Tell me which of these are NOT good things to live by: love others, don't commit adultery, don't steal or cheat, don't lie, don't envy or covet others' property, and don't murder?
Regardless what non-Christians think of Christians, I think an honest person has to admit that the Christian belief in the Ten Commandments and loving others (regardless whether they're Christians) is not such a bad message at any time of year. It's not a message reserved for just Christmas after all.
Long before I became a Christian I found the message appealing. I saw it as a message that embraced a good way to live and deserving of respect for that reason if no other. Taking the words of the Ten Commandments and love at face value, they are good things to live by (irrespective of 'religion'), are they not? Take any of the Ten Commandments. Which of those would not contribute favorably to a more civil and peaceful society? Even the ones about not worshipping false gods is not such a bad thing for non-Christians. After all, materialism and money are 'worshipped' by many and that's not such a good thing! What other religion has such a fundamentally positive foundation?
Whether you believe in/about Christ as we do, what's not to like about what we're accountable to live by? Most people value honesty, truth, integrity, fairness, and such. Those principles are fundamental to what Christians are supposed to live by so why do such principles and beliefs deserve attack, criticism, disdain, hostility, hate, etc when it's Christians saying that's what we want to live by and want to share with others?
Sure, we try to 'spread the Word' to others but it's done out of a desire to share the peace it can bring to one's life (not to mention what we call salvation). That we go about that in peaceful ways should account for something (other than hostility and disdain). After all, we don't seek your submission to our will and we do not consider it our duty to kill you if you reject the message.
It's what we believe and we encourage you to do that also but if you choose(!) not to, that's between you and your maker. We're not God's 'enforcer'. Whatever 'judgement' is rendered as a result of your choice is not ours to deliver. In fact, we're commanded to love you anyway! Go figure!
Okay, so you can find lots of hypocrites among Christians. It's true we're not perfect. But that's why we need salvation. Human nature tends not to do the right thing after all. (Check out the Adam and Eve story where it all began.) Self-control is not an easy thing! We often don't follow the commands we espouse but it's what we are expected to continue seeking. We keep trying to self-correct to those commands even though we stray from them due to forces of human nature we cannot always control very well. Isn't that a better goal than any other you can think of? What's so wrong and contemptable about wanting to live that way?
Compare our objectives for living life, the Ten Commandments and loving others with other religions' stated goals and their actual actions. One prominent religion even says it's okay to lie about anything, including one's belief as long as it advances that religion. Completely objectively, taking religion out of the equation for all of them, which one's principles seem most geared toward real peace and good principles? In fact, they're not such bad principles on which to base a country's constitution, don't you think?
It's the time of year when we celebrate the birth of the one we call Savior. By celebrating Him, we're celebrating all He stands for, including peace and love. Is that such a bad message? For any time of year? We Christians pray God Bless you and yours now and throughout the year! We wish you peace and love. We won't try to force it on you. It's your choice and it's yours for the asking.
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