Christmas Hostilities Increase
In case you haven’t noticed, the banter over Christmas greetings seems to have risen a few notches this season. On Fox News’ News Watch the normally mild mannered host, Eric Burns, was about to stroke out as he was engaged in a four way battle of words with two liberals, one Libertarian, and one Christian. I commented to my wife that never in the two years we’ve been watching that show has there been any thing to rival that level of passion all the way around.
So what is up? Well, I believe it’s more than the just the annual routine of ACLU atheists trying to exterminate all vestiges of the Christian faith from our nation’s fiber.
Why would that be so important? Well, biblically, if we are indeed going down a path of ever deepening secularism, there are very real spiritual forces behind the warring factions. Jesus is not merely one of many ways to heaven; he is not just one of many persons of interest in the realm of religion, and he is not just one of many respectable people of character and kindness marking the history of humanity.
Jesus Christ is the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life and no one comes to the Father but by Him! The kingdom of darkness can tolerate a limitless number of admirable people who are worthy of respect; the Kingdom of darkness can accommodate a limitless number of paths to enlightenment, Nirvana, or heaven as you wish. Satan knows that they are all empty and powerless and pose no threat to his rule and domain on this planet.
But the kingdom of darkness cannot and will not tolerate the One and Only cure for mankind’s sin and consequent eternal separation for the God in Satan’s abode of hell.
And so Satan himself must assert himself while he can into this battle for the light to remain! The war over Christmas is the battle for a nation’s soul; one that is being lost with increasing regularity and being lost to a very small minority.
Isaiah put it well millennia ago--“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.” Isaiah 9:2
So what is up? Well, I believe it’s more than the just the annual routine of ACLU atheists trying to exterminate all vestiges of the Christian faith from our nation’s fiber.
Why would that be so important? Well, biblically, if we are indeed going down a path of ever deepening secularism, there are very real spiritual forces behind the warring factions. Jesus is not merely one of many ways to heaven; he is not just one of many persons of interest in the realm of religion, and he is not just one of many respectable people of character and kindness marking the history of humanity.
Jesus Christ is the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life and no one comes to the Father but by Him! The kingdom of darkness can tolerate a limitless number of admirable people who are worthy of respect; the Kingdom of darkness can accommodate a limitless number of paths to enlightenment, Nirvana, or heaven as you wish. Satan knows that they are all empty and powerless and pose no threat to his rule and domain on this planet.
But the kingdom of darkness cannot and will not tolerate the One and Only cure for mankind’s sin and consequent eternal separation for the God in Satan’s abode of hell.
And so Satan himself must assert himself while he can into this battle for the light to remain! The war over Christmas is the battle for a nation’s soul; one that is being lost with increasing regularity and being lost to a very small minority.
Isaiah put it well millennia ago--“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.” Isaiah 9:2
posted by PB at 4:40 PM
8 Comments:
Cripes - Now you have lost it totally. I know you despise the idea of tolerance for other religions, as is evidenced by your need to focus on the use of the word "Chrismas" in today's society.
Pastor, don't force your ideas on other people with fire and brimstone if they don't comply. Live your own life the way you want and leave the pontificating out. Otherwise the folks in the white suits will be at your door before you know it, asking for "the raving blogger".
Doesn't your comment to Cripe only validate what he is saying?
In response to the author of the first anonymous comment, your problem isn't with Pastor Cripe, it's with God. God is not tolerant of any religion that does not worship Him. Also, I don't see Pastor Crip "forcing" his ideas on anybody, or are you tied up, at gunpoint with him threatening your life if you don't believe? Who twisted your arm to visit this blog?
I cannot understand why 'christians' think the 'world' should embrace Jesus Christ and those things associated with Him. Do we really believe that the world should , would, or even could say 'Merry CHRISTmas' with any real meaning? You cannot convince or expect the ''natural man'' to understand the things of the Spirit. Get over it brethren, we are just sojourners here...our citenzenship is with our Father in glory; The first century Christians lived under rampant tyranny at the hands of the Roman Empire and they understood and clung to this truth.
Re: previous post--First--I don't think the whole world should embrace Jesus Christ and those things associated with him as you posit. You miss the point of what it means to live in a free society; which happens to be a nation with Christian roots.
Your point would be better taken if we did not live under the rubric of a free, and representative government. But we do and as such part and parcel of that--I believe--is to hold our leaders to the standards they have set. If we do not, anarchy is near by. We are a nation of laws and those laws do not preclude us from acknowledging Christmas. So as long as it is "lawful" we are right, if not obligated, to insist that the priveleges of those laws be followed or the laws changed.
I don't think I ''miss the point of what it means to live in a free society'', though perhaps I missed the point of your article.
I understand that ''Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are established by God'' (Romans 13:1)
I participate in this free society primarily by praying for our Govt. leaders and by casting my ballot in the voting booth.
I guess I misunderstood your article......sorry about that.
Your article seemed to concentrate on the spiritual battle that is taking place. Little in the article spoke about our form of Govt or the laws that we live under. Certainly we are free and even obligted to participate, as you state.
My point (which had nothing to do with our Govt or laws) is that we should not expect the lost to say ''Merry CHRISTmas''. They are spiritually dead and but for the mercy of God we would be also.
I keep hearing Christians speak with great frustration that many are now saying ''Happy Holiday'' rather then recognizing that this is Christmas, historically the celebration of the birth of Immanuel. My point, to put it simply is..''what do we expect?''
PS:
''As in every December since President George W. Bush took office, he sent out cards with a generic message, wishing 1.4 million supporters a happy "holiday season."
A spokeswoman for Laura Bush said while the first couple celebrates Christmas themselves, they wanted an inclusive greeting to be respectful of other traditions.
"Their cards in recent years have included best wishes for a holiday season, rather than Christmas wishes, because they are sent to people of all faiths," Susan Whitson said.''
It appears, sadly, that the ''deepening secularism'' begins right at the top.
Thanks for the clarification; I couldn't agree with you more. My piece was not clear--my fault not yours!
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