Published: December 31, 2007 02:21 pm            

Letters to the Editor

December 19, 2007 — Editor,

It seems every year we get another one of those “put Christ back in Christmas” kind of articles. I guess this could qualify as one of those too, but I’m going to do it anyway.

My job requires that I drive a lot in the tri-state area and I get an opportunity to see a much of our surrounding communities. Last week as I drove I started to take notice of the lights and decorations on some of the homes as I passed by. I noticed countless snowmen, carousels, Santas and reindeer, but I can’t recall seeing more than 1 or 2 nativity scenes. In years past, they were a staple of holiday ornamentation, but today you hardly see these types of displays, even on church lawns. Has our society gotten so image oriented that it is unseemly to display representations of the birth of the Christ child on our lawn? Have we gotten so far away from our religious roots that it is fitting to display more impartial icons than the more conventional ones? It seems to me that in the last few years, the whole idea of being politically correct and using phrases like “happy holidays” and “seasons greetings” is more mainstream than the traditional “Merry Christmas”. I shudder to think that our society has become so “anti-religious” that it is now taboo to even mention the name of Christ in public.

Christmas is the celebration of the birthday of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and that message should be the cornerstone of our yearly observance. Instead, Christmas has become a commercial holiday that inspires the worst in some people. They rush from store to store, mall to mall in the hopes of finding that perfect gift at bargain prices, all the while pushing, shoving, nagging, complaining, being inconsiderate, uncooperative, unappreciative, grouchy, sour, grumpy, tense, even down right mean. Is that really the way to celebrate the birth of a savior?

Santa has become the moniker of the “yuletide holiday” but is he really the reason for the season? Having read the bible a few times, I cannot recollect an instance where Christ was ever referred to as a “jolly old elf” nor was it ever mentioned that wore a red suit. In fact, not much is mentioned regarding Jesus appearance but I don’t recall his midriff ever being described as “shaking like a bowlful of jelly”. He doesn’t need a chimney to enter your home, nor does he require reindeer to move from place to place. His name is not Santa, Chris Kringle or Father Christmas. It is, however, described in the book of Isaiah as Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. It is these titles that should be held in the highest regard, not a fat man in a red suit.

Snowmen, Santas and reindeer are nice but lets not forget who it is that we are celebrating. Santa did not create the earth we live on, did not die on a cross, did not rise up 3 days later and ascend into heaven, does not sit on the right hand of God, cannot deliver you from sin, cannot promise you eternal life and cannot offer deliverance from the fires of hell.

Where are the nativities?? It seems with all this in mind, that displaying anyone but the Christ Child is not only a waste of time, but also a mockery of the real purpose for celebration. If you want to trust in someone to give you the gifts you really need in your life, trust the one who gave everything he had to be everything you need.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. “ Matt. 1:21

Harold Horton

Grayson, Ky.

        

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