What Can We Do To Make Christmas Right?
INTRO: For many it is not about Christmas anymore. It is about the holidays. For those that Christmas is only a time of getting off work – hopefully paid, but at the very least a few days of R&R or for some even a time of partying. It is not about the young child born in a stable. It is not about the message of hope promised by the Prophets, given to the shepherds, confirmed to a young virgin named Mary and her betrothed husband Joseph, realized by Simeon and Anna, and recorded in the Bible for you and I to ponder and know. For many it is only a time of “holidays” that cannot be attributed to even the one who we have named after – Jesus Christ. But honestly, should that really surprise us? Everything good is twisted and corrupted by Satan if he can do it. Christmas is no different! Let’s start.
Why has it gone from “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays?”
More about shopping deals than gift giving
More about gift giving than being nice
More about just being nice than just wanting to help
Side note – let me share a story:
Ads proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," will appear on Washington buses starting next week and running through December.
The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.
In lifting lyrics from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," the Washington-based group is wading into what has become a perennial debate over commercialism, religion in the public square and the meaning of Christmas.
"We are trying to reach our audience, and sometimes in order to reach an audience, everybody has to hear you," said Fred Edwords, spokesman for the humanist group.
"Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of nontheists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion."
To that end, the ads and posters will include a link to a Web site that will seek to connect and organize like-minded thinkers in the D.C. area, Edwords said.
Edwords said the purpose isn't to argue that God doesn't exist or change minds about a deity, although "we are trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people's minds."
The group defines humanism as "a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity."
Did you know? Black Friday is when many stores become profitable for the year. This past year was tragic when a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death on the day after thanksgiving by over enthusiastic shoppers.
Not only is commercialization sustained above all other, another reason Merry Christmas is being replaced is that as a society our…
1 John 3:20 KJV For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1 Timothy 4:2 KJV Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
We are aware of His purity
We are reminded of our shortcomings
We are removing His accomplishments
We are aware of
We see commercialization hiding the real Christmas and our conscious smothered and we also see…
Society has been told or convinced that we cannot remind others about God (or His Son)
Society is uncomfortable being reminded about Jesus and their own offenses
“Society” wants all references to God and His Son gone
Society’s own are willing pawns of Satan and his plans
Matthew 5:13 KJV Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Okay, we have looked at the question why has Merry Christmas been replaced with happy holidays, but let us answer the question…
What can we do to make Christmas right?
Matthew 5:14-16 KJV 14Ye are
the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
A light so visible by all – 14
A light so bright - 15
A light so His! - 16
1 John 4:7-8 KJV 7Beloved,
let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born
of God, and knoweth God.
8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
We are His
We should love
We should sacrifice as He did
We should give as He did
Be sacrificial
In attitude
In everyday life (willing to give of yourself)
Be real this Christmas
Don’t be a sham
Be His servant
Reach out to others – 22
Seek out others - 23
Jude 1:17-25 KJV 17But,
beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our
Lord Jesus Christ;
18How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time,
who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the
Spirit.
20But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost,
21Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;
hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 121408am