I went to buy stamps at the Post Office for Christmas Cards. While standing in line I had plenty of time to look at the poster for "Holiday Stamps". There were a lot of options: the usual snowman, Santa Claus, holly and ivy, candy canes, and finally one labeled "religious." It seems they cannot or will not use the word "Christian," even though that would somehow mean the one with a menorah and the one with the crescent moon are not symbolic of religions? It seems our American culture just does not know what to do with  Christianity anymore.

All kinds of questions popped into my mind (most of which were slightly cynical). When my turn came, I deliberately asked for " Holiday" stamps to see what the counter person would give me. She handed me some snowmen. I told her, "Oh, I'm sorry, I don't want those, I want the ones with the picture of my Lord and Savior." She looked puzzled, then smiled and went and got me that year's very beautiful Madonna and Child.

I asked her how many people asked for the religious ones. She shook her head side to side and said, "Not many." The counter-person next to her shook her head and said, "Just churches!" At that I let out a soft laugh. To her credit, the first person said, "What's so funny!"

I said quickly, "Oh, I don't think it is funny at all. It just confirmed what I feared. Every thing is changing so much. Most people used to buy the religious one, right?"

"Yes."

"Now no one does?"

"Just churches."

We have so many opportunities to witness in our routines. I went on to tell her I was a minister and she wanted to know where my church was and also asked a few more questions. We were all strengthened in our convictions. However, many are not and will go thought the season nodding yes and saying "You, too!" when people say "Season's Greetings."

Could it be that people are afraid that their neighbors, even strangers, will think of them as Christians? And this is the reason many send a Christmas Card with a " Holiday" stamp on the outside? Another way of playing life safe.

I wonder if people are becoming a little afraid of that little Baby? The Bible says, "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels." ( Luke 9:26). However, earlier in Luke it says the people who witnessed the first Christmas were filled with awe and fear.

Perhaps we have it half-right these days. Or perhaps people sense that Christ really is a danger to our culture and this is the reason we more and more want to leave Christ out of our "holiday"?