Around this time of year there’s invariably a verbal back and forth that occurs regarding “Happy Holidays” vs “Merry Christmas”.
My own perception is that most people, while they may claim to come down on one side or the other, don’t actually get too worked up about it. The exceptions would be (and this is my take on the cause and effect - others will disagree) Christians who get militant about Jesus being the reason for the season, and reactionary types who get militant on the other side, mostly because they view the situation as Christians getting in their face and they don’t like that.
Obviously, being a Christian myself, I sympathize wholeheartedly with the view that Jesus is the reason for the season - I just wish we could be less persecution-complex-y about it.
That all said, I’d like to submit some food for thought about the season to my Christian friends. And I know you all know this, I just think that sometimes we don’t think of it in these terms.
When we think of Jesus’ birth we tend to think in terms of glory. In that context Jesus truly is the reason for the season. We should bear in mind, however, that it was our need that prompted him to obediently submit to the Father’s plan and leave his comfort and glorious reign in Heaven to come down as an unblemished sacrificial lamb for our redemption.
So, in that sense, we are the reason for the season. If it weren’t for us, he would never have had to go through what he did.
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”
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