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Keeping Christ in Christmas Matters for
our Culture!
If Americans ignore attacks on Christmas because the issue does not seem
important, we are failing to realize the profound consequences we are creating
for our children and grandchildren. Removing God from government allows the
people to begin looking to the government as their “god.” This is an
exceptionally dangerous trend! 
Future generations may awaken to a society where Biblical faith has
disappeared entirely from the public square. It is imperative that we not forget
the lessons of history.
Prior to Adolph Hitler, Germans had celebrated Christmas for centuries.
Hitler’s government worked to eliminate Christian influence so people would rely
on his government to do “what was best” for the country. Hitler wanted the
government to be what the people trusted and where the people placed their
confidence. Christmas became a pagan festival that was celebrated by the SS
Troops on winter solstice on December 21. School prayers, carols, and nativity
plays were forbidden in the schools; and in 1938, even the name “Christmas” was
changed to “Yuletide.”
During the days of the Iron Curtain, the Soviet Union permitted only public
celebrations of the New Year during the winter holiday season. From 1969 to
1997, Christmas was also banned in atheist Cuba.
If American Christians are not diligent about protecting the public mention
of their faith, it could happen here. In fact, it is happening here.
In contrast, consider these remarks made by President Ronald Reagan at the
National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in 1985, less than twenty years ago.
What would the reaction be to such a speech today if it were delivered by a
mayor, a public school principal, or governor?
The important thing to remember is that these remarks by President Reagan
were both legal and constitutional when he gave them in 1985, and they remain
both legal and constitutional today. Hostility towards Christmas is not required
by law. Instead, it is gradually being imposed by a small minority of vocal
citizens who want to ban Christianity from the public square.
Let’s pray that this
generation of pastors, parents, business and government leaders would reverse
this trend and boldly declare Jesus Christ during this Christmas season as
President Reagan did not so many years ago. President Reagan’s remarks in
1985:
"My fellow Americans, thank you for joining Nancy and me on this festive
evening. The menorah stands lighted in Lafayette Park, for this is also the time
of Hanukkah, and this season is rich in the meaning of our Judeo-Christian
tradition. In a moment we'll be lighting the National Christmas Tree, carrying
forward what is now a 62-year tradition first begun by Calvin Coolidge.
Tonight we're drawn in warmth to one another as we reflect upon the deeply
holy meaning of the miracle we shall soon celebrate. We know that Mary and
Joseph reached the stable in Bethlehem sometime after sunset. We do not know the
exact moment the Christ Child was born, only what we would have seen if we'd
been standing there as we stand here now: Suddenly, a star from heaven shining
in our eyes, shining with brilliant beauty across the skies, a star pointing
toward eternity in the night, like a great ring of pure and endless light, and
then all was calm, and all was bright. Such was the beginning of one solitary
life that would shake the world as never before or since. When we speak of Jesus
and of His life, we speak of a man revered as a prophet and teacher by people of
all religions, and Christians speak of someone greater—a man who was and is
divine. He brought forth a power that is infinite and a promise that is eternal,
a power greater than all mankind's military might, for His power is Godly love,
love that can lift our hearts and soothe our sorrows and heal our wounds and
drive away our fears. He promised there will never be a long night that does not
end. He promised to deliver us from dark torment and tragedy into the warming
sunlight of human happiness, and beyond that, into paradise. He's never been a
halfway giver; His generosity is pure and perfect and sure.
This, then, expresses the true meaning of Christmas. If each of us could
give but a fraction to one another of what He gave to the whole human family,
how many hearts could heal, how much sorrow and pain could be driven away?
There's still time for joy and gladness to touch a sad and lonely soul, still
time to feed a hungry child, to wrap a present for a kind old man feeling
forlorn and afraid, and to reach out to an abandoned mother raising children on
her own. There's still time to remember our Armed Forces, to express our
profound gratitude to those keeping watch on faraway frontiers of freedom, and
to redouble our energies to account for our MIA's. They are not and never will
be forgotten. And there's still time to remember the deepest truth of all: that
there can be no prisons, no walls, no boundaries separating the members of God's
family.
Let us reach out tonight to every person who is persecuted; let us embrace
and comfort, support and love them. Let us come together as one family under the
fatherhood of God, binding ourselves in a communion of hearts, for tonight and
tomorrow and for all time. May we give thanks for an America abundantly blessed,
for a nation united, free, and at peace. May we carry forward the happiness of
the Christmas spirit as the guiding star of our endeavors 365 days a year. And
as we light this magnificent tree, may all the youthful hope and joy of America
light up the heavens and make the angels sing.
Merry Christmas, and God bless you all. And now we're going to light the
tree."
Former President Reagan's remarks during the lighting the National
Christmas Tree given on December 12, 1985.
Please pray NATIONWIDE for the pastors, parents, businesses, and
government officials to take strong stands for Jesus Christ during this
Christmas season. CLA will receive many calls and legal matters on these issues
during this time of year, and our legal missionary team will influence large
numbers of people through our website ( www.christianlaw.org has a Keeping Christ in
Christmas video series that answers a number of the most common questions that
come to our office) and radio broadcast, The Legal Alert, currently heard on
over 1500 radio stations, in addition to the legal matters on this issue. Your
faithful support of CLA during this time of year allows us to boldly speak for
Jesus in a culture that so desperately needs to turn to Him. |
