Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
1Jo 2:18
"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."
For over 200 years, the citizens of the United States have celebrated the birth of Christ during the month of December. During that time, there have been celebrations of different types, some incorporating English tradition (the 12 days of Christmas), some just a simple morning and day of giving thanks for His birth, but without fail, all of the celebrations have been because of Him. The very name itself is in honor of Jesus the Christ.
Over the past 50 years, though, the holiday season has grown further away from Him, and has replaced Christ with another, a mythological figure that was more easily manipulated into an explosion of commercial greed.
As Christ began being replaced in the thoughts of children and adults by Santa, as the reason for His coming was slowly and carefully manipulated into a craftily disguised reason for "giving to others," it opened the floodgates to those who hate God, who hate Christ, and who will do anything and everything to remove Him from the public eye. In short, it ushered in the current season of "antichrist" that is growing louder and more hateful with every year that passes.
About 15 years or so ago, a number of people saw the trend, and a slogan was coined; "Remember the Reason For The Season." Some people still say it, but there are fewer...and the reason seems to have been all but forgotten but by a faithful few.
Following are just a few of the hundreds of stories that have popped up in just the past year that show the increasing mood and attitude of not just "anti-Christ," but anti-Christian.
In the latest skirmish over Christmas in America, a Christian group is not allowed to participate in Denver's annual Parade of Lights, because church members sought to sing yuletide hymns and proclaim a "Merry Christmas" message on their float.
However, the event, now in its 30th year, will include homosexual American Indians, Kung Fu artisans, belly dancers and, of course, Santa Claus.
"I think there's an agenda that is anti-Christian," said Pastor George Morrison. "It seems like this agenda has crept in, and it's robbing us."
Morrison heads the Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada, Colo., among Denver's largest evangelical churches with over 4,000 attendees each week.
The parade is produced by Denver Civic Ventures, Inc., with heavy promotion by its flagship sponsor, KUSA-TV, the local NBC affiliate.
The hour-long event features highly decorated floats with symbols of the holiday season such as Santa Claus, gingerbread houses and toy soldiers, along with what's billed as an "international procession to celebrate the cultural and ethnic diversity of the region," according to its website.
Among those allowed to participate is the Two Spirit Society of Denver, a support group for American Indians who are homosexual, bisexual, or transgendered, honoring them as "holy people."
Also included are performers of the Lion Dance, a Chinese New Year tradition "meant to chase away evil spirits and welcome good luck and good fortune for the year," reports the Rocky Mountain News.
Despite the inclusion of these groups with spiritual connotations, parade spokesman Michael Krikorian said the event does not allow "direct religious themes." Included in the ban are signs that read "Merry Christmas" and the singing or playing of Christmas hymns.
"We want to avoid that specific religious message out of respect for other religions in the region," Krikorian told the News. "It could be construed as disrespectful to other people who enjoy a parade each year." Of course, Mr. Krikorian could care less about the "disrespect" he is showing to Christians who enjoy celebrating the birth of Christ.
"Maybe they should hold Parade of Lights in January or February," Morrison told the News. "By holding it in December, it's assumed by a majority of people that the reasons the lights are up is the continuation of the celebration of the birth of Christ. In America, that's our tradition, that's what the holiday is about."
In recent years, battles have ignited each winter across the U.S. as the public display of religion becomes a hot topic. The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, has been leading the charge in many instances to preclude expressions of faith in the public arena, though the group is not involved in the Denver parade.
Recently, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, announced the phrase "Merry Christmas" would replaced at city hall next year with "Happy Holidays."
Catholic League president William Donohue issued a statement yesterday on this year's attempts to ban Christmas. "This is only the beginning of the Christmas season and already the anti-Christmas crusade is in high gear," he said. "In the name of 'separation of church and state,' they distort it. In the name of diversity, they crush it. In the name of tolerance, they obliterate it. Which is why we need to call them for what they are cultural fascists."
A town in Florida has been sued for barring a privately funded Nativity scene from being displayed on public property while allowing religious Jewish symbols throughout the city.
The Thomas More Law Center announced it has filed a suit against Bay Harbor Islands, Fla. According to a statement from the group, the town has adorned its lampposts with Jewish menorahs and stars of David to commemorate Hanukkah and has allowed a synagogue to display its 14-foot Menorah in the most prominent public location at the entrance of the city.
Officials, however, have denied multiple requests by Christian resident Sandra Snowden to display Nativity scenes purchased with her own money in a similar manner.
Thomas More says last week Snowden was denied permission to display the creches for a second consecutive year.
The legal group says Snowden made her first request last December, but the city council tabled the issue, saying it was trivial.
"It is sad to see one get deeply offended by something as trivial as holiday decorations," then-Vice Mayor Isaac Salver told Snowden.
In October, Snowden again made her request to display Nativity scenes alongside the menorahs and again was rebuffed.
The lawsuit claims the town has violated her free speech and equal protection rights and also has violated the establishment clause to the United States Constitution.
Joel Curry, an 8-year old elementary student in Scottsdale AZ, was prohibited by school officials from handing out Christmas cards that told the Legend of the Candy Cane.
In Portland, Oregon, an.elementary school banned the use of the word Christmas and the wearing of any jewelry having a Christmas or Christian theme.
In Tillamook, Oregon, city officials ordered the removal of lighted nativity display from a drive-up coffee kiosk. Although the business is privately owned, the city claimed it was their right to control such a display because "the property is leased to the business by the City".
School districts throughout the country no longer refer to the two week break as "Christmas break", instead calling it a "holiday season".
A New Jersey middle school canceled the play "A Christmas Carol,² citing it as ³overtly religious in nature.²
One Oregon community, known throughout the Americas as the largest grower and shipper of Christmas trees has banned Christmas trees from public property, saying the connection with ³Christ² in the name of the trees was just ³too religious.² Many areas
now call Christmas trees "holiday trees".
In New York City, schools prohibit Christian displays during Christmas while authorizing displays on Judaism and Islam.
Whose birthday is it, anyway?
