耶稣关于圣诞节写给美国基督徒的信（基甸译）
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4a9c4a4f0100g7im.html
基甸按：先给不住在美国的朋友们简单介绍一下美国的“圣诞战争”的背景。大家也许已经看到不少国人反对庆祝圣诞节的言论。但即使在被一些国人视为（误认为）是“基督教国家”的美国，“圣诞”节在近年也因为“政治正确”(political correctness, politically correct)的问题成为争议话题。从白宫的圣诞卡上没有“圣诞”(Christmas)一词，到百货公司商场内没有“圣诞”字眼，“圣诞战争”(Christmas Wars)成为媒体和公众每年年终都会热议的事情。反对“圣诞”一词的人认为Christmas这个字里面本身就包含了“基督”(Christ)之名，因而有“宗教（基督教）偏向”。他们认为美国是一个不但坚持政教分离、而且崇尚多元文化的国家，不应该有这样的偏向。正好在圣诞节前后也有其它宗教的宗教节日，如犹太教的献殿节（光明节，Hanukkah），非州裔美国人的传统宗教节日宽扎节(Kwanzaa)，等等，所以在学校和公司等公共场所或者商务性的问候、卡片中，很多人为了“政治正确”就用笼统的“节期”(holidays)来取代Christmas，似乎这样更加一视同仁、平等公平。一些在公共场所展示圣婴降生等基督教主题的标志、艺术品也受到抵制或被政府取缔。这样的做法遭到一些保守派人士的强烈反对。他们认为这是对美国传统中的基督教文化的一种破坏。反对者中也有不少保守派的基督徒，他们将这样的做法视为美国社会和这个国家正离弃基督教传统、背叛上帝的迹象，也有一些基督徒怒气冲冲地抗议、斥责。。。下面这封信，应该算是从美国基督徒爱讲的“WWJD”（“换了耶稣，他会怎么做”）的角度给基督徒的一种友情提醒吧。
耶稣关于圣诞节写给美国基督徒的信
（英文原作转自电子邮件，作者佚名。中译基甸）
亲爱的基督徒们，
我注意到你们当中许多人正因为你们的同胞要把我的名字（Christ）从圣诞节（Christmas）里除掉而愤愤不平。
你们当中有福气有自己的儿女的人也许最容易理解我个人对你们该怎样庆祝我的生日的感受。我不在乎你们把这个日子叫作什么。如果你们想庆祝我的生日，那就和平相处、彼此相爱吧。
请容我再多说几句。如果你因为你所在的城市不准公开陈设描述我降生的画像而恼火，那就从你自家的草坪上拿走两三个圣诞老人或者雪人的像，放上一个圣婴降生的画像吧。如果所有我的跟随者都这么做，那全城都会充满圣诞的画像，人们也就没有必要到市中心广场去看了。
不要担忧人们把圣诞树称为“节日树”。所有的树子都是我造的。你在任何时候看到任何一棵树都可以纪念我。如果你愿意，去装饰一棵葡萄树好了——我还真在讲道中提到过这种树子，用来解释我跟你们的关系和我们各自的任务。（如果你想不起来了，请查圣经，约翰福音15章1-8节。）
如果你真想送我一件礼物来纪念我的生日，下面是我想要的礼物的清单，任选几样送给我吧：
1。与其写抗议信反对他人庆祝我的生日的方式，不如给那些远离家庭的大兵哥写些充满关爱和希望的信。他们在这个季节特别害怕和孤独。我知道，因为他们一直都有告诉我。
2。到老年人中心去探访老人。你不认识他们也没关系。他们只是需要知道还有人关心他们。
3。与其给总统写信抱怨他的幕僚今年送出的圣诞卡上的用辞不妥，不如给他写信告诉他你今年会为他和他的家人祷告。
4。与其送给你的孩子一大堆你买不起、他们也不需要的礼物，不如多花一些时间跟他们在一起。跟他们讲我降生的故事，告诉他们我为什么来到世上与你们同住。拥抱他们，告诉他们我爱他们。
5。选一个过去曾经伤害过你的人，原谅他/她。
6。你知道在你居住的城市、就在这个季节，有人会因为感到如此孤独和无望以至于想自杀吗？因为你不知道哪个人（些）是谁，所以试着给每一个你遇到的人一个温暖的微笑吧。那会有用的。
7。与其挑剔你那里的商店如何称呼这个节日，不如对那些在店里上班的人更有耐心。给他们一个温暖的微笑，一句友善的话语。即使他们不被允许祝你“圣诞快乐”，你还是可以祝他们圣诞快乐。
8。如果你真地想做点好事，支持一个宣教士吧——尤其是那些把我的爱和福音传给从未听闻过我的名字的人的宣教士。
9。我有一个好主意。在你居住的城市有一些人不但没有“圣诞”树，而且没有任何礼物可以送人，也得不到任何礼物。如果你不认识他们，买点食物、买几样礼物送给救世军或者其它相信我的慈善机构，他们会帮你把礼物送给那些人。
10．最后，如果你想向世人表明你对我的信心和忠诚，那就行事为人像个基督徒的样子吧。不要在暗中做你不会当着我的面做的事。让人们因为你的善行知道你是属我的。
别忘了，我是上帝，我能照顾我自己。你只需要爱我、做我教导你做的事。所有其它事情我会照管的。再看一下上面的清单，赶紧去做吧，时间不多了。我会帮助你，但现在要看你的行动了。祝你和你所爱的人有一个蒙福的圣诞节。记住：
我爱你。
耶稣
（2009年圣诞节）
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附英文原文：
Letter from Jesus about Christmas
Dear Christians,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one.
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS.
