Merry Christmas Isn't an Insult

Mentioning Christ, Now Them's Fightin' Words

 

 

 

A couple Millennia ago (or so) a Philosopher was born in the Middle East who spawned a religion that has grown ever since, and inspired both the love and admiration of Billions. He also inspired the disdain and mockery of others who don't like what he said, or the history of some of his followers whom didn't always listen to what he said with close enough attentions.

 

 

Lets forget his parentage, or the attributing of magical powers to his story for the sake of staying focused and concentrate on his messages to see what exactly seems to rub some people the wrong way every time his name gets mentioned.

 

 

Many deny he ever existed. They are like those who claim Shakespeare never wrote any of his own plays, or that it was really Francis Bacon who did the work on the side. In both cases, whoever said the words, be they Biblical or the Bard, the message and delivery were something remarkable. Whoever said (or penned) them as the case might be, was a person of exceptional talents and insights. That kind of thinker doesn't just pop out of the woodwork every day. I prefer to think Jesus said what he said and Shakespeare wrote what he wrote, even if there was no register at the copy write office to back that up.

 

 

But if you are on the "Dis-Christian" bandwagon, the preferable leap of faith is toward the other direction and that conspiracies were responsible, rather than what seems to me a greater likelihood of Jesus being a historical as well as Biblical figure.

 

 

And what were the things Jesus said that rub so many the wrong direction? The biggest one I have come to believe is "Love God and follow His instructions." That one right there seems to raise more ire than all the rest of his controversies combined.

 

 

 





Jehovah literally means "God with no name" and His old Testament antics cannot under any stretch of the imagination be called politically correct. Heck, before the first book of the Bible was over He had already wiped out all life on Earth (except a small boat load of animals) and He went around blasting cities and cultures who didn't agree with Him like an omnipresent Norman Schwarzkopf. He instructed us for several more books, how to live, what to eat and what to  avoid if we didn't want the same treatment. That included no outside of Marriage dating, no premarital sex, and certainly no homosexuality.

The sex edicts tend to rub the wrong way a great many people with frisky tendencies. Naturally the sexual revolution in the 50s and 60s had a hand in upping the antae on provocative behavior and dismissiveness of traditional morays,  but lets be honest folks, men and women have always chafed a bit on the "Just say no to sex " rules. Its nature to want it and somehow God instructing otherwise is a bit counterintuitive to our thinking on the subject.

Jesus went further in making enemies in the secular world by putting down wealth acquisition and suggesting we all act a bit more collectively. That tends to chafe Conservatives almost as much as sex rules chafe Liberals. Jesus can be said to be non-discriminative in taking on the classes by torpedoing everybody equally for their unruly behaviors.


Between the two extremes of disobedience Jesus covered a lot of ground I don't believe too many people of any religion or political persuasion can find fault with. Love your Neighbor. Be generous. Forgive others. Walk softly and be willing to take a blow or two for peace. Those of us Christians who can even get that much right are actually doing a great deal more than  most of the faithful manage to achieve. Unfortunately, even one of the 12 disciples turned out a murderer and the rest of Historical Christianity has even a poorer track record than that for doing his will.

So there is a lot of bad history the modern Christian has to live down, as well as a basic tendency for many to reject parts of the Christian message even if we had no baggage to deal with. Take the Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered movement as an example. I know quite a few people who profess allegiance or sympathy with that cause and because of some Old Testament scriptures, reject all of Christ's teachings right along with the Laws of Moses that condemn homosexuality. This is most unfortunate and I believe a lot of them missed an important point.

Jesus did not come to cancel Old Testament rules, but he did come to reinterpret how to deal with them. "Let you who are without sin cast the first stone" was his ruling and none of us are any less sinful than the other when it comes to Heaven-worthy perfection. Even if Homosexuality is a sin, it is only one of many and therefore nothing we should single out for special ostracism. I am sure there are those who will maintain with angry breath that Homosexuality isn't a sin. If they are right, they will have to ignore certain Old Testament Teaching and statements made by Paul after Christ died. Of course the Old Testament also forbids eating pork and shell fish. That's bad news for Red Lobster and Famous Dave's BBQ.

Its getting so if a Cross is erected in public, someone sneezes in school and someone says "bless you" that some great American freedom of thought has been violated. I would point out there is freedom of religion, not freedom from being offended. The state may not exercise an endorsement of a faith, but they also can't stop anyone from doing so, even if its on their time. If Religion can't be expressed in school by non employees of the system then neither can science. It is the new religion regardless of what secularists claim. It would be a damned fool idea to ban science so I say open the door to all thought, and allow it's expression. Yes that includes Islam and Atheism as well. Christianity need not be excluded because of Historical monopolies it once held.

Then there is the notion that Christianity is a male dominated religion that oppresses women and has no place for them. I reject that entirely, especially as a Catholic. In that original Christian Dogma, Mary has a cult following that certainly eclipses all 11 disciples and Paul combined. If Christmas is about anything, it is a celebration of that young girl, her trials and tribulations, and her success as a Mother in bringing a son into the world who changed things for the better. The story of Christmas is the story of Mary. She may not have any scriptures she left like the apostles, but her role in things was without question far more influential to the whole beginning of things. Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with Thee.... Think about that when someone says "Merry Christmas". Joseph, you still have my vote for Step Dad of the Year as well.