Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Christmas - It’s that time of year again!

Christmas - It’s that time of year again!

I received an email from a ”well meaning” Christian, expressing the opinion that as loving Christians we should not defend our right to “public displays” of our Faith. The email was set as a “Letter from God”. I believe the “letter” came from further “south” of “heaven”.


The Letter said, among other things that Christmas, while being a celebration of the Birthday of Christ was originally set on the date of a “pagan holiday”. As though that makes it alright not to defend our right to public displays of our Faith. I ask; “How so”?


Then the letter goes on to say we should rather live a life of love, again, somehow suggesting that we do not need to defend our rights to a public display because we are living the Christian calling. Which, of course, every Christian should be doing regardless of this issue.


This brings up a “sore point” among Christians, that being, whether Christians need to love at all? Actually, Jesus, St. Paul and the early Church stated love is necessary for salvation… [see: http://www.iamonetruth.com/all_you_need_is_love.htm ]


The “letter” finally states that as God He does not need our help.
[Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. ]


This statement reminds me of a statue in New York City. The statue is in front of St. Nicholas of Tollentine Catholic Church in The Bronx, it is of Jesus Christ with His hands outstretched. The statue has been vandalized and the hands of Christ were broken off. Some enterprising person placed a sign around the neck of Jesus that read: “I have no hands but yours”.


Think about it! God can take care of Himself, but He expects us to do His work here on earth.
Be careful… we can be loving… caring Christians and still stand up in the public arena for Christ!
Pope John Paul II said; “today religious freedom must be upheld and defended against those who would remove religion from the public domain and make secularism America’s faith” [Homily at Oriole Park, Baltimore, 1995] [ENVOY Magazine]