2007-12-31
To my readers: I hope you had a very Merry Christmas. A dear friend of mine, Ed Lenhart of Truth Justice & the American Way , wrote the following piece which I would like to share with all of you.
Wishing each and everyone of you a very Happy New Year,
Craig
Why I used 'Merry Christmas'
Before this year, I didn't use the phrase "Merry Christmas." I said "Happy Holidays." It wasn't because I was, or am, a rank unbeliever; quite to the contrary. I know what the Word of God says, and I know the history and origins of the Christmas holiday. I know the real meaning of the word "Christmas," and it has nothing to do with the birth of Christ. I know the term "mass," or when it is used at the end of Christ (mas), was placed there by the Roman Catholics and means a death ceremony.
So why did I use the term "Merry Christmas"?
Because Christianity is being attacked in this country by just about everybody, and it was my way of both going against the current of our society and standing with the Christians.
I know Jesus Christ was not born in December; he was born in September. I know the three magi showed up months after the birth of Jesus Christ and that there are two Bethlehems, the one He was born in when Mary and Joseph went to be counted in the census (the taxing) and the other to the north where they lived in Nazareth.
I know the Roman Catholic Church changed the date of the celebration of Christ's birth to December to coincide with the pagan celebration of the birth of the "sun god." Dec. 25 is four days after the winter solstice, and the first day the sun is discernibly rising in its zenith, and the pagans were then certain the days were getting longer. They were celebrating the sun rising in the sky. The Roman Catholics were struggling for converts, so they switched the celebration of the birth of the Son of God to the date the pagans celebrated the birth of the sun god.
Snappy marketing ploy, but not accurate. The pagan celebration was a celebration of fertility with the fir tree, the presents, the star on top of the tree and other assorted holiday traditions being signs of said fertility.
I do not like saying the word Christmas. What drove me to saying it this year is the attack on Christianity and Christians from the politicians, from Hollywood, from the Muslims, from the Hindus, from the media, from the teachers in our public schools, from kids who don't know any better and from our business leaders. Saying "Happy Holidays" has become a victory to unbelievers by taking one more notch out of anything Christian.
I see persecution of Christians and Jews coming in this country, and it is not far off. So I have taken my stand, and I stand with God's people. However misled, they are still endeavoring to celebrate the birth of God's only begotten Son, our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. I will continue to do so, no matter what denomination. One day, in the not too distant future, we will all have to make that decision, with whom will we stand. I pray we make the right one and take a stand for God by standing with His people.
I hope you had a Merry Christmas.
Back To Commentary Archives | More Commentary @ WND.com Archives