No Public Displays of Christmas Allowed

You have read the same headlines and heard the news. “City orders Christmas decorations removed.” “Local malls must include symbols of all faiths when decorating.” “School children are prohibited from singing Christmas Carols.” “Merry Christmas is now a politically incorrect greeting.” “Christmas will now be referred to as Winter Break so as not to offend or exclude.” “The Salvation Army is no longer welcome on the premises.”

Even television and movies make a mockery of our faith and commit blasphemous attacks that leave us shocked and incensed. These blatant assaults coincidentally reach their peak during the seasons Christians hold most sacred. Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection are made fun of in the most vile and obscene manner possible, and the offenders are usually encouraged and praised through the media and by activist groups, big and small. All things Christian are portrayed as stupid, narrow, and obsolete by the standards of a modern society.

As believers, our first inclination is to take offense at the changes to our most sacred traditions and look for ways to confront the anti-Christian propaganda that dominates the landscape more and more. We wonder how such attitudes could be the true expression of the majority in this democratic republic. It must be a small minority of folks leading the attacks and policy changes, so let’s issue the rallying cry and set the sinners straight.
But before you get caught up in all of the uproar and ugliness, let me remind you that Jesus was not really popular in His own day and time. The religious institutions of the day refused to recognize Him, the people in the street loved Him one day but hated Him the next, and even His inner circle of closest and dearest friends abandoned Him when the government arrested, terrorized, and eventually murdered Him on false charges. It was a far darker environment than what we live in today.

We must remember that the Christian faith and Christmas have very little to do with the number of brightly lit lights, beautifully decorated trees, sacred signage, or singing carolers. It has everything to do with representing Jesus Christ in the world where we live. A government might legislate what banners or symbols are displayed on a piece of property, and activist groups may picket and force some “seasonal” traditions to be shut down or silenced, but NO ONE may extinguish the light of life and joy of Christ that lives within us!

It is required of you to be a light to the world not just for a few weeks in December but throughout the year. There is no government on the planet that is capable of legislating your relationship with God, and though the nativity scene may no longer be displayed in some places, it is impossible to quench the Spirit of God as He directs you to love your neighbor...and those who will spitefully use you and say all manner of evil against you. If the roots of our faith reach no deeper than those few days of Christmas tradition or is not visible to those around us 365 days a year, 24/7, then do we really have a faith? They will know that we are Christian by our love, not by our decorations.

I would love to see all those around me embrace the traditional symbols of Christmas and celebrate with me the meaning, joy, and peace I have come to experience in Christ, but that will never happen for the simple reason that Jesus is still not understood, respected, or loved by the huge majority of those in this present age. If even those within our churches fail to honor Jesus Christ in their daily lives, why should we ever expect those outside the church who are without a Shepherd to respond any different than the suffering and struggling mobs of unChristian masses did when Jesus walked the earth?

Unless they hear they cannot believe, and unless you tell them they cannot hear. If someone this Christmas tries to turn off your lights, take down your tree, block your parade, or remove your stable, think first of Jesus. He would reach out to the hater and love him with all of His heart. May you be a Merry Christmas to those around you.

Written by Rev. Steve Manuel for the December 2007 edition of “The Spirit.”

Bedford will present a Live Nativity on the front lawn of the church on Saturday, December 10, 6-9 p.m.
The children’s choir Christmas program “Light of the World” will be presented on Sunday evening, December 11.

Bedford Baptist and Main Street United Methodist churches will present “Savior of the Nations, Come: An Advent/Christmas Hymn Festival” in the sanctuary of Bedford Baptist on Saturday, December 17, 7 p.m., and again on Sunday, December 18, 7 p.m.

On Saturday, December 24, 7 p.m., Bedford will celebrate a Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service.