Keeping the c- h-r-i-s-t in Christmas
By kbkbooks
@kbkbooks (7022)
Canada
December 7, 2006 11:12am CST
When I see discussions about spiritual beliefs that offend me or that I don't believe in, I just leave them alone. It makes me wonder why those who don't believe as I do have to attack my discussions. I am not going to force you to believe as I do, I just think we need to have a little more respect for each other as human beings.
I know this discussion will evoke many responses from unbelievers. You know as well as I do that those who celebrate Hannukah, Kwaanza or any other holiday related with their personal heritage and believes don't get attacked as Christians do.
If you want to say Happy Hannukah, or Happy Kwaanza, or Happy Purple People Eater Day, then go ahead. I am not going to stop you. I just reserve the right to wish others Merry Christmas, because that is what I believe. You all can have your holidays, I will observe mine.
I received the following in e-mail last year and this year. It really states the point I am trying to make. My God wants me to honour Him. He wants me to be unafraid to declare that He is my God. And I am. I am not going to be offended by what you celebrate or write about. Give me the same privilege as I give you. I hope you will continue and read the following little story.
There's a story of a woman who was Christmas shopping with her two children.
After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves and other things in the store, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.
She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for
every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.
Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all her purchases. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore
and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot."
From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't worry, we already crucified him." For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, word, deed and purchases. Keep Christ in Christmas! If we all do, just think of how different this whole world would be.
3 people like this
8 responses
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
7 Dec 06
I agree with you. We all have to respect others for what they belive or don´t belive.
Personally i am not religious, i am not even sure weather i belive there is a god but i am totally ok with others beliving it.
We can not all be the same!
3 people like this
@gnosticfanatic (215)
• India
26 Dec 06
hey wow...that was an amazing story.....u r simply superb...btw..i too believe that we should keep the christ in christmas alive...because nowadays christmas is all about booze and enjoyment and fun....we all forget that it has something even to do with christ...
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
27 Dec 06
That's not MY story. It came in e-mail but it explains perfectly how I feel. Christmas is about the birth of Christ. But the birth of Christ is ultimately about the fact that He came to die to pay for our sins we can never repay for. Claim the REAL gift.
1 person likes this
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
8 Dec 06
I'm with you. I will never understand why people can't be tolerant of the beliefs of others. If a discussion offends you, just pass it and go on to one you like. It's the old saying, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." I loved your story. I will pass it on. Let's keep Christ in Christmas in another way...it's Christmas, not Xmas.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
3 people like this
@luko4me (131)
• United States
10 Dec 06
I really liked what you had to say. People are so afraid to offend anyone, that they don't stand up for what they believe.
Have you heard the song "Christmas with a capital C" by Go Fish? It basically says that if you don't like me saying "Merry Christmas" you need to get over it, it is my country too.
3 people like this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
31 Dec 06
As a Christian (Catholic) your post really concerns me. We are living in a materialistic world. If Christ would come again in today's world I am sure he would feel like a person who is attending a birthday party but he is not made welcome by his friends.
I cannot understand also how other countries such as England or USA are not decorating for Christmas not to offend other people beliefs. For example in a shopping mall in USA a christmas tree was removed after a Jewish believer threatened to sue the owners. In England certain shops did not decorate for Christmas so that they will not offend Muslim believers and other religion. For me this is wrong.
I am tollerant towards other religions but I do expect people believing in other religions to be tolerant towards mine.
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
31 Dec 06
This is so true. I think that asking for tolerance as a non-Christian is a way of persecuting the Christians now. There are so many things that are against the laws of the land about the ways they used to persecute Christians that now it must be done in more subtle ways. Indeed Christ would have us be tolerant of others only to a point. Remember that when the merchants defiled His Temple he was NOT tolerant. We cannot allow others to defile our ways of upholding our faith and celebrating our festivals and feasts that honour Christ. Hold your head high, and put your Holy Manger scene in your front yard lit with stars and coloured lights to symbolize the coming of the Light of the World. He would come to be WELCOMED by us His friends who love Him, and He would want to see our shows of that love we have for Him. Stand up, Christians, for who you are and for Whom you worship.
@chuggs (314)
• United States
31 Dec 06
As a fellow Christian I have to say, wow, that's quite a story, and so true. Many of us lose what Christmas is all about with all the hustle-and-bustle of the season. Thanks for this post, hopefully it reminded some of what Christmas is really about. God Bless you.
