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COMMENTARY • January 2004 |
Christ’s presence in Christmas brings Bah! Humbug!
By Lori Arnold
CHRISTIAN EXAMINER- Opinion |
If Jesus would have been here for Christmas 2003, a check of his mantle stocking would have no doubt boasted nothing but coal.
The Christ-child, it appears, is suddenly out of favor as the holiday’s namesake is being repeatedly forsaken as America shuns her Christian roots. In courts across the country, there is a battle raging over the heart of the holiday as secularists are increasingly seeking to remove Christ from Christmas.
The action comes as a Fox News poll found that 87 percent of all those polled believe that nativity scenes should be allowed on public property. The same survey found that 61 percent of Americans believe that if such nativity scenes are allowed, religious symbols of other faiths should be displayed as well.
Still, challenges to Christian display have popped up across the country. Consider:
A Queens, New York mother sued the New York City school system for allowing a Hanukkah menorah and an Islamic star and crescent as part of its holiday display, but not a nativity. School officials determined that a Christmas tree was a more appropriate symbol. The district’s ban of the nativity for all schools was challenged by Thomas More Law Center.
A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled Dec. 19 that the city of New York’s attempts to ban a yard sign that read “Peachy News: Jesus is Alive” was unconstitutional. According the Liberty Counsel, which represented Sybil Peachlum, the opinion ruled that several sections of the city’s sign ordinance were unconstitutional and that the city was wrong in fining the woman.
A federal judge ordered the town of Palm Beach, Fla. to come up with a good reason why Christ and the manger should not be displayed next to a menorah at one of the city’s most popular parks. City officials had earlier relegated the Christ child to a lesser-trafficked park. According to Fox News, Palm Beach attorney John Randolph said that case law shows that when a menorah is placed next to a secular symbol—such as a “secular holiday tree”—it isn’t considered a religious symbol.
Two Monett, Mo. women circulated a petition asking that religious symbols be added to the city’s first-ever “Festival of Lights” displays. A chamber of commerce representative said her hosting organization stayed away from religious symbols in an effort to spare the city from potential problems. In an opinion issued by the city attorney, he said future symbols might be allowed if they are “primarily secular.”
The San Bernardino, Calif. Salvation Army was banned from collecting donations through its Red Kettle campaign at a local Target store. According to the store manager, he was asked to keep the bell ringers from the site by the property managers. The move was expected to cost thousands of dollars in lost revenue for an area that was recently hard hit by the Southern California firestorms.
A public school in Wisconsin told students to change “religious” words in the Christmas carols they were singing. Words referring to Jesus or God had to be substituted with secular words.
A Michigan public school pulled all of its “religious” books on Christmas and Hanukkah.
A Georgia public school instructed all of its teachers to avoid all Christmas-related activities. The order included the reading of Christmas books, making of Christmas ornaments and the usage of red and white candy canes because of the religious story behind the candy’s origins. The staff was also told not to wear Christmas attire.
The issue has become so widespread, a Virginia couple launched a new Web site in December called GrinchList.com, according to World Net Daily. The list highlights companies and public entities that have removed Christmas from its promotional materials in favor of the “less offensive” word holiday. Among those cited is the U.S. Capitol, which is calling its evergreen tree the “2003 Capitol Holiday Tree.”
As we start a new year, the Christian Examiner will continue to monitor the erosions of Christianity from our cultural landscape, following court cases that impact faith and family. In the meantime, take a few minutes to read the biblical account of the birth of Jesus—the first from the King James Version, the second from a secular perspective, most likely drafted by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Luke 2:8-14 KJV (King James Version)
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:8-14 – ACLUV (ACLU version)
And there were in the same global community sheep, ewe and lamb attendants abiding in the green open space, keeping watch over their charges by night.
And, lo, the supernatural guardian agent of the purported higher being came upon them, and the sunshine rays of the purported higher being shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the supernatural guardian agent said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, regardless of sex, race, creed or sexual orientation.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David—or Davida—a hero, which is Chris (male or female), the purported higher being.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the newborn ward of the village wrapped in gender-neutral clothes, lying in blissfully simple straw, miles away from the obscene trappings of corporate wealth and greed of a nationwide chain of high-rise hotels.
And suddenly there was with the supernatural guardian agent a multitude of those freaky spiritual beings praising the purported higher being, and saying, ‘Greatest praise to the purported higher being, and on earth, no war or consequences for evil, but touchy-feelie vibes toward men/women and any combination therein.
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