I see the signs in the yards (the same yards that had two Bush signs apiece). I see the article (raised to my attentinon by ICTHUS) by Al MOhler bemoaning the “attack on Christmas”, and I think to myself, as a foaming at the mouth fundamentalist more concerned with his brand and concept of orthodoxy than he is with the actual gospel and the life of Jesus, he has no clue what Christmas is about, or who Christ is. Sorry Al, but your selliing out to the culture, which you often accuse the “liberals” of doing. But you see, Al, the difference is, many of those same “liberals” actually have as their primary goal in life to “live as Jesus lived”; to walk “In His Steps”.

So this Christmas season, what does it ACTUALLY mean to say “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”? I’m sure it means much more than the narcissistic utterances of the “Praise Teams” mouthing “Jesus, Jesus”. There’s a name ofr Jesus that we sing about during this season, and it is a Biblical proclamation for all time and all people: He shall be called EMMANUEL; which means, God with us”. Prince of Peace.

How utterly irrelevant and guilty of “neutering Christmas” can we get? To decorate out houses with lights and put up yard signs that say “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” right after taking down their Bush?Cheney yard signs, which basically announces to the world that “Here lives peoiple who call themselves Christians who see no connection between international policy and their faith? And if they say they do, and that Bush is “being led by God” are in full-fledged self-deception. Might I even say, perhaps this could alos qualify as “being deceived” also by the “Principalities and Powers”?

The “Culture of Death” that Al Mohler so often describes and villifies is never more fully embodied in reality and particated in by the Church than in this Christmas season. The calling upon the name of Christ in this context, as “an ally in this cause” is blasphemous. Our own forces dole out massi8ve death tolls on the population of a country we presume to be “liberating”.

Crosswalk.com – Albert Mohler’s Weblog

By now, most Christians have noticed the marginalization of Christmas during the commercial holiday season. Just a few years ago, the concern of many Christians was expressed in the motto, “Keep Christ in Christmas.” These days, Christmas has itself become the issue, as some public schools have been purged of all Christmas symbols and the words “Merry Christmas” are now characterized as discriminatory and intolerant.

Christmas “Symbols” Al? Is it not important and neccessary to pay heed to the TRUTHS of Christmas? That the “way of Christ” is “the reason for the season”? I shake my head at the utter blindness; the failure of the Church in America to see what is, and also to BE the communicators of truth to power, and not the betraying capitulators to power that they have been , and nowhere more obvious and glaring than in the Southern Baptist Church leadership.

This week, I hope to be more reflective of these things (the HOPE and the alternate reality of “The Way” which is alternate to the way of the world, and the “culture of death” and “Keep Christ in Christmas” which those who use this term have reshaped to fit their theology which has become beholden to cultural forces rather than the gospel.