Christmas Wars - from December 2006

The Christmas Wars
I got an email from a Christian group I will not name that asked people to boycott stores that are using the term "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. I actually read it twice to make sure this wasn’t a joke? No, they even had a survey. "Would you be willing to boycott stores that refuse to include Merry Christmas in their promotions?" No lie. A survey.
Every day I hear of yet another skirmish in this Christmas War on the radio or in the newspaper. Here’s my take on the whole thing, as a Christian, who of course celebrates Christmas.
How many times have we lamented the commercialization of the birth of our Savior? Every year it’s the same discussion I hear about how Christmas has turned into a buying frenzy filled with parties and plays and no time to reflect on the true "meaning of the season." So, hallelujah, we can reclaim Christmas. If stores, airports and schools are saying "Happy Holidays" and eschewing the words that point to Jesus, well praise the Lord.
I am thrilled that Christmas can return to being about the birth of the Redeemer and not redeeming coupons for the latest electronic gadget. Am I offended that a store owners and managers have exercised their rights of free expression to choose the greeting most appealing to the broadest number of consumers? No way! Companies exist to make a buck (or lots of bucks). I can’t figure out why it is that any Christian would be upset that a store has stopped using the name of Christ to line their pockets. I say it’s about time!
So why would this upset people? All I can figure is that having the name of Christ dancing around us in twinkly lights as we shop helps alleviate a little of our consumerist guilt. I happen to believe that asking those who don’t believe in Jesus as a Redeemer (or possibly as a historical presence at all) to celebrate Christmas just because we do is ludicrous. If a non-believing person wants to celebrate winter or Kwanza or just have an occasion to max credit cards and gain 15 pounds, more power to them. To celebrate a Holy occasion with no appreciation for why it’s Holy is meaningless at best and in some ways a mockery of what is True.
So, brothers and sisters, I ask you to join me in laying down the arms in this Christmas War. We love to wear the WWJD jewelry and this is a really good time to actually ask what Jesus might say? Do we really think the God of the Universe is offended because Wal-Mart or the Gap have stopped using the celebration of his birth to make more cash? Let them say Happy Holidays! Please! I for one will have a better Christmas as it becomes more about Christ.