X in Xmas or not, there IS a war on Christmas. But it began long before you ever knew about it.
Let me offer three truths as definitive proof:
1. It was Predicted
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15
This passage from Genesis foreshadows the war on Christmas as it tells of the hostility that will exist between Jesus and the enemy. The word “war” can be defined as “a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism” so the war was predicted before Christmas was predicted.
2. It was Prompt
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Matthew 2:16
I know it was blown out of proportion but the next time someone gets perplexed by a red cup remind them that their particular battle in the war on Christmas didn’t involve the death of a child. Can you imagine a Bethlehem parent hearing any of today’s nonsense and wondering how on earth that compares to the war on Christmas they suffered through? And they probably didn’t even really know why.
3. It is Present
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12
The spiritual battle that was predicted in Genesis is constantly being waged. It occasionally spills over into the physical world as it did at the time of Jesus birth. The war on Christmas continues on a cosmological scale why wouldn’t we expect to see the effects of that on earth in our lifetime?
So what now? How do we respond?
1. Be Gentle
People that don’t want to celebrate the birth of Christ are not the enemy. Atheists who put up billboards denigrating Christmas are not the enemy. Politicians who outlaw Christmas songs, displays, even the word “Christmas” are not the enemy. The ENEMY is the enemy. These others are just good folks who have been fooled. (I warned you this was a family discussion didn’t I ?)
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
Don’t yell at the captives. Don’t forget who is the real enemy.
2. Be Joyous
I love Christmas. I love our family traditions. I love the celebration. I love the feeling of the season. That’s a whole lotta love. The spilling out of that love brings joy.
Spill on people. Spill the love and the joy. Not in a snarky way…which BELIEVE me is easy for ME to fall prey to…but in a genuine “Peace on Earth”, “Goodwill to Men”, “God Bless us Every One” kind of way. Let God fill you with it to overflowing so that it is obvious that:
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16
We don’t cajole and condemn, we enhance and enlighten. But we can’t unless God’s love and joy are spilling out of us. When should that happen more than at Christmas? Who could possibly be strong enough in their political machinations to steal what God has put in us? Spill, spill, spill!!
Don’t let the enemy steal your joy.
3. Be Still
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
The war on Christmas is both ongoing and over. We win in the end. If our joy is dependent on the societal acceptance of our cherished traditions then perhaps we need to go deeper this Christmas but I don’t think we do, I think we’re better than that.
Be still, and spill.
Merry Christmas!
Happy Holidays!
“God bless us, every one”