A few weeks ago there was a seminar held at Red Rocks by David Gibbs III a Christian attorney who was the lawyer for Terry Schiavo’s family during the battle to save their daughter from euthanasia. Unfortunately in this day and age, there is an ever-increasing need for faith-based organizations and individuals to have legal resources at their fingertips to protect their religious rights in this country. Not that this should surprise us. Christ never promised us open and welcome arms to His person and message everywhere we go. If we live as He teaches, we are to expect opposition and persecution. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Tim. 3:12) “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” (Matt. 5:11) When we face these battles, He goes even futher in teaching us that they are not rejecting us, but Himself. “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…” (John 15:20a) “And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me…” (1 Sam. 8:7 a-b) Our pride and vanity are hurt and we take it personally. We begin to shy away from being public with our faith and beliefs. This feeds the cycle of intimidation because when the anti-religion, anti-faith groups see this retreat, it boosts their desire and fuels their drive to become more and more outspoken and forward. “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of who thou hast learned them.” (2 Tim. 3:13-14)
David Gibbs Jr. & III have written a book entitled Keeping Christ in Christmas. I wanted to share with you some of the passages contained within which might give you some courage during this season which can try our patience and endurance.
Attempts to Eradicate Jesus Began With Herod–And They Continue Today – Angels, shepherds, and wise men celebrated Jesus’ miraculous birth more than two thousand years ago. They sang, rejoiced, brought gifts, and worshipped Him. But the Bible tells us not everyone was rejoicing at Jesus’ birth. Some were not ready to fall on their knees. Herod the king was troubled by news of Christ’s birth and did everything in his power to find and destroy the young Child.
Two thousand years ago wise men from the east came to Jerusalem looking for Jesus. They asked King Herod, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matt. 2:2) Herod was not willing to lose his crown to anyone, so he demanded that the chief priests and scribes tell him where this new King would be born. When Herod learned about the prophecy of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem of Judaea, he sent the wise men there, and told them, “Go and search diligently for the young child and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.” (Matt. 2:8) The wise men found Jesus but never returned to Herod. God warned them in a dream not to go back so “they departed into their own country another way.” (Matt. 2:12b) Herod never wanted to worship Jesus. He wanted to get rid of Him. This earthly King saw Jesus as a threat who needed to be eradicated.
Wise Men Still Seek Him – Wise men still seek the Christ child today, more than two thousand years later. Others still seek to destroy Him–even in America. Today, in 21st century America, if wise men from the east came to your hometown looking for evidence of Jesus at Christmastime, would they find it? Or have your local government officials succumbed to legal threats and intimidation by those advocating a complete “separation of church and state” that is not required by our Constitution? Does your local city council, mayor, or school board mistakenly believe it would be unconstitutional to exhibit religious symbols of Jesus during the Christmas holidays?
Some communities and public schools have unnecessarily stopped all mention of Christmas and now celebrate a completely secular “Winter Holiday,” mistakenly promoting a complete “separation of church and state.” A five-year old boy in America today might warn any wise men who came seeking that talking about Jesus could get them into trouble. He might tell them he had gotten in trouble himself talking about Jesus at school. He might add that he had been required to get the help of a Christian lawyer to defend his right to use a pencil inscribed with the words “Jesus loves the little children” in his classroom and to draw a picture of the manger during his class “holiday” party.
Honoring Jesus at Christmastime – For centuries under our Constitution, Americans have recognized national religious holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Such observances are part of our cultural as well as our religious heritage. They are part of the tradition of America. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said on December 24, 1944, during a national wartime address:
“Here at home, we will celebrate this Christmas Day in our traditional American way–because of its deep spiritual meaning to us; because the teachings of Christ are fundamental in our lives; and because we want our youngest generation to grow up knowing the significance of this tradition and the story of the coming of the immortal Prince of Peace and Good Will.”
To honor Christ at Christmas, true Christians should consider the following recommendations:
- Spread the message to as many people as possible that Christ’s birth made possible our salvation–the only hope of mankind–and that it continues to be constitutional to honor Christ at Christmas in America.
- Stand for Christ in the community. Church members should write letters to newspaper editors to make sure their citizens understand that it is still legal to celebrate December 25 as a religious, as well as a secular or cultural holiday–even in the public square. Letters to the editor are particularly useful when they are polite, positive, and well-reasoned.
- Encourage your church and church members to place religious holiday decorations both outside and inside their homes, private businesses, and churches. Sometimes Christians are concerened about the government removing Christ from Christmas, while their own holiday decorations are devoid of any religious symbols for passersby to see.
- Actively support Christians in public office and school personnel, including city council and school board members, by letting these public servants know that you appreciate when they keep the religious aspects of Christmas in seasonal programs and displays.
- Commend those who do well. Support businesses, stores, and schools that continue to display religious symbols of Christmas and to greet customers with “Merry Christmas.” Often it is only those opposed to the religious aspects of Christmas who complain when others do not eliminate references to Jesus.
- Refuse to be intimidated. Christians who are government officials should not be misled or intimidated by threats from those who misrepresent the law. Christian government officials should make it easy for Christians to continue to actively practice their faith in public.
Along with a foreign war against terrorism, America is now engaged in a culture war that is no less dangerous to our nation’s well being than it was in President Roosevelt’s era. Now is not the time to lay down our spiritual arms and surrender to the very small percentage of Americans who are hostile toward Christianity and who want to eliminate Christmas and all things religious from our national life. As followers of Jesus Christ, it is imperative that we properly honor and defend the day that has been set aside to celebrate His miraculous birth.
Expressing Our Joy Amid Growing Hatred “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” (Luke 6:22, 23) Sadly, we live in a society and in a world today that is filled with fear and hatred, often directed against our Lord Jesus. Americans are becoming more conscious of open hostility toward Christians who publicly express their faith in Jesus Christ. Carolers are not as universally welcomed in neighborhoods as they once were.
This hostility has existed for some time in America. A few years ago a pastor contacted CLA (Christian LawAssociation-for which the Gibbs work) when he was actually arrested for singing carols in a public parade. Every year public school children and music directors call CLA when they are told they may not sing Christmas carols in their public school concerts, even though the United States Supreme Court has never prohibited this activity.
Whatever reproach we might receive for Jesus’ sake, it is important that we always respond in love and maintain a good testimony as we sing the carols that celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus. Just as Christians in the early church regularly thwarted Satan’s attempts to stifle the Gospel message, it is possible for us to thwart Satan’s plans today. If we understand our legal rights we will not be deceived into believing it is against the law for us to praise Jesus with our Christmas carols. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In Herod’s day thousands of children were killed because the king wanted to eradicate Jesus. Today this same attempt to eradicate Jesus creates suffering in other ways. Historic monuments and memorials are torn down, access to Biblical information is threatened, the impartation of important cultural knowledge ceases, Christian employees lose their jobs, and churches often have difficulty getting their message out beyond their walls.
But just as Herod’s carnage failed to kill the Christ Child, today’s attacks against Christianity will never succeed in eradicating the name of Jesus. Just as God warned the wise men not to return to Herod and told Joseph to take Mary and the Christ Child to Egypt, today God also provides the wisdom needed for many legal victories. CLA can rejoice this year and thoughout the last 35 years of its existence over many triumphs that keep the name of Jesus before our nation.
At Christmas, we encourage you to remember that we serve a living God. None of the threats and attacks against Christmas take Him by surprise. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.” (Luke 2:14) As a Christmas gift back to God, make the decision to boldly declare His name and His message during the season of Jesus’ birth.
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Rom. 5:3-5)
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace, In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) These words from Christ should give us hope. They should give us the encouragement to keep on keeping on. Don’t be ashamed of the hope that rests within you due to the salvation Christ paid so dearly for.
Merry Christmas, Marissa
(For more information on CLA, visit www.christianlaw.org. At their website, there are tips for keeping Christ in Christmas, legal rights for believers, etc. You can also purchase copies of the books published by the Gibbs men and the book I have taken portions from for todays’ post.)
