Recent National Headlines
1. Anti-Nativity Group Declares War on Travis AFB
2. Texas Town Braces for Battle with Atheists Over Nativity Scene
3. Atheist Messages Displace California Park Nativity Scenes
4. United States Postal Service Bans Christmas Carolers
It used to be that these kinds of headlines were uncommon and the groups making them viewed as radical wackos. Not so much any more. In fact, these are just a few of the much longer list I could have chosen from. In addition to the individual haters, there are numerous actual organizations out there which have as their specific purpose to purge any and every element of the Christian faith from the public square.
This attack on the symbols of our Christian heritage have been escalating over the last several years, but this year it seems to be taking on a particularly vicious face. It is not enough now to merely demand that Nativity scenes come down, they want to replace them with signs that read: At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.
The truth of the matter is that the desired replacement sign is 100% a religious statement. What these people are doing is insisting on replacing one religious celebration with a different one – one based on a Naturalistic worldview.
As a Christian, I know I am personally getting a little put out with this very tiny minority of people trying to ruin my Christmas celebration. But I am even more aggravated that they are doing it by trying to force their religion on the nation.
That being said, I don’t believe that the proper response to this is merely to fight back in court – though that also needs to be done. The bigger problem comes from the people who are evangelizing for their religion while Christians are slacking off. To truly win the day requires that we win it in people’s hearts, not just in the courts.
The cure for Christmas haters is to lead them into a personal relationship with the Christ of Christmas. Christians must become proficient in their understanding of worldview and acquire the skills to counter non-Christian religious evangelism with Christian truth.
Feel free to use the resources on the MarketFaith Ministries website (www.marketfaith.org) and call on us to provide training in this arena. Becoming knowledgeable and faithful witnesses is the only way we will truly accomplish God’s purpose in this world.