We don’t have to wait till Christmas Eve to recall the angel’s words:
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11 NASB).
While Christmas is traditionally celebrated during some of the coldest months of the year, in the hearts of Christians it is celebrated year-round. Yet, regardless of when Christmas occurs, there are Grinches in America fighting to ruin it for all of us.
One San Antonio family recently received a letter from the homeowner’s association “demanding they take down the [Christmas] decorations until closer to the holiday.”[1] And in the state of Wisconsin:
“Governor Tony Evers announced he will be calling the tree [in the rotunda] a ‘holiday tree,’ a tradition at the capitol for decades until 2011 when former Governor Scott Walker called it a ‘Christmas tree.’”[2]
(Note to Wisconsin: Scott Walker didn’t invent the “Christmas tree.” They have been called by that name for centuries.[3])
In New Hampshire, one town is renaming their “Annual Tree Lighting” to “Frost Fest,” also eliminating “their lighting ceremony; and St. Nicholas will no longer be driving into town on a local firetruck, as he once did in previous years.”[4]
Some are even rewriting Christmas classics. Kelly Clarkson and John Legend just released Baby, It’s Cold Outside with pro-abortion lyrics including, “It's your body and your choice.”[5]
But even with all of this occurring in America, God forbid we join the British who are currently being lobbied to “rent their trees this year from companies which plant them back into the ground after use, decorate their homes using pine cones and holly from outside, and stop sending cards in order to reduce waste.”[6]
When did we start over-thinking Christmas—overlooking that “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10) and forgetting to join in “praising God and saying”:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Christmas isn’t about us. It’s about Immanuel—God with us (Matthew 1:23). America without Christmas would be a very sad place. In the words of President Ronald Reagan:
“Like the National Christmas Tree, our country is a living, growing thing planted in rich American soil. Only our devoted care can bring it to full flower. So let this holiday season be for us a time of rededication.”[7]
Amen! In spite of the haters, let’s celebrate CHRISTmas in name and spirit. No Grinch can scrooge His gift of eternal life.
So turn up the CHRISTMAS (not “holiday”) music. Decorate your CHRISTMAS (not “holiday”) tree. And tell your kids to enjoy their CHRISTMAS (not “winter”) break.
JESUS is the reason for this season!
Foundations of Truth hereby waives all claim of copyright (economic and moral) in this work and immediately places it in the public domain; it may be used, published, edited, and distributed in any manner whatsoever without any attribution or notice to Foundations of Truth.
[1] Texas family told to remove Christmas decorations because it’s too early. (2019, November 18). Retrieved from https://www.news4jax.com/news/2019/11/19/texas-family-told-to-remove-christmas-decorations-because-its-too-early/
[2] Lawmakers: Christmas, holiday tree debate at state capitol is ‘overblown’. (2019, November 13). Retrieved from https://waow.com/news/wisconsin-news/2019/11/13/lawmakers-christmas-holiday-tree-debate-at-state-capitol-is-overblown/
[3] History of Christmas trees. (2019, November 15). Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees
[4] Wakerell-Cruz, R. (2019, November 20). Town removes Christmas from its winter celebration due to citizen complaints. Retrieved from https://www.thepostmillennial.com/town-removes-christmas-from-its-winter-celebration-due-to-citizen-complaints/
[5] Yasharoff, H. (2019, November 20). Kelly Clarkson responds to 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' remake criticism: We 'ruined Christmas.’ Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/11/20/kelly-clarkson-sharon-osbournes-baby-its-cold-outside-outrage/4246944002/
[6] Horton, H. (2019, November 11). Christmas goes 'woke' as British people rent trees and are urged to stop sending cards. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/11/11/christmas-goes-woke-british-people-rent-trees-urged-stop-sending/
[7] Reagan, R. (1981). Ronald Reagan’s Christmas messages. Retrieved from https://www.ff.org/ronald-reagans-christmas-messages/
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