I agree with the Pope. Yes, I actually wrote this, despite disagreeing with the current pontiff regularly. In his Christmas message Pope Benedict called on Christians around the world to pray for our brothers and sisters who are undergoing persecution and harrassment. He mentioned the Christian communities in Iraq and China.
Since his message there have been several more reported incidents, including a bomb which went off outside a church in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, killing 21. More than a 1,000 worshippers had gathered for a New Year's eve mass. President Hosni Mubarak immediately denounced this attack, but the Coptic Christian minority in Egypt reports increasing attacks. In Iraq Christmas Eve and Day services were cancelled out of fear for the safety of worshippers.
There is no cause for this sort of extremism and suppression, but in continues. So, we can heed the pope and pray for safety and peace for Christians under attack.
How lucky are we? We don't have to worry about this kind of violence against us just because we go to church? Or do we?
ReplyDeleteI met an enthusiastic young man a couple of months ago. He is an assistant pastor for a small church in Toronto. I'm not sure what denomination, but they rent a classroom at a Catholic school to worship in on Sunday. His family is East Indian, but he was born Canadian. He said repeatedly that he is so happy to be free to worship that he will enjoy it as long as he can. I asked what he meant, and he referred to the schools banning any mention of Christmas during their holiday celebrations, plays, concerts, or pageants.
Is this the first step in Canada to persecute Christians?
I didn't give it much thought until I attended the Ontario Street Holiday choir concert at BHS. It donned on me about half way through that there were none of the Christmas carols beyond Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The kids did a great job. Obviously the teachers spent a tremendous amount of time on this. BUT it was obvious that they were very careful not to include anything remotely CHRISTmas.
How can our society change the nature of Christmas? We know what Christmas has meant for decades. Now non-Christians want the holiday, but don't want Jesus to be the reason for it? Why can’t people just let things be? Christmas is Christmas because of Jesus Christ! If you believe in Christ you celebrate his birth on Dec 25th by gathering in church, and our homes with friends and family, eat turkey, and enjoy each others company.
If you don’t believe I’m not going to force you into a church Christmas Eve. I might invite you, but it’s your decision.
It is discrimination to purposefully exclude or avoid “Christmas” in favour of “the holiday season”. If it weren’t for Christmas there would be no holiday season.
THINK ABOUT IT!
You're right sjd that our societal exclusion of Christianity from the season just past is puzzling. Why bother then?
ReplyDeleteI have struggled in recent years with the emptiness of "Holiday" merriment without Christ.
We are fortunate that we can continue to worship and witness without fear of reprisal, even if our society seems to have made a religion out of secularism.