What would Jesus do about a war on Christmas?

Question

Would he insist people be sure to mention his name? Would he get angry if people didn't pay enough attention to him? A lot of his followers have a righteous indignation about this alleged "war" and I have to wonder which side Jesus would be on...

Answer 1

A Letter From Jesus


Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset because of what you think of as taking my name out of the winter holiday season.


Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate my birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festivals. Although I do appreciate being remembered any time, I don’t appreciate you turning this into a season to fight with other people or become self-righteous. Remember what I said about that? Remember what I said about being humble?

How I personally feel about this occasion can probably be best understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own....

I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my life, my birth, what I tried to teach you all, then GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Please recall that I did NOT say to only get along with, or love, people of the same skin tone, or country of origin, or who go to the same church as you. In fact, I didn’t mention ANY exceptions. That's right, I didn't say "unless they're gay".

Having said that, let me address some other specifics:

If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting my birth in a public place, then just get rid of those Santas and elves and sleighs and three-foot candy canes and snowmen and put a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. Better yet, hold me in your heart, and ask yourself what I would do in a similar situation. I know you know I wouldn’t be throwing around terms like “Jesus hater” or “anti-Christian” or “War on Christmas”, or saying bad things about people who celebrate a different holiday at this time of year, and want to be able to do so without being treated like they are somehow inferior to you.

If all my followers put up a nativity scene on their PRIVATE property there wouldn't be any need for one in the town square because there would be so many of them all around town.

And then maybe those people who celebrate the season in the old ways (the ways they did before I came) could do so, without being treated like they are somehow attacking me. Or, really, your privileged position, because we all know that they are not attacking ME.


Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling their tree a holiday tree instead of a "Christmas" tree. In my time, the only people who did any kind of religious tree stuff were Gentiles (what you call Pagans or Heathens) - NOT my people – in fact, my people were *forbidden* to do the tree thing. Some of you seem to have lost sight of the fact that I was, in life and in death, a Jew, and an observant Jew at that. So all this fuss over what to call a decorated tree has *not one thing* to do with my life, my teachings, or my birth.

But, OK, so you really like having the tree, even though it’s a Pagan religious tradition. That’s fine; I understand that it’s festive and fun. Just stop claiming that it's something meaningful to ME or sacred to MY teachings, because it’s not.

Or how about this? Decorate a grape vine! I actually spoke about that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

And if someone wants to put up a menorah in the same public place as one of those decorated trees, don’t give them grief about it. Don’t get caught up in a Size Queen battle over it. Remember, *I was a Jew* in life and in death. A menorah is a fine thing for remembrance of me at this time of year, since *I* celebrated Hanukkah. Why do you forget that?


Last, if you want to do something to make me happy with you at this time of year, pick something from the list below.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing to the president or the president of your company or *anyone* complaining about the wording on the cards they sent out this year, why don't you write and tell them that you'll be praying for them. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Hold them in your arms and remind them that you love them. Teach them respect and tolerance for all peaceful beliefs and all living things, because that's what I would do.

5. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference. Remember, I am LOVE, not a sermon.

6. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they don’t wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one, or a Happy Holiday, or simply a good morning or evening.

7. If you really want to make a difference, support an organization or charity helping people or animals in need of help. Whatever you do unto the least of these ~ you do unto me.

8. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which collects gifts this time of year and they will make the delivery for you. It would show me you truly understood my purpose if you would continue doing this ALL year and not just during "Christmas".


Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret or anonymously that you wouldn't do in my presence.

Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine. Be loving. Be supportive of others in *their* beliefs and *their* dreams. That's what doing unto others IS.

Answer 2

I don't know if I can do any better than Raven's Voice, but...

Considering Jesus never once talked about his birth,

and that the narratives of his birth were later additions by his disciples to make a religious and political point by comparing Jesus to Caesar,

and the festivals associated with his birth came later still as a way of celebrating the Light of the World coming into the time of darkness,

and that Jesus rarely sought attention for himself, often admonishing recipients of his healing to "tell no one",

and that Jesus preached a message of being at peace with your brothers and sisters and not holding anything against them...

I have a hard time thinking Jesus would approve of the (self-)righteous indignation voiced by some of his followers.

Peace to you.

Answer 3

i'm everywhere Jesus is welcome. while retailers began advertising "satisfied holiday journeys" instead of the classic "Merry Christmas", we right this moment stopped determining to purchase for Christmas and have been given in touch in a extensive and turning out to be attempt to evade the "modern" situation altogether. That began with all our relatives shall we attain, pals, church homes. the time and funds saved have been diverted to ministries. shops are begging returned previous organization, or they could fail this year. Sorry. Their reason is barely funds whilst nevertheless attempting to make the main of a holiday they're letting sweep away. The parking a lot around almost all different than Wal Mart are continually rather empty, and the in many circumstances happening non everlasting workers are no longer being employed. We help agencies that are no longer ashamed of Jesus, and that they are doing solid organization, yet are no longer retailers of "stuff" for provides. isn't it thrilling that Christmas became into as quickly as so widespread with a "organic" journey of season determining to purchase by supposedly a majority being Christians, bringing a boon to shops, yet for the reason that Jesus began being skipped over, there is lots failure? i think of there'll be a flood of closed shops and upward thrust in unemployment quickly after an exceedingly lean Christmas. a number of of the main shops are already doing clearance sales, the cabinets no longer being restocked. Grocers are reducing on style, like one form of peanut butter, saltines, canned fruit, etc. no longer looking so solid for those no longer having blessing from God.

Answer 4

"Would he insist people be sure to mention his name? Would he get angry if people didn't pay enough attention to him?"

No, because he is not a tyrannical petty egotist.

But I'd presume he would be very upset about the real war being waged with real weapons.

Answer 5

What IS Jesus doing about the war on X-mas?

Answer 6

he'd join in, on the anti-christmas side... kinda like throwing the money changers out of the temple

Answer 7

Shovel snow.

Jesus would frown, and then go out and shovel some snow.

Answer 8

Jesus probably would get mad because everyone DIDNT KNOW WHEN HIS REAL BIRTHDAY WAS


lol

Answer 9

He wouldn't do anything. He can't.