A very happy Christmas to all!
I woke early this morning, I regret to admit, for the purpose of watching a television show! I know, I know, not very Christmas-y of me. But it’s a really good show, if you must know (Doctor Who…go check it out!). Anyway, I’m not here to write about timey-wimey space travel stuff but about the spirit of Christmas and how I was reminded this morning of what being a Christian really should mean.
See, at precisely seven AM, in between episodes of the big blue box show, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth appeared on my screen. At first, I thought it was part of the show, but I’d seen the next episode before and it featured pirates, not Her Royal Highness. Then I was thrown off by the realization that the tune of God Save the Queen is exactly the same as My Country ‘Tis of Thee! I mean, I know we were once a colony and all, but how did I miss that connection before?! In any case, the Queen brought me back into focus and I spent the next five minutes or so listening to what I’m guessing is an annual Christmas address to the people of the Commonwealth of England. A moving speech about the year and the country and the importance of family. What really got me though, was the end.
America is widely considered a Christian Nation. Founded on biblical principals, In God We Trust on all our currency and our songs. But when it comes down to it, the Christmas Trees in the White House this year were called Holiday Trees and Congressmen were told they could send no “Christmas” greetings through official mail. While the Queen of England, also the Head of a Christian Nation, went on national television and wished her people a “Happy Christmas” and reminded them that today is about the birth of a child sent to give everlasting forgiveness to one and all.
As I listened to Queen Elizabeth sharing the advent story and giving a message of hope and forgiveness and reconciliation, I was filled with a sense of longing. No, not to be British, though I do love a proper British accent and good metro, but a longing that the leader of my nation could give an address with a similar theme and not face threats of impeachment.
I’m not opposed to freedom of religion and I believe strongly that we cannot legislate faith or morality. Yet, I also fear we in America (and other parts of the world, I’m certain) are falling closer and closer to an extreme form of tolerant denial. In our efforts to accept opinions and behavior different than our own, we feel that we must deny our own opinions and behavior. The President cannot single out any one faith, even if it is his own, because to do so somehow has come to mean that no other faith is tolerated.
Well, it’s not the same thing. My being a Christian does not preclude me from accepting your not being one. I should not have to deny my faith in order to accept yours. The President, or any political or state leader, can share their own beliefs without denying that I or anyone else can have different ones.
I feel relatively certain the Queen of England knows not all her citizens are Christians, nor do I expect that she requires them to believe in God simply because she wishes they did. However, she knows, as I do, that knowing God is the truest joy we can have in this life and our only salvation. She can’t require the people of England to believe but she doesn’t hide the truth she knows simply because it may offend. She knows this is a truth that she must share and she is willing to do so even if not everyone agrees.
I understand the Queen doesn’t face elections and that gives her a freedom an American President doesn’t have. However, I cannot help but dream that a U.S. President someday could wish U.S. citizens a Merry Christmas without being told it’s an offense.
Perhaps though, my longing is less about the ability of a President to be able to give an address like the Queen’s and more about my own longing to have the courage of the Queen. I don’t need a national audience on television to put my Christian identity to the test. I need only look to my daily personal interactions this Christmas season. How many times have I hesitated to say “Merry Christmas” because I wasn’t sure of my audience’s reception? How little do I share what Christmas truly means with those around me who may not know?
Sharing my faith is important to me. Even when the world tells me to keep my opinions to myself. I respect that not everyone believes as I do. I wish they could because I believe with all my heart that God’s love is good and just and critical to your salvation, but I won’t force it on you. I can’t. But I can share what I know, what I believe, the joy that I have found in Christ. Because I love you enough to do that. To risk offense in the hopes of bringing you peace.
I was surprised by the Queen’s overtly faith-based message because I have become accustomed to a world that denies our freedom to simultaneously have personal opinions and respect the opinions of others. You don’t have to believe me, you don’t even have to listen to me, but that doesn’t mean I have to stop talking or deny what I believe.
I believe in God. I believe that Christmas is a celebration of God sending His son, Jesus, to live on Earth so that He could die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins so that you and I could have everlasting life with God in Heaven. I believe that Christmas is a celebration of life, of hope, of forgiveness, and of peace. And I wish today that you would have the peace of God in your life and heart and family. Merry Christmas to you and Joy to the World!
