BE OUR GUEST

Wynn B. Rust is data processing manager for Concord Publishing in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Girardeau is celebrating Christmas. We do it in many lights. We do it with the beautiful nativity scenes that various churches perform in memory of the miraculous birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do it with the holiday cheer of decorating the house with millions of lights. Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers are all out to find a gift for the ones they love. We do it with family togetherness as relatives reunite to celebrate and rejoice an event that happened almost 2000 years ago. And among those points of light is a flicker of pink.

Many sparks have flown on these colors this year in Cape. A display of lights wanes in the dark at Cape County Park. It's a beacon that stretches the fabric of another birthday this year, not a holy event but one of man. For this year is the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. A document of man that set the world ablaze in how we should act toward each other and ourselves. And within this torch of freedom can be found the First Amendment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The organization that is in the spotlight celebrating this freedom is the Gay and Lesbian group. And from reading the Speak Out quips that have gone by for the past couple of days, this group is either helping Cape to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ (The Way) or they are celebrating the anniversary of the Bill of Rights.

It is easy to get caught up in the argument of both sides of the freedom of speech issue. Should they be there or not? And even though there have been many opponents and proponents, we are all blinded to the big picture.

We must reach within the depths of our souls for the true meaning of Christmas and what this baby born to us in a manger bought for us. After all, the two greatest commandments are "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37). And Christmas is the one time of year that we all try to do this.

The points of the commandment are that we should be rejoicing that the Gay and Lesbian people are seeking out Jesus Christ. And we should not snuff out the flicker of hope but instead help fan the flames of a personal relationship with Christ.

One of the underlying themes of the Bible is to love the sinner but hate the sin. After all, we are all stained with sin. And it is through God's Grace in sending his Only Son, Jesus, to show us the way and carry the burden of our sins that we can even hope to be saved. And we should recognize this with the people whose sin is homosexuality. (Leviticus 18:22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

We should pray that they celebrate Christmas in its true light, not just celebrate the freedom of speech, and in doing so they will hear the TRUTH. And it is our job as Christians to illuminate their path to Christ. And what better time of year, when all our shining points of light are lit, than Christmas.