CHEEZED

"Hi, I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC." This is a familiar phrase many of us have heard from the various commercials on TV.  PC. That is a very familiar word in our culture nowadays and it doesn't stand for Personal Computer. It stands for Politically Correct. Every you go, you see it. Especially around this time of year. Merry Christmas gets subverted by Happy Holidays. Now sure, it's just words, and some would even say it's just a greeting, and not much thought is put into it, but I beg to differ. 

It doesn't bother me so much when it's said on TV, or done at a store, as I realize the management of these various places are doing what they can to not "offend" clientel. However, when a Christian comes on and says, "Happy Holidays" well that just cheezes me. What is the reason for saying Merry Christmas? Why as Christians do we say it? Hint: IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SEASON!!! CHRISTmas. CHRIST. That is what it is about, Christ. But we don't make it about Christ. We make it about everything but. "Oh, I can't say Merry Christmas because someone might get offended." Well, you know what, as a Christian, you're offensive. You are, hands down, no butts about it. 

The Gospel of Christ, is offensive. The Gospel of Christ makes it clear that what we do is NOT ok, and that we are NOT all going in the same direction, and that withOUT CHRIST we are going to Hell. This is offensive to the culture at large, that believes it's ok to do anything they want. This has become the case so much that now it's almost illegal to have a stand against sin, or to call things like Homosexuality, or adultury, gluttony, sloth and other such things "wrong." 

"Who are you to Judge," they quip. They call us names like biggoted or intolerant. Funny how, they are ALL intolerant of those who don't "tolerate" them. The old adage, "Hate the sin, LOVE the sinner" means very little to people. The common understanding seems to be that if you Love me then you support what I do. When has love EVER been about agreeing with and supporting everything you do? 

Love is a parent who punishes their child for doing something wrong and shows them the error of their ways. Love is helping someone in a time of need or to get out of a bad habit or addiction. Ultimately, LOVE came down some 2000 years ago, as a baby, who's SOLE purpose was to DIE on a CROSS because of all the "SIN" that we feel Entitled to commit without any obstruction or ACCOUNTABILITY.

And then, on top of that, we deep it appropriate as Christians to completely overlook the significance of this event in our history and say "Happy Holidays" What a slap in the face to Christ. 

Whether or not he was actually born on December 25th is not the issue here. The issue is not just celebrating a day for Christ. The issue is, as Christians, are we LIVING sacrifices because of the sacrifice of LIFE that Jesus made for us? Or, are we more concerned with not offending everyone? Everytime we take that approach, we appease them right to Hell. I don't care if someone gets offended by my saying Merry Christmas, but I do care enough to tell them why we are Merry at Christmas, why Jesus came, why he died, and how they can know him, and have Eternal Life in Heaven with Him.

I know that Christmas didn't start as a "christian" holiday as some will be quick to point out, but again, you are missing my point. When it's your birthday, you make that clear, don't you? And sometimes, maybe your birthday comes in the middle of the week, and so you have to celebrate it either before or the weekend after. It doesn't matter that it isn't the "actual" day of your birth, it's the day set aside to celebrate your birth. This is a time honored tradition, especially among the younger of us. 

Yet, the day we set aside, regardless of the historical accuracy of it, for Christ, it gets completely overlooked or overshadowed by either the commercialism of the day, or the potential of offense to someone who isn't a Christian or doesn't believe!

You have every right to not believe in Christ. God was so wonderful, he not only gave us life but free will to do with this life what we want. You can live an alternate lifestyle, and that is your choice. I however, do not have to agree with that, to still validate your humanity. It's funny, you can slander ALMIGHTY GOD, and say whatever about Him that you want, but the first time, I as a Christian, go on the defensive or call out an issue in your life, oh that's off limits. Everyone is "tolerant" of everyone except to the Christians. Regardless of how I feel about it, imagine the mind and heart of Christ. He came and DIED for you, so you could turn around as act and live as if He doesn't even exist. What a Happy Holiday! or Merry Christmas to Him, huh?

Well, regardless, I want to make it clear that when you strip away all of it, all that remains is you and a choice, to accept or not accept Christ. So when I say MERRY CHRISTMAS to you, I don't say it to "offend" you because again I could care less, but I do so, because my JESUS died for me, and it's not YOUR day its HIS day, and in truth, EVERYDAY is HIS, the EARTH and ALL THAT IS IN IT!! I for one, am going to celebrate that!

It IS something to CELEBRATE indeed!!!

-Brian