By Debbie Leininger, Staff Writer
During the Christmas season it seems those professing no religion go into overdrive to silence the message spoken by the angel so many years ago, “Behold! I bring you tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord. And this will be sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
Why would there be such a stirring to remove all vestiges of Christmas, even the name itself? The question is answered in the verses that follow the well-known promise of salvation in John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him.
But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. (NLT)
Thus the battle is waged between the unseen forces of good and evil during the Christmas season. It is government policy to remove the word “Christmas” from tax-funded mailings and in public schools due to “the separation of church and state.” Shoppers are greeted with “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” The battle rages over Salvation Army buckets and crèches on government property include disclaimers. It seems the whole world is intent to snuff out the true meaning of Christmas.
However, we as Christians can take heart as we contemplate God’s great love for us. In the fullness of time, Jesus was sent to be the sacrificial Lamb for the sins of mankind. Through His crucifixion on the cross and resurrection, Jesus won the victory!
Men have attempted to silence the message of God’s love and redemption through indifference, persecution, legislation, and policy, but the light of truth and hope cannot be extinguished. The light of Christ shines for eternity.
This Christmas season may we as believers rejoice as the multitude of the heavenly host that fateful night: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Let it be our resolve to “go tell it on the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere that Jesus Christ is born.” Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. Let us put CHRIST back into CHRISTmas.
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"But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son."
OK. How do you FORCE yourself to believe in invisible supernatural entities that don't interact with the material world?
FAITH doesn't take FORCE!
The Bible, (to me), is not written for me to judge others, it is written for me to find my personal salvation. Those that use it to condemn or judge others obviously don't get it, as that is surely not their job!
Ron Reale
"But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son."
Those are the words of God Almighty. His Words are yes and no, never maybe.
Those words are written for the person reading them to digest and ponder, not for the reader to think they have the right to judge whether others believe.They surely were not written by God, they were written by men, and the bible has been edited and changed to suit the church or men through the years. No Mans religion is pure, if its leaders enrich themselves and their church by one dollar while anyone of its followers are suffering. Man has corrupted Gods word in the form of the church, and proselytizers believing they can wave a book and condemn others for their actions in the “name of God!”The Bible is not a weapon to attack others with, it is a tool of enlightenment to learn to live your life and let others do the same, and let God do the final judging. Anyone claiming to know another's destiny speaks blasphemy.Throw all the quotes you want at me, but try believing and understanding them yourself. There are millions of people in the world without knowledge of your bible. Does your god condemn them to hell for their ignorance? Grow up and live your own life. I will not judge you, I pity your arrogance and hope you mature spiritually beyond looking down your nose at others. Ron Realerealetybytes@yahoo.comhttp://realetybytes.comhttp://coachisright.com
A person cannot force himself to believe in God. (Who is one person, Who does interact with the world). A person can find Him if he/she seeks Him. We can see the evidence of God through the Divine plane of creation. When God created man He fashioned his heart to to commune with Him.
Jesus says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
Wise men still seek and find Him.
Merry Christmas to all!
Ron Reale