A Merry Pro-Life Christmas: Celebrating a Child’s Birth

Opinion   |   Joe Scheidler   |   Dec 23, 2011   |   7:13PM   |   Washington, DC

Despite the current war on Christmas, with futile efforts like trying to substitute “Happy Holidays” for “Merry Christmas” and the rampant commercialization even in an economic downturn, what it all comes down to is that a baby was born 2,000 years ago, that that baby is mankind’s Savior and only hope for happiness. Period.

Some of us recognize with no shade of doubt that this birth in the central event in history — that Christmas celebrates the birth of mankind’s one and only hope, while for others it is just another day off.

Those who don’t know the purpose of this feast will discover it some day, that everyone from Adam on eventually comes to realize that this birthday determines each person’s eternity — those who celebrate it, those who ignore it, those who hate it, those who mock it — everyone will come to know its meaning.

The coming of Christ to earth is what it is all about, what our lives are all about. How we accept or reject Him is all that really matters in life. There is nothing else that counts.

Being close to this Child, staying by Him while spreading His message is our life’s work. Christmas helps us to do that. Whatever else we do is just killing time. And there’s too little time to waste any of it.

Ann and I attended a Christmas concert at Orchestra Hall this week. The entire first half of the program honored Jesus Christ. They couldn’t help it. They called him “Wonderful, the Prince of Peace, the Mighty Father.” At the intermission a madrigal choir sang about Christ — in Latin, even. And in Orchestra Hall thousands stood to sing “Alleluia” to this Child.

The fact is that spending eternity with this Child is everyone’s Ultimate Goal — the complete fulfillment of our life. Not spending eternity with Him is utter defeat — a life wasted.

Those who don’t know this, or don’t come to know it, have missed the plot. They never learned what Christmas is about. But since we know the plan, we are called to spread it, day in and day out.

When the Christmas Child grew up he said over and over: “Go forth and teach.” Those are our marching orders. Let’s do it.

Merry Christmas!

LifeNews Note: Joe Scheidler is the founder of the Pro-Life Action League.