The blessing of an American Christmas

OPINION:

America at Christmastime provides us with moments that bring us closer to God. It should also help us realize how blessed we are that, by the Lord’s grace, we live in this great country. We could have spent our Christmases anywhere on the planet, but under the star-spangled banner, we’ve been able to feel the glow of the light of the world.

If you spend any time on social media or watching left-wing media, you’d think that America is coming apart at the seams. You’d be led to believe that this last, best hope of the earth is collapsing or beyond redemption. Certain political figures want you to believe that as well.

We have our problems, and freedom always requires vigilance, but we cannot permit those who have a vested interest in tearing the nation apart to cloud the joy of celebrating Christmas in America.

From those pushing for satanic displays next to Nativity scenes to the godless church vandals to the “woke” loons who tried to ban the song “Baby, it’s Cold Outside,” we know that our challenges pale in comparison with those elsewhere in the world.

In China this Christmas, people will be watched by cyber overlords who will monitor their actions and words to constantly evaluate their social credit score. The communist government there scrutinizes every move of its people. Those who get out of line can have reduced access to essential services, education and even job opportunities.

Those who practice any kind of organized religion are even more closely watched, because they are considered possible enemies of the state. This Christmas, Christians will be allowed to worship only in “official churches” registered and monitored by communist government agencies. Many Christians refuse this monitoring and worship in underground churches.

Chinese authorities have removed crosses from churches to make them look more Chinese and have closed more than 7,000 churches in the last two years. Pastors and religious leaders are expected to focus on teachings that reflect socialist values.

The Chinese Communist Party is undertaking an effort to rewrite the Bible.

In Spain, as Marxism increases in strength in the new government, Christians, including a 60-year-old woman, have recently been arrested for reciting the rosary in public. The government has also denied requests for permits for prayer demonstrations. Praying in groups in public has effectively been banned.

In Africa, millions of followers of Christ will celebrate Christmas in fear this year. In Nigeria, more than 50,000 Christians have been murdered by Islamist militants in the past 14 years, according to the human rights group Intersociety. The government there has been accused of aiding the jihadis to fuel attacks and anti-Christian hate.

In Mexico, last year saw the highest number of incidents of Christian persecution in history. This violence comes at the hands of the more than 150 drug cartels that view believers and religious leaders as a threat to their authority. The Mexican government is largely powerless to stop it.

According to Open Doors, “Churches in Nicaragua that speak out against injustice and human rights violations by the government are viewed as destabilizing agents,” making them targets of rampant hostility, intimidation, harassment, monitoring, arrests and even attacks.

In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, Nativity scenes have been replaced with rubble and reminders of the war that has Christians caught in the middle.

The lights, the trees, the music, and of course the manger scenes across this nation are a feast for our souls. The images of Christmases long past fill our minds, and the memories of those long gone ahead of us bring us back to our youth.

Even for those who don’t believe, they know there is something special about this time of year in this country.

It isn’t that way in most places. We’re spoiled, and we should thank God for it.

While our Christmases these days are less Norman Rockwell and more Hollywood, we experience the joy of the season because of our first freedom.

Certainly, we’ve seen more Marxism and attempts to censor and diminish faith in American society. Certainly, we must redouble our efforts to protect our freedom of worship as the very foundation of our Constitution.

But despite the threats, we must know, in this season of giving, what a gift it is to live and worship in this great nation.

Pray for those in our country who can’t find the joy of Christmas and the billions in nations around the world who cannot yet worship free and in peace.

• Tom Basile is the host of “America Right Now” on Newsmax and the author of “Tough Sell: Fighting the Media War in Iraq.”