EdwinWillers
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- Jan 13, 2010
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In truth though Daisy, the "offense" (if it can be legitimately called that) has nothing to do with the use of any of those. It comes from the much broader cultural attack that's been waged against Christianity in general for a number of decades now (well, ever since day 1).
Personally, I don't think we, as Christians, have any right per se to be "offended" when our faith is being attacked. It is, after all, not we who are being attacked (though it be directed at us), but Christ Himself who is the brunt of such efforts to discredit Him because of who and what He is, and because of what He's done. Moreover, He's told us how we ought to respond under such attacks - and taking "offense" isn't it - quite the opposite, truthfully.
For a period of time there Christianity enjoyed far greater popularity in our culture than it does in today's - and far more people embraced it (in whole or in part) than do today. Such popularity has been steadily eroding though; we see it on practically every front - be it prayer in schools, creationism, the display of the 10 Commandments in our public spaces, our social, political, and philosophical mores, and even in celebrations like Easter and Christmas. The rate of the erosion has been particularly frightening for many of us who have lived long enough to see how marked the changes have been in just half a century's time. That's rapid enough of a change to catch many truly off guard.
We can't argue anymore on the basis of Christian mores - there are too few who accept them, let alone even acknowledge them in today's culture. Many in fact openly disdain and/or deny them. The "golden age" - if it ever was that, of Christianity in our culture is gone - and so we greet one another at this time of the year with "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings" - purposefully and willfully avoiding the [now] culturally unacceptable "Merry Christmas."
Fortunately though, Christ remains who He is and what He is - and we still remain blessed, albeit for awhile, with the freedom in our culture to remember Him at this time of the year as the one who:
Created all things
Is before all things
Is the image of the invisible God
Abides forever
Is with us always
Knows us
Was born of a virgin
Has redeemed us
Is without sin
Cleanses us from our sin
Gives us peace
Gives us joy
Reveals the Father
Offered Himself up, on our behalf
Was crucified, executed on the cross
Was buried
Was raised again
Appeared to over 500 people over many weeks, individually and in groups
Ate with them
Destroyed death
Rendered the devil powerless
Sits now at the Father's right hand
Is the only mediator between God and us
Will judge the world in righteousness
Will come again, for us.
So while it may hurt when we greet someone with "Merry Christmas" at this time of the year, and they respond intentionally with "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" - for whatever reason - we shouldn't be offended, per se, but instead reminded why He came in the first place, thankful we at least have responded to His call, prayerful we might be of use to Him in His calling of those who have not yet received His grace and gift of eternal salvation, and mindful at this time of the year of what His incarnation, and subsequent life, death, burial, and resurrection means (or portends) for all humanity.
Merry Christmas!
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