“Baby, its Cold Outside.” Written by Frank Loesser in 1944. Loesser was well known as a writer of music for Broadway type musicals. “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” wasn’t for a production at the time it was written. He and his wife sat down on a very cold winter’s night and put the song together. It had popularity for a while, and then it faded. A few years back it was featured in the movie “Elf” and not only regained popularity, but became a Christmas song.

          This year it is gaining more fame because a radio station in Cleveland has pulled it from their Christmas play list because of the suggestive nature of its words. Considering it was written in 1944, the words are really pretty racy. The man has had the young woman (who still lives with Mom and Dad) out on a date and has somehow talked her into coming to his place for a nightcap. She really does want to stay over, but is making all the excuses she can as to why she has to leave. Meanwhile, a winter storm is raging outside. In the end, it is implied that the man won the evening.

          In its way, I suppose, it is kind of a cute song. I never liked it, though. Listening to music is hard enough for me, but when two people are singing at the same time and singing different words, I just can’t take it. I never really thought about it, other than I don’t like it.

          And then, about ten years ago, a friend asked me to listen to a radio station in Cleveland that played Christmas music for 24 hours a day, from midnight Thanksgiving night to midnight Christmas night. There was a short break at the top of each hour for a news capsule and a quick blurb to tell you what local company was sponsoring that hour, and then it was another solid hour of Christmas themed music. My friend had discovered that during the hours of 6 AM to 10 PM, when the stationed played a sacred, or religious, song, it was only music. No words, just music. After 10 and until 6 they would play the songs with the words. It was during this time that I really listened to the words to “Baby, it’s Cold Outside.”

          Two things struck me. One, the words are suggestive. Certainly not like the music that is heard up and down the radio in the present time. Explicit sex, violence, killing, racism and so on. But still, the words don’t evoke a pleasant Christmas holiday. The second thing, the song has nothing to do with Christmas. Why was it included in a 24 hour Christmas play list? I had never seen ‘Elf,’ so I didn’t know of that connection. I was puzzled. (And my friend was right about the sacred music. No words until later at night.)

          So, the current ban of the song on that Cleveland radio station doesn’t really bother me. Except, if there is no real limit on rap music or any other music that gets down right explicit, how can you single out “Baby, it’s Cold Outside?”

          One reason, of course. Someone has had their little feelings hurt. Someone is offended. I know of a group of Christians scattered across the country who have been protesting with cards and letters to stations around the nation about certain rap songs. That has done no good. The stations’ management know that these people will not buy the products they advertise with their music, so they ignore the protests. But, give a station an opportunity to ban something they think might increase sales, they are on it.

          This morning on the FOX online news, I read about a principle of an elementary school in Nebraska who has banned her teachers from decorating their classrooms with Christmas themed ornaments. Her thinking is that it will offend the students who do not celebrate Christmas. Apparently, the school does not share her zeal. She has been placed on leave. But before that, she sent out notification that said themes like sledding and warm clothes and the character ‘Olaf’ from the movie “Frozen” (another movie I have missed) are OK. But, decorations and themes that included Santa, Christmas trees, reindeer, green and red colored items and even candy canes. The reason sacred stuff wasn’t included was because the Supreme Court and the ACLU took care of that years ago. However, her thinking on candy canes is religious, albeit a little skewed. The principle says that the cane is shaped like a ‘J’ and that stands for Jesus, and the red stands for His blood and the white for His resurrection. The school says that Santa, Christmas trees, reindeer, green and red colored items and even candy canes are secular emblems and can be used for teaching. That sounds like someone straddling the fence. Can be used for teaching.

          When I was growing up, we had a Jewish family in our town. Very small town. Urbana’s Post Office is much bigger than our Post Office was then. We had more churches. Two Baptist, one Methodist, one Christian and one Catholic. Of course, our Jewish family did not attend any of those. They would leave Saturday morning and come back on Saturday afternoon. I have no idea where they went to synagogue. When the Jewish holidays came around the mother would send in holiday appropriate treats with her kids, and we all enjoyed. When it was Christmas time and there were treats for the kids, the Jewish kids also enjoyed. No one’s feelings were hurt, no child felt threatened, no one’s little minds were corrupted. It was all fine. Now the concern is offending someone.

          So, they have banned “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” from the airways. Can “Silent Night” be far behind? Or even “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer?” “Silent Night” talks about Jesus, and you can’t have that. “Rudolf” talks about bullying, and we can’t have that. Mercy, “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” pushes elderly abuse, and we can’t have that. Bit by bit, our right to even have a traditional, enjoyable holiday is going away.

            82,000,000 people (give or take a dozen either way) in the United States identify themselves as Evangelical Christians. Should that great hoard of people organize and seek to overturn the oppressors? There are another 65,500,000 Roman Catholics (give or take a dozen either way) in the country. They would join with us! We could end this! Except, we are still outnumbered. And, to be honest, this is our fault. As Christians, we are to share the Story. Prophesied 4,000 years before His birth. Born of a virgin. Lived a perfect and sinless life. Died as our sacrifice on a bloody Cross on a hot hill in a dusty city. Buried in a tomb and sealed up against someone stealing His body. Rising again and going to live at the Father’s dwelling place, giving us a plan of salvation. Do we tell the story? If we had been telling the story, prayer would not be out of school. Nativities would be part of the decorations in third grade classrooms. Our rights would be secure. But we quit telling the story. We find it more exciting to march on Washington to oppose abortion. It is more satisfying to get upset at “Happy Holidays.” We want to be up front with everything, except for sharing the great Gospel of Christ.

          82,000,000 on a picket line would be an impressive TV clip. 82,000,000, in their churches and in their homes, on their knees seeking God in every aspect of their lives and 82,000,000 sharing the Gospel of Christ would change the world.

          “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” is a silly song. People are standing up for it, though. Here, though, is a song and an attitude worth the effort of living up too.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high his royal banner, It must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall he lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, And Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Stand in his strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor, Each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, Be never wanting there.

                     Stand up, stand up for Jesus, The strife will not be long;
                      This day the noise of battle, The next the victor's song.
                        To those who vanquish evil A crown of life shall be;
                          They with the King of Glory Shall reign eternally.