Seems His Majesty the President is under attack once again and this time it isn't from the Democrats. The charge: not being a courageous Christian and omitting the word "Christmas" from the holiday card he and the Missus sent out to their vast constituency this winter season.
Given that this is a "War President," folks should be glad he even sent out greetings at all, considering what an irony it is to wish others peace while half way around the world you're mired in the worst military and diplomatic blunder in modern times with the result being discord, unrest, death, and destruction for so many others. (But hey, they're Muslims so it doesn't matter, right?)
Here's the thing, people: this is a time of year--the END of the year--for all of us--Christians (in all their variety), Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, hedonists, atheists, agnostics, humanists, whatever your -ist or -ism is--to reflect on what we value individually and how we expect to treat one another. As a Christian, I know what this time of year is about and I ponder it quietly and peacefully in my heart and mind. I don't get bent out of shape when someone wishes me Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings.
If Jesus was here today, He would shake His head in disbelief. His heart would be pained not by the disappearance of His name in a season, but by the lack of the spirit of His life in our hearts. I fear He would find us behaving like the Pharisees--more concerned with semantics, rules, and appearances, than with doing good deeds, being pure in our hearts and minds, and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.
If it takes the word Christmas to remind those of us who call ourselves Christians that the season is about Christ, then we've arrived at a sad and insecure point in our spiritual and religious journeys. Astonishingly, there are those of us "among the flock" who remember every single day that we have placed Christ in our lives as a guide and for us this time of year is a time to reflect on whether our behavior is matching the template Jesus gave us.
And if it takes the word Christmas to remind those around us who aren't Christians that we are Christians, then we've really arrived at a very anti-Christian point in our human journey and we've missed the whole point about who and what Jesus represents: the manifestation of God's love for all of His children, unconditionally and without qualification; the delivery of peace.
May this time of year be a time of reflection, hope, and peace--whatever your faith.
Shalom
Sa'laam
Pace
Peace
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2 comments:
Or, as Frederick in _Hannah & Her Sisters_ said, "If Jesus came back and saw what's going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up."
Wow, I posted about this exact topic recently too! I agree with you 100%.
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