By G. E. Shuman
Well, friends and neighbors, it’s that time of year again. No, I’m not referring to a time of sleigh bells and snow flakes, or tree lights and tinsel. I’m not talking about the “packages, boxes and bags,” that the old Grinch once went on about, or even "the reason for the season." No, good people, what I want to mention here today has to do with this blessed, wonderful season when American Christians have to suffer through irritating and unrelenting anti-holiday, insulting news stories from the national media.
You know the stories I'm talking about. They always start to appear the very day you finish the Thanksgiving dinner leftovers and find that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, just as sure as Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Reporters 'dutifully' tax their expository talents for us, relating, in all seriousness, how some special group, person, place or other is the first this year to be offended by a show of religious free speech, such as a manger scene in a city park, or a cross on someones front lawn. Each year someone always manages to persuade a judge or two to ban Christmas music in public places, too. To me, it has always seemed a bit of comical irony that the malls still play carols through their music systems to put people in the mood to shop. Hearing "Joy To The World" helps ease the pain of slipping that piece of plastic into the checkout card reader, it seems. And, guess what? Those songs are not 'holiday carols,' as if all of us didn't already know that. Like it or not, ye easily offended people among us, they are CHRISTMAS carols. As for the trees and gifts? Those are not holiday trees and gifts, they are CHRISTMAS trees and gifts. Thankfully, although somewhat strangely, our increasingly secular society will never convince big business to shun Christmas. At least we still have that.
Now, I have to ask, am I the only one who has noticed that the anti-holiday sentiment is always aimed at the Christian holidays alone? Why don't unbelievers EVER pick on the Muslim or Buddhist holidays? For some reason, doing so must be more wrong, I guess. Something tells me that there is much more going on here than acts of caring folks heroically protecting people from the terrible fate of having to look at a cross or a manger for a few weeks in December. If that were all, those folks could just look the other way, as I would need to do if in the vicinity of that 'free speech' piece of 'art' that is a crucifix in a bottle of urine.
The most recent Christian holiday attack seems to be the new revolt against the television broadcast of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." For people like me, who grew up with this Charles Shultz classic, this effort at censorship is just stupid. "Good Grief!" as Charlie would say. For those who disagree, I have a suggestion that has always worked well for me. If I see something on TV that offends me, I don't need to write to the networks and the newspapers to get it removed from the airwaves. My television remote has a cool little rubbery thingy on it, which solves the problem for me. It is called an 'off' button. Maybe you guys could get a remote like mine.
I do have an idea for people who think the public display of Christian holiday symbols is wrong. Folks, if you believe in the big bang theory instead of a loving God and creator, then hang up some planet models this time of year. Yes, those things might look a little like big tree balls, but that's okay. They're not a manger, so no one will stop you, even if you display them on the state house lawn. And, most of us do love to see the planets. If you also believe in biological evolution, celebrate Charles Darwin's birthday with statues and banners proclaiming his birth. No one who disagrees with you will care or find a judge to make you take them down. Best of all, if you don't believe in anything, your job is really easy. You can just relax.
I do, also, have one word of caution. Current world events, even including the rise and boldness of people who say that there is no God, are quite clearly predicted in the Bible. We all stand somewhere on this issue. You might not believe in Biblical miracles and prophesy, but I'd be careful. Just tell me one thing these days that really seems totally impossible. Can't think of one? Me either. If it were me, (and it is not) before I protested too strongly against the celebration of Jesus' first arrival on earth, I might consider the idea that He really is coming back here, probably very soon. He and his Father made the universe, and He's not gonna be happy. ...Just sayin'.
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