Narnia: A World Without Jesus Would Be A Darker World Series

What If It Was Always Winter And Never Christmas?

(What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?)

Part #2 – December 18 – “A world without Jesus would be a darker world”

I read about how Japan celebrates Christmas, which has become a major event over there. They put up decorations, exchange presents, send cards, sing yuletide songs, decorate trees, serve special seasonal treats (especially strawberry-decorated cakes), and make a big fuss over St Nick, Rudolph and Frosty. Their Santa is sometimes dressed like a Samurai (I wonder if he carries a sword). It is very important for single adults to have a date for a romantic dinner on Christmas Eve. In fact, Christmas for them is very much like Valentine’s Day is for us. And for reasons I couldn’t determine, a big Christmas tradition is attending a concert of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. The one thing the Japanese do not do at Christmas is honor Christ. That’s because Japan is nearly 99% Shinto and Buddhist. Only ½ of 1% of Japan’s population is Christian. So where do you think they got this commercial version of Christmas? From us. They are attracted to the glitter and romance of the American version of Christmas, and have adopted nearly everything except the spiritual significance of the season.

Some people don’t like Christmas because of the Christian roots. In fact, some cultural analysts have said there is a war on Christmas right now. If you watch the news, you have heard about the recent trend in retailing to ban the greeting of “Merry Christmas” and opt for “Happy Holidays” and Christmas trees are now to be called Holiday trees.

Some companies which have refused to mention Christmas in their advertising or in store decorations or in their employee greetings include Target, Kroger, Office Max, Walgreens, Sears, Staples, Lowe’s, J.C. Penney, Dell, Best Buy, Wal Mart and Kohls.

Ask these companies why they banned "Christmas" in their in-store promotions and retail advertising and they will tell you they didn’t want to offend anyone. They mean, of course, anyone except Christians.

These retailers are willing to use Christmas to secure about 20% of their yearly sales, but they refuse to mention the Reason for the season.

Yes, Virginia, there is a war on Christmas. It’s an attempt to secularize a Christian holiday and the ever-stronger push toward a neutered “holiday” season so that non-Christians won’t be even the slightest bit offended.

Traditionalists get upset when they’re told—more and more these days—that celebrating Christmas in any public way is a violation of church and state separation. That is certainly not what the founders intended when they wrote, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

John Gibson, a popular anchor for the Fox News Channel, has been digging up evidence about activists, lawyers, politicians, educators, and media people who are leading the war on Christmas. And he reveals that the situation is isn’t just hype. For instance:

• In Illinois, state government workers were forbidden from saying the words “Merry Christmas” while at work

• In Rhode Island, local officials banned Christians from participating in a public project to decorate the lawn of City Hall

• A New Jersey school banned even instrumental versions of traditional Christmas carols

• Arizona school officials ruled it unconstitutional for a student to make any reference to the religious history of Christmas in a class project

Millions of Americans are starting to fight back against the secularist forces and against local officials who would rather surrender than be seen as politically incorrect. Gibson shows readers how they can help save Christmas from being twisted beyond recognition, with even the slightest reference to Jesus completely disappearing.

Now, honestly, I don’t care if someone says Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. I don’t look to retailers or the general culture to validate the meaning of the season for me. What does concern me is the attempt to rewrite history to rob Jesus of the enormously positive influence He has had on the world over the past two thousand years.

The truth is that even Atheists enjoy Christmas – without realizing it – Why?

Luke 2:10-11 – “The angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!’”

The truth is that even Atheists enjoy Christmas – without realizing it – Why? They enjoy the benefits of the birth of Jesus. Last week – education and literacy, the concept of tolerance (where do you find true tolerance?) the value of human life: benevolence, charity, women’s rights, children’s treatment, the elderly, hospitals and care of the sick, the end of slavery,

But there are other significant ways Jesus changed the world that we take for granted – assume have always been this way.