OH! It's Christmas music!! Now, that may be good or bad based on how you feel about this season. I have to admit, I have been jaded about this season because of all of the hype and hoopla from retailers but make no mistake, I love Christmas! The Christmas story (no, not Santa, Scrooge or Rudolph) is the single greatest occurrence in history for mankind. Without Jesus, we have no hope. So, I began reading the Christmas story this morning again but this time in Luke (the 3rd book in the New Testament, you know Matthew, Mark, Luke....) A particular verse jumped out at me and it's one that I'm sure we pass over altogether. Luke 1:3-4 reads,
...it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
After this passage Luke goes into detail about the coming of John the Baptist and of Jesus. The thing that really strikes me is this; Luke wants the reader to know with certainty the truth of the occurrence. I looked up that word in the Greek and it means firmness; undoubted truth; security from enemies and dangers.
Make no mistake, the Christmas story is under attack. The Christmas story is systematically being taken out of our culture in the spirit of political correctness. Well, last I checked, political correctness was not a spirit but trust me, there is a spiritual force behind the removal of Christmas from our culture. Remember what Luke wrote, the certainty of the truth of the occurrence. The story of Jesus is true. It changed humanity. It gave us all a second chance at right relationship with God. How will you respond to the story of Jesus being born this season? Is it just a cute story presented by children we see every year or will you allow it to sink in and change your heart?
5 comments:
Really good points you make here Joey. I smell a sermon!!!
First of all, what are you doing posting something at 5:58 in the morning? Shouldn't you be teaching a spinning class or something?
Nonetheless, I couldn't agree with you more - I am so sick of the policital correctness of having to say "Happy Holidays." So I've decided to name it what it is: Merry CHRISTmas!
If someone is not of the Christian faith (or tradition) and its important enough for them to let me know it ("Hey, I'm Jewish") then I will happily ask them to wish me a Happy Hanukkah, a bodacious Bodhi Day, a very nice Virgin of Guadalupe day, a super Santa Lucia Day, a positive Posadas Navidenas day, an enlightening Eid al Adha day, a super St. Thomas Day, a benevolent Boxing Day, a wicked Winter Solstice, even a caring week of Kwanzaa. Heck, wish me a zesty Zarathosht Diso day (if you can pronounce it!).
But let’s keep the Christ in Christmas and stand up for what we believe – its almost like this is the last opportunity that Christians have to actually use His name in ways that SHOULDN’T offend people.
Thanks for letting ME vent…
peace!
Hear hear! Like you, I'm torn between loving the Christmas season and its true message, and frustration at the commercial hype that it's become all about. However, no matter what mankind may have made of it through the years, the truth remains and never changes: Christmas is all about love, hope and amazing grace. Now THAT's what I'M talking about!!
Bryce, wow...Those are all holidays?? ;0)
Teaching today bro! See ya!
Bryce has really gone and complicated Christmas even further for me. Now I have to walk around trying to remember a bunch of other holiday names so that I can respond positively when someone wishes me a "happy Zarathosht Diso Day!!!"
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