Have you wondered why Christ has been banned from the holiday which bears His name, Christmas?\u00a0 Or why Christianity alone is banned in a country which bears the insignia, \u201cIn God we trust?\u201d\u00a0 Never mind the fatal inconsistency that in America everything is tolerated except what can\u2019t be tolerated.\u00a0 And what can\u2019t be tolerated?\u00a0 Anything that disagrees with what is tolerated.<\/p>\n
How did we get here?\u00a0 A generation ago we were talking about a post-modern, post-Christian culture that was creeping into our society.\u00a0 Well, as Jude says, it has crept in unawares.\u00a0 We are now experiencing what a few years ago we were merely speculating about, and it is impacting our society with a vengeance.\u00a0 My hard files and electronic files are packed with evaluations which were made in the 1990s and beyond.\u00a0 At the time it was interesting, even intriguing, to think that America could lose its Christian identity in our own life time.\u00a0 It was In 1984 that Francis Schaeffer wrote, \u201cFinally, we must not forget that the world is on fire.\u00a0 We are not only losing the church, but our entire culture as well.\u00a0 We live in the post-Christian world which is under the judgment of God.\u201d1<\/sup><\/p>\n Soon afterward books began to appear that linked Schaeffer\u2019s expression with the term \u201cpostmodern\u201d derived especially from the French deconstructionist Jacques Derrida (1930-2004).\u00a0 By1990 other Christian writers were flooding the book stores with warnings about this coming phenomenon.\u00a0 One specific factor of which Christians warned was that there would be no absolute truth in a postmodern culture (a view they insisted was absolute). To insist on one\u2019s belief being true would make another\u2019s false, and this would\u00a0 be bigoted and even hateful.<\/p>\n While living and pastoring in Ft. Collins, CO, the local paper printed an article by a liberal Rabbi which read, \u201c\u2018It is not sinful to be a gay and lesbian,\u2019 said Rabbi Paul Menitoff, executive vice president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, \u2018It is sinful to have these prejudices and act out on them.\u2019\u201d2<\/sup>\u00a0 About the same time Dan Story had written,<\/p>\n This post-Christian and postmodern world holds to the premise that there are no absolute truths that apply to everyone equally.\u00a0 Christianity and Christian ethics are no longer relevant.\u00a0 In fact, orthodox Christians are seen as bigoted, narrow-minded, and anti-intellectual because we refuse to accept other religions as \u2018paths to God\u2019 or to consider homosexuality, pornography, or abortion as permissible in a moral society.3<\/sup><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Consider just a few other warnings sounded by prominent Christian writers at the time.\u00a0 John MacArthur wrote:<\/p>\n Think about it:\u00a0 pronouncing anything \u2018true\u2019 and calling its antithesis \u2018error\u2019 is a breach of postmodernism\u2019s one last impregnable dogma.\u00a0 That is why to a postmodernist nothing is more uncouth than voicing strong opinions on spiritual, moral, or ethical matters.4<\/sup><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Alister McGrath wrote:<\/p>\n In a postmodern context, questions are likely to be raised about the New Testament\u2019s emphasis on Jesus Christ being the only way to salvation (which is held to be inconsistent with postmodernism\u2019s positive appraisal of diversity).5<\/sup><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Alan Wolfe, writing in the Atlantic Monthly wrote:<\/p>\n Postmodernism exercises such a fascination over the evangelical mind, I believe, because of the never-ending legacy of fundamentalism.\u00a0 In one sense evangelical scholars have moved away from Billy Sunday and in the direction of French poststructuralism: they cast their lot with those who question any truths rather than those who insist on the literal truth of God\u2019s word.6<\/sup><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The result of all of this has been a new century where Christianity is feared because of its grand narrative of redemption exclusively through Jesus Christ and its commitment to the absolute truth of a written document, the Bible.\u00a0 Because of these, Christianity must not be allowed to speak in the public arena because these views are hateful by proclaiming other views false (that is, they came to wrong conclusions which is to say they were less intelligent, and that is a hateful thing to say).\u00a0 The Christmas holiday must only be allowed to display folk tales and seasonal things, in an effort to bring it down to the level of all other religious days.\u00a0 To speak of the unique Son of God becoming incarnate to provide the only way to God is, in a postmodern world, bigoted and hateful.<\/p>\n The postmodern view of the world, however, is unrealistic and false.\u00a0 In fact, it is itself unloving and uncaring.\u00a0 It substitutes obvious reality with destructive word games like deconstructionism<\/i>, finding an evil intent behind all history; semiology<\/i>, changing the usage of simple words into unintended meaning; and social constructivism<\/i>, turning each person\u2019s version of reality into their own reality.7<\/sup>\u00a0 This is seen so clearly in today\u2019s view of gender identity which dreams up a false identity for oneself, when, in fact, nothing could be more clear than that God made us male and female and in His own image.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Reality of Christmas<\/b><\/p>\n The facts<\/span><\/p>\n First, a few facts need to be faced.\u00a0 The word \u201chate\u201d is an easy tool to use against someone with whom you disagree.\u00a0 We like to attach \u201cphobic\u201d to anything opposed to cultural mores.\u00a0 If you disagree with homosexuality you are homophobic.\u00a0 If you disagree with another culture you are xenophobic.\u00a0 Postmodernism extends this supposed \u201cfear\u201d to \u201chatred\u201d and then to \u201cracism\u201d (because everything from gender identity to sexual preference is now a \u201crace\u201d).\u00a0 These have become the worst crimes for humans to commit.\u00a0 Christians (and Christmas) are accused of these simply because they disagree.<\/p>\n But disagreement is not fear, hatred, nor racist.\u00a0 Disagreement is one\u2019s assessment of right and wrong, something all of us do throughout each day of our lives.\u00a0 I disagree with eating dirt and I disagree with murder and for correct reasons.\u00a0 Historically, it can be shown, disagreement more often becomes a catalyst to discovery of the truth, not to hatred or fear.\u00a0 But when the truth is not allowed because it limits, forbids, or labels something as wrong, that is social totalitarianism, not freedom.<\/p>\n God labels many things wrong and, of course, He is right and has every right to say so.\u00a0 God made us in His image and that is our true identity regardless of how we may want to identify ourselves.\u00a0 It is for this reason that \u201cGod so loved the world\u201d (John 3:16).\u00a0 God doesn\u2019t tell us what is right and wrong because He hates us but because, loving us, He explains to us what is good and bad for us.<\/p>\n A difficult reality<\/span><\/p>\n God has told us something that is very difficult to accept but is absolutely necessary for us to know for our own good.\u00a0 That is that all human beings, though each one is made in God\u2019s image, have sinned in Adam and are themselves sinners.\u00a0 The reality of our sinful nature is so obvious that it takes the sleight of postmodernism to deny.\u00a0 Why do we have to teach children to do right?\u00a0 Why do we have a rule of law in every society?\u00a0 Why does every person have a conscience?\u00a0 All of these things exist, and must exist, because of the reality of our fallen nature.<\/p>\n It does no good at this point to blame God for our sinfulness.\u00a0 As they say, \u201cit is what it is.\u201d\u00a0 God made us with a choice and holds us accountable for it.\u00a0 Sin is real and God is still holy.<\/p>\n An even more difficult reality<\/span><\/p>\n There is an everlasting punishment for sins called hell, and for two very good reasons.\u00a0 The first reason is that God Himself is absolutely holy and good and will deal with anything contrary to Himself.\u00a0 This doesn\u2019t mean that He deals with it immediately.\u00a0 In fact, God is very longsuffering with us so that we have time to respond to Him (2 Peter 3:9).\u00a0 The second reason is that unrepentant sin will be dealt with in a very harsh way, a way that equals God\u2019s goodness and holiness.\u00a0 \u201cThe wages of sin is death\u201d (Romans 6:23).\u00a0 It\u2019s not that the holy God knew this and did not care, for even that would be uncharacteristic of holiness.\u00a0 Rather, the holy and good God has not only revealed the truth about this, but has done something magnificent to remedy the situation.<\/p>\n A divine moral dilemma<\/span><\/p>\n That may not sound right since whatever is truly divine is never caught in any moral compromise, but the apostle Paul, in the third chapter of Romans (verses 21-31), presents it as if it were.\u00a0 There is no way for fallen human beings to become right with God again on their own.\u00a0 \u201cThere is none righteous, no, not one\u201d (3:10); \u201cFor all have sinned and come short of the glory of God\u201d (3:23).\u00a0 God cannot simply place a waiver on sin.\u00a0 For to ignore sin and leave it unaddressed would make Him guilty, less than holy.\u00a0 Something must be done that does not impugn God\u2019s holiness in this way.<\/p>\n You may have noticed that Christmas carols are also avoided in public.\u00a0 One reason is that they also display this difficult reality and moral dilemma.\u00a0 \u201cLong lay the world in sin and error pining.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cNo more let sins and sorrows grow,\u201d the Christmas carols record.\u00a0 Yet right here is the postmodern dilemma also.\u00a0 The reason for the Christian\u2019s Christmas message is because we have found ourselves helpless and sinful and in need of divine deliverance.\u00a0 God has said that we are wrong!\u00a0 He has said that He disagrees with us!\u00a0 By postmodern creed He would be hateful to say such a thing to us.\u00a0 You may try to find your way out of the dilemma by going that way, or you may, in humility, see God\u2019s way out.<\/p>\n Joy to the World<\/span><\/p>\n The righteousness which we all need has come from God Himself, and from Him alone.\u00a0 If just one man could live righteously before God, God could be satisfied in him, but none can.\u00a0 So God, being Himself Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, sent His only Son into the world to be that perfect man.\u00a0 But will He save only Himself, and let all the world perish?\u00a0 No, rather He will give Himself to die in their place and then let whosoever will accept Him as their substitute.\u00a0 Then salvation is by grace, that is, we are not saved by our works, but by the righteousness of the One Who lived without sin and died in our place.\u00a0 \u201cTo declare,\u201d Paul says, \u201cI say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus\u201d (Romans 3:26).\u00a0 Dilemma solved!<\/p>\n No more let sins and sorrows grow;<\/p>\n Nor thorns infest the ground;<\/p>\n He comes to make His blessings known<\/p>\n Far as the curse is found, far as the course is found,<\/p>\n Far as, far as, the curse is found.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n O Holy Night<\/span><\/p>\n Now we see why Christmas is so loved by the humble and so hated by the proud.\u00a0 That miracle, that divine moment, God became a man to do for man what man could not do for himself.\u00a0 The condemnation of eternal hell was upon all of us.\u00a0 We were without hope and without God in a sinful world.\u00a0 But at that moment of incarnation, when the angels sang and the heavens rang, the only possible hope for all mankind was born.\u00a0 \u201cWhen the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons\u201d (Galatians 4:4).<\/p>\n O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,<\/p>\n It is the night of the dear Savior\u2019s birth;<\/p>\n Long lay the world in sin and error pining,<\/p>\n Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth,<\/p>\n A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,<\/p>\n For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn,<\/p>\n Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices,<\/p>\n O night divine, of night when Christ was born!<\/p>\n O night, O holy night, O night divine!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n O Come All Ye Faithful<\/span><\/p>\n The Christian\u2019s Christmas message is both narrow and broad.\u00a0 It is narrow in that God declares loudly that it is the only way to Him.\u00a0 \u201cI am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me\u201d (John 14:6).\u00a0 \u201cThere is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved\u201d (Acts 4:12).\u00a0 In this day of multi-everything, this road is too narrow, too exclusive.\u00a0 In the world\u2019s terms it is \u201cbigoted\u201d to exclaim that one has the only truth.\u00a0 But God\u2019s Word (and therefore the Christian\u2019s Christmas) says it!<\/p>\n But it is also very broad.\u00a0 \u201cWhosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life\u201d (John 3:16).\u00a0 The real blessing of Christmas, the real joy to the whole world is that salvation is made possible for every man, woman, boy and girl.\u00a0 This is God\u2019s Christmas gift to the world.\u00a0 The only condition, as with any gift, is to receive it.\u00a0 So it is good news that we can\u2019t earn it or pay for it.\u00a0 The whole world is in the same lost condition so God solved the universal problem with a gift.\u00a0 \u201cThe wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord\u201d (Romans 6:23).\u00a0 Only the giver of a gift had to pay the price and Jesus did when He died for us.\u00a0 The receiver is only the recipient.<\/p>\n O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,<\/p>\n O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!<\/p>\n Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels!<\/p>\n O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him,<\/p>\n O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n And So . . .<\/b><\/p>\n Is Christmas hateful?\u00a0 Is God hateful?\u00a0 To many this seems to be the case.\u00a0 They cannot find it within themselves to admit their need of a Savior.\u00a0 They will not accept a gift (and the love of God!) that is given because of the incapacity of the receiver.\u00a0 Such would make a person humble, it would make him necessarily thankful, and this the prideful human heart is averse to admitting.<\/p>\n But you may this very moment.\u00a0 \u201cFor whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved\u201d (Romans 10:13).\u00a0 It is a promise from the Giver.\u00a0 When you do, the light of heaven will open to you and Christmas will be Christmas again.<\/p>\n Notes:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Have you wondered why Christ has been banned from the holiday which bears His name, Christmas?\u00a0 Or why Christianity alone is banned in a country which bears the insignia, \u201cIn God we trust?\u201d\u00a0 Never mind the fatal inconsistency that in America everything is tolerated except what can\u2019t be tolerated.\u00a0 And what can\u2019t be tolerated?\u00a0 Anything […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[145,146],"class_list":["post-7127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-holidays","tag-incarnation"],"yoast_head":"\n\n