Christmas Letter From Jesus

A column from best-selling Author Jeannie St. John Taylor

Jesus was a spammer?

I , for one, got really annoyed with this email, because I felt that it was telling me to “shut up and stop complaining that Christ was being taken out of Christmas”.

It seems that i was not the only one who felt this way. Here is the rest of the article:
‘The implication: Just shut up. Don’t complain about policy. Never mind your freedoms are slipping away. You don’t want to be a loud-mouthed trouble maker, do you? It’s not a problem that they are taking away something that belongs to me. Just meekly accept the injustice. I would.

Do you really think that’s what Jesus would tell you to do? Have you read about the times (yes, that’s plural, he did it twice) when he flipped over tables and chased wrongdoers out of the temple with a whip?

Was he nitpicking?

I can’t tell you how I much abhor the term “nitpicking” when applied to people who boldly stand for their beliefs by letting retailers know they want to keep Christ in the “holiday season.”

When the letter exhorts us to, “Just get along and love one another.” I can’t help wondering, at what cost? It brings to mind a quote from Edmund Burke, “When good men do nothing, evil triumphs.” History is replete with proofs of his statement; need I allude to more than the German citizens of World War II to make that point? The citizens of Germany were in a spiritual battle; they bowed their heads in silence.

We are in a spiritual battle. We must fight. “

BTW, I write to the Troops, visit people in nursing homes, teach orphans music, give to the poor, display examples of my faith all year round. LOL

I really don’t enjoy emails that make the rounds trying to make Christians feel guilty.

I checked and it's not on our excerpt only list, so here it is for the rest of us to read... :-)

CHRISTMAS LETTER FROM JESUS

Jeannie St. John Taylor
Published 12/13/2009 - 3:08 p.m. CST

Has the Letter from Jesus about Christmas arrived in your email box yet? I’ve received it several times and I appreciate every person who sent it because I know they are trying to bless me. It’s filled with great ideas: We should smile at strangers, visit people in nursing homes, donate to the Salvation Army, and be kind to the clerks in stores that do not celebrate Christmas. Wonderful ideas. I applaud those suggestions. We should all follow them.

If the letter’s intent is to infuse readers with the warmth of the season, I approve.

The problem is, one concept woven through the letter frosts me.

While urging us to be nice people, the letter sneaks in another more subtle message “from Jesus”: “Instead of writing letters of protest objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers . . . Instead of nitpicking about what retailers in your town call the ‘holiday’” smile and offer a kind word. If nativities are forbidden in your town, stick one out on your front lawn.

The implication: Just shut up. Don’t complain about policy. Never mind your freedoms are slipping away. You don’t want to be a loud-mouthed trouble maker, do you? It’s not a problem that they are taking away something that belongs to me. Just meekly accept the injustice. I would.

Do you really think that’s what Jesus would tell you to do? Have you read about the times (yes, that’s plural, he did it twice) when he flipped over tables and chased wrongdoers out of the temple with a whip?

Was he nitpicking?

I can’t tell you how I much abhor the term “nitpicking” when applied to people who boldly stand for their beliefs by letting retailers know they want to keep Christ in the “holiday season.”

When the letter exhorts us to, “Just get along and love one another.” I can’t help wondering, at what cost? It brings to mind a quote from Edmund Burke, “When good men do nothing, evil triumphs.” History is replete with proofs of his statement; need I allude to more than the German citizens of World War II to make that point? The citizens of Germany were in a spiritual battle; they bowed their heads in silence.

We are in a spiritual battle. We must fight.

God’s forces are battling Satan’s forces and our world is the battlefield; our hearts are the battlefield. Evil people once again intend to dispose of Christ, and Christmas is one stepping stone along the way. We dare not sit back and think sugary positive thoughts while evil people destroy our freedom of religion.

We must openly and vocally choose sides.

We can boycott stores that ignore Christmas.

We should write letters whenever the Lord puts it on our hearts.

We will believe God is able to do anything and there’s no reason to fear or fret.

The one thing we must not do is stand silently by.

The letter cleverly persuades parents to believe its viewpoint by saying every parent should understand that Jesus doesn’t care what we call his day. Well, call me self-centered, but if my kids threw a big party for my birthday, invited friends, neighbors and family and then stood by while I was informed I wasn’t allowed to attend, I’d be hurt. If they didn’t stick up for me, I’d wonder if they really loved me.

Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. If he’s not invited there’s nothing left to celebrate.

I understand the letters intent. I also understand the authors discontent. I do know that the hardest commandment to keep is the one pertaining to loving your neighbor. I struggle each and every day with it. On the other hand, I try to preach the Gospel each and every day, with my mouth shut.

I do agree, though, with the general idea that it is BETTER to light a candle than curse the darkness.

If everyone who fought against the secular “Winter Holiday” songs the public school choirs sing would get together and sing REAL Christmas songs, going door to door, and bringing the kids with them, much would be accomplished.

If everyone who opposed the striking of Nativity scenes would put a really nice one up at their home/private club/business - shoot, if they’d get together a put on a live nativity! How great would that be?

Complaining and being negative is easier than working and being positive.

That said, I do think we must continue to be active in the public square. Just not limit ourselves to that.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Thanks that is a good one.I’ve always been perplexed by the Christians who seem to always focus on the “turn the other cheek” and completely ignore the other messages Jesus gave us?

A great book is called; Jesus Mean And Wild; The Unimaginable Love of an Untamable God. It’s really an eye-opener for those who think of Jesus as this doe-eyed mamby-pamby that the Church in America has made him out to be. Jesus didn’t take any guff from anyone...Ever!!