Last year I posted the following excerpt from The Fat Pastor:
So when people get angry when someone says “Happy Holidays,” I get angry that they are angry. If you want to keep Christ in Christmas, worry about things more important than the signs and decorations at JC Penney. You think Christmas should be about Christ? Then take up your cross and follow Jesus – not into department stores, but into the prisons, the hospitals, among the poor and the outcast. You get angry when someone doesn’t say “Christmas?” Try getting angry over Christ’s children dying of malnutrition or AIDS. Try getting angry over the fact that the Christmas chocolate you love so much was kept cheap on the back of the working poor. Try getting angry over the fact that Christians are keeping people out of churches with their closed minds and closed doors.
You want to keep Christ in Christmas? Try putting Christ in your life first. Then we’ll talk about how to greet each other. And if you want a truly Christian greeting, one that makes no mistake whether or not you follow the Christ child, try, “the peace of Christ be with you.”
You brood of vipers. You hypocrites. Try getting upset over something that matters. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Great advice.
Thank you , and welcome back. We’ve missed your writings.
Thank you, Laura
Since learning that Christ did not celebrate His birthday, but rather the importance of the Feast days, (like the Lords Supper, Passover etc) I do not stress out when I see all the lights, decorations, and Santa’s around. What I question is that the Christmas theme pairs itself with the “birth of the Savior.” Christ was born in Bethleham, it’s true, however, just not on Dec. 25th! So, when Christians jump up and down and claim “paganism,” when they say the Jesus is the reason for the season…it has me down. Jesus is the reason we live, and move and have our being “everyday!” He is to be thanked “everyday.” I would hope that when we all stand before Him, that He would look beyond what we celebrate, and see that it is not about “us”, but it truly is “all” about Him.than
The spirit of Santa and giving, is more the truth, than Jesus being born Dec. 25th! Just saying. Celebrate the “Gift” that keeps on giving, (love, forgiveness, and joy) everyday!
Some very good thoughts, Cathy. Thank you.