Christianity in retreat?

The Washington Times ^ | December 22, 2004 | Helle Dale

[Convert from ECUSA]

Many of us long for simpler times, the days when you could wish your friends and family a "Merry Christmas" without a disclaimer of a hint of irony. Days of glowing lights, nativity scenes, full-throated caroling, collections for the poor, sermons about the infant Jesus bringing hope, joy and light to a world of darkness. Back then, actually not that long ago, Christmas seemed so uncontroversial. Fortunately, the above Christmas spirit has not disappeared entirely from view. It still exists in many communities across this nation. But political correctness and intolerance have done its work over the past several decades. The problem is not that other religions are claiming a growing share of the public square. In my view, if observed with respect for others, they are most welcome to share the space. But the context of Christmas today is a secular culture often hostile to the religious observance, especially of Christians. Church leaders sound positively apologetic when they defend the 2,000- year-old message that has resonated with worshipers throughout the ages and brought them comfort and peace.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Whether you are Latin Rite Catholic, Eastern Rite Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical, Charismatic, or Messianic Jewish, this is relevant for all. Whatever our differences may be, we are all under attack by the same anti-Christian and anti-religious forces (for godly Jews are under just as much attack by those forces as we are). I'm old enough to remember a time when kids in school wished each other Merry Christmas - regardless of religion - and nobody had a problem or was "offended." We used to wish Jewish classmates Happy Hannukah and did not give it a second though, and they wished us Merry Christmas. But that was the Ike-JFK era, which seems like 100 years ago.

[kosta50]

This playing the 'victim' card is getting old, my friend. Christianity is in retreat and the only people to blame are the Christians!

[redgolum]

We are to blame, but not entirely.

I will keep wishing everyone a Merry and Blessed Christmas till they lock me up. At which point I will keep tell the guards that ;)

[Budge]

There is a greeter at the local Wal-Mart Supercenter who begins every December 1st greeting people with, "Merry Christmas, welcome to Wal-Mart," and wishes them a Merry Christmas as they leave.

People smile and wish him the same, even when they are tired!

He says he has gotten only two "Happy holidays" in 21 days and one of those changed the greeting to Merry Christmas."

[GretchenM]

Christianity is NOT in retreat, it's moving forward in great strength.

Yes, the culture war is raging, but those who love Christ are not giving in or up.

I'd like to see a really fat case hit the revamped USSC in the next year or two. A case where the freedom of religion and religious speech / expression is set before the august justices and decided on Constitutional grounds.

[livius]

I don't think Christianity is "in retreat," but I think Christians have just awakened to the fact that it is under serious assault. I think we were so accomodating for so long, always stepping back when the ACLU pushed, always trying to make it clear that we were not "cultural imperialists" of any kind, that we gradually adapted ourselves to the disappearance of Christianity from the public sphere.

There are parts of Europe (Spain, in particular) where Christianity and Christian symbols are under overt attack from the government, which at the same time does everything possible to protect and even promote Islam; I think the fault of Christians lies in not having been prepared for this attack, because the handwriting had definitely been on the wall for some time. Still, the attack has become more aggressive lately, and I think this is a good thing and may encourage Christians to stand up and be counted.

[Convert from ECUSA]

I simply posted the article and wrote my own observations comparing things as they were when I was growing up, as opposed to today's world. I was not trying to play the "victim". My apologies if you were offended.

[RonF]

When I go into the stores and the clerks and cashiers wish me "Happy Holidays", I give them a hearty "Merry Christmas". I'm 6' 2" and ~ 270 lbs and sing bass-baritone in my church choir. I do "hearty" real good, if I may say so.

[Convert from ECUSA]

I'll bet you do "heart" very well! And I'll bet they pay attention, too! Merry Christmas to you!

[peacebaby]

I have thought for years that there was a movement toward Christianity and into - or back into -the Church. The extreme intolerance and farcical "polical correctness" is adding fuel to this insurgence. The lefties attempts to strangle our Christian freedom is backfiring. God's will be done.

[kosta50]

Secular Europe is a result of our insisting on multiculturalism. Multiculturalism came from America -- along with its "sensitivity."

If 4 our of 5 Americans say they are Christians, then who is the minority that is offended, and is organized and powerful enough to impose its anti-Christrian views on the majority, and why? While you are figuring this out, remember that beside 80% of Americans who consider themselves Christian, 6% are agnostic or atheist, and another 8% are believers with no specific denomination. The rest are specific non-Christian religious groups.

If that's not the case, then the only other possible conclusion is that the Christians in America de-Christianized America on their own and there is no one else to blame but ourselves.

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

It's taken a few hundred years but what is happening is the logical conclusion of a philosophy of government that thought it was above taking sides on religious and moral issues.

[redgolum]

You are right.

In our attempt to not offend each other, we have let the fox become the one who watches the chickens. We Christians bear the most responsibility for this failure. We Americans have tried to make the state what the church used to be, and it shouldn't surprise us much that the state doesn't want any competitors.

[peter the great]

I do not entirely agree with your position that it was the Christians who are entirely to blame for the de-Christianization of the United States. I for one believe that there are groups of people who are very well organized; disguised extremely well who have an agenda and very nearly succeeded. There are things done that are very subtle and it takes a while for people to catch on. One thing that I find extremely offensive yet virtually no one calls anyone on it is Christmas Carols with the lyrics changed. Furthermore, I also believe that the way back is definitely not to beat Christianity into people but for increased unity among Christians.

[kosta50]

The truth is probably somewhere inbetween, but the ratio is heavily slanted. If Christians did not want America de-Christianized, it would have never happened. Others simply joined in when Christians made it possible.

[reaganaut]

ping for later reading

[Gal.5:1]

"I will keep wishing everyone a Merry and Blessed Christmas till they lock me up. At which point I will keep tell the guards that ;) "


Yes this is pretty much my plan of action also.

[epow]

This playing the 'victim' card is getting old, my friend. Christianity is in retreat and the only people to blame are the Christians

Christianity is not in retreat. Those who are retreating before the secular society's attacks are the people who call themselves Christians and think they are Christians, but who aren't really Christians at all. Those of us who have been saved by grace through faith alone in our Lord Jesus Christ are not in retreat. We are more than conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ, and by his grace we will live and reign with him forever.

Just believing that Jesus was a good man who lived 2000 years ago and taught that men should love their fellow man and forgive those who harm them doesn't make one a Christian. In my 50 plus years as a Christian I have found that many of the people who say they are Christians think they are because they agree that the things Jesus taught are admirable, and that the world would be a wonderful place if only everyone would practice his teachings. They think that because they try to practice what Jesus taught they will be judged on a scale of 1 to 100 on how well they practiced his teachings and followed his example. If they score well enough they will go to heaven, but if not, well, God is too good and too loving to send anyone to hell who tried his best to live up to Jesus' teaching, isn't he?

God is good and he is love, the bible says so, but it also says that he is also too holy to look upon sin. Only those who are found perfect and without taint of sin will be allowed into his presence in heaven. Trying to practice the teaching and example of Jesus' life on earth is admirable and good, but it won't save a person from damnation. Works of righteousness have never saved anyone and they never will. The only way any person can be found without sin in God's eyes is by appropriating the sinless perfection of Jesus Christ, and that is accomplished by the grace of God through faith in Jesus' atoning death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.

I am not trying to start an argument or denigrate anyone's beliefs. I am simply stating the biblical plan of salvation as best I understand it and the way the apostle Paul expounded it in his epistles to the churches. And anyone who has truly received that salvation will not retreat one step before the attacks of a Godless society because He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.