The Wake-Up Herald
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14
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Robert McCurry, Editor & Publisher
December 20, 2011
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Christmas
Part Four
by Robert McCurry
The Controversial ‘Jesus’
In a few days December 25th will be here. The streets are jammed with cars and the shopping malls and stores are jammed with people making final preparations for the long awaited day. Everywhere we see holly, mistletoe, and trees decorated with tinsel and bright lights. We see the images of rotund men with white beards and red suits. There are sounds of bells and songs about reindeer and sleighs.
There are also the ‘Christmas’ carols and manger scenes of a ‘little baby Jesus’ with shepherds and wise men. After all, so we are told—even by many pastors—this is the festive season commemorating the birth of Jesus. Every year we hear the same thing. “Jesus is the reason for the season”; “We need to ‘put Christ back in Christmas”; “Christmas is too commercial.” Of course, those who are knowledgeable know that Christ was not born on December 25th and that the observance of ‘Christmas’ did not originate with the birth of Christ or with Christianity.
The commercial world has successfully blended this ‘little baby Jesus’ into their world of fantasy and make-believe—just a once-a-year object, exploited for selfish gain—that will be forgotten and discarded as quickly as the wrapping on the packages on ‘Christmas’ morning. The world has no problem giving a token homage to a historical ‘baby Jesus’ in a manger as long as it will make the cash registers ring. But be assured that it reacts in hostility, as did Herod two thousand years ago, to a Jesus Christ as God on His sovereign throne.