December 12, 2007 4:32 PM
The reason for the season
My friend Ann Stewart - a writer with whose children go to school with my Justin - has been filling me in on the holiday wars at Waterford Elementary School. The last I heard, there had been representation of several religious traditions for this holiday season, but because of one complaint about a baby Jesus in a manger, the principle put the kibosh on all religious expression leading up to "Winter Break."
Of course, at Halloween, all stops had been pulled out by the school and many parents, but Christmas is too controversial.
In spite of the current federal guidelines, set in place during the Clinton administration (you can read them here), where free expression is concerned, Jesus does appear to be a deal-breaker - even though it is actually illegal to forbid such expression when other religions have not been excluded.
It is actually fear that drives many teachers and administrators to make the wrong decisions in these cases. If you live in a school district where administrators, principals, and/or teachers have over-reacted in this manner, you can get help from
Alliance Defense Fund
American Center for Law and Justice
What can we as individuals do? Stop being intimidated into ignoring your own beliefs during the Christmas season. You don't need to find a card with "Peace" or penguins in order not to offend your neighbors. Would you be offended by receiving a Chanukah card? I wouldn't. So I can in good conscience send a greeting I find appropriate.
Ann was telling me she's made it a point not to stop saying Merry Christmas. And because she is a gifted writer, I asked her to write a guest blog. Please excuse my soapbox :) as I step down to let you hear Ann on this subject:
What season is this? A beautiful carol asks “What Child is This?†Answering that question also answers the question “What season is this?â€
This season, it’s hard to find a card that says, Merry Christmas. It’s more politically correct to say Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays. Some work places have even banned employees greeting others with Merry Christmas. In my child’s school, all religious expression and symbols have been banned from the “Winter†party. Snow themes are allowed.
And so, what season is this? It depends on who you believe is in the manger. Jesus asked His disciple Peter, “Who do you say that I am?†What about us? Can we answer that question? Can we acknowledge that the baby in the manger is Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace?
Over two thousand years ago, King Herod tried to extinguish the life of a baby boy in a manger in Bethlehem. Herod wouldn’t have been able to sing the chorus of What Child is This? “This! This! Is Christ the King!†King Herod failed and the boy grew to be a man who healed, taught, died, and rose again so that others might live. And yet, over the years, people still try to extinguish the baby Jesus in the manger.
Two hundred years ago, my ancestors fled Germany and settled in Russia for religious and economic freedom. Less than a hundred years ago, my German grandparents escaped from Russia because of severe religious persecution. Within my lifetime I have seen the expression of “Merry Christmas†stifled. If we can’t say it here, where will we go next?
The reason for the season will never change just because some refuse to acknowledge Him, but oh what a vacuum we will feel in its void. Snow songs and flakes will never measure to Jesus’ love and grace.
What Child is this? Answer that question and you’ll know What Season this is.
Ann Stewart
Visit Ann and see her books, Preparing My Heart for Advent and Preparing My Heart for Lent here.
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Comments
Dear Barbara,
I am one of the parents that feel our schools should celebrate the seasons and not the Holiday. I'm not a controversial person by nature and I do come to you out of a loving heart as I explain my reasons.
First let me say my family & I acknowledge who was in the manger, it was Christ our Savior, whose name is written in our hearts forever more.
However, because we also read and acknowledge the true word of God as being the Holy Bible and by that I'm refering to the King James Bible,(not the other watered down versions which words have been changed or completely left out) where you will notice there's no command that calls us to celebrate His birth as a religious event.
In fact you will see in (1 Corinthians 11:25) where Christ himself told us what we are to do in remembrance of Him and the act of decorating a tree and giving gifts in His name are not apart of this command.
I don't choose not to remember his birth in fact I choose not to attach His precious holy name or the christian attribute to a holiday with a pagan history (very documented if interested).
I don't have a problem with the free expression, but the problem I have is when the teachers or school system expect my child to partake in the celebration of these free expressions such as holiday parties (including halloween).
Being we live in the Bible belt you can only imagine what strange looks we receive because we choose not to celebrate christmas. My reasons for wanting all religious events to be left out of the school system is a simple one, I
want all our children to be on an even playing field, where no child is ridiculed because of his families religious beliefs. I don't want them to feel left out or pointed out.
I don't mind if my children are learning about the diverse religions around the globe, but to participate in one or the other I feel would be wrong, even if it were my religion. I feel if we choose to celebrate this holiday or any
other, it should be done at home with family and friends and left completely out of our school system.
I don't take offense at your choice to saying merry christmas when I see you at the store, but I hope you understand when I choose to just smile and say have a great day.
I'm in hope that by writing this many of you may have a greater understanding of one families thoughts on the season.
Posted by: Lori | December 12, 2007 10:42 PM
