Choosing our Battles

"The Lord said, 'Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men ...'" Isaiah 29:13

Jerry Falwell and groups across the nation, including right here in Arkansas, are getting their spiritual panties in a wad over the use of the term "holiday" instead of "Christmas", as in lighting the "holiday" tree at the state capital and store employees being "ordered" to offer customers a happy "holiday" instead of a merry "Christmas".

Do you not think that there is a profound difference between choosing one's battles and picking a fight? Would you not agree that some things are more important than others? How has it come to be that Christians would get bent out of shape when a tree would be referred to in its "holiday" season? Since when did a tree become symbolic of the birth of Messiah?

How many churches have invited "Santa Claus" to come visit their Christmas gatherings? In some circles, Santa gets more press time than Jesus; why don't we get sideways about this?

Let's face it. These are the holidays. It is Christmas only for Christians. If we are going to become indignant about anything, let us be upset that there are still children going to bed hungry through no fault of their own. If we are going to get upset, let us be upset that many will loose jobs through no fault of their own. This list of injustices could go on for days!

We will not win any significant victory by demanding that a tree be referred to as a "Christmas" tree. This statement says little, if anything, about Christ. We must also remember that the only thing significant about a "tree" as it relates to Jesus is in 1 Peter 2:24, "... who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the "tree" ..." NKJV

There is plenty to be upset and indignant about. A tree just does not happen to be one of them.