I'm on a
mission and I'm in full throttle
now. My little
red car has turned into a Christmas billboard with
written across the back window. Yes, I've decided to trek off to work
everyday on the public highways with a message that seems to offend
people.
At stop lights, I even turn my music up a little louder, and to top it
off, I sing along with it. Don't I know that stopping at a red light to
roll my windows down only to share the joy of Christmas carols on public
streets is a No-No? Don't I fear the Christmas Gestapo and those who
would have me remove the written message from my car?
I'm sorry folks, but the only person I'm concerned about "offending"
during this Christmas season is the Lord himself.
LEAVE THAT MANGER
ALONE!
We've allowed the Baby Jesus to be kicked out of His lowly
manger, and those offended by Christmas are still not happy.
I refuse to let this happen. I'm going to do my part to make sure
doesn't become extinct. Because like it or not, if the
believers in Christmas don't take a stand now, it's gone forever.
Listen folks, the Christian community has been underestimated before; we
will have to show ourselves again.
I walked into a Wendy's Restaurant the other day and was rather
exuberant with my
greeting to the manager. He didn't
have much of a response and I said, "Where's your Christmas spirit?" He
said, "We're not allowed to use the words when
greeting customers. We can only say "Happy Holiday."
This morning I grabbed a quick breakfast at a Whataburger Restaurant. I
noticed there wasn't a single decoration in the store. I asked the
manager why they weren't decorated for Christmas. He told me the
corporate headquarters decided not to send any decorations to any of
their stores, and he didn't know why.
After I heard about all the Macy's and Federated Stores taking down
their
signs, the Target stores not allowing the
Salvation Army to "Ring the Christmas bells," and the many incidents of
children, choirs, and bands not allowed to play or sing Christmas
carols, I realized it was happening right here in my own little Texas
town.
How can this be? Not Texas!
We do, however, have a store, Hobby Lobby, that plays nothing but
Christmas carols during the season. On Christmas Day they run a full
page ad in our local newspaper. That ad is not to promote the store, but
uses the entire page to tell the story of Jesus' birth. Now that's
taking a stand. We need to thank them.
When I saw a news report the other evening of children being taught new
words to a song we've sung for years -
"We Wish You a
"
-
I was saddened to hear "We Wish You a Splendid Holiday."
I know now that it's just a matter of time till the
greetings will be gone. Look around your town. Notice the "Holiday"
greetings and not "Christmas." It's happening right before our very
eyes.
Start singing the songs; go down the streets of America singing to your
heart's content. Get some of those wash-off markers that these kids use
to write on their car windows when they're rooting for their hometown
football team. It's easy to do, and if a torrential rain washes it off,
write it on there again.
We've got to get this message out.
"
Go Tell It On the Mountain . . .
That Jesus
."
Sing it, speak it, be a billboard for our
Lord.
The story of this
"Baby Jesus" alone has brought about more goodwill at
this time of year than any other day we celebrate. How can we sit back
and allow Him to be snuffed out of our lives?
Is it Jesus, or is it His followers that the "offended" don't like? What
kind of revulsion galvanizes one to campaign so vehemently against the
mere mention of His name, the mere singing of a carol, or the mere
visual of a sign that says
I can listen to my own boss at work use some of the vilest words and
follow up with, "Excuse my French." I may cringe inside at his damning
of God's name, but I tolerate it. So if you don't like me wishing you a
I'll say, "Excuse my joy." You may cringe that I
celebrate the birth of Jesus, but just tolerate it.
I cannot be concerned that
offends you. If I'm not
careful, the day will come when saying I'm a Christian will offend you.
I'm offended that you're offended. How about that?
When we get to a point that we can no longer take part in a tradition we
hold dear, we have no choice; we either defend that tradition or we give
it up to those who say NO. That's it . . . period. So, which will it be?
I'm not giving up my
joy to anyone. If I know of
someone that celebrates another holiday during this time of year, I will
be glad to wish them whatever holiday they want. Just tell me what it is
and I'll shout it to the world and wish you a grand celebration.
Just give me Christmas. To you merchants: Stop being so hypocritical and
"filling your tills" on the back of Jesus! Who do you think is the
symbol of giving at this time of year? It was the wise men bringing
gifts to the newborn Christ-child.
You want your coffers full, but have ordered your employees to take down
all the
signs. If that's the case, I'll buy gifts at a
place that understands my joy.
If you're worried about offending someone, you just did. The most recent
Newsweek survey shows that 82% of Americans believe that Jesus is the
Son of God. So, in trying not to offend a few, you've offended many.
It's okay to jump into the
spirit when it fills your
cash register, but let's call it something else . . . and don't stop
giving . and don't stop buying. . . we'll just change the name and
you'll never know the difference.
I know the difference and I'm feeling it greatly. It's hard not to be
aware that townships across our country have actually banned the singing
of Christmas carols because it might offend someone. And it's not just
the religious songs; it's the secular ones too. No more "Jingle Bells"
or "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" because they're associated with
Christmas. Boy, aren't we getting sensitive?
If we're not celebrating Christmas for the hope it gives with the birth
of our Savior . . . there is no hope!
My freedom to celebrate Christmas in the tradition of the Christian
religion is as much my right as it is your right to be offended by it.
So what are we going to do? Did anyone hear me . . what are we going to
do?
Do we defend a person's right to go forward with a time tested tradition
(how about 2000 years?), or do we defend a person's right to end it all
because they're offended? As long as we live in this great land and have
the freedom to express ourselves and what we believe in, we will always
offend someone.
If we try to make everything right for everyone, we won't have anything
for anyone.
mission and I'm in full throttle
now. My little
red car has turned into a Christmas billboard with
."
in your heart!
