Merry Christmas? Happy Holidays? Xmas vs. Christmas?

No wonder comedians have so much material to work with. I've heard folks suggest that those have a problem with "Merry Christmas" and who make a stink about it should just get over it or move someplace where freedom of speech doesn't exist. The political correctness seems way to sensitive on one hand and inauthentic on the other. After a while you realize that many who often touting political correctness do so for pragmatic reasons rather than from actual love and care for people.

When it comes to issues of faith, Christians fear that our country is going the way of Europe. A common complaint is that we are losing our roots as a Christian nation and becoming secular and so we have become adversarial and engaged in a cultural war. Folks are passionately arguing for “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays” or “Christmas over Xmas”. “How dare we cut Christ out of Christmas?”

Truth be told, Christmas is not a Biblical Holy day or an ordinance or sacrament or command to be observed. Jesus wasn’t born on December 25^th. The term Xmas has been used by Christians for hundreds of years as a shorthand way of referring to Christ through the Greek letter Chai that looks like the letter X.

Even if all of the above wasn’t true, the approach of trying to change the culture through a public war on it is not at all unlike how the world does it. The way the New Testament speaks of the world being changed is through our own transformation, testimony, humble love for others, sacrificial giving… and work of the Holy Spirit touching lives. No wonder we are having little effect. We are using worldly weapons to fight a spiritual war.

It seems to me that those of us complaining and proclaiming the loss of Christ in Christmas are going about this backwards; trying to get Jesus back in culture instead of focusing on getting Jesus back into our own lives. 

Here are some questions I’m asking myself this season: “Am I spending time with Jesus?” “Am I becoming inspired by his life once again?” “Am I following him in the act of daily loving God and neighbor as self?” “How is my relationship with my family, with my wife, with my friends?” “Is my reputation that I treat others well?”

It's a bit cliché but “be the change”. Anyone can speak about what is broken but very few actually do anything about it. So, put Christ back in your Christmas, in your everyday life. Are you humble, loving, hopeful, faithful, generous? Do your words bring life to others? Do you seek to encourage others? Do you praise more than complain?

At our church’s candlelit service, we have this tradition at the end of our service. The lights are turned down and everyone takes out a candle. We light one person’s candle and that person lights the candle of next person and so on until the whole room is bright. I imagine that, if instead of shouting at the darkness demanding it to become bright, we become the change we seek in culture, others will catch our fire and the once darkened world will become bright.

Thoughts on Electing Our Next President

for those who consider themselves followers of Jesus

 

Think about who represents your understanding of Biblical values.

• This insists that you take your cues from the Bible more than from Fox News or CNN.

Keep perspective

• The Gospel is the hope for this world, not a political party. Always remember that above our political affiliation we belong to a political system whose origin is heaven and whose destiny is earth (John 18:36) and whose message should inform how we vote.   

Listen to opposing views and not for the purpose of bolstering your own.

• Here’s my working theory: I don’t own Jesus and I haven’t figured him out. If he upset his disciples than, he will also upset me. This should lead me toward humility and open mind to learn from those on the other side who might just have a perspective that I don’t. This will help you remain open to what Jesus might say.

Pray for guidance.

• When we pray the “Our Father”, we are joining with the prayer of saints over the millennia for God to finally rule over the earth and do so with the faith that it is happening and will continue to happen.
• We can walk into the voting booth with a measure of faith that God is working to bring about his kingdom on the earth and thus will guide us as we vote.

If you are undecided, don’t let it stop you.

• Do your homework but then go with your best guess trusting that God will guide you.

Pray blessings on both candidates even after the election.

• The Bible is so very clear on this one. Don’t disrespect, mock, ridicule them. Pray for them and pray that they would be blessed Titus 3.

And for Jesus’ sake love, no,  really love one another.

• In gentleness and humility, love those who think differently. We are the body of Jesus and therefore we need one another