Volume 1 Issue
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Volume 1 Issue
12Merry Christmas?
Americans and others among the affluent nations busily ready themselves for Christmas, as usual. Most continue to ignore or do not understand the reason for the Holy-Day. My lament is one that I know many share and one that is written about many times. Yet the lament continues, why? Because when every 'good' Christian has read, understood and agreed with these lamentations about the worldly greed of Christmas, they go home and act as one with the world. Few change their focus to celebrating the birthday of the king. How can we even refer to it as Christmas without worshiping the risen savior? Temporarily it would appear that Satan has stolen our savior's birth right! Jesus Christ is the first born son of the Father! He is the first fruits of the resurrection! To the first born goes the first and most important blessing and the inheritance of the Father. Yet, we busily empty our pockets to give gifts in the name of Santa Claus!
Before you crucify me for Santa bashing you must understand that for those Christians who live under intense persecution, Santa practically doesn't exist. Their focus is on the one who can save them, not the one who justifies the gratification of our over indulgent desires.
Ask a Christian child in Sudan who Santa is and their thoughts may run along the lines of 'what planet are you from?' Their prayers this Christmas are focused on the realities of life. They hope Dad will come home some day from resisting the Islamic jihad and genocide against their people. Prayer is spoken for an aunt who was brutally raped and then sent north into slavery. Petition is put forth to the Almighty God to not let any more people succumb to starvation in the village. Hope stands vigilant over the hearts of people who hope that those Christian brothers and sisters in America and elsewhere remember them in their prayers tonight.
Does this column seem depressing to you? GOOD!!! That means that you still have a conscience and therefore you still feel guilt. Now turn your attention away from manufacturing Christmas memories with you and your children in mind and lavish the king with the worship and praise he deserves from his creation! It is HE that makes our joy complete, not our Christmas memories! Let us re-establish the reason for the season, first in our own homes and then take the good news of the Savior's peace wherever you go.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14