I read about your concerns about Operation Christmas Child and they are unfounded.
No, I wouldn't want any child to accept a gift from any "religion" that doesn't believe in God of the Holy Bible! Any other religion is more like a cult. Jesus is the only One who died but is now alive; can't say that about Buddah or Mohammed or even that Joseph who started mormons.
What is so bad about knowing about Jesus and having hope that wasn't there before? This world is so evil and these children see that evil all around them and wonder why no one else in the world cares. Do you see anyone else making the lives of these children brighter?
As a Christian, I would rather live in this world with Jesus in my life than go through hard times without Him! Do you think everyone is better off not believeing God even exists? Look around you! You can't deny that things in nature had to be created with a purpose by a "Master Architect"! Maybe you need to look at the literature yourself! Something is missing in your life and Jesus needs to fill it! Anyone who accepts Jesus does so by making a choice since we all have free will to do that !
The issue is not about which religion is better than the other, it's about common respect for each other and our differant beliefs. It's about providing relief in the name of humanity, not becuase you seek to convert others to your own beliefs.
I respect your beliefs and would hope you understand that there are others, of differant religions, just as convicted as you in their beliefs. However, I find it sad when people prey on others vunerability (famine, poverty, disease) and bribe them away from their culture and beliefs with a shoebox. If you choose to support this, then fine. But I believe others, who might not always agree with this practice, should be enlightened with the true intentions of OCC. They should fully know what they are supporting. That is the purpose of this website if you failed to figure that out.
And by the way, just because someone isn't Christian, that doesn't make them an athiest. There ARE other religions, you know.
And just becuase you don't believe in any God doesn't mean you don't believe in anything at all. I am an athiest and I believe in beauty, ideals and morals. Though it may be hard for you to understand, I feel no emptiness.
Random chance would have created nothing. Beauty did not happen by itself. People are without excuse. Since the creation of the world we have been able to see all of what God has done. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. Man exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served the created things. Romans 1:18-25. God invented morals. You think man thought up morals on their own !! Where do you think love and sex came from. Another random chance happening !! Good grief !! Like God said "Although they claim to be wise, they became fools." I will continue to bring joy to children. No one is forcing these children into accepting the God of the Holy Bible but letting them know who he is and that they can choose. If God is true and so is Jesus, they have a right like anyone else to know, no matter where they live. No one should dictate to them who they have to believe in and worship. Jesus said "Let the children come to him" If God and Jesus is a lie then nearly every reader who criticises the OCC are as guilty when they lie about Santa Claus, the easter bunny and the tooth fairy. As for the claim that some one said that they had to bring a friend along to get a shoe box, how many of you critiucs have told someone that they cant have their present till they make their bed and clean up their room. I really doubt that any one that would go to as much trouble and effort and risk food poisoning and all the other hardships in these countries and areas affected by poverty, famine etc would be so heartless as not give a shoe box just because they did not bring a friend. Get real!
