WAR ON CHRISTMAS; AGAIN!!!

Wars are created when we are threatened; to conquer and eliminate the enemy.

Tis The Season and the “War on Christmas” rears its ugly head.  Now, you won’t see the “War on Ramadan,” or the “War on Kwanzaa,” or the “War on Festivus,” or even the “War on Hanukkah.” Well maybe Hanukkah, in some circles, since it is also about God sending a miraculous event.

Matthew 2:1-3 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the Days of Herod the King, behold wise men from the east came to Jerusalem saying, where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.  When Herod the King heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.

Don’t get all bent out of shape over the War and its Warriors; the battle has been raging for more than 2,000 years.  Its first human leader was a King named Herod.  Herod was threatened by a tiny baby that seekers were proclaiming “KING OF THE JEWS.” So the War began and Herod set out to eliminate and conquer the enemy.  GOOD NEWS; Herod lost the battle.

Mark 15:11-13 But the Chief Priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.  Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with him whom you call “King of the Jews?”  So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”

Fast forward 30 years and the War on Christmas had a new general…the Jewish Religious Leaders.  Jesus threatened their position, power and authority, so a new battle line formed.  I’m sure a celebration was held in the Temple as the ring of the hammer sounded throughout the land…that is until the earthquake shook the foundation and the veil was torn in half.  GOOD NEWS; the High Priest thought he was leading the battle, but it was actually God’s plan from the “Foundation of the World.” Three days later, Jesus arose and the Jewish Religious Leaders lost the battle.

American Atheists – “Make Christmas Great Again…Skip Church.”

2016…and the War on Christmas continues with new champions, new slogans and new battles.  Familiar Christmas hymns are eliminated from school “Holiday” programs, nativity scenes no longer grace public squares and cheerful greetings of “Merry Christmas” threaten “safe spaces.”  Coffee shops no longer celebrate with traditional “Christmas” paper cups and bill boards pop up informing readers to “Make Christmas Great Again…Skip Church.” 

So should we get angry, feel threatened and outraged?  NO WAY!!!  I don’t have the energy to waste on fighting a war.  I’m too busy singing along to my favorite Christmas Carol, wrapping gifts for friends and loved ones, and once again reading the beautiful story that started the war.  Oh yeah….I’m doing this while drinking my delicious, home-brewed coffee from my bright red, “Christmas at our house” coffee mug. WAR????? WHAT WAR????  I refuse to participate.

Jude 1:14-15 “Behold the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

The battles and the skirmishes will continue because Jesus threatens our flesh, our carnal thinking, our lusts and Satan’s mission.  So keep on smiling, put on that bright red sweater, tell someone Merry Christmas, drop some money in the kettle of that faithful bell ringer, enjoy watching three little Wise men fight their way up the aisle and Mary burp Baby Jesus, sing your favorite Christmas tunes at the top of your lungs because ONE DAY the final battle in the “War on Christmas” will be fought and won by the very One who started it all…

JESUS CHRIST WILL FINALLY WIN THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS!