Baptist Battle via Blogging

Wow, I have been reading some of the tit for tat stuff over on David Montoya’s blog. Since he opened the doors for open discussion without his editing of said comments, the floodgates have opened up.

It appears that there is a big battle going on over at FBC, McAllen, Texas that is spilling over onto the internet for all to see. Shame, shame, shame.  It is really embarassing to see the name calling and hurtful comments that members of that church are doing to each other. Don’t they realize that all can read the stuff?

It is almost like drive-by shootings, shoot and run, don’t have to see the blood and guts, just keep driving. It is this mentality that is dangerous with letting battles spill out onto blogs.  We don’t see the hurt and pain caused in comments. Some of the bloggers won’t even use thier names, just initials. That way they can be unknown and hide.  This whole thing is embarassing to the kingdom of God.

Oh, I know some will say it is healthy and all that mumbo jumbo. It is better to talk to each other in person, instead of at each other hidden behind computer screens.  All of this can’t be glorifying to God. It is not helping the church and it’s message of hope, peace, light and love during the Christmas season or anytime of the year for that matter.

Stealing Christmas

There is a song out there in country music called “Stealing Cinderella”. It is a really great song about a guy marrying a lady that is much like Cinderella. In the song he hints that he is the guy stealing Cinderella from her family.

 It is that time of the of the year when many are blamed for “Stealing Christmas” from us. The media, city councils, other government groups, activist organizations and many others are found at fault for the demise of Christmas.

Each year talk shows decry the “fall of Christmas to the secular” and whine and cry about it loudly. Honestly to some extent I understand the argument they make about how so many are just not wanting any sign of Christianity in secular society. In many ways some go too far in trying to remove religion of any kind from our world. Some will remove any semblance of Christianity from some public schools, but will leave in place other religious symbols per se in order to not offend said groups.

Years ago while living in Southern California, a city council allowed a menorah to be placed on the city hall property but would not allow any Christtian symbols of any kind. I called and talked to dude in charge and told him the menorah should be removed. He argued that it was not a religious symbol. I explained to him what significance it had and still he refused to remove it. Take one religious symbol down, remove them all I say.

At the same time, have one religious symbol then have them all. But reality is most Christians want only Christian symbols and blow a gasket when others are allowed.  By the way Kwanzaa is a joke. It is not a religion at all. It was formed in the 1960’s by a radical political group and has no real religion attached to it.

So who is “stealing Christmas” from us? No one, it can’t be stolen cause Christmas is a matter of the heart. A heart relationship with Christ. It is kinda like the old adage about someone stealing your joy. They can’t unless you allow them.  No one can take Christmas away from us. We can have our own manger scenes at home and church (the appropriate places for them). We can have our Christmas trees and other trappings of the season in our homes and no one can tell us to take them down.

Now when organizations tell us we can have these trappings at home or church then that is a violation of seperation of church and state. When that day arrives, then blowing a gasket is apporpriate. In the meantime no one can steal your Christmas from you unless you let them.

It’s just my opinion.