See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. - Ephesians 5:15-16 (NKJV)
Was Trump Correct About the 'War on Christmas?' Charisma News
Yes it is that magical time of year again. Lights and tinsel. Gingerbread Men and gifting fruitcakes. Dreaming of a perfect world where it snows enough on December 25th to make it seem special without too much to create traffic conditions. The Christian version of Shangri-La, where no one says Happy Holidays and every American town square has a manger in it. Where Pastor John Hagee screams at unbelievers to get on a plane and "get outta his country', if they cannot muster the words, "Merry Christmas." It is time to put on our Christian fatigues, paint camouflage on our faces, and soldier up because there is a war a-comin and we play the starring role. We of course, play the victims.
Yes, make no mistake about it beloved you are being victimized by the powers that claim to be on your side. The bible implores us in the key verses to walk circumspectly. That means we should always consider all circumstances, not just our own. The key verses also remind us that the days are evil. Sometimes we might forget that in our pursuit of the ridiculous culture wars the apostate church and their political masters like to have us chase. There is limited time left between now and when Jesus returns and some seem to honestly believe the Savior of the world is going to want to hear how we forced the cashier at Walmart to say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. What a waste of time - time we are meant to redeem according to the key verses! Yet here we are every year dealing with political forces seeking to divide us against each other. Leveraging our faith to gin up fabricated outrage over something that is not even happening. Here is today's deep theology - there is no war on Christmas. There never has been. There is a war for the souls of man and in that war we are supposed to be battling, not making sure Silent Night is blaring from the speakers when we enter our local CVS. The above linked short article is from this year's first salvo in getting Christians back in the mindset that someone is infringing on their faith when they are not. They cannot even help themselves in revealing that this is entirely political. The title asks stupidly if Trump was right about the War on Christmas. He was not. Let us reason once together:
"Is there really a war on Christmas? That's a question at the center of debate each year, especially when stories take center stage about atheists fighting to remove nativities and other religious imagery. But what do Americans actually believe on the matter? As it turns out, a new survey from Fairleigh Dickinson University found the belief that Christmas is under attack has "grown significantly" and is "bigger than ever." Overall, 37% of Americans believe politicians are attempting to ax religious components from the holiday season. This proportion is up from 29% who said the same in 2013, according to a university press release. Another indicator that tides are shifting is the weakening of the proportion of Americans who outright reject the notion that there's a war on Christmas. More than half of Americans (54%) said they strongly disagreed with this idea when asked in 2013, but that proportion dwindled to 37% in the most recent poll." - Billy Hallowell
This is so disingenuous. The reason why this question is debated each year is because people like Billy Hollowell come out to tell you that you need to debate it! The reason why a new survey shows that more people believe Christmas is under attack is because of the same reason! This is known as engineering statistics. I was saved in 2002 and ever since I have heard with increasing shrillness each year, about this imaginary war on Christmas. As someone who reads the bible and studies it, I know that Jesus Christ was not born on December 25th, or anywhere near that date in all likelihood. Furthermore, as a pilgrim and sojourner through this land I could care less what greeting is sued at my local stores. The people who Billy Hollowell wants you to go to war against? Yeah, those are the people who need the gospel the most. Only the devil would want us arguing with them or viewing them as the enemy in a war.
"The three groups driving this perspective swing are Republicans, Trump supporters and Hispanics. Among Republicans, belief that there has been "a concerted effort on the part of some politicians to take 'Christ' out of 'Christmas,'" is up to 66% from 40% in 2013. But other political indicators abound. Seventy-one percent of people who voted for former President Donald Trump believe in the war on Christmas dynamic, compared to just 14% of those who voted for President Joe Biden. Trump has long spoken about the war on Christmas, encouraging fans and followers to ditch "Happy Holidays." "I'm a good Christian. If I become president, we're going to be saying Merry Christmas at every store," he said in 2015. "You can leave 'happy holidays' at the corner." Trump has claimed victory in this arena, which some have scoffed at, though the polling does show some intriguing shifts in perspective among his base. Perhaps the most surprising rise in those who believe politicians are trying to remove Jesus from Christmas comes among Hispanic Americans, with that proportion swelling from 9% in 2013 to 39% in the latest survey." - Billy Hollowell
Do we really need to get into what it probably means if a Christian needs to tell us they are good? The larger point is that many actually believe that not saying Happy Holidays makes one a "good Christian." It does not. God is good. We are not. There is little point getting deep into the stats here because they were engineered for this result. For nearly twenty years now I have heard about this fantasy cooked up in a political think tank. Listen, I take no issue with Christians who wish to celebrate Christmas as it is a major part of Americana and at least gets people to stop for one day and acknowledge Jesus Christ. Not to mention there is some awesome theology in Christmas hymns. Christmas is not Halloween, a high satanic holiday. That said, Christmas is not a lynchpin of our faith. If an atheist refuses to say Merry Christmas, the issue is not that they do not say the magic words. The problem is they do not believe. Attacking their verbiage is quite frankly moronic. When the disciples encountered people who refused to believe, did they stay and try change their minds or their laws? No. they preached the gospel and then moved on to the next town, to the next people. Plant the seed and as the bible says someone else might water it and God gives the increase. These victim generating fake Christians are trying to convince you to shove the seed down the throat of anyone who has the temerity to disagree with you. That is not evangelism beloved. It is foolishness. Please do not fall for it this year. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.
Now if that triggered you, then you still need help.
Rev. Anthony.
