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The holiday season is a magical time for people all over, but especially for children. Snow, holiday decorations, and if you’re a partaker in Christmas, it means getting visited by Santa. Nothing better captures the wonder of childhood like that feeling of waiting for the overweight bearded guy to roll down your chimney and take credit for all the things your parents bought you.
Christmas is also the Super Bowl of the Christian faith, as it celebrates the birth of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Followers of the faith spend much of their December getting out the good word in a variety of wonderful ways. Charity, wonderful Sunday sermons, and beautiful renditions of the Nativity Story are just some of the ways people of faith spread the word and get into the holiday spirit. However, sometimes preaching the good word flies a little close to the sun, and someone makes a dick move.
For example, take this Texas pastor who decided the best way to spread the good news was to tell a bunch of kids that Santa wasn’t real.
From Huffington Post
A real-life Grinch sparked outrage among parents at a Texas mall when he took it upon himself to announce to a line of children anxiously waiting to meet Kris Kringle that Santa Claus isn’t real.
Evangelical pastor David Grisham filmed himself pulling off the stunt at Amarillo’s Westgate Mall in an effort to teach kids “that Christmas is about Jesus Christ,” then posted the video to his Facebook page Saturday.
It’s pretty bold to not only crush the dreams of a bunch of kids meeting one of their heroes, but then post a video bragging about. Also pretty ballsy to do it in Amarillo, Texas, where you’re certain to be upsetting the children of some super redneck dads.
Can’t imagine that he ran this by anyone else in his congregation, as ruining Christmas for a bunch of kids isn’t the best way to drive local attendance up on Sundays. I’d be very shocked if through buckets of tears any of those kids said, “But daddy can you tell me more about Jesus too?”
Here’s to hoping that those kids manage to recover their holiday spirit, and that if they’re so inclined, get to hear the good word in a much less soul-crushing way..
[via Huffington Post]
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Kyle Bandujo
The artist formerly known as Crash Davis. My kid doesn't think I'm funny.
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I didn’t approve of this and I have no idea who this guy is. Definitely not one of my guys.
This guy gives a bad name to Christians everywhere. I promise we’re not all like this
I went to elementary school with a kid whose parents were super conservative Christians. They wouldn’t let him celebrate holidays or come to any of the class Halloween, Christmas or Valentine’s Day parties. Still feel bad for that guy.
Everybody knows that’s the best way to raise a well rounded child ready to take on the real world
Why must it always be Texas
As a Florida resident, nice to see another state showing off its crazies. Always enjoy the morning radio game of “Did this happen in Florida, or anywhere else in the world?”
Nice to find friends in our states’ mutual crazy
Actually the origins of Christmas, particularly the timing, have more to do with the importance of the winter solstice to pagan beliefs.
I don’t celebrate Christmas since I’m Jewish, but I love the holidays and the holiday spirit. This guy is such a douche.
90% of what we know as “Christmas traditions” are pagan. Like you said, Jesus wasn’t even born in December.
When I read this article, I’m reminded of what my grandfather used to say, “There’s a time and a place for assault and battery.”
I’m all for people believing in whatever they want to believe in, but like money and politics, I think it’s best to not talk about in public. That’s not to say you can’t be proud of what you celebrate, but most religious people don’t care to understand that others viewpoints are just as valid (or invalid) as theirs and that’s when the issues start. Clearly this asshole doesn’t represent every Christian, but I think for society as a whole it’d be best to just celebrate whatever you want to celebrate within the walls of your own home (metaphorically speaking). It kind of goes along with the separation of church and state idea, which is wildly undervalued in American society/politics in my opinion
Totally see where you’re coming from and somewhat agree, but one of the tenets of evangelical Christianity is evangelism. So those folks can’t really live their faith and not try to convert you. It can be done in better and worse ways, and I can choose not to listen. But it’s not going away anytime soon.
Unfortunately you’re right. Everybody’s a salesman I guess…
Someone’s getting snowman shit in their stocking.
Gonna have London Homesick Blues stuck in my head all damn day now. Can’t even read the word “Amarillo” without thinking of it.
I’m getting Sweet Amarillo by OCMS stuck in my head
George Strait, Amarillo by Morning for me
We need to put the X back in Xmas!
I suppose I’ll try again tomorrow