We as believers in the person of Jesus Christ who are grateful for the sacrifice He made on the cross at Calvary have every right to feel anger that the reason for the season is being further and further de-emphasized so as to not offend people with differing beliefs. We certainly should not blow off this societal trend by viewing it as anything less than a spiritual attack on our Christian beliefs. But as representatives of the One whose birth we celebrate who are called to lead others to him, we must be careful as to how we handle this issue.
I refuse to use the term "Happy Holidays" and yes, I do say "Merry Christmas" to others without apology. But just like I don't walk around beating non-believers over the head with Bibles in order to share the Gospel, I don't use Christmas greetings in a way that would represent Jesus as anything but a loving merciful Savior who came to seek and save the lost. For example, I know some people who are Jehovah's Witnesses and while I know that many of their core beliefs are wrong, I also know that they don't celebrate Christmas. Accordingly, I am not going to wish them a Merry Christmas in the hopes that they will suddenly see the divinity of Christ.
We should celebrate Christmas recognizing that a baby was born to us in the city of David; a Savior who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). And because we celebrate Jesus, let us be sure that we celebrate Him as the embodiment of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfullness, gentleness and self-control. Let us share Him in a way that demonsrates who he is and gives him glory.
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