Recently an incident took place in Wilmington,North Carolina that made the national news. No, the coverage wasn't about a horrendous homicide,nor did it pertain to a celebrity visiting the Port City. This incident was about a "holiday" play that featured very young elementary
school children. Now, I'm sure that many of you are assuming that this play featured some singing or portrayal of Christian themes relating to the birth of Jesus that aroused the ire of a parent,or parents. This of course has been an all too familiar occurence in recent decades and has been mentioned in a recent posting on this site. By using and twisting the amendment that speaks of the separation of church and state,the minority who are antagonistic to the Christian faith are busily working towards eliminating all things relating to that faith from the public venue.Consequently,we now have in our schools such absudities as winter recess or holiday vacation in place of Christmas break. Plays,programs and other festivities have been renamed and made devoid of any Christian connotation.
So what happened at this school program that led it to receive national coverage? Apparently, one of the songs sung,or to be sung, was called Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Christians might ask,that's one of the safe ones isn't it? I mean, it's not like Away in the Manger or O Little Town of Bethlehem where they mention Jesus. Well, a parent of one of the children in the play is Jewish and was highly offended that the word Christmas was used in the song. After complaining to school officials, the song was removed. We now all need to take a moment to consider what this seemingly absurd acquiescense to a parent's complaint might be a forerunner of. First think about this,is there a more innocuous "holiday" song than Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"? Then consider the following, is it inconceivable that in the not too distant future that an employer could require that employees not wear crosses or crucifixes while at work because they might offend those of other faiths and beliefs? Another scenario, how 'bout landlords and rental companies specifying in their leases that tenets not display crosses,nativity scenes,etc in their windows or on their lawns because of the same reason given by employers? The big question is,what will you do if and when it happens? Will you make a stand or remain silent? You say this won't occur? If you told me 40 years ago that Christ themed carols and wishing someone Merry Christmas in retail stores and on the airwaves would become increasingly rare, I would have called you crazy.It's said that 85% of Americans describe themselves as Christian. Yet we as Christians have allowed our faith to be degraded,ridiculed and marginalized with very little response for far too long. Have we forgotten that millions around the world have suffered and died for their Christian faith? Remember this: Jesus said; "if you deny Me before men,I will deny you before My Father." Protests,boycotts, and letter writing campaigns are still effective measures for Christians to express themselves. We must as believers use them! Our complacency will be ruinous otherwise. There's an old expression,"give him an inch and he'll take a mile." Brethren, those who despise our faith are taking a mile and aren't stopping there. If you don't believe me,just think of Rudolph.
school children. Now, I'm sure that many of you are assuming that this play featured some singing or portrayal of Christian themes relating to the birth of Jesus that aroused the ire of a parent,or parents. This of course has been an all too familiar occurence in recent decades and has been mentioned in a recent posting on this site. By using and twisting the amendment that speaks of the separation of church and state,the minority who are antagonistic to the Christian faith are busily working towards eliminating all things relating to that faith from the public venue.Consequently,we now have in our schools such absudities as winter recess or holiday vacation in place of Christmas break. Plays,programs and other festivities have been renamed and made devoid of any Christian connotation.
So what happened at this school program that led it to receive national coverage? Apparently, one of the songs sung,or to be sung, was called Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Christians might ask,that's one of the safe ones isn't it? I mean, it's not like Away in the Manger or O Little Town of Bethlehem where they mention Jesus. Well, a parent of one of the children in the play is Jewish and was highly offended that the word Christmas was used in the song. After complaining to school officials, the song was removed. We now all need to take a moment to consider what this seemingly absurd acquiescense to a parent's complaint might be a forerunner of. First think about this,is there a more innocuous "holiday" song than Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"? Then consider the following, is it inconceivable that in the not too distant future that an employer could require that employees not wear crosses or crucifixes while at work because they might offend those of other faiths and beliefs? Another scenario, how 'bout landlords and rental companies specifying in their leases that tenets not display crosses,nativity scenes,etc in their windows or on their lawns because of the same reason given by employers? The big question is,what will you do if and when it happens? Will you make a stand or remain silent? You say this won't occur? If you told me 40 years ago that Christ themed carols and wishing someone Merry Christmas in retail stores and on the airwaves would become increasingly rare, I would have called you crazy.It's said that 85% of Americans describe themselves as Christian. Yet we as Christians have allowed our faith to be degraded,ridiculed and marginalized with very little response for far too long. Have we forgotten that millions around the world have suffered and died for their Christian faith? Remember this: Jesus said; "if you deny Me before men,I will deny you before My Father." Protests,boycotts, and letter writing campaigns are still effective measures for Christians to express themselves. We must as believers use them! Our complacency will be ruinous otherwise. There's an old expression,"give him an inch and he'll take a mile." Brethren, those who despise our faith are taking a mile and aren't stopping there. If you don't believe me,just think of Rudolph.
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