WHO'S WILLING TO READ AND TAKE A STAND?

Since the beginning of time there have been certain individuals that have changed the course of History and impacted the world we live in.  People like Hitler, who hated the Jews and wanted to create a perfect race.  In the process he had millions of people killed. Ghandi taught us about non-violent protests and many people imitate his way of protesting. Madeline Maureen O’Hare started a movement by getting prayers taken out of the schools.  Bill Gates changed computing history.  We have the inventors of electricity, the telephone, the Atomic Bomb, and a host of others.  The list goes on and on.  Little did these people know of the great impact their lives would have on the rest of us.

There is one person that stands out above all the rest.  This man’s life has had the greatest impact on ALL of History and continues today.  That man is Jesus, the Christ.

Twenty centuries have come and gone and Jesus the Christ was the central figure of the human race.  In the past few decades unscrupulous men and women are trying to wipe His name out of History and out of the minds of our young people. 

Our calendar dates were known as ‘before Christ’ and ‘after the year of our Lord’.  Now they have changed that to ‘before and after the common Era’ hoping future generations will forget. 

They don’t want Him talked about in our schools or any references to Him or His Word in the textbooks.  His name is being removed from every Government Institution.  They are claiming separation of Church and State. 

They have pushed ‘political correctness’ to the point where people cannot even mention His name in public places without fear of retaliation or offending others.  People have lost their jobs because they dared to mention their belief in Him or because they offered prayer to a hurting soul while in their place of employment.  

Yet, His name is uttered profusely by those who love to use profanity and the ‘politically correct’ naysayer doesn’t seem to have a problem with that form of His name.  They themselves use it quite regularly.  We don’t hear these people desecrating the names of Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius or the many other so called gods out there. Why is that? 

They want to continue the celebration of Christmas but without His name being mentioned.  The saying of “Merry Christmas” might offend others of differing faith. After all, it has the name of The Christ in it.  Any references of His birth or name, whether it be in song, community or school plays, or any form of public display is prohibited.  

And yet, it seems perfectly reasonable to ridicule Him or His followers in the public arena. There are countless media hosts that make jokes that belittle and defame His character or that of His followers.  Certain ‘displays’ that make a total mockery of Jesus have been open to the pubic in the name of  so called ‘Art’.  It is like it is “Open Season” on Jesus and any of His followers. 

What did Jesus do that was so wrong?  Nothing! 

He was born about two thousand years ago in an obscure village, to a young peasant woman. Growing up, He worked as a carpenter and when He was thirty, He became an itinerant preacher. 

He never went to college, university or seminary yet He stumped those that did.  He was the wisest man that ever lived.  Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honour of Him. He never wrote a book, and yet more books have been written about Him than any other person in History. His words and life have inspired countless poems, songs and paintings throughout the centuries.   

He never held public office, owned a home or had a family and yet His words have been used to guide those in Governments, heal relationships and bring families closer together.  He never traveled any further than 200 miles from His birthplace and yet the whole world knows of Him. 

Even though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.  He was just a humble, quiet man who went around doing good and taught others to follow His example.

While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away and His enemies sentenced Him to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.

His enemies were jealous and couldn’t even find enough evidence to convict Him.  Pilate couldn’t find fault in Him and wanted nothing to do with His death.  His enemies hated Him because He spoke the truth.  They crucified Him because He claimed to be God.  But three days later this Man rose from the dead – proving that He was and is who He claimed to be - the prophesied Saviour whom God spoke about years earlier, the Incarnate Son of God.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life.

So why does the world hate this man so?  What has He ever done to them?  Why do they feel it is o.k. to use His name in vain and make disparaging remarks about Him?

Personally I am SICK AND TIRED of it.  Yet, I think to myself “I am just one person.  What can I do? ” 

I can let my voice and disproval be heard.  I can STAND UP FOR WHAT I BELIEVE even if it is politically incorrect to do so.  The pen is mightier than the sword and I will speak my mind in writing. 

In 1517 Martin Luther changed the course of history when he nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. In those days, it was common practice to nail public documents to the church door for all to see. Today we have the internet.

I am not asking anyone to become a follower of His.  I am asking you to reconsider and maybe acknowledge that He was a great man that changed the course of History for the better.  If you disagree please tell me; in what way did this man do wrong?

I am asking you to please quit using His name as a curse word.  He was a great man and at least deserves some respect.  We don’t even use Hitler’s name as a curse word and he was evil. 
I am asking you to quit making crude jokes and displays of Him.  He never did you any wrong. 

I am asking you to let us honour this Man in the ways we feel are appropriate.  If we want to wish you a Merry Christmas, how is that harming you? That isn’t trying to push our beliefs on you.  We are just hoping you will be Merry during the time we choose to honour Him.  If you choose to be miserable that’s fine we me.  

Is there anyone else who is willing to stand up with me?  Will you pass this message on or maybe write your own version?  One person can change the world. It has to start somewhere. 

Why not here?  Why not NOW?