Posted on 12/03/2014 2:41:11 PM PST by PROCON
Rev. Franklin Graham, son of world renowned evangelist Billy Graham, said the last few decades in America have witnessed an increased hostility towards “the sacred nature of Christmas,” a stripping away of religious references in the public square that is “at its root and core” a “war on Christ and His Followers.”
“The war on Christmas is a war on Christ,” said Rev. Graham, a “hatred” against a culture that celebrates the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh as a baby 2,000 years ago, and anticipates his second coming when, as a “conquering King,” He will “cast Satan and unbelievers into an eternal lake of fire.”
Analyzing the war on Christmas, Rev. Graham in his December commentary in Decision magazine, published by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said, “Stores, schools and communities across America continue to find new and intolerant reasons to remove any religious references to Christmas, stripping it of any holy or historical significance. Christian songs, prayers and other spiritually vital connections to the Lord Jesus Christ are deleted or diminished.”
For example, in Ramsey County, Minn., he said, a courthouse “banned red poinsettias because someone deemed them a ‘Christian symbol,’” and in Pittsburgh the Christmas holidays are referred to “as ‘Sparkle Days,’ in an ironic attempt at avoiding offense.” Also, a VA hospital in Georgia banned “religious Christmas songs in public areas.”
Between the time that Jesus came as a baby and His second coming are “the last days,” said Rev. Graham, adding that, as the Apostle Paul wrote, the last days will be marked by “pride, brutality, treachery and heartlessness.”
“We should not be taken aback, then, when a day that should be devoted to meditating upon the marvelous, virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is instead treated in a scandalously secular way that denies His deity and saving work,” said the reverend, who is the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
“The Name of Christ is an offense to the unbelieving world,” he said. “The mention of His birth, or life, or death and resurrection, is an insult. The world, the flesh and the Devil all hate the mere mention of His glorious Name. They are mortal enemies of the Savior.”
That “world system,” said Rev. Graham, “is enthralled with power and greed, and it wants no part of the Messiah’s absolute authority.”
That rebellion against God is animated by the Devil, said Rev. Graham, the demon who, “knowing that his time to roam on Earth is short and that he will one day be cast into the lake of fire, he opposes Christ at every turn. He and his demons will help gather all the nations into a great last-ditch rebellion against the King of kings before he is defeated.”
Until that happens, however, “we should expect stiff, relentless opposition to the Gospel message from our culture,” said Rev. Graham.
He added that the brutal persecution of Christians in other countries may be “far into the future for us” in the United States, but we cannot expect “that it will not intensify and heighten.”
Franklin Graham, 62, is married and has five children and numerous grandchildren. He and his wife, Jane Cunningham Graham, live in Boone, N.C. In addition to heading the BGEA, Rev. Franklin Graham is chairman and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian-based international relief organization.
Like his father Billy Graham, Rev. Franklin Graham evangelizes at venues here and abroad, and through television, radio, publishing and through the Internet and social media.
Every year, especially at Christmas, we see this happening more and more.
It saddens me more than discourages me, because we all know Who triumphs in the end. :-)
FYI
Try as they might the demonic hordes and facilitators cannot nor will ever steal the gift of the baby Savior born to liberate mankind of its sins.
Prediction: At some point in the very near future, Franklin Graham will be arrested.
I hope I’m wrong, BTW.
The God of creation who flung the Pleiades in place and tightened Orion’s belt and by whom all things consist, must be severely distressed by liberals who want to shut Him out of the USA!
“Sparkle Days”?
Me no get...
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Psalm 2:1-12
Back in the early 80’s I used to think it was tough trying to talk to people about God. Looking back now it seems like those days were easy. Most people, even if not receptive, were not outright abusive. As long as you spoke reespectfully you seemed to get the same in return. There may have been a rebelious spirit but it was watchful and kept quiet. Now the devil has armed unbelievers with blasphemies, aggression and a foul spirit. The level of hatred I see in some people is astounding. It is almosy murderous.
I think we need to be realistic.. This nation has a Christian heritage, but today it is Christian in name only... people that have never read the scriptures, that know the name of jesus best as a convenient curse word ... People that never have bowed the knee to Jesus now get upset because the world has taken over Dec 25 and staked it as a commercial , family , and national holiday and have no relationship with Christ.. and so rightly should just say “Happy Holidays “ .
Rev. Graham, I love you, but it doesn’t sound as if he knows much of his own heritage. Christmas is a manmade holy day millions of Christians throughout history condemned as pagan. It was banned in America through much of our early history—and it was banned by Protestants. It wasn’t until the 19th century that it started to really grow in popularity in this country. I believe it was the state of Alabama that first officially recognized it sometime around 1825. Many businesses used to open early on Christmas to ensure their workers weren’t celebrating ChristMASS.
Today most American Christians, including pastors, know nothing of the history of Christmas in America and have never even considered there are serious theological questions about both Christmas and Easter.
Here is a quote from Charles Spurgeon:
C.H. Spurgeon, in the Treasury of David, on Psalm 81:4, wrote,
“When it can be proved that the observance of Christmas, Whitsuntide, and other Popish festivals was ever instituted by a divine statute, we also will attend to them, but not till then. It is as much our duty to reject the traditions of men, as to observe the ordinances of the Lord. We ask concerning every rite and rubric, ‘Is this a law of the God of Jacob?’ and if it be not clearly so, it is of no authority with us, who walk in Christian liberty.”
I have always loved Christmas, but this year my Bible study caused me to begin to ask questions. My desire is to please the Lord. If He isn’t pleased with Christmas, then I want nothing to do with it.
We Christians celebrate Christmas to honor the birth of our Savior.
We sing psalms and praises to His name.
There are more Christmas songs honoring Christ's birth than all other songs ever written!
Think God doesn't like to be worshipped in song? Bible says he does.
If He isn’t pleased with Christmas, then I want nothing to do with it.
Good, go erect a festivus pole or something...
Thanks for that serious biblical analysis. I can tell you are a real Berean.
Merry Christmas anyway FRiend.
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