It is probably not a personal attack when someone who does not know your faith greets you and wishes you well.
Today as part of my sermon I spoke about the ongoing greeting wars during this holiday season. One of the parishioners spoke to me afterward about the fact that she works with a Sikh, who regularly receives Christmas and Easter cards from people who do not know his faith. She told me he treasures them, and displays them to others. Isn't that the appropriate and gracious way to respond to an expression of well-wishing?
So why do so many Christians treat it as a personal attack when they hear words of welcome and positive regard from others? Yesterday's
Valley News Dispatch included a letter to the editor from a Brackenridge reader who put the vandalism of a creche and the use of "Happy Holidays" in the same category of "striking out" at believers.
Christians can learn a few things from people of other religions.
File under : Central Presbyterian Church, Christmas, Tarentum
1 comment:
You know it's funny, some of my Christian friends are more uptight about saying Merry Christmas or sending Christmas cards to someone they happen to know is not Christian. As a Jew, about the only way I'm offended by this sort of action is when it's obviously done in a manner to be offensive or if the card sent to me in these circumstances happens to be is overtly religious. Most of us who are adherents to minority religions have learned to try to understand the basics of other religions and cultures; while we may not agree or be comfortable with some beliefs and customs, we're able to appreciate our differences as well as our similarities. It's a pity that not everyone is capable of taking that attitude instead of fostering divisiveness out of ignorance or, worse yet, for political purposes.
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