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Ed Said - Our reason for the season

 

It’s fairly certain that shepherds were not out watching their flocks by night in Jerusalem on December 25, but does that really matter? What’s important to Christian-thinking people is they observe and celebrate the birth of our Creator.

Of course evolutionists would strongly debate that comment. No doubt about it, certain things definitely do evolve, but just not human kind. They tend to acknowledge creation but somehow not a creator. A scientific equation plucked from the air is a theory, a fanciful mix of numbers and figures to the power of whatever, a non-proven idea, not unlike global warming – and I can hear the cries of derision from here. Planet earth, we are told, has always warmed up and cooled down though there’s probably nobody around who can substantiate such claims.

However, given it’s true, can you imagine a herd of cave men getting together as our leaders are now and discussing how best to stop the Ice Age? It’s interesting that the roughest and toughest of disbelievers, in a life-threatening situation, is likely to utter “God, help us.”

Then, upon being delivered from danger will probably mutter “well, thank God for that.” New Zealand has long been considered a Christian country, no doubt through our basic English heritage, though thanks to early explorers, whalers and traders of Dutch, Danish, Spanish and Portuguese descent we haven’t really been ‘English’ for a long, long time. However I believe we are now New Zealanders with our own identity which is really a mix of all of the aforementioned.

The sad part though is that our Christianity is now under some degree of threat. With migrants arriving from many different religious bases, some feel offended by the word ‘Christian.’ Religion is now rarely taught in school for fear of insulting the odd child whose parents may bow and pray to the “greeneyed yellow idol to the north of Kathmandu” (Rudyard Kipling) or some such, thus turning ‘Christian’ almost into a racist term. On a lighter note what’s going to happen when the term ‘All Black’ is outlawed? What colour will our rugby team then be allotted? I feel another referendum on the way.

We accept each other’s views on any number of things so why can we not simply accept another’s beliefs without prejudice or the ridiculous political correctness that has come to pervade our society where everyone and everything has rights, but nobody is accountable?

Even wars are stopped on Christmas Day, soldiers eat, drink and be merry then resume their mayhem the following day – surely the ultimate in madness! In Bible scripture, Matthew 7:14 tells us:

‘But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’ We tend to think in terms of a stairway to Heaven but a Highway to Hell so I guess our Creator had a fair idea how our human nature was going to work and in which direction the greatest traffic flow would be. That’s why we all have, and generally all give, a second chance. Christmas is a time to celebrate and unite mankind.

Yes, we accept there are pagan elements to some celebrations but in our family, probably just like yours, we have differing views on religion and Christmas but nonetheless tend to get together to enjoy each other as a family, to recognise those who don’t have what we have and give thanks for who, where and what we are, who helped us to get here, and thank God for it.

Thanks also to our growing band of supporters, advertisers, contributors and readers and we wish you all at least a short break free of stress to lie back for a while with the sun on your face and simply listen to the grass grow or hit the beach and catch the wave that will carry you into 2016. Keep safe. Rob, Del, Rich, Melody, Jaimee and Dan

 
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