LEN'S LINES --- A Little Religion On A Positive Note By Len Granger
The Meaning Of Christmas
We as Christians would like to believe the world is celebrating Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In some respects that is true, they may recognize the holiday Christmas, but it maybe in just a holiday spirit.
Here in this great land of ours, blessed so many times by the Lord, even our President says this is no longer a Christian nation based on how many regularly attend church. We see our public schools no longer allowed to celebrate with Christmas Programs, many restrictions on public display of Christmas themes, and the government at all levels trying to make Christmas politically correct.
Why is it the world so despises the reason we celebrate Christmas? Why does our culture try to replace the word Christmas with, Happy Holidays or even XMAS? You ask me, and I believe it is because we are so self centered, so sure we can do everything on our own, and we no longer look to the Lord for our needs. However, we now are finding we and the government can no longer take care of our everyday needs. Our Loving and Most Gracious Lord is there to pick us up in our time of need, if we only put our faith in him. He asks, that we as his servants, recognize his birthday, Christmas with its true meaning.
We see this year good news in some areas at Christmas time. The largest retailer chain has announced this year according to spokeswoman, Linda Blakely, that WalMart will be greeting customers with "Merry Christmas" early and often. Also Sears, will be placing up Merry Christmas Banners and changing their advertising to reflect a Christmas theme. Other national chains are rethinking their past policies on removing Christmas from their stores.
So this year let us not be silent about why we celebrate Christmas. While it is great to share gifts with each other and have a happy feast celebration, let us remember the inspiration for gifts comes from our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came from his glory to earth to be like one of us, a tiny, helpless, baby. He gave himself so that we might live, as without our Lord in our lives we have no hope of salvation.
Let us remember if someone greets us with "Happy Holidays" we will return a warm greeting and quickly respond with "Merry Christmas".
This Sunday, Christmas Day, let us all turn out in record numbers and fill the church of our choice as be sing and worship our loving and gracious Lord, Jesus Christ, on his birthday. God Bless America
