As I walk downtown in Fargo, the sights and sounds of Christmas are everywhere. The shop windows are beautifully decorated; filled with merchandise and decorations. There are lights hung on the outside of buildings, as well as on any surface that lends itself to having a light string wrapped around it. Walking into the stores is a sensory delight of soft music playing and the aroma of apple-cinnamon candles wafting through the air. Snow on the ground, reflecting back the lights of the displays in the windows and crunching underfoot adds that final atmospheric touch.
It does seem that Christmas is here- or is it? The 'Happy Holidays' are here; I've seen many of those wishes littered among the holiday paraphernalia. "Season's Greetings" indeed shout their cheery message from advertising and cards in the mail. 'X-Mas' is a common shortcut that seems to be cropping up in Facebook posts and banners. The kids are practicing for their winter musical, before they are let out for their winter break. The tubes of wrapping paper at the local gigantic box store all scream sentiments about being merry, to wrap with care, enjoy, love, sing, and wish.
So what has happened to the Merry Christmas wishes? Jesus is the reason for the season; Joy to the world? What happened to having a Christmas program at school, or enjoying the Christmas break? Making beautiful Christmas presents in class, to bring home as a gift for mom and dad? Working with the art teacher as she shows you how to cut out Christmas trees and stars to put together a Christmas collage to decorate the walls in the hallway? To further add insult to injury, when I was looking online for Christmas cookie recipes, I realized that they were listed under the term 'holiday treats'. The few times I have seen bold proclamations of 'Merry Christmas' they are always accompanied by commercial themes, such as Santa Claus.
Christmas has devolved into a mass consumer holiday, starting with Black Friday and culminating with the line at the store the day after Christmas to return the gifts that were not satisfactory. More money is spent from November to December, with people taking advantage of low prices and sales to buy gifts for the family and friends on their shopping lists. People receive the gifts, which they joyfully unwrap on Christmas day, only to find that the gift simply will not do. Maybe a gift is returned because it is too small, too big, a duplicate, broken, or the most common reason: unwanted.
How does one end up with an unwanted gift? We received the present from someone who cared enough to shop, wrap, and deliver the gift- and yet we don't want whatever the item is. Many presents are items we simply don't care to use, or are not to our taste. We return the item to the store, and pick a replacement item. Perhaps we walk out with a gift card to use later, or cash.
I remember as a child, that Christmas was the most magical, longed for, wished for, planned for holiday of the year. How many Christmas lists did you write as a child? But along with the childish greed for a new toy went the understanding that there was a deeper meaning to Christmas than unwrapping gifts at 5 a.m. on Christmas morning. I knew that Christmas marked the birthday of Jesus, who came as a gift to the world. I have come to realize that Christ is becoming the unwanted gift of Christmas.
Christ has been removed from the majority of public schools. Children no longer sing Christmas carols and have their Christmas program, they have winter or holiday programs with non-religious music. The ostensible reason is that the school wants to avoid offending people of other faiths, or people of no faith. They have heard of other schools that have been sued by the ACLU to remove Christ from Christmas, and they don't want to be next. Out of fear, people in positions of power over our children have decided to take the path of least resistance and remove any 'taint' of religion from any type of activity or song a child participates in.
The local stores and the national chains have taken note, and in a vast majority of cases has followed suit. The stores that used to have joyous holiday displays with baby Jesus in a manger now have Santa Claus and reindeer. Public nativity displays are rare, and subject to vandalism if they are presented. Many lawsuits have been launched to remove nativities, as well as presentations of the Ten Commandments. People have been warned that you should not wish others a Merry Christmas, because they are afraid to offend someone. The questions that they pose are, "What if they are not Christians? How would that make them feel"?
The United States of America was founded upon the principles of Christianity. Why do we defer to others who are offended by our faith? We have become a country that is politically correct towards everyone else's beliefs to the detriment of the very beliefs that founded the nation in the first place. How can a nation that no longer protects the tenets upon which it rests, in essence ripping out the foundation, expect stability?
God has told us not to fear, to be bold, and to act as salt and light for the world. Don't be afraid to be a Christian, or mention Jesus. If you feel led to do so, put up a nativity scene for the neighborhood to enjoy. Light up your home for Christmas to show others the reason for the season. Extend hospitality to others, in the name of Christ.
I most sincerely wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. May Christ be in your heart and your home; may he guide your steps and fill you with love for your fellow man. May he strengthen you, and carry you through the rest of the year. Merry Christmas, my friend. Merry Christmas.
Crystal Knecht
It does seem that Christmas is here- or is it? The 'Happy Holidays' are here; I've seen many of those wishes littered among the holiday paraphernalia. "Season's Greetings" indeed shout their cheery message from advertising and cards in the mail. 'X-Mas' is a common shortcut that seems to be cropping up in Facebook posts and banners. The kids are practicing for their winter musical, before they are let out for their winter break. The tubes of wrapping paper at the local gigantic box store all scream sentiments about being merry, to wrap with care, enjoy, love, sing, and wish.
So what has happened to the Merry Christmas wishes? Jesus is the reason for the season; Joy to the world? What happened to having a Christmas program at school, or enjoying the Christmas break? Making beautiful Christmas presents in class, to bring home as a gift for mom and dad? Working with the art teacher as she shows you how to cut out Christmas trees and stars to put together a Christmas collage to decorate the walls in the hallway? To further add insult to injury, when I was looking online for Christmas cookie recipes, I realized that they were listed under the term 'holiday treats'. The few times I have seen bold proclamations of 'Merry Christmas' they are always accompanied by commercial themes, such as Santa Claus.
Christmas has devolved into a mass consumer holiday, starting with Black Friday and culminating with the line at the store the day after Christmas to return the gifts that were not satisfactory. More money is spent from November to December, with people taking advantage of low prices and sales to buy gifts for the family and friends on their shopping lists. People receive the gifts, which they joyfully unwrap on Christmas day, only to find that the gift simply will not do. Maybe a gift is returned because it is too small, too big, a duplicate, broken, or the most common reason: unwanted.
How does one end up with an unwanted gift? We received the present from someone who cared enough to shop, wrap, and deliver the gift- and yet we don't want whatever the item is. Many presents are items we simply don't care to use, or are not to our taste. We return the item to the store, and pick a replacement item. Perhaps we walk out with a gift card to use later, or cash.
I remember as a child, that Christmas was the most magical, longed for, wished for, planned for holiday of the year. How many Christmas lists did you write as a child? But along with the childish greed for a new toy went the understanding that there was a deeper meaning to Christmas than unwrapping gifts at 5 a.m. on Christmas morning. I knew that Christmas marked the birthday of Jesus, who came as a gift to the world. I have come to realize that Christ is becoming the unwanted gift of Christmas.
Christ has been removed from the majority of public schools. Children no longer sing Christmas carols and have their Christmas program, they have winter or holiday programs with non-religious music. The ostensible reason is that the school wants to avoid offending people of other faiths, or people of no faith. They have heard of other schools that have been sued by the ACLU to remove Christ from Christmas, and they don't want to be next. Out of fear, people in positions of power over our children have decided to take the path of least resistance and remove any 'taint' of religion from any type of activity or song a child participates in.
The local stores and the national chains have taken note, and in a vast majority of cases has followed suit. The stores that used to have joyous holiday displays with baby Jesus in a manger now have Santa Claus and reindeer. Public nativity displays are rare, and subject to vandalism if they are presented. Many lawsuits have been launched to remove nativities, as well as presentations of the Ten Commandments. People have been warned that you should not wish others a Merry Christmas, because they are afraid to offend someone. The questions that they pose are, "What if they are not Christians? How would that make them feel"?
The United States of America was founded upon the principles of Christianity. Why do we defer to others who are offended by our faith? We have become a country that is politically correct towards everyone else's beliefs to the detriment of the very beliefs that founded the nation in the first place. How can a nation that no longer protects the tenets upon which it rests, in essence ripping out the foundation, expect stability?
God has told us not to fear, to be bold, and to act as salt and light for the world. Don't be afraid to be a Christian, or mention Jesus. If you feel led to do so, put up a nativity scene for the neighborhood to enjoy. Light up your home for Christmas to show others the reason for the season. Extend hospitality to others, in the name of Christ.
I most sincerely wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. May Christ be in your heart and your home; may he guide your steps and fill you with love for your fellow man. May he strengthen you, and carry you through the rest of the year. Merry Christmas, my friend. Merry Christmas.
Crystal Knecht