Pressure from the local community is forcing the hands of the Bethlehem municipality to immediately take down a large Christmas billboard sign that has Jesus on it.

 

"In the birthplace of Christianity, we have seen over the years that the Christmas holiday has been reduced to snowmen and bells," said Pastor Steven Khoury of Holy Land Missions, the ministry behind putting the 1200 square foot sign up. He added, "The essential message of the holiday season has been taken away for fear of what the dominant religious factors [aka Muslims] in Bethlehem would say".

 

Vandals cut the electric cable surrounding the sign to ensure that it would not be lit up during the night, and the print shop hired to print and hang the billboard has been bombarded with harassment. Barraged with phone calls from the local community, the municipality informed Pastor Khoury that many are campaigning asking them to take down the sign. "Jesus and His message have been lost in the city that God chose for His Son to come into this world"

 

The billboard sign, located at Manger Square' main street entrance reads:

 

"Jesus born to die and rose again. Invite him into your heart so you might live - Merry Christmas."

 

Ironic isn't it.??.

 

Even after 2,000 years it appears there is still no room for Jesus in Bethlehem.