By Jeffery S. Colter
GCC/Staff
Dec. 15, 2009

Another week passes as we draw closer to one of western civilization’s iconic, holiday events. But what does western civilization really think about it? Does it hold any semblance or meaning as it did in generations past or is it simply a day off from work to be with family and friends and get drunk at parties?

Notice I said the word “it”; did you even notice? Or, did you even care? My point being is our culture has been numbed to the importance of this sacred holiday and tradition and how it is significant to our heritage as a Christian nation.

Oops. Did I offend someone? Was I politically incorrect? I am simply stating the obvious from an historical vantage point. To lose sight of the meaning of Christmas as Americans is to lose part of our soul as Americans.

Contrary to what secularists, progressives, liberals, or however you want to label them say, our Republic, laws, values, traditions, our very core is based on the Bible and ultimately the birth of Christ Himself.

You see, my friends, it is the idea of Christ giving all of mankind freedom from the shackles of sin to receive redemption that gave many of our Forefathers the idea of man’s freedom from the tyranny of government to redemption of personal liberty.

Yet, liberty comes at a price. No, I am not implying sacrificing ourselves for a cause-at least not yet. What I am saying is self government can not succeed without self discipline.

Part of self discipline is knowing one’s priorities. It is to easy to be distracted from what is important and lose focus on the essentials of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

It is easy to forget the importance of family and our obligations to them when we are busy building our careers and paying for a nice house and car.

It is easy to ignore the cries for help from a neighbor or even a stranger because we don’t want to be bothered and think it’s none of our business or assume someone else will help them.

You may think I am being to abstract in my thinking so I will simply ask this: what is really important to you? Search deep within your heart and ask yourself what is really important to you? Do you make others as important to you as they are to God?

Do you make God as important to you as He makes you important to Him? This, my friend, is why Christmas came to be: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17).

We can not hope to rebuild the foundation of our Republic without knowing and living out the foundations of what our Republic was originally founded on.

The church and family. This Christmas I encourage you to take special notice of the blessings you have particularly in those areas. If you are out of work, or struggling to keep a home, or whatever other trial you have know this; God has not forgotten you.

You are not alone. In God We Entrust…our lives…and the Republic.

 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@goldcoastchronicle.com