Christians, Christmas, and Meaning

This week we celebrate Christmas. For many of us it is a time of peace and joy, a time for reflection, and a time of sharing with family and friends. Unfortunately, for many across the world, it is also a time of persecution, of violence, and hate. Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world today, across every continent, race, and nation.

Why should a religion that seeks only peace and brotherhood among all peoples be so maligned and reviled? There are many answers.

Christianity stands as a direct obstacle to the Left's goal of global domination and universal Socialism

For those on the Left, Christianity stands as a direct obstacle to their goal of global domination and universal Socialism. A central message of Christianity is that each individual is unique and worthy of salvation. Each person must come to their own relationship with Christ of their own free will. Belief cannot be forced--only persuasion and instruction following the example of Jesus' own teaching and ministry are legitimate ways to promote Christianity.

It teaches that we are all responsible to a higher power above any government, society, ideology or secular master. In Christianity, the moral foundation lies in respect for each individual and their right to choose freely without compulsion so long as that choice is respectful of others.

By extension, it is also a moral right and obligation to oppose, even to forcefully oppose, those who would employ force or compulsion to promote an ideology, to compel belief, to enslave, or otherwise forcibly restrict the rights of others. Defense is a moral right, compulsion by force is not.

By contrast, Socialism requires that the individual be subordinate to the State. There can be no higher power, no disagreement with State authority, no dissension with the orders, aims, or goals of the State. In a Socialist State, whatever the State deems necessary, or even desirable is legitimate and moral, even if it means imprisonment or even death of those who are subject to the dictates of the State. Of course, Christianity will be outlawed and persecuted in such a society. Wherever Socialism in any of its many forms has been imposed, the State has sought to eliminate Christianity and its belief in the sanctity of the individual.

The tools of those who seek to destroy Christianity are many

In addition to Socialism, other religions are often hostile to Christianity. Some hold that use of force is a legitimate way to spread their beliefs--that conquest gives a moral authority to imposition of religious belief and practice.

Some claim to seek peace for all peoples, saying that only when the entire world shares their beliefs can there be peace. On many occasions, the bloodiest conflicts have taken place between different sects within these religions. Christianity stands as an unacceptable example for those who seek to convert by the sword.

While Christians have seen conflicts between different divisions, notably between Catholic and Protestant, those conflicts have almost universally been seen as errors and condemned. Forgiveness and reconciliation have usually followed, unlike the centuries of continued animosity often seen in other religions. The situation has often been confusing and made misleading by the use of religious labels for what are actually political and secular divisions.

The tools of those who seek to destroy Christianity are many. We have already written of violence, but many more insidious methods are also used. Propaganda, deceit, ridicule, social disapproval and many others are in frequent application. Science is abused by false claims that it proves God doesn't exist. Discrimination in employment, promotion, commerce, housing, and many other domains is justified as opposition to those "intolerant Christian bigots".

The early Roman emperors who felt threatened by Christianity lined the Appian Way leading into Rome with thousands of crosses draped with crucified believers

For millennia, stories have been propagated that Jesus was the product of Mary consorting with a Roman soldier, either voluntarily, or through rape. Other stories claim Jesus was just another itinerant preacher prophet wannabe who lucked onto a good racket. Some claim that while he was a prophet, he wasn't actually the Son of God, since God can't have sons. Many more lies and "explanations" have been passed down through the ages to attempt to discredit and erode the very foundation of Christianity.

Yet we have eyewitness testimony of much of Jesus' life, not only from his disciples, but also from Roman and Jewish historians--historians who had no motive to promote falsehood. Further, we have the simple fact that a religion whose method of propagation was persuasion and not coercion spread so widely and quickly; a religion which would inspire those who accepted it even to death.

The early Roman emperors who felt threatened by Christianity lined the Appian Way leading into Rome with thousands of crosses draped with crucified believers in an attempt to suppress Christianity. In many ways the current persecution of Christians is mild, or at least, not unusual compared to what has been done throughout history, or in some locations today.

The war against Christianity, is a war between those who want to make humanity submit to secular authority, and those who believe in the divine spark in every individual

The war against Christianity, and it is a war, is a war between those who want to make humanity submit to secular authority, and those who believe in the divine spark in every individual. It is a war between those who seek control over others for their own ends, and those who believe in a Creator who has given us each life to use as we see fit, and who has provided us with His own example of how best to live.

This Christmas, we celebrate and give thanks for that example and its meaning for all of us. We give gifts in commemoration of the gifts given in recognition of His birth. We celebrate that he came to inspire, to exemplify, to heal, and to teach peace. We recognize that peace often comes with a price and must be defended against those who would steal our liberty and degrade our spirit.

America was founded as a Christian nation to be a beacon on a hill, a shining city welcoming all to the love of God. For over two hundred years we have supported and cherished the value of each individual and the rights granted us by our Creator and not by some secular State. 

This Christmas, we are called to remember that Freedom is not free, and peace has a price

Each generation, indeed, each one of us is called to affirm and defend that belief against those who would have us live in subservience. It is our choice to make, just as it has been for every generation. We have been given a Savior to lead us in the struggle.

This Christmas, we are called to remember that Freedom is not free, and peace has a price. We are not called to violence, but rather are reminded that resisting evil requires positive effort both in resistance and in creation of alternatives for good.

This Christmas, we celebrate the birth of a child--a child to remind us that we are not alone in this struggle of good against evil, nor must we rely on our own understanding, but rather we have been provided the wisdom to prevail if we choose to follow it.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas!