This morning I was paging through the pew Bible at church looking up something completely unrelated, and I came across a passage which I realized had relevance to the perennial War on Christmas.
How can this be? They didn't even celebrate Christmas back then, did they?
No, but they did have people like Bill O'Reilly.
See if you agree:
The passage is a bit from the tail end of St. Paul's Letter to Titus. This is one of Paul's "Patoral Letters", written to individual proteges who had gone on to become leaders of churches of their own, rather than to a larger Christian community; and in it he offers advice and counsel on being a pastor. He is concluding his letter by telling Titus to remind his people to be peaceable and considerate, ready to do good and to show humility towards all.
And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted to God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus 3:8 NIV)
But then he goes on to add:
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. (v.9)
Foolish controversies. The translation of the pew Bible I read this morning rendered it "stupid controversies." Sounds like the "War on Christmas" to me. I have to admit, though, that I kind of like arguing about these trivialities, and I always have to remind myself to keep things in perspective and not lose sight of what's important.
Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (v.10-11)
So in other words, St. Paul is telling me, "Don't feed the trolls!"