Christmas Spirit

In the news recently it seems the battle between the atheist viewpoint and religious viewpoint of Christmas has become more...heated. Or is it just that the news media is more interested in covering the controversy. The atheists cry about how it is the nativity scene that is the abomination...a symbol of the hate God has for non-believers. They argue that the main message of Jesus was not one of salvation and love but one espousing the fiery death all those who do not believe will suffer. Of course unfortunately the religious side hasn't done a very good job itself. The religious side acts as if somehow Christianity and faith are subject to the small ad campaigns of men, that somehow their religion is in jeopardy because the side of a bus says "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

To me they're both wrong. If they need their signs up next to our nativity scenes then so be it. I would rather live in a country that values every one's right to express their beliefs than the country that mandates those of the majority or in the saddest cases the minority. Do I worry when they take the ten commandments out of the courtrooms and prayer out of the classrooms? Of course... I believe that our moral souls are lost without those things that remind us of an absolute good and evil. But do I think God is worried? No! He is not afraid of our fallibility and our small mindedness. He is not worried that we often lose focus. Sad maybe, but not worried. You see for me and all those who have experienced real love from our Creator, his Son, and Spirit we know what is real to us, in our lives, and in our hearts. We know that if we are willing to listen, God's voice can convince us of anything.

So this season if you can't think of something to say when you're faced with those crazy ads and the commercialism we Americans seem to need as part of every Holiday we celebrate...just try giving that same love God shows us, to all those around you. We might just find that we have more in common than we though. Our fears about taking care of our family, finding good schools, paying the mortgage, buying groceries, and even keeping that job are very real. They are important. So even if they don't want to hear God's name, show them God's love. Are they really going to get mad at you for caring about their needs, their fears. And if they, do walk away and pray for them, because Lord knows they need it.