And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6)

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

Last week, one of our political leaders perpetuated a rumor that Military Chaplains were banned from praying at Remembrance Day events.  I know a lot of Military Chaplains.  I went to school with several, and our neighbours, Trinity United, had a retired Chaplain serving there for many years.  I also have been at countless numbers of Remembrance Day services.  I’ve even prayed at a countless number of Remembrance Day services.  And you know what.

This was an absolute lie.

In fact, prayers were spoken at the Remembrance Day services in Ottawa, just this past week.

Military Chaplains DO pray at public events.  They are trained to pray in a way that is sensitive to the spiritual needs of all of the Armed Forces.  So, its baffling to me that one of the people who is running to be in the most senior government office would repeat this rumour as if it was the truth.  And frankly, I think the guy owes all Military Chaplains an apology.  A public apology.  One that will go as viral as the original lie.  Because this lie only served to fuel

Anger

Hatred

And Fear.

Every year at this time of year, we see a ‘ramp up’ of rhetoric around the ‘War on Christmas’.  We hear that we aren’t allowed to have Christmas Trees, only ‘holiday’ trees.  We hear how we aren’t allowed to wish our neighbours Merry Christmas.  We even hear that really big coffee chains deliberately change the décor on their disposable coffee cups so that they no longer reflect ‘Christmas’ décor.

Its all lies.

The bottom line is that there is no war on Christmas.  There never has been a war on Christmas.  In fact, to declare that there is a war on Christmas is a slam in the face of all that Canada stands for – a country built on the freedom and tolerance that means that all of us are entitled to live into our personal faith traditions AND cultural traditions without any fear of persecution, or even oppression.  All of us, if we choose to, can say “Merry Christmas” to whomever we feel like.  We also can put up “Christmas” decorations, if that’s our tradition.  Same as our neighbours can put up decorations from their own traditions if they wish, like Kwanzaa, Hannukah or Diwali.   If we want to have a Christmas Tree, we can have a Christmas Tree.  If we want to eat Christmas pudding we can eat Christmas pudding.  Coffee chains can change their cups in whatever way they choose to without repercussion.  We are free to celebrate and honour our faith with freedom and with joy.

We can even pray at public events.  We can also NOT pray at public events if we don’t want to.

So, for one of our government leaders to suggest that Canada will not ‘allow’ Military Chaplains to pray at a Remembrance Day services is just…

Awful.

And a lie.

And only has served to make people scared, uncomfortable, and to pit us against each other in a scramble for recognition.  My faith tells me that Christmas is the place where:

Hope and Love descended.  And that the Angels declared “Fear not, for I bring you tidings of great joy”.

So, my beautiful Bethel Friends, stand with me against this rhetoric of hate and fear.  We all know that there can be no War on Christmas. Because we know this truth; we know this perfect love; and we know that this is just a rumour of war.

Blessings today and remember you are loved.

~Rev. Lynne