01 December 2005 Devotion for Today “An All-Out Assault” Matthew 2:1-8
Bill O'Beilly, of Fox News Talking Point on his Dec. 7 programs said "Christmas was under siege." He further said, "All over the country, Christmas is taking flak. In Denver this past weekend, no religious floats were permitted in the holiday parade there. In New York City, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled the holiday tree (not a Christmas tree). Also in NY schools no Christian Christmas symbols are allowed in the public schools.
This year the White House Christmas tree is called a Holiday Tree by several of the major networks instead of a Christmas Tree. The tradition of a placing a decorated tree in the White House began in 1889 on Christmas morning during the Presidency of Benjamin Harrison. President Bush calls it a Christmas tree.
Federated Department Stores, [that's] Macy's, have done away with the Christmas greeting, "Merry Christmas." From other news sources: Ann Arbor, MI banned Nativities even in one's front yard. Lamp posts on the town's main streets displayed Jewish Menorahs and Stars of David, but a Nativity was illegal. The same thing is happening in Palm Beach, FL. In NY City school it is okay to display a Menorah or Islamic star and crescent, but illegal to have a Nativity scene. ILLINOIS fourth grader enjoyed hearing her public school teacher read a book to her class about the origins of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. But when the little girl brought in a book about the origins of Christmas, her teacher refused to read that story to the class. The mayor in Rhode Island was threatened with a law suit because he allowed a nativity scene in the city's decorations. In Florida, a employee was fired because she sang a religious song at a Christmas party. In Indiana a school principles banned any mention or use of the word Christmas in his school. A public school in Oklahoma banned all religious music and displays during Christmas. A teacher in a public school in South Carolina assigned her students to write a paper during December. One girl wrote a paper on Christmas and the teacher refused to grade or accept it. In Tennessee citizens complained to the school for calling the winter break "Christmas Holidays."
All this sounds discouraging, but do not worry. God is not defeated nor will He be. The victory has been won. Yes, we who believe the Bible and have put our trust in Jesus Christ should stand up and defend God's word and our faith, but the battle has been won already. No matter what our country does God's plans are right on schedule- even as it was on that very first Christmas.
Indeed, there is an all-out assault upon Christmas, but it should not surprise us. Did we really expect that Christianity should remain popular?
Herod was bent on destroying Christmas by destroying the Christ-child. The wise men could see through Herod’s lies, his flattery, his utter lack of sincerity and duplicity.
They were wise enough to see that Herod really had no real need to worship the Christ-child. Come on, Herod! You mean to tell me that this baby lies somewhere in your realm and its been almost two years and you haven’t found Him yet? You knew enough to know that the child was born in Bethlehem. You could see the star as well as the wise men could. How is it that these wise men traveled all the way from Parthia and know where the baby Jesus was but you don’t know? Herod may have been insecure, but he was no dummy. Return and tell me where he is so that I may worship Him also. These wise men were not called wise for nothing. After they had visited the Christ-child, they returned by going a different route. When Herod found out about their deception, he became enraged, and sent soldiers to Bethlehem to slaughter every male child born within the past two years. Herod was a very insecure man. It says in verse three that when the wise men appeared, Herod was troubled-and all of Jerusalem with him. When Herod was asked, “Where is he who is born king of the Jews?” it was a subtle reminder of his insecurity coming out by the ton, because how could Herod really be king of the Jews if he wasn’t even a Jew himself. In fact no Jewish blood ran in his veins. He was an Idumean, a descendant of Esau, the brother of Jacob- the very one who had sold his birthright and blessing to Jacob for a mess of pottage. The descendants of Jacob, not Esau, were the lineage of God’s chosen people. Herod had no right to this throne, and he knew it.
If you think that Herod had any scruples about murdering innocent children in Bethlehem, or anyone else, to secure the uneasy throne upon which he sat, think again. He was not even secure with members of his own family. Herod murdered his mother-in-law. Then he had two of his sons executed. He also murdered his wife. So if he could do this to his own family, imagine what Herod would do to Christ if he could and take down the innocents along with Him just to make certain he had gotten them all.
Of all the characters in the story of the nativity who truly captures the age that we live in today it is Herod. His legacy of murdering innocent babies, which is what we do by abortion to the tune of ten million per year, would have done Herod proud.
The spirit of Herod is alive and well today. He embodies the very spirit of our age. The attack on Christmas rages across our country with Herodian intensity. Yet in many churches they hold out an olive branch to a hostile world to declare truce with it; resolving instead to preach a comfortable “gospel” to a world that is inflamed by the sorrow of its sin. Christ came not to bring peace but a sword- in the sense that while He brings peace to our hearts and peace with God, we place ourselves at enmity with the world when we bring Christ to our lives.
We may have to live with the spirit of Herod for the moment, but we are going to live with the Spirit of Christ forever.
Have a blessed day!
Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Devotion for Toaday
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@earthlink.net
website: http://25621.lifewaylink.com
http://jeffrussellsblog.blogspot.com
http://devotionfortoday.blogspot.com/
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