Posted on 12/06/2005 4:17:51 PM PST by RWR8189
Well, here we go again ...
"And now a holiday song -- 'God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen.'" This from my favorite classical music station. Shall we listen in?
"God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day; to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray ... " etc., etc., etc.
Oh, boy, didn't we cover up that dogmatic theological treatise by billing the musical selection in question as a "holiday song" and not a "Christmas carol"? I guess it's fine (by the standards of the time) to launch on the airwaves an affirmation of Jesus Christ's salvational power -- just so long as we call it something else. As I said: Oh, boy.
This isn't one more disquisition on the emergence of "Happy Holidays" as a politically correct substitute for a quasi-theological salute like "Merry Christmas." This is a puzzled look at the puzzled state of the American mind and conscience in the Year of Our Lord -- excuse me, excuse me -- 2005.
Just what do we do with God in a society led for 40 years, by the U.S. Supreme Court and the American Civil Liberties Union, to at least seasonal rethinking of what might be called our public theology?
We've gotten so picky and prissy about religion in the public square that no one really knows what to say and do at times like Christmas. Our paper currency informs us that "In God We Trust," but try affirming that proposition at, say, a high school commencement. Or try praying it, if you want to see how long it takes an ACLU lawyer to get to the courthouse.
On the scientific front, we find things equally disordered and disputed. Courts these days seem designed for the purpose of adjudicating controversies between supporters of Darwinian evolution and pleaders for the teaching of intelligent design -- the proposition that life didn't just "happen."
Good old generic "religion" -- the kind President Eisenhower commended to us without reproof from the New York Times (oh, but if Ike were alive to try it now!) -- is today a reliable fight-starter. Even in these times of comfort and joy -- whatever we elect to call them. When last I heard, Target was defending itself against an outcry over the in-store downgrading of "Christmas" -- and the upgrading of "holiday."
The dispute makes no objective sense, of course. "Holiday" means "holy day." Holy for what reason? For the reason that Christ was born: absent which occasion the stores wouldn't be bidding you, come max out your credit cards. You'd think we could have sailed on another 40 or 50 years serene in our Christian pan-denominationalism.
On the other hand ...
Even pan-denominationalism isn't a good fit in a world wary of spiritual entanglements. Free-market capitalism, God bless it (there I go again!) not only maximizes prosperity but encourages the personal autonomy and fragmentation that have become our moral hallmarks. In other words, our popular creed, instead of "Jesus Saves!" seems to be "Lemme Alone, Hear?"
High expectations for human performance really don't inform the new creed, which, unlike traditional Christianity, isn't long on moral reasoning, with its encouragements, restraints and, indeed, prohibitions.
To the degree you suggest to someone else how life should rightly be lived, you invite the angry retort or the indifferent stare. Lemme alone! Outta my face!
But the nature of Christianity -- the creed of Christmas -- is about unpleasant realities like human deficiency and humbling ones like redemption: all in accordance with divine directives.
To be wished a Merry Christmas is to be wished a closer walk, a nearer relationship, with the God whose only begotten Son, as the story goes, came to earth at this season. The manger thing, you know -- angels, shepherds, wise men. Oh, so entangling! As it was meant to be.
Oh, and, by the way, Merry Christmas.
Copyright 2005 Creators Syndicate
Amen!
And, as we all know, atheists are destined for hell.
God rest you, Jerry Mendelbaum,
Let nothing you dismay.
Dis May you had a rotten month,
So what is dere to say?
Let's hope next May is better
And good things will come your way
And you won't have a feeling of dismay,
Next May.
---Allan Sherman
Says you.
One thing I have always found curious about many Christians is their apparent obsession and even joy over other people going to hell. Not content to let God sort them out, they feel compelled to do that job on his behalf.
What?
If this is honest, I am saddened to hear it. On the other hand, I find it very peculiar that many fierce opponents of Christ make claims that are in stark and total opposition to my lifelong experience. I think I can promise you a different reception if you are ever honestly seeking. The image you present is off-the-wall out of character for any biblical Christian gathering that I've ever witnessed.
God loves you and would save you from your sin if you would but choose Him over it,
Eric
You could easily see this attack on Christianity, after the election in Nov. of 2004. It was the Christian vote and the Catholic vote that put Bush in office. (Look at the vote in Ohio) Don't think the Liberals and Hillary are unaware of this. Therefore, since they don't like the message, they seek to hurt the messengers as much as they can. It is all pointed to the presidential election of 2008.
aw geddoudahere
It's true. I have every Allan Sherman album there is.
I think it is un-Christian to wish or condemn others to hell. I see it all the time here in this forum and in my personal life.
Indeed, some people are practically gleeful about it. For example, some old lady I know will see somebody doing something she doesn't agree with and she will rub her hands and say something along the lines of "Well they are not going to be so happy when they are burning in hell. They are going to get theirs alright."
I see similar responses in a lot of threads here too.
Personally, I think it is unbecoming of Christians to presume that they are the judges of who will or will not go to hell. I say let God sort them out.
It's very sad that President Bush has a Holiday Tree at the White House and it has a six pointed star on it.
I have walked with Christ and Christians for 20 years.
Not once have I ever seen or heard any Christian express anything like joy or satisfaction that someone is on their way to Hell. Not once.
And no one is attempting to judge who will or who will not go to Hell. There is one Judge, and His word is final. All who reject Him will spend eternity in a lake of fire. He said so. To merely repeat what He has clearly stated is not condemning anyone to anything.
How did you sign up tomorrow and get banned today?
All you have to do is look at Reply #2 of this thread!
Yep...atheists sure as hell (pun intended) hope Christianity is wrong.
So, you interpret that as the poster exhuding joy that atheists are destined for Hell?
Could be.
I don't know the person. He may have posted it with a "Yeah, take THAT!" attitude, or it could have been with a humble, broken heart that he posted the words.
Of course, this forum could never take the place of a real conversation, so any conceptions about a poster's motivations may be mistaken.
Merely relaying information can be done without any emotional baggage.
I suppose you'd rather it be a non-Judeo-Christian star?
And you find that okay and becoming of a Christian?
Who are we to judge who is and is not destined for hell?
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