It’s time to say “Merry Christmas!”

Posted on December 6, 2008

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

When these blessed events took place thousands of years ago, no historian could have foreseen the impact that would resonate through the history of the world. At various times the Gospel of Jesus has been exalted and undermined, praised and condemned. But when the United States of America was formed, the new nation became a milestone of religious freedom. With printed Bibles, a literate population and the freedom to worship, we could all enjoy reading about how Jesus was born and celebrate it each year at Christmas time.

Various Christmas traditions poured in from all over the world; as people flocked to be free in the New World they were eager to exercise that liberty. Hanukah, too, enjoys a special place in American hearts; and the timing makes it convenient for Jews and Christians to celebrate holidays together in kinship and brotherhood. But soon a dark cloud appeared.

In the 1800’s Karl Marx began to make his ugly mark upon history. “Religion…is the opium of the people,” he sneered in his 1843 Contribution to Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right. Charles Darwin’s failed theories also encouraged the Grinches and Scrooges who were soon to follow. Happy American Christmas celebrators are not easily deterred, yet the relentless juggernaut of anti-Yuletide cheer grumbles on to this day, thanks to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU.)

To them, the mere mention of Christmas is a startling and unwelcome event that intrudes upon their allegedly serene lives. Perhaps what is so disturbing to them is the name of Jesus Christ in Christmas, with His message of Peace, Love and Redemption. The ACLU’s constant lawsuits and complaints are not only against Christmas displays but reach out in all directions and trickle down even further.

In many commercial enterprises and government institutions (such as public schools, city, state and federal offices, the word Christmas is suppressed and sometimes banned. This is not only wrong, but often unconstitutional! The First Amendment clearly states Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof… How, then can Christmas be banned? Simple: the Bah, Humbuggers just try to get away with whatever they can and hope nobody resists.

You can fight back and help spread Christmas cheer at the same time. The American Family Association has stickers that proclaim “It’s OK to say Merry Christmas.” (They are sold out of buttons.) The Alliance Defense Fund’s Christmas Project is in full swing again this year. The American Center for Law and Justice has their 2008 Christmas Resource Center packed with information.

Let’s say Merry Christmas with a smile whenever and wherever we can, while we still can. And we can also reach out in many ways this Christmas, to a local mission or the Salvation Army. Perhaps your church has a Christmas outreach program. Sing some carols. Just look up your favorite ones on the Internet, print out some copies and get together with friends and family. And as we thank the Lord for the birth of Our Savior, let’s also pray for our nation. It’s a good time to kneel down – for America.

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