December, the month where many celebrate the greatest event in the history of the world, is once again upon us. We decorate our trees, hang up our lights from top to bottom, from corner to corner (especially if you’re in competition with Clark Griswold) and some will even put up displays of this great historical phenomenon in their yards and their churches. The birth of Jesus, the King of Kings, the Lamb of God who took upon the sins of the world.
However it seems that in recent years those of the world take great offense in the celebration of our Savior’s birth going as far as having outlawed manger scenes from the community even if it’s on one’s personal property that they pay taxes on every year, replacing Merry Christmas with Happy Holidays and even going as far as removing His name from songs that originally pay homage to His name.
One great example is in the traditional song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” originally introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 film “Meet Me in St. Louis” and has since been covered by many Christian and secular artists. One line from the song is a great example of how God is removed from the equation being the author of life and death of humanity.
Christian Version: Through the years we all will be together. If the Lord allows.
Secular Version: Through the years we all will be together. If the fates allow.
Whether lyricist Ralph Blane intended to remove God or not, the fact of God being the author of life and death is simply removed from the equation for if one acknowledged God or even feared Him in reverence then this is not a simple mistake but a fact that one takes God the Father and His Son’s birth as a threat to the secular civilization. I’m not speaking for Mr. Blane but from my observation as a Christ follower.
Another observation I’ve made is that even some Christian artists (Amy Grant, MercyMe, and Lauren Daigle just to name a few) who’ve covered the song have sung it with the secular lyric in place. While on their end it may have been a simple error of properly studying the deeper history of the song, it’s still a dangerous example of misleading others who may be seeking the Lord or understanding God’s role as King of the universe and once again the author of life.
Ok so what point am I trying to get with such an example? Satan the author of confusion and deception will work through the world and those of it to do all he can to remove Christ from Christmas and lead others astray on the road to hell. Even with something as simple as a lyric in a traditional Christmas song.
Throughout the centuries from the beginning of time, God has always been considered a threat to the world’s agenda and the power of the kings, emperors, presidents and legislators who use their titles for their own wicked pleasures and notoriety.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem over 2023 years ago the magi from the east brought it to the attention of King Herod of Judea that He (Jesus) the King of the Jews had been born and that they had come to worship Him. Herod indeed took this as a threat to His power and even tried to trick the magi in reporting back to him the whereabouts of the Christ child so that he could seize the opportunity to have Him slain.
God by dream told them to not return to Herod and because of this, we all know according to Matthew’s gospel that an angry Herod ordered the murder of all male children two years old or younger all because the Christ child posed a threat to his power.
Hmm kind of reminds you of the act of infanticide called abortion that some women feel is their right to take an unborn life since that life is in her body thus violating her power as a free woman given the right to choose? Even this account in Matthew breaks my heart to read that these precious little boys were slaughtered all because of a king’s selfish desire to keep his power.
We also see in our civilization today that many parents are quick to take their children to the mall to see the imaginary concept of Santa Claus but won’t make any effort to take them to church on Sunday mornings to learn about Jesus.
Kind of going back a tad to my first article In God We Trust…or do we? I would like to reflect on the 1994 remake of the film Miracle on 34th Street (also somewhat an inspiration for my first article) where the lawyer Bryan Bedford must convince the judge that Santa Claus exist in the person of Kris Kringle and in action little Susan Walker gives the judge a Christmas card with a $1 bill in it as a Christmas gift.
Catching the attention of the judge, the dollar has the words “In God We Trust” circled. The judge then acknowledges that if the United States Department of the Treasury can put its faith in God on its currency without any evidence then the people can put their faith in Santa Claus in the same manner therefore declaring that he exists in Kris Kringle.
So another point is that while most of the world is celebrating a fairy tale of a character then why are they so hell bent on taking Christ out of the equation and out of His birthday celebration? It is indeed because He is convicting wicked hearts on their immoral deeds and these folks know that they are in the wrong yet crave selfish ambition and power. Hardening their hearts toward the Holy Spirit.
For if Jesus is just a fairy tale Himself and cannot pose any physical threat to an individual then why is it worth their time fighting tooth and nail to erase His birth, His sacrifice, His resurrection and His name from the annals of History?
People have been persecuted and even been put to death for their faith and obedience in Christ but nobody has been for fairy tales such as Pinocchio, Rapunzel or Cinderella. Think about that for a moment! Christ is the gift that keeps on giving the whole year round and the one gift that saves. Take a stand for Him by putting Christ back into Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all of you Bull Elephant readers and may God bless you and your loved ones!
Happy birthday Jesus: The Reason for the Season
3 comments
Christ was very clear, John14: 15-21
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. “
According to Scripture, God’s people will be known because they are His peculiar people and they keep His Commandments.
There is no need to tell someone you are a Christian as they will see it. And, the Bible also tells us that you will be persecuted for His sake.
Romans 6:
6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with
If one really accepts Jesus Christ and continues in sin, then they are a liar if they say they are a follower of Christ. This country could not be what it is now if all the people who tell you they are Christians really are. Faith without works is dead, and you shall know them by their fruits.
Let’s see — one word in song lyrics changed, and a cute, feel-good movie about Santa Claus. And this is proof that “secularists” are out to destroy Christmas?
Oh, wait — I see — it’s early December, time to dust off the old “war on Christmas” bullshit.
Can’t have Christmas without Christ!