Vol. 4, No. 35 Dec. 11, 2005

“Merry Christmas”…OR ELSE!

Written by Christopher Mentzer

Does the phrase “Happy Holidays” offend you? It should, that is, if you are a Christian. At least, that’s what the news media, like Bill O’Reilly is saying. The basis, of course is that Christmas is a religious holiday; celebrating the birth of Christ.

Jerry Falwell is quoted saying, “Celebrating Christmas is Constitutional!” Well so are Hanukkah and Kwanzaa but you don’t hear them mention those holidays. Mr. Falwell has created a “Friend or Foe of Christmas Campaign” designed to prevent corporations like Wal-mart and Target from discouraging the phrase “Merry Christmas” to be used by their employees when they greet customers. I’ll agree with this in that it holds to the constitution but to demand people to say “Merry Christmas” or to celebrate it religiously is not!

While I admire Mr. Falwell’s attempt to keep the Christmas Spirit alive and make people aware of what some companies are doing, he’s overlook one thing. He hasn’t consulted his Bible for the truth authority of God. Rather than give Book, Chapter and Verse to defend the holiday, he’d prefer to hide behind the constitution and an army of lawyers ready to file a suit at the drop of a hat. Is this really the Christmas Spirit?

In Acts 17, the apostle Paul complimented the men of Athens for their Religious spirit. He regarded all the idols they had set up for the various gods including one to the UNKNOWN GOD. This was set up to make sure they didn’t leave anyone out, god-wise. But Paul used this particular statue to preach Jesus and the one true God. Mr. Falwell and others who call themselves Christians need such a sermon preached to them. Jesus said in John 4: 23-24, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. 24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

This time of year people are very religious and they want to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But what kind of salvation can a baby give? None. What sins can a baby forgive? None. Here’s some other questions to consider: Where in the Bible does it list December 25 as the day of Christ’s birth? When did Jesus command His disciples to celebrate His birthday? Where in the scriptures can we find an example of the apostles carrying out the celebration of Jesus’ birth?

While you search your Bibles for the answers, remember what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4. And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5. that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Cor. 2: 1-5)

Those who support Mr. Falwell and the general belief that Christmas is a religious holiday are following not following verse 5 but their faith is in the wisdom of men. Jesus said of this, “21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7: 21-23)

We have a day of celebration in the religious sense and that is every Sunday. On that day we commemorate the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The salvation lies here (Eph. 1: 7) not in the celebration of a baby’s birth.