The day could not have been given a more fitting name. Not because it puts retailers into the black for the year but because of the dark heart that brought all of this upon us.
All of what upon us?
By now everyone knows how the Christmas holiday came into being. We know that Jesus was not born on December 25. We know that the Saturnalia was celebrated at the winter solstice in the Roman Empire and that when Constantine converted to Christianity, he ‘Christianized’ all the pagan festivals to appease the people.
Yet, the celebration of Christmas has come to mean a lot to many good-hearted and sincere Christians. That is something no one should want to take away from them. However, some points should be made about much that has been attached to that day and the way Christians respond to it.
Recently, Walgreens was bombarded with calls and emails because their weekly ad insert read “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” Many Christians were offended at Walgreens’ inclusiveness, calling it political correctness. Really, it was neither inclusiveness or political correctness. It was a business decision. That ad insert was about nothing but bringing customers into the store and selling them product to realize a profit. And that, dear friend, is the only thing any advertisement selling goods at this time of year intends to do.
Why are Christians so offended in the first place? Can you imagine Jesus saying, “Come into Walgreens today. Buy tinsel and personal appliance gifts to celebrate My birth!” Can you see Him, in your mind’s eye, cheering, “Get out there at 4 AM to those Black Friday sales in My Name!” Would He be proud of our insisting that retailers attach His Name (for the title Christ refers only to Him) to their money-making programs at this time of year? To their encouragement to come out and spend, and to compete to be one of the chosen dozen to get the loss leaders featured in their ads? Do we want liquor ads to use the words, “Merry Christmas” instead of Happy Holidays, too? What about the adult bookstore near the interstate? Should they also hang, “Merry Christmas” on their door? They probably do.
Yes, there is a war on Christmas so far as the day is useful in bringing hearts and souls to think about Christ Jesus and to glorify God for all that He has done for us as sinners. It is a war conducted by the enemy of men’s souls to dilute that day by associating the celebration of Christ (Christ’s Mass) with commercial activity. When Christians insist that the word “Christmas” be attached to every single bit of it, we are playing into the plan set into motion by the father of lies to commercialize it to the point that people say, “Ah, Christmas, humbug, it’s just a way to get my money.” Why is it a problem for Christians that they say instead, “Ah, the holidays, humbug, it’s just a way to get my money?”
This has nothing to do with people saying “Merry Christmas” to passersby or sending Christmas cards. That is a personal expression. This is about Christians wanting Christ attached to all the commercial activity. Do you really think that people buying gifts to put under a tree are going to forget to call it a Christmas tree? Can a retailer choosing to plaster “Happy Holidays” all over ads and stores take what Christmas means to you and yours out of your hearts and minds?
That the shopping experience and what stores choose to say in their stores and ads gets so many in such an uproar shows the inappropriate focus on the commercial aspect of the day has already overtaken Christians. If only they would get as upset and motivated to action over the real sin in this nation, that which God repeatedly condemns in His Word, there might be something in our lives that people see and say, “Hey, I want that!” and many souls would be won to Christ for God’s glory.
