Studies show that something like 75% of the American population claims Christianity as their religion.
How many of the people who make this claim have CHRIST as the focal point of their CHRISTmas celebration???? All indications are, very few Amusingly, there are plenty of people who never even attend church and aren't even Christians, for that matter, who CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!!!!!! I knew a Jewish girl once who's family participated in Christmas, and I know PLENTY of ("Christian") folks who can't be bothered to go to church even once during the 365 days out of the year.... Like my friend once said, "If you feel like you can have a personal relationship with me by just turning in the direction of my house and talking, you're mistaken! You need to COME OVER sometimes so we can spend some real time together!" Good point.....
All of the Santa Claus decorations, Christmas trees, blinking lights and "holiday cheer" are all fine and dandy, don't get me wrong. The problem is (IMHO), if you are calling yourself a Christian, and you never bother attending services or talking with your family about what it means to BE a Christian, or how we are called to live and act AS Christians, then what are you doing that makes you a Christian?????!!!!!!! Is it "being a good person"? Unfortunately, using that rationale, a lot of Christians have made (especially in the eyes of their children) Santa Claus their lord and saviour, since we all too often teach our kids all year long that "you'll be punished (no presents) if you are bad, and rewarded (lot's of gifts) if you are good.......... Yeah, but there's something a LOT more important to a Christian about Christmas than Santa and presents!!!! God didn't send his son Jesus to earth because he wanted to teach us that if you are "good" you'll go to heaven and if you are "bad" you'll be punished! He sent his son to die for our sins, so that all who believed in him would be saved!
I'm not suggesting we eradicate the Santa Claus myth, or not hang lights on Christmas trees! I'm just asking that anyone who is a Christian think about what that REALLY means during this special time of the year, and anyone who is not a Christian, but celebrates Christmas, to ask yourself why.......
In the spring, we'll discuss the Easter celebration!:rolleyes :laughing
How many of the people who make this claim have CHRIST as the focal point of their CHRISTmas celebration???? All indications are, very few Amusingly, there are plenty of people who never even attend church and aren't even Christians, for that matter, who CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!!!!!! I knew a Jewish girl once who's family participated in Christmas, and I know PLENTY of ("Christian") folks who can't be bothered to go to church even once during the 365 days out of the year.... Like my friend once said, "If you feel like you can have a personal relationship with me by just turning in the direction of my house and talking, you're mistaken! You need to COME OVER sometimes so we can spend some real time together!" Good point.....
All of the Santa Claus decorations, Christmas trees, blinking lights and "holiday cheer" are all fine and dandy, don't get me wrong. The problem is (IMHO), if you are calling yourself a Christian, and you never bother attending services or talking with your family about what it means to BE a Christian, or how we are called to live and act AS Christians, then what are you doing that makes you a Christian?????!!!!!!! Is it "being a good person"? Unfortunately, using that rationale, a lot of Christians have made (especially in the eyes of their children) Santa Claus their lord and saviour, since we all too often teach our kids all year long that "you'll be punished (no presents) if you are bad, and rewarded (lot's of gifts) if you are good.......... Yeah, but there's something a LOT more important to a Christian about Christmas than Santa and presents!!!! God didn't send his son Jesus to earth because he wanted to teach us that if you are "good" you'll go to heaven and if you are "bad" you'll be punished! He sent his son to die for our sins, so that all who believed in him would be saved!
I'm not suggesting we eradicate the Santa Claus myth, or not hang lights on Christmas trees! I'm just asking that anyone who is a Christian think about what that REALLY means during this special time of the year, and anyone who is not a Christian, but celebrates Christmas, to ask yourself why.......
In the spring, we'll discuss the Easter celebration!:rolleyes :laughing