These Troubled Times

Never in a million years would I have imagined that there would be a national controversy over the celebration of Christmas. At present, there exists an all-out war over whether it is politically correct to say Merry Christmas versus Happy Holidays. Recently, a pastor crusading for the phrase "Merry Christmas," was interviewed by a Fox News anchor who challenged him saying that she uses the phrase "Happy Holidays" to avoid offending people. After the interview I thought to myself, "Are people really offended when someone says Merry Christmas? If so, is it because Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ? As I write to you these issues are at the forefront of many Congressional debates.

I recently received a call for a Christian advocate representing attorney Jay Sekolov. They are petitioning Congress not to interfere with our mentioning the name of Jesus publicly. There is also a lawsuit pending to have "In God We Trust" removed from our money. People, this is critical. What is even more critical is for believers like yourself to stand up and fight against these atrocities. Satan and his advocates are waging war. We must fight for what we know is right. We have a blood-born right to serve God. No one must be allowed to take that away. I’m sure when our founding fathers drafted the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they had no idea that this nation would turn out as it stands today. I am appalled at the very idea that someone would ask me to denounce the very God that causes me exist. You should be also. When asked if I would sign the petition against these haters of God, you better believe I did.

Much of the recent controversy we are currently witnessing with regard to Christmas originated from an in-depth research study by John Gibson.

In his book, "The War on Christmas" he notes that "the war is worse than you and I can imagine." The very notion of mentioning Jesus in the public sector is a violation of church and state. My response to this was "Come On, you got to be kidding." We are in America, the land of the free. Telling me that mentioning my Creator in public is a violation does not sound like I’m a member of a democracy; this is totalitarianism in its strictest sense. For years, Christians have struggled with serving God. More and more Christ is being left out of man’s affairs. He is left out of our schools, our assemblies, our daily lives, and more frightening, he is being excluded from many of our churches.

This notion of excluding Christ is not a new trend. In the book of Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus warns his disciples of things that would usher in the end times. He advises them to be watchful and prayerful that they enter not into the temptations of their times. "Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. (Verse 9) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another." (Verse 10) For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Verse 6)

Just as Jesus informed his disciples, so it is in our time. People are offended at the very mention of his name. We, as believers, will be hated and even killed for the cause of Christ. We are told to rejoice if this does happen because great will be our reward in Heaven.

All too often I encounter people who declare that they are members of a particular church, but they are out for personal gain. They are concerned mainly with what is in it for them. This is very disturbing. People, if we are true disciples, God and his kingdom are our top priorities. We have no personal agenda. Whatever concerns Christ should be our concern.

I enjoy seeing the fire of new converts. They are all-aglow with the love of God. Nothing matters but Him.

If we are to continue following Jesus, this same excitement must be our driving force. We can never get too much of God. Like the songwriter declares, Jesus must always be on our minds.

I have witnessed many attacks at the hands of men, but this attack on the day we celebrate the birth of Christ grieves me deeply. The most powerful words ever recorded and mankind’s only hope was spoken by the prophet Isaiah in the 9^th chapter and the 6^th verse of his book, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the very government (who’s being petitioned to take the name of God off of our money and to not mention his beloved Son in the public sector) shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

The verse that brings me joy and hope with all that is wrong in our world is verse 7. Although our government is divided along party lines and incapable of coming to any decisions, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end………."

We may be in the midst of chaos right now with little to no help from our elected officials but the government, kingdom, and peace of Jesus will be endless. This is the only hope the believer has.

I wish you life’s best as we approach the dawning of a new year, but most of all, I wish you Peace.

By Travestine J. Wright