Anti-Christ But Pro-Christmas

Is it possible to be an atheist but take part in the Christmas celebrations?  The reason I asked is that I see and hear of people who are outspoken in their beliefs, or disbelief.  They professed to be atheists but when it comes to Christmas and other Christian-related holidays, they are all over it like a cheap suit.

I am not passing judgement on who should and should not attend their work Christmas parties, accept presents and enjoy the Christmas experience.  What’s not to enjoy about Christmas?  We celebrate the birth the most high while engaging in fun activities.   So like I said, what’s not to celebrate?   But if the Klu Klux Klan had a holiday that was widely celebrated by people of like thoughts and beliefs, would I feel inclined to be a part of the festivities just because it seemed like a fun time?  I think not.  I don’t like parties that much

So now, does this mean that such a person is either a hypocrite or confused?  Or maybe just loves a good party?  You tell me.  I do think that most people who professed to be atheists are usually just confused or feeling their need to be radical.

Just my opinion, everyone has one.  What’s yours?

Merry Christmas to all!

Related articles

• The Real Root of Atheists’ Anti-Christmas Rage (conservativeread.com)
• Keeping CHRIST in Christmas (thedistinctdot.com)
• -Atheist ‘Christmas’ Billboard in Times Square (answersforthefaith.com)
• 12 Christmas Traditions Even a Black-hearted Grinch of an Atheist Can Celebrate (new.exchristian.net)
• Merry Christmas? Happy Holidays? Seasons Greetings? (crankygiraffe.wordpress.com)

Church Clothes

Growing up in the St. Vincent, my choice of clothes was limited due to financial constraints.  That did not stop me from having what we called ‘church clothes’.  Church clothes were set aside to wear to church on Sundays.  It was just wrong to wear them on any other day.  (I guess this is where the term Sunday best came from).

My church clothes were not limited to just pants and shirts, they also included underwear, shoes and socks.  It was understood that everyone had his or her church clothes.  It was normal.  At least to me.

When I moved to Canada, I brought this custom with me and separated my regulars from my church clothes.  If I did not attend church, my clothes sat unworn.

It was with some reluctance that I first wore a pair of jeans to church.  Even though I blended in with every other non-church-clothes-wearing worshipper, I felt like an outcast.  Here I was dressed like a commoner in the presence of God! How disrespectful!  I grew up in Catholic household where even my grandmother tried to upstage those who were half her age by dressing to the nines.

Later, I changed churches and attended The Seventh Day Adventist Church and we wore our Sunday Saturday best at church.  Jackets and ties were common.  We dressed to impressed, I’m just not sure who.

I am now a member of a jeans and t-shirt wearing church.  Shorts and slippers are not uncommon.  You are even allowed to enjoy your favorite brew as you listen to the sermon.  There is a casual air of acceptance in this church.  Last week I even saw a woman wearing sweats with paint all over the backside.  That, I thought was pushing it a bit.

Talking about pushing it, some church members and non-members seem to get carried away by the lack of a dress code and go overboard with their choice of attire.  Last week, as I looked towards the screen to read the words of a song, the sight of a naked flesh caught my eye.  Instinctively, my eyes zeroed in on the distraction and it was a young woman wearing a back-exposing top.  I am a Christian but I’m also a man. A heterosexual man, so yes, I found it a bit distracting.

A church is made up of all kinds of struggling people.  It’s the reason we are there, right? right??  That and to praise God.  If I had a drinking problem, the last thing I would want to see is someone drinking in the place where I came to get help.  If I had a sexual problem, a church with female church members flashing legs and cleavages would not be in my best interest now, would it?

I know some of you women had that sexy dress or top that has hung in your closet for a long time because you gained some weight.  Now you have worked hard and lost a few pounds and understandably, you want to show off your new bod and wear the dress you haven’t worn in forever.  Props to you! Congrats!  But church is just not the place to wear it.  We are here for you and support you in your weight loss but can we get an hour or so to focus on God and not your body?

No God, Know Fear

Last year, after dealing with anxiety for some time, I sat down and asked myself, ‘What exactly am I anxious about?” “Why do I keep feeling the way I do?” It wasn’t full-blown anxiety bordering on panic attack type but anxiety all the same. I would have it almost daily and this was the norm for a couple of years. Elevated heart rate, nervousness and just a feeling that I couldn’t shake. It also negatively affected my relationship with my family especially my little ones. It made me edgy and impatient with them.

I got the answers to my questions when I re-evaluated my relationship with God. I am a Christian and have been one for all of my life, in one form or the other. Sometimes, I take this relationship for granted and think to myself, “I love him, I believe in him. He knows this and I know it so I don’t need to do anything else.” False! I did need to keep in step with him. I still needed to walk with him daily. I noticed that my bouts of anxiety took place when I was at my lowest spiritually. I realized that without him in my life, it was empty and without reason and that’s what made me anxious. There it was in a nutshell!

Sin, no matter the size, makes us guilty. With the guilt it becomes hard to go to God. We think, “Oh I messed up. I need to fix this on my own then get back in with God.” We don’t realize that we cannot fix it alone. That’s what he is there for. To fix it. The more we mess up, the further we alienate ourselves from him. I don’t think God runs away from us when we sin, I think that we run from him in guilt like Adam and Eve did when they sinned. We experience fear when that happens because we know his cloak is no longer around us. He is no longer on our boat while we are on the rough seas, so we fear.

With the knowledge that fear comes when God is not around, I was able to adjust my life and keep God in the picture at all times. I even have bible quotes stuck to the walls of my office as reminders. (It’s not what you think. Just a couple or three). I take everything to him in prayer and let me tell you, I haven’t been happier since. When I feel the old anxiety coming back, I ask, “What is there to be anxious about?” The answer is usually “Nothing, God is with you.”  I now enjoy my family more and noticed that I am more patient with the kids.

One of my favorite bible verses that is on my wall and which I used to keep me grounded is Galations 5:22. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” I mentally refer to this when I stumble. I ask myself, “Am I bearing these fruits?” and I would go through each of them to see where I am messing up.

Another very apt one that I also have on the wall is “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference”.

I hope this blog was a help to anyone who sometimes feel the way I did. I did not intend to write about this but for some reason, it was what came to mind when I sat down to write. God Bless!

Related articles

• Overcoming Anxiety – A Personal Testimony (raynigirl.wordpress.com)
• Securing God’s peace during anxiety producing events: Principles, Passages and a Pastoral resource. (adamrumball.com)
• When the wave of anxiety threatens to engulf you… (murmursofmyheart.wordpress.com)
• Causing Me Anxiety (gibsongirl247.wordpress.com)
• Do Not Fear (thewomanatthewell.wordpress.com)
• It’s Your Life; You Only Have One…Use It Or Lose It (Part 2) (scripturenuggets.wordpress.com)

Confessions of a Tebow-er

Image by Jeffrey Beall via Flickr

On a recent episode of Saturday Night Live, there was a skit poking fun of Tim Tebow and his Christian practices.  My first response was to laugh at the humor of it. I failed to see it for what it was, an unacceptable mockery of someone’s religious beliefs and practices.

Tim Tebow is an NFL Quarterback who is garnering praises for his late game heroics.  Lately, his unwavering faith in God has been the topic of discussion.  Tebow celebrates his on-field successes by dropping to one knee in a praying position.  He does this despite criticism from fans and players alike.  He also never fails to give God all the credit for his wins.

Back to the skit.  The skit had an actor portraying Jesus.  ‘Jesus’ enters the locker room and confronts Tim Tebow (another actor) and his team.  He takes credit for their last win and told him to ‘tone it down a notch’. (his christian practices).  Suffice to say, it was of poor taste.  It is wrong on all fronts, to poke fun of other people’s beliefs. Could you imagine the fallout if this had been another religion, say Muslim, that was made fun of? There would have been world-wide protests.

As a fellow Christian, I find it very noble when Christians fearlessly practice their faith publicly.  It is not an easy thing for someone in Tim Tebow’s profession to stand up for what he believes in.  How much easier it is for an atheist to tell the world that there is no God yet the voice of the Christian is muted?

I am a Tebow-er and this is MY TAKE.

Related articles

• Why the Hostility to Tim Tebow? (gratiaetnatura.wordpress.com)
• VIDEO: Tim Tebow Skit On Saturday Night Live (denver.sbnation.com)
• Pat Robertson Slams SNL: Tebow Skit Fueled By ‘Anti-Christian Bigotry’ (mediaite.com)
• Toucher & Rich: Tebow Fan Upset Over SNL Skit (boston.cbslocal.com)
• In SNL Skit, Christ Asks Tebow To Tone It Down (lezgetreal.com)
• God Visits Tim Tebow on SNL (patheos.com)
• http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/12/15/2-riverhead-high-school-students-suspended-for-tebowing/

Selfish Christians

Is there such a thing as a Selfish Christian? Isn’t that an example of an oxymoron?  I think it is.  You see, to me a Christian is one who not only follows Christ but also his teachings.  A Christian is then supposed to share their faith with others so they can also become a part of God’s family.  So in reality, we cannot be selfish and call ourselves Christians.  Right? For my blog’s sake, we’ll pretend it’s an acceptable term.