Christmas

I must admit it, I am a put Christ back in Christmas person.
I look at all the advertising, and I think it is right to emphasise family and friends and getting together.  What does amaze me is how the reason for the season is omitted.  All the advertising songs are general Christmas songs, and make no mention of what Bob Dylan calls “the One who came and died a criminal’s death.”  I do believe there is a place for general Christmas songs, but I see it as a place, and not front and centre, with much omitted.
My beliefs do not stand or fall based on the celebration of a particular day.  For me, every day is Christmas (excluding the presents – I can only wish), and every day is Easter.  The date is not central - the person is.  To me, it is no wonder the Muslims hate us. We take out what is supposed to be the centre of our religion.  Christmas becomes xmas.  When it is convenient we invoke the name of our God, but all other times, we do our best to wipe mention of him from the map.  We celebrate Santa, and yet spell his name another way, and it is someone diametrically opposed to Christianity.
I don’t believe I am a kill joy.  I am happy to celebrate these things along with everyone else.  What I will not do though, is believe what we are being encouraged to celebrate, represents all there is.  I am grateful we still sing Christmas carols that celebrate the birth of Christ.  What I am seeing though, is that we can do it, but just don’t mention it.  To me it is like “don’t mention the war.”
What appears to be happening, is one of the reasons I think there must be something to Christianity.  Maybe it happens, but I never hear of the name Mohammad or Buddha being taken out or replaced.  It causes me to ask “why is that?” if Christianity is just another religion, and one of many.  Either it is powerless or it is not.  I can be corrected if I am wrong, but it seems all that is possible is being done to remove Christ from our consciousness.
I do feel though, that there needs to be a separation of church and state.  I do not mean there needs to be a separate set of rules for each.  My thinking is, if it is good, then use it.  For example “do unto others as you would be done by” seems good advice no matter what the situation. What I do have a problem with, is the state justifying some action based on a text, which stands a good chance of having been taken out of context.  God does not take sides, He takes over.  The invoking of our religion seems to be based more on convenience then adherence. 
Christmas is a holiday.  I am all for holidays.  I am also all for calling a spade a spade.  ANZAC day is ANZAC day and is celebrated as such.  Labour Day is Labour Day and celebrated as such.  Christmas day is Christmas day and I choose to celebrate it as such.  I believe He is the reason for the season.