Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, and is a long established tradition in our society – as are Nativity scenes and plays – but political correctness can sometimes make things a little bit complicated, even comical. Here is an all-inclusive Seasons Greeting given to a minister living in Geneva, a few years ago.
‘Please accept, with no obligation implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the Winter Solstice (European) holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious or secular traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year of 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures, whose contributions to society have helped to make the world great; not to imply that one country is greater than any other, and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical abilities, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes.
By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification and withdrawal; it is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting; and it implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for himself, herself or others; and it is void where prohibited by law, and revokable by the sole discretion of the wisher; the wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, or whichever comes first. Warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or the issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.’
It is important to respect and consider the beliefs of others, without going against our own convictions. For example, my son is a Vegan (he won’t eat any animal products) so we will do out best to provide for him on Christmas day. But, we won’t take meat off the menu.
Let this Christmas be an opportunity to participate in the generosity and good will that His birth and message proclaim. May you experience the love of Jesus, and know the peace and hope that He came to bring, by giving Him your heart.
‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life’. ”
Have a great CHRISTmas.
Mark Trodd
troddsy@bigpond.com
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