At Home in Georgia

Rambling Throughts

My thoughts love to ramble.  This morning as I was getting ready for church, I got to thinking about shopping at Target.  We haven't shopped at Target for years, because of so many of their poor marketing decisions and general anti-Christian bias, but I bought my tights there because that was the only store that carried them.  And I got to thinking about how the United States on the whole seems to be rejecting God and the Christian principles it was founded on. 

And I had a question formulate in my mind... Why do we as Christians think that the "world" should acknowledge us and do what we believe is right?   Did Jesus say that we should FIGHT for Christianity in a world that chooses to reject Him?  Are we right in thinking that American Christians should not have to put up with offense, inconvenience, etc.? 

I know on some levels that we are fighting for what we already have, so that we do not lose the freedoms that many of our forefathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters died for.    

But what about a store that refuses to acknowledge the word "Christmas"?  Are we right in trying to force that store to acknowledge a Christ they do not know by writing letters and threatening to spend our money elsewhere?  Why?  Is that truly going to accomplish anything?  So they bring back "Christmas" so that they can have our money... not exactly a change of heart.

It is easy to write sit at the computer and forward an email, write a letter, or find another store.  But shouldn't our lives so point to Christ that others want to know what made the difference in us?  That's so very much harder... inviting a neighbor to church, speaking up for Jesus' sake, treating our family members in a Christlike manner. That's a far cry from forcing a business, a politician, a city council through litigation, threats, and activism to defer to our beliefs and even feelings. 

I'm afraid Christians are making a name for ourselves as obnoxious bullies, and not by letting our "light so shine before men that they may see [our] good works and glorify the Father which is in heaven". 

What America needs isn't just to be forced back to acknowleging God, but for Christ to change hearts on an individual level.  That is the root of our problems as it has been throughout history... our hearts need transformation.  And that's not something that can be forced, it must be won.  And Jesus wins hearts and, amazingly and wonderfully, he uses His followers to "shine" and light the way.  I want to shine, and when others notice, I want to bravely and clearly explain WHY I shine.

~Michelle

Ps.  I should add the disclaimer that if God impresses upon our hearts that we should boycott a store or if we believe that our money should not be going to support something that a business supports with its proceeds, we do have a responsibility to act.  I believe that God acts individually.  What I'm addressing is the heart issue of being offended and outraged that our "rights" as Christians are trampled on.  :)

Untitled Comment

03:36, Sunday, December 16, 2007 .. Posted by rildapeel1

You are so right we as Christians should be the light in the dark. I know we are to be as Jesus and to walk with no condemnation but the answer also is truly to LOVE. We are lacking of Love sweet love not just for some but as Jesus did for everyone. You see when we walk in love all works according to His plan and will in our lives. Can you imagine a world full of people laying hands on each other and speaking life into their lives what a vision of God's all. Thanks for sharing. Have a blessed and powerful Christmas celebration! *U* love and blessings, rilda

I have the same thoughts on this!

09:40, Monday, December 17, 2007 .. Posted by meadow

I have also heard the viewpoint that some Christians actually prefer the word holidays because it means holy days. Some Christians don't like the word Christmas. I'm not knocking it either way...we use the word, and celebrate Christmas. Even though we do remember the birth of Christ at this time, it was not Biblically appointed to celebrate Christmas on any certain day or in any certain way, and many Christians don't believe in celebrating it the way we do with the Christmas trees, etc., and some do not at all. I just don't see getting so riled up about the whole thing. It's salvation in Christ that matters.

Edited by meadow on Monday, December 17, 2007 at 08:43