Many of our friends have been bewailing recently the fact that the department stores and the shopping malls have eliminated all references to the December 25th holiday as "Christmas." Our friends are upset that not only has Christ been removed from Christmas, but the word Christmas itself has been eliminated.
But what should we expect? Didn't Jesus Himself say "No one can serve two masters. ... You cannot serve God and Mammon."? Why should we expect the temples of Mammon to acknowledge Jesus?
I don't read in the Old Testament about Elijah complaining that the temples of Baal should also include a shrine to the LORD. He simply said to the people "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is, follow him!"
C. S. Lewis wrote over 50 years ago of a fictitious island call Niatirb. The inhabitants of this island celebrated a great pagan festival called Exmas. But a small group celebrated a different festival called Crissmas. He was of the opinion that these two festivals were totally unrelated.
Perhaps it's time that we made a choice to let the worshippers of Mammon worship him in their temples while we worship the God who gave His Son to save us.
- Bill
