We don't like to think of war at this time of year, do we? We'd rather think of family, Christmas trees, presents, and "chestnuts roasting on an open fire," wouldn't we? After all, isn't this the time of year in which we hear "Peace on Earth" proclaimed in our greeting cards?
If you know the Chanukah story, you know that it is primarily a war story. If you've been to Chanukah parties you know that they are filled with spinning tops (called "dreidels"), lots of tasty food (I love those potato latkes--and don't even mention the jelly donuts!!!!), and bright shining Chanukiah's (9-branched menorahs). But do you really know the Chanukah story?
You probably know the part about the victory over the Greek army. You probably know that it was a rag-tag guerilla army that won against all odds--probably the same odds as the army of Micronesia would have going up against the U.S. army. Surely you know the story about the re-dedication of the temple (from which we get the name of the holiday--"Chanukah" is Hebrew for dedication). You likely know the legend of the Menorah miraculously burning for 8 days on just 1 day's supply of oil.
But do you know the background? If not, let me fill you in:
Antiochus (the wicked Syrian king) wanted to conquer Egypt, but found Judea in his way. In order to deal successfully with the Jews, he decided they would all become Hellenized--or else die. Judaism was outlawed--and along with it, everything the Jewish people held dear. In its place, out-and-out paganism was forced on the Judeans. The Temple was seized, and into its sacred confines was dragged a statue of the Greek god Jupiter. Pigs were slaughtered on its altar--and the people were forced to consume their meat. Circumcision was outlawed, and in its place came gymnasiums filled with nude athletes--many of whom had sewn onto themselves foreskins to cover up the sign of the covenant.
Could he have done this without the help of some compromise from within the camp? Probably not. Instead, he got plenty of help from wealthy and influential Jews who were only too willing to go over to the Hellenizers. These were the Jews who accepted Greek customs and dress, changed their names to Greek names, sent their children to the Greek universities, and even took part in the nude games as described above. These were the Jews who turned in their Torah-observant brethren to the Greeks for murder. These were, in short, the enablers--the very ones who enabled the destroyer to shed rivers of innocent blood for the cause of pagan Hellenism.
Against such a background, it should be clear to all that the only option left for the Jews to survive was war. But someone had to step in to take charge. Those someone's were the priest Mattathias and his sons, led by Judah (later surnamed Maccabee).
Just as peace on earth will come someday, so will peace come into the inner confines of your life. But peace--true peace--only comes when we deal with the enemies of peace. Often times those enemies lie within--in the form of compromise. Usually it's in the form of "a little bit of this, a little bit of that" (to quote the immortal residents of Anatevka in "Fiddler on the Roof"), until before you know it there are major strongholds of demonic activity right under your own roof. And the only way for you to deal with these strongholds is to confront them--with the weapons of the Spirit, with your mouth, and if necessary with your actions.
Scripture tells us that the LORD Himself is a warrior (Exodus 15:3) and that there are times when war is necessary and even right (Ecclesiastes 3:8). 3 years ago, Israel had to go to war during the Chanukah season. Today as I write this, she is facing threats not only from a potentially nuclear Iran but also from a heavily-armed Hizbullah to the north, Hamas to the east, and potentially Egypt to the south.
Whether your tradition this time of year is to light Chanukah candles or to sing Christmas carols, I urge you: don't enable any kind of false peace into your life or the lives of others. Instead, be a Mattathias and refuse to surrender. Better yet, be a Judah Maccabee and FIGHT!
