Tag: Christmas
This Classic Christmas Song Would Be Banned in Many Public Schools
Posted on December 12, 2014 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. We love Christmas and look forward to it all year. One of the best parts of Christmas is the music. We have a whole library of songs that we only sing during this time of the year and it brings joy to our hearts to do so. The video below of “Mary, Did You Know” by Pentatonix is no exception.
Unfortunately those who don’t like the inherent religious meaning in the Christmas season are working hard to make sure many of these songs are no longer sung in public places, such as schools. Those who do not like any religious meaning in the Christmas season want to ban anything with that same religious meaning from being part of our Christmas celebration. So school plays and musicals and concerts, town festivals and parades, and even Christmas caroling are all being targeted. Songs such as the one below are being banned as “religious” and therefore not appropriate for such activities. These cherished songs are being replaced with empty, meaningless “holiday” songs.
The reality is that Christmas is not just some arbitrary winter celebration. Christmas is the celebration surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. At it’s heart, inherent to everything that Christmas is, is the reality that God came down to earth as a a man to redeem mankind. You cannot simply remove this meaning from the Christmas season without creating something new that is not Christmas. So the song below is not just another song, it is a celebration of a historical event that changed the world.
Merry Christmas!
Posted on December 25, 2013 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
Is It Important to Keep Christ in Christmas in Public?
Posted on December 9, 2013 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
The two words “in public?” at the end of the headline are critical. Certainly every Christian should endeavor to keep Christ in Christmas in their home privately, and in their church. But what about in public? Is it still important to keep Christ in Christmas in the public sector or is saying “Happy holidays” and calling it a “Holiday Tree’ acceptable?
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has worked tirelessly to ensure the rights of people wanting to celebrate Christmas are protected. Each year people put up trees, nativity scenes, and exchange gifts. And each year special interest groups sue to remove all mentions of God from public sight. Such efforts include threatening schools with lawsuits if they allow any traditional Christmas carols, seeking to remove nativity scenes from public property, and keeping any religious themed floats out of parades.
Much confusion abounds concerning what is legal and what is not for people in public, in the workplace, and in schools regarding celebrating Christmas. ADF made this comment in a recent article:
Atheists Celebrate the “True Meaning of Christmas”
Posted on December 8, 2013 in Religious Freedom by Nathan Cherry
A billboard in Manhattan’s Times Square has gone up asking the question “Who needs Christ during Christmas?” The answer, provided by the American Atheists is, “nobody.” Instead, the group shares their list of reasons for the season, which include: family, friends, the Rockettes, and mistletoe. American Atheists president, David Silverman commented:
“This season is a great time of year for a hundred reasons — none of them having to do with religion…This year, start a new tradition: Don’t go to church. You hate it, it’s boring; you probably only go because you feel guilty or obligated. Instead, spend more time with your family and friends — or volunteer. There are better uses of your time and money.”
I’ve previously said I believe it is critical for Christians to keep Christ at the center of Christianity in the face of efforts to secularize our society. This is one more evidence of the need to enjoy the festivities of the holidays while keeping Christ as the central focus and purpose for our celebration.
Watch an animated video of the American Atheists billboard below. If the video doesn’t appear automatically, please refresh your browser. Click here for original article.