How many people don’t know what Christmas really is?
An interesting survey might reveal shocking and, to say the least, very upsetting results. Controversy over use of abbreviations for the word Christmas, such as Xmas, has been debated for decades. Mrs. Burton, our fourth grade teacher, reprimanded us when we used that abbreviation, demanding we always spell out Christmas.
Recently, there have been complaints about using any connotation of Christ or Christianity in public places, even though the birth of Christ is the reason behind all of the shopping, gift giving and celebration. Major retailers will not use the word Christmas or even the slightest resemblance of anything about Christianity in their advertising.
Ads are always something like Holiday Specials, Shopping Days or Gift Giving Time. Santa Claus is prevalent, but never a nativity scene, pictures of baby Jesus or anything holy. My goodness, a business can’t risk the chance of stepping on anybody’s toes. For many retailers, two-thirds of annual income comes in the last month of the year.
Children’s school Christmas programs have been quite commonplace in recent days. These prominent and popular plays, typically accompanied by music or recitals, are completely void of anything to do with the real meaning of Christmas.
Schools, due to state regulations, do not allow children to sing Christmas carols about Jesus or to re-enact the nativity story. Many children may have never heard songs like “Silent Night,” “O Come Let Us Adore Him,” or “Joy To The World.”
One with closer ties to the subject, and obviously deeper thoughts, than most questioned: “Just think what it must be like for a child, who does not go to church on Sunday or doesn’t come to religious education classes, they will not even hear or know about the birth of Jesus?”
On a radio program, “Focus On The Family,” James Dobson said, “I’m glad to see many of our listeners are expressing their appreciation to the companies referring to Christmas and are honoring the meaning of the season.”
Dobson asked retailers to share their plans for Christmas advertising. “The “Christmas-friendly’ will receive news of our appreciation, while those censoring ‘Christmas’ will get critical feedback about their politically correct approach to Christmas,” he related. At least that’s a beginning.
Lest we not forget the reason for the season: Matthew 1:23: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which means, God with us.” Matthew 1:21: “She shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.”
Luke 2:11: “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
+++ALLELUIA+++