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In a message from the White House during the lighting of the Christmas tree, which was largely ignored by the mainstream media, President Trump said the "birth of our Lord and Savior changed history forever."
And he said more than 2000 years later, "His divine words still fill our hearts with hope and faith."
Trump's Christmas message is one that is woven into the very fabric of America's identity.
George Washington often expressed similar views of the importance of Jesus Christ, beginning with a poem when he was only 13 years old.
And it was President Reagan who said "...But to millions of us, Jesus is much more. He is divine, living assurance that God so loved the world, that He gave us His only begotten Son..."
Will this fabric of America continue to be woven, or will it be dismembered, with a few of its pieces being woven into the quilt of another kind?
Be informed, not misled
Speaking from the White House balcony, President Trump affirmed the place of Jesus Christ in our hearts and in our nation.
He said:
"For Christians, this is a joyous time to remember God's greatest Gift to the world. More than 2000 years ago the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. He said, 'Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God'."
He continued,
"The angel told her that she would give birth to a baby boy, Jesus, who would be called the Son of the Most High. Nine months later Christ was born in the town of Bethlehem. The Son of God came into the world in a humble stable."
"As Christians everywhere know," the President said, "the birth of our Lord and Savior changed history forever. At Christmas we give thanks to God, and that God sent His only Son to die for us..."
From the founding of our nation, America has publicly recognized the true meaning of Christmas, and most of our leaders have reflected those beliefs.
President Ulysses S. Grant signed the bill that made Christmas a federal holiday in 1870, even though Americans had been celebrating Christmas since our founding.
In 1944 FDR said, "On Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ with prayer, feasting, and great merriment. But, most of all, we experience it in our hearts."
George Washington once wrote a poem on Christmas---probably copied from something he read---when he was 13 years old. It simply said, "Assist me, Muse divine, to sing the Morn, on which the Savior of Mankind was born..."
Throughout his life of service to our country, he espoused the values and teaching of God's Word, even suggesting that without the Bible it would be impossible to govern.
In fact, President Ronald Reagan spoke of Washington's deep faith in one of his Christmas messages:
Christmas is also a time to remember the treasures of our own history. We remember one Christmas in particular, 1776, our first year as a nation. The Revolutionary War had been going badly. But George Washington's faith, courage, and leadership would turn the tide of history our way. On Christmas night he led a band of ragged soldiers across the Delaware River through the driving snow to a victory that saved the cause of independence. It's said that their route of march was stained by bloody footprints, but their spirit never faltered and their will could not be crushed.
The image of George Washington kneeling in prayer in the snow is one of the most famous in American history. He personified a people who knew it was not enough to depend on their own courage and goodness; they must seek help from God, their Father and Preserver.
Then-President Reagan asked, "Is the spirit of Christmas still alive?" He concluded it was at that time, when he served as president.
I believe the spirit of Christmas is alive today, as well, because it transcends the feelings of Christmas, because the spirit of Christmas, Himself, is alive.
And to those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, live each day in the joy and hope and peace of God that passes all understanding.
In closing, President Trump said,
"Tonight we ask that God will continue to bless this nation and we pray that He will grant every American family a Christmas season full of joy, hope, and peace."
Merry Christmas.
Be Blessed.