2 COR.5/17
IF ANY MAN(KIND) BE IN CHRIST,
HE IS A NEW CREATURE ...
OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY
AND BEHOLD ALL THINGS ARE NEW.
02 December, 2008
WHAT SAY YE?
i am asking this question to GET some responses........... WHY IS THE NAME OF JESUS SO OFFENSIVE TO PEOPLE? WHY DOES WISHING PEOPLE A MERRY CHRISTMAS OFFEND THEM?
Perhaps in your endeavor to extend warm holiday wishes this season maybe you will consider, for the sake of offending someone, that while we are very much the same, we are very different as well. We are among many cultures, many customs, many beliefs, and some do not celebrate Christmas. Hanukkah..is celebrated by the Jewish . Kwanzaa..is celebrated by some African Americans, while Kwanzaa is not meant to replace Christmas, it is merely a symbolic value in African culture. While there are few Islamics (muslim) in our country, they choose to celebrate the "Lunar Holiday." On December 22the Hopi Indians will be celebrating the Soyaluna a "Prayer Offering Ceremony." So unless you are willing to extend a warm Happy Hanukkah to someone in return for their Happy Hanukkah to you, maybe you can consider the celebrations of others,even if you do not agree with them, and extend a "Happy Holidays" of their choosing, because it is indeed their choosing.
Jesus Christ? Jesus very presence, His essence if you will, offended many people simply because He had no sin. His purity instantly made everyone, not just the pharisees, aware of their sin. He did not have to say a word to offend. The offense couldn't be helped. But as we know He did offend many with his words of truth. He challenges the unbelief in us which reveals our need for a loving, forgiving Savior. He was God in the flesh and we are but dust. The division had to take place for the salvation of the world. We are told that many people could not stand in His presence and would fall on their face before Him. I would have, and will be one of those people because my sin was, and is great and I am forgiven of much. We cannot help it if the "Jesus" in us offends another person.
I've found that if the name of Jesus is mentioned in a group, you can hear a pin drop. The name of Jesus has a power that makes people feel uncomfortable. Even the demons fear that name.
When I saw a news report the other evening of children being taught new words to a song we've sung for years - "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - I was saddened to hear "We Wish You a Splendid Holiday."
I know now that it's just a matter of time that the "Merry Christmas" greetings will be gone. Look around your town. Notice the "Holiday" greetings and not "Christmas." It's happening right before our very eyes.
Start singing the songs; go down the streets of America singing to your heart's content.
We've got to get this message out. "Go Tell It On the Mountain . . . that Jesus Christ is Born." Sing it, speak it, be a billboard for our Lord.
The story of this "Baby Jesus" alone has brought about more goodwill at this time of year than any other day we celebrate. How can we sit back and allow Him to be snuffed out of our lives?
Is it Jesus, or is it His followers that the "offended" don't like? What kind of revulsion galvanizes one to campaign so vehemently against the mere mention of His name, the mere singing of a carol, or the mere visual of a sign that says "Merry Christmas?"
I can listen to my own boss at work use some of the vilest words and follow up with, "Excuse my French." I may cringe inside at his damning of God's name, So if you don't like me wishing you a "Merry Christmas," I'll say, "Excuse my joy." You may cringe that I celebrate the birth of Jesus, but just tolerate it.
I cannot be concerned that "Merry Christmas" offends you. If I'm not careful, the day will come when saying I'm a Christian will offend you.
I'm offended that you're offended. How about that?
many see our Lord Jesus as a mere babe in a lowly manger and they are content to keep him as such. But the Truth is.....Jesus is God himself .....He is no longer a helpless baby....He is the soon coming righteous King of kings. The Lion from the Tribe of Judah. He is coming to Judge the world of sin and righteousness.
8 comments:
Perhaps in your endeavor to extend warm holiday wishes this season maybe you will consider, for the sake of offending someone, that while we are very much the same, we are very different as well. We are among many cultures, many customs, many beliefs, and some do not celebrate Christmas. Hanukkah..is celebrated by the Jewish . Kwanzaa..is celebrated by some African Americans, while Kwanzaa is not meant to replace Christmas, it is merely a symbolic value in African culture. While there are few Islamics (muslim) in our country, they choose to celebrate the "Lunar Holiday." On December 22the Hopi Indians will be celebrating the Soyaluna a "Prayer Offering Ceremony." So unless you are willing to extend a warm Happy Hanukkah to someone in return for their Happy Hanukkah to you, maybe you can consider the celebrations of others,even if you do not agree with them, and extend a "Happy Holidays" of their choosing, because it is indeed their choosing.
john 14-6
rom.6-23 for the wages of sin is death. but the gift of GOD is eternal life through jesus christ our lord.
Jesus Christ?
Jesus very presence, His essence if you will, offended many people simply because He had no sin. His purity instantly made everyone, not just the pharisees, aware of their sin. He did not have to say a word to offend. The offense couldn't be helped. But as we know He did offend many with his words of truth. He challenges the unbelief in us which reveals our need for a loving, forgiving Savior. He was God in the flesh and we are but dust. The division had to take place for the salvation of the world. We are told that many people could not stand in His presence and would fall on their face before Him. I would have, and will be one of those people because my sin was, and is great and I am forgiven of much. We cannot help it if the "Jesus" in us offends another person.
I've found that if the name of Jesus is mentioned in a group, you can hear a pin drop. The name of Jesus has a power that makes people feel uncomfortable. Even the demons fear that name.
When I saw a news report the other evening of children being taught new words to a song we've sung for years - "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - I was saddened to hear "We Wish You a Splendid Holiday."
I know now that it's just a matter of time that the "Merry Christmas" greetings will be gone. Look around your town. Notice the "Holiday" greetings and not "Christmas." It's happening right before our very eyes.
Start singing the songs; go down the streets of America singing to your heart's content.
We've got to get this message out. "Go Tell It On the Mountain . . . that Jesus Christ is Born." Sing it, speak it, be a billboard for our Lord.
The story of this "Baby Jesus" alone has brought about more goodwill at this time of year than any other day we celebrate. How can we sit back and allow Him to be snuffed out of our lives?
Is it Jesus, or is it His followers that the "offended" don't like? What kind of revulsion galvanizes one to campaign so vehemently against the mere mention of His name, the mere singing of a carol, or the mere visual of a sign that says "Merry Christmas?"
I can listen to my own boss at work use some of the vilest words and follow up with, "Excuse my French." I may cringe inside at his damning of God's name, So if you don't like me wishing you a "Merry Christmas," I'll say, "Excuse my joy." You may cringe that I celebrate the birth of Jesus, but just tolerate it.
I cannot be concerned that "Merry Christmas" offends you. If I'm not careful, the day will come when saying I'm a Christian will offend you.
I'm offended that you're offended. How about that?
many see our Lord Jesus as a mere babe in a lowly manger and they are content to keep him as such.
But the Truth is.....Jesus is God himself .....He is no longer a helpless baby....He is the soon coming righteous King of kings. The Lion from the Tribe of Judah. He is coming to Judge the world of sin and righteousness.
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