For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.
Hebrews 10:4-5 NLT
I read a news story this week about a guy whose HOA ordered him to take down a cross decorated with lights. It was part of his Christmas decorations. The HOA informed him that the cross was not associated with Christmas and therefore was not allowed. In another story, the attorney General of one of our larger states was hyperventilating over someone saying “Merry Christmas” to her kid in a department store. She said this traumatized the child and would probably leave scars. These two episodes are indicative of the general ignorance of our nation concerning Christianity, as well as the increasing hostility we face. The people involved desperately need to find the real meaning of the season.
To the HOA, I would like to point out that without the cross, Christmas is a fairy tale about a Jewish kid in a barn. Without the stable, the cross is just another execution. Without the resurrection, the other two are meaningless: Jesus is alive! To the other lady, so distressed by the mention of the Name, I can’t help but pray for her child who is being raised in a home that is aggressively Christ-free. Hopefully, this “trauma” will wake him up in the night wondering what’s the big deal about Jesus. And that’s just it. It’s a big deal. No Christmas, no salvation. If we back off of expressing our faith in such a simple way, how on earth do we expect to maintain our faith in the face of real persecution. Now, more than ever, keep Christ in your Christmas. They need it.
It’s Sunday. He took on a body so he could die for me. I’m grateful and amazed. I’m gonna take my body to church and thank Him for His sacrifice. Along the way, I’m sayin’ “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.”
pastorvirgil.com 