There was a recent news story that British primary schools have been voluntarily giving up what had been a staple of their Christmas season for generations, the school nativity play. It was reported that only one in five schools are planning to perform the traditional nativity play this year. To American readers, the idea of schools making any mention of Christmas, faith, or allowing prayer and Scripture reading has become strange and foreign. And it is particularly sad to see such things voluntarily abandoned elsewhere when they have been forcibly forbidden by court order in our own country.
The news story explained that while most British parents want the tradition of nativity plays to continue in British schools, many school officials have decided to abandon the plays out of concern over “not offending anyone.” Sound familiar?
Because expressions of faith have been stripped from America’s public schools, it does not seem as shocking when Christmas displays are stripped from our courthouse squares, the word “Christmas” is eliminated from retail advertising, sales people are forbidden to wish customers a “merry Christmas,” and public officials celebrate “winter holidays.” In recent weeks there has even been controversy over whether it is appropriate for political leaders to wish their constituents and voters a “merry Christmas.”
Were it not so commercially lucrative, all celebration of Christmas would probably be eliminated everywhere but inside our churches. We are doing what the British schools are doing, surrendering the public square to a small number of secularists aided by the ACLU, and convincing ourselves that even though the vast majority of Americans claim to be Christian, it would be impolite to let it show.
The judges and educators that have banned even the reading of a psalm at a school assembly program or a prayer at graduation will tell us that one of the reasons for the chronic failure and increasing violence in our schools today is that too many students lack “self esteem.” Could there possibly be a connection between that lack of self-esteem and the fact that schools prevent a student from talking about where he or she came from, what the purpose of one’s life is, and where we are headed?
The acknowledgment that one can be the adopted child of not merely a king, but the King of Kings, who loved us before the world began and who “so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have life eternal” can do wonders for a child’s “self-esteem.”
Let us remember during this holy and happy season that “Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” Let us joyfully reclaim our culture, return to the roots of our nation’s founding, proclaim the good news, and celebrate the life-changing, world-changing event when “God became man and dwelt among us” as the Light of the World.
My family and I wish you and all your loved ones a happy, joyous and blessed Christmas. May God richly bless you and yours this Christmas and throughout the New Year!
The news story explained that while most British parents want the tradition of nativity plays to continue in British schools, many school officials have decided to abandon the plays out of concern over “not offending anyone.” Sound familiar?
Because expressions of faith have been stripped from America’s public schools, it does not seem as shocking when Christmas displays are stripped from our courthouse squares, the word “Christmas” is eliminated from retail advertising, sales people are forbidden to wish customers a “merry Christmas,” and public officials celebrate “winter holidays.” In recent weeks there has even been controversy over whether it is appropriate for political leaders to wish their constituents and voters a “merry Christmas.”
Were it not so commercially lucrative, all celebration of Christmas would probably be eliminated everywhere but inside our churches. We are doing what the British schools are doing, surrendering the public square to a small number of secularists aided by the ACLU, and convincing ourselves that even though the vast majority of Americans claim to be Christian, it would be impolite to let it show.
The judges and educators that have banned even the reading of a psalm at a school assembly program or a prayer at graduation will tell us that one of the reasons for the chronic failure and increasing violence in our schools today is that too many students lack “self esteem.” Could there possibly be a connection between that lack of self-esteem and the fact that schools prevent a student from talking about where he or she came from, what the purpose of one’s life is, and where we are headed?
The acknowledgment that one can be the adopted child of not merely a king, but the King of Kings, who loved us before the world began and who “so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have life eternal” can do wonders for a child’s “self-esteem.”
Let us remember during this holy and happy season that “Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” Let us joyfully reclaim our culture, return to the roots of our nation’s founding, proclaim the good news, and celebrate the life-changing, world-changing event when “God became man and dwelt among us” as the Light of the World.
My family and I wish you and all your loved ones a happy, joyous and blessed Christmas. May God richly bless you and yours this Christmas and throughout the New Year!
2 comments:
If I didn't know you and your family I'd assume you were just another sickening politician playing the religion card. But I know how much your Christian faith personally means to you. God bless.
ditto
Post a Comment