Message behind a booze-up

I note the Express & Star is having its usual rant against Christianity (November 28). It's all getting a bit boring. First of all Peter Rhodes shows his ignorance (not for the first time) of the Bible. You can prove anything by taking it out of context.The quotation in Exodus 20, verse 4, continues: "You shall not bow down to them and worship them". No Christians do this. The cross to a Christian is a nice piece of jewellery and a symbol of our belief. Most Christians prefer an empty cross as a symbol of the resurrected Christ.

If Mr Rhodes got a modern translation of the Bible he would see that the phrase "graven image" is now often translated as "idol". A small cross around the neck is certainly not an idol. Today's idols are of the pop, celebrity, pleasure or material possessions variety.

And now on to Mr MacDonald's letter concerning Christmas. I prefer my meaning of Christmas as a celebration of the birth of the saviour of the world. The Church can celebrate his birth whenever they like. The fact that it clashes with a pagan ceremony, or is used as an excuse for a booze-up by others is totally irrelevant.

The real message of Christmas is to try to love thy neighbour, although some people make that very difficult.

I know Mr Rhodes has difficulty in realising we are in the 21st Century, so don't write to me about the crusades and the troubles in Northern Ireland (many reconciliations have taken place through forgiveness).

The real image of Christianity is in people like the late Mother Teressa and the thousands of people who have given up a lot to work with the poor and disadvantaged. No, they are not all Christian, but a high proportion of them are.

Sydney Elton, Stow Croft, Lichfield.

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