Senator-Elect James Lankford: Christmas Is the Time for America to Be Thankful for Religious Freedoms
In this week's Weekly Republican Address, issued by Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, on Christmas morning, the conservative senator-elect reminded viewers of one thing they need to be thankful for this Christmas: their religious freedoms.
As millions of Americans celebrate Christmas with gifts, Christmas trees, reefs, lights, caroling, nativity scenes and other displays, many Americans might take for granted their luxury to celebrate the holidays in any form or fashion they want without having to worry about any consequences or being "silenced".
Although many are claiming that America is waging a war against Christmas and religious expression, Lankford, who won Oklahoma's vacant senate seat by over 38 percentage points in November, said that undeniable religious freedoms granted by the Constitution allow Americans to continue with their Christmas traditions and express the love they have for Jesus.
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"Today, the joy of Christmas causes hundreds of radio stations around the country to play Christmas music all day, and people will exchange millions of gifts to remember the first gift of Christmas, the infant Jesus," Lankford said. "As we see thousands of public and private Christmas trees and nativity displays around the country, they remind us again of the powerful American value built into our Constitution: our freedom of religion."
Lankford continued by explaining that without basic religious freedoms, people could be muzzled for their faith-based beliefs and actions. In many nations around the world, Christians are jailed, killed or tortured for their faith because of the absence of religious freedoms and human rights laws.
"Americans honor and respect each other's faith, and we honor those that choose to have no faith," Lankford said. "Under our freedom, no one is silenced because of their religious belief.
"For the millions of Americans, like my family, who believe that there is a creator God who can be known personally, Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' offer of love and forgiveness for all people," Lankford added.
The 46-year-old Republican added that Christmas time is also important for families to gather, strengthen and heal from previous periods of trial and hurt. Lankford explained that by strengthening the American families, America gets stronger as a whole.
"At Christmas we also celebrate our families. Generations reconnect. Children learn the importance of giving, more than receiving. Families look each other in the eye and forgive old hurts and start anew," Lankford said. "The future of our nation is dependent on the future of our families. Broken families not only affect the people involved, but they have an impact on public policy decisions in Washington, D.C. and state capitols around the nation. America is strongest when families take care of each other and walk with one another through need and loss."
But as Christmas day passes and the holidays end, Lankford said that God will continue to stand with America.
"In the next few days, the decorations will come down, schools will restart, a new Congress will be sworn in and another year will begin. But for today, enjoy Christmas," Lankford said. "Even after today, as the Christmas songs and scripture remind us, He will still be Immanuel, God with us."
