"What about Christmas? Why the Controversy?"
Why is Christmas controversial? Last year Wal-Mart told its employees not to say "Merry Christmas!" to customers because it might offend someone. Political correctness can run amuck! This year Wal-Mart caved in to the vast majority of Americans who are NOT offended and will allow Wal-Mart employees to say "Merry Christmas."
Why is the Baby in the manger so offensive? Why does the word "Christmas" cause public school systems to run in fear to please one or two agnostics in their school system by omitting the word Christmas , choosing to call it "Winter Break" on the school calendar? Fact is that if the schools tried to hold classes on Christmas Day no one would come!! The reason they have "Winter Break" is because of Christmas!
Christmas is the event that changed the world and the calendars of the world. God split time and history by the birth of His Son at the first Christmas. Soon it will be 2007 , but 2007 what?? It will be 2007 A. D. (Anno Domini , which is Latin for "The Year of Our Lord"). The calendars are split by A. D. and B.C. (Before Christ). What are the revisionists doing with the terms B. C. and A.D.? They have rejected them for the meaningless terms B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) and C.E. (the Common Era). On what basis do they create a so-called "Common Era?" The basis is nothing but their rejection of and hatred of Jesus Christ. The liberal agnostics and atheists and the A.C.L.U. crowd are so closed minded that they do not want the name JESUS CHRIST ever mentioned in public.
Let's get to the heart of the matter. Faith in Jesus Christ is the criteria by which God will determine who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell. Why is this? Only the Blood of Jesus Christ shed for us on the Cross can wash away the sins of mankind. Without a saving faith relationship with Jesus Christ , a person enters eternity in their sins. Sin cannot enter Heaven, so the person without Christ goes to the Lake of Fire in Hell for eternity. This is the truth of the Bible. With faith in Jesus Christ, the most unworthy person in the world is forgiven on the basis of the Blood of Christ and enters Heaven for eternity.
The controversy over Christmas is over the authority of Jesus Christ Who is Lord over every soul.
The only hope of any man is in the Baby in the manger Who is the Lord and God of the universe, Who came to die for our sins , be buried for three days, and raise again from the dead. The Baby is Lord. He is our hope, joy, grace, Saviour and Lord!
So, please say "Merry Christmas" all season long. When you do, be willing to tell anyone all that it means to you and how to come to know Jesus as Saviour and Friend. Emmanuel. The Lord is with us . Merry Christmas!
Pastor Roger Freeman
