Happy Holidays?
Isaiah 58 comes to mind a lot lately, like when I was at work the other day and heard a couple people talking about how much they enjoy shouting Merry Christmas angrily at people who have the audacity to use an inclusive and open phrase like Happy Holidays.
Because God forbid us from celebrating anything other than a Roman holiday like Saturnalia or using His name for anything but commercialism.
I mean, I can see it. The whole idea of Christmas is supposed to be celebrating His birth which really in a way is honoring His mission on earth, which was to walk around correcting people who didn't say the right religious tag lines at the right moment, and who were trying to be kind and joyful to all people.
But, He kind of called it way before it happened. The first time, or this round, whatever number it is.
"Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all all about me.
"They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God."
Being self righteous and hypocritical is definitely a problem they only had in the Old Testament though.
So this advice might apply to the Christmas season today if we were more concerned with using words that denote devotion and piety.
"No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you... Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help."
But we don't have a problem giving people time off to spend time with family, sharing our abundance instead of spending any surplus of superfluous trinkets, or being generous.
If we did, I think the Bible would be a pretty good source of advice for how to spend the holidays.
Speaking of the holidays, I truly hope you have a happy holiday season and find yourself closer to each other and a little closer to heaven.
Because God forbid us from celebrating anything other than a Roman holiday like Saturnalia or using His name for anything but commercialism.
I mean, I can see it. The whole idea of Christmas is supposed to be celebrating His birth which really in a way is honoring His mission on earth, which was to walk around correcting people who didn't say the right religious tag lines at the right moment, and who were trying to be kind and joyful to all people.
But, He kind of called it way before it happened. The first time, or this round, whatever number it is.
"Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all all about me.
"They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God."
Being self righteous and hypocritical is definitely a problem they only had in the Old Testament though.
So this advice might apply to the Christmas season today if we were more concerned with using words that denote devotion and piety.
"No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you... Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help."
But we don't have a problem giving people time off to spend time with family, sharing our abundance instead of spending any surplus of superfluous trinkets, or being generous.
If we did, I think the Bible would be a pretty good source of advice for how to spend the holidays.
Speaking of the holidays, I truly hope you have a happy holiday season and find yourself closer to each other and a little closer to heaven.
Comments
Post a Comment