It happens every year. Around Halloween, Christians begin to get geared up- they buy bumper stickers online that proudly proclaim their position, and begin chanting catchy slogans to themselves. Thanksgiving hits. The day after (and often before) the Christmas decorations go up in stores all over America.
And the holiday wishes start.
A smiling young salesman, after handing you your receipt, widely smiles and wishes you- "Happy holidays!" At this point, there are two responses: 1) smile, return the greeting, and walk away, 2) glare at him, turn away, and walk off in a huff, determined to spread the word of the highly offensive greeting you were given amongst all your friends and online acquaintances.
Heh. I guess you know where this is going, eh?
Every year, we go through the same thing. Christians, their tender sensitivities hurt by the salesman's greeting, loudly yell- "Jesus is the Reason for the Season!" and "Keep Christ in Christmas!" until, by the end of the Christmas season, they're all so tired, they have to retreat back to the comfortable, worn holes of gay rights and abortion.
The most outspoken 'War on Christmas' soldier is the American Family Association, which annually posts a 'Naughty or Nice' list of companies that are "FOR" Christmas. (They can't even find a way to incorporate Christian terminology into the name. They have to borrow from Santa Claus!)
Christmas has become the holiday of the MasterCard. Our only thoughts on Christmas morning are "I hope Sally likes what I got," and "I wonder what I got!" Very Christian thoughts, there. In effect, Christmas has ceased to be the celebration of Christ's birth that the Catholics made it into, and it has more and more begun to resemble the original pagan origins.
So what are we putting Christ's name to? Christ's name is more and more used to justify the most excessive consumerism that is seen the whole year 'round. Do we really want Jesus' name reduced to that?
But beyond that, the 'War against the War on Christmas' is just plain petty. Does it really matter what the greeter at your local grocery store says in the way of holiday greeting? 'Happy Holidays' is a nice- and much shorter- way to say "Merry Christmas, Happy Thanksgiving, Happy New Year, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa!" all in one simple greeting. How can you get offended by that?
And in the end, the way someone greets you is really irrelevant. Christians waste their time fighting about such a fringe issue when what they should really be concerned about is winning souls!
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.
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20 comments:
Amen, Kyla!
Merry Christmas!
If Christmas is a Catholic/Pagan holiday, why on earth would one want to wish one a "Merry Christmas"?
I always get upset when people say the "War on Christmas". Ironically, the birth date of Jesus was most likely in the spring, when the Roman census was. they chose December because at that time there was a popular pagan holiday in December and since no one really knew when the actual date was, they made it December so that converts wouldn't lose that sense of tradition! And then people talk about how Christmas "was the original holiday" when it really was just random. At least Hanukkah actually happened around this time! Plus, isn't Christmas so supposed to be a time of peace? I just can't be help find the irony when Bill O'Reilly says "As you all know, it is Christmas, the season of peace and joy. And the war has begun!"
This so-called war on Christmas is just plain silly. When I worked retail, I said "Happy Holidays" to customers. Until customers start coming to stores with their religious affiliation stamped on their forehead, I think "Happy Holidays" is the best way to go. If Christians are upset because someone doesn't wish them a "Merry Christmas", I think they are just looking for ways to be offended.
Son- I do like the fact that we have a time when we can think about Jesus, etc. But I think the undue emphasis some people put on the day is just kind of silly.
Alex- I totally agree. Don't get me started on O'Reilly- there's lots more about that man than just his Christmas stance that annoys me. ^.^
Malcolm- Definitely. People get offended way too easily. It's plain silly.
My thing is that while I don't go around in a huff and glare at people over saying "happy holidays" I don't like it either. Because Alex, I am very well aware of Christ being born at a different time of the year. But yet at the same time, this is the point where the Star of Bethlehem led the Magi from the east to worship Jesus Christ as a toddler.
This is a Christian holiday. It may have been placed over a pagan holiday to replace it, but that doesn't change the fact that it is Christian in nature and that has been perverted by this culture's consumerism. (pretty sure that's a word.) :)
So Liberty, you can' put stereotypes on Christians that either they are extremists or fanatics, because the vast majority aren't making a huge deal over this to the point of stupidity.
JT
It is a Catholic holiday, JT.
And what was Cathlocism before they chose to ignore God's Holy Word in many parts, and what can you still call them loosely, Son3?
C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N
Tecnically, Hannakah not only happened first on the timeline, but actually happened at this time of year and has also prevailed. Christmas isn't really the reason for the holiday season (small pun), it's just a popular one. That doesn't mean that the minorities should be ignored. The great thing about America is that majority rule doesn't always end everything. Minorities matter here.
Someday, I'm going to celebrate Hannukah just for fun. :D
And who started Catholicism, and what group had the biggest influence on the traditions of the Catholic Church, JT?
P-A-G-A-N-S.
Liberty: I agree, especially about the declaration that Christ is being forgotten from Christmas. Maybe it's the name of the holiday. I wonder if we tagged down the real date of Jesus's birth, and named it Christ Day, that the world would commercialize it too?
Cassie: Amen!
Son3: No matter its origin, Christmas is now USUALLY intended for Christians to celebrate. I think that is what's important. Also, all parts of Christianity are influenced by pagans! Atheism is influenced by pagans!!!
Alex: I kind of agree with some of your points. Indeed.
Malcolm: So true!
JT: Hm.
Christopher: Congratulations, you have addressed every commenter on this post. You have made everyone feel included and no one was left out. (I like you best.)
Jesus Christ was influenced by pagans, Christopher?
Christopher- You make me laugh.
Son- I think that at this point in the Christian world, it's safe to say that all denominations have been affected by the world in some way. That's bad, but we let it happen.
Catholicism was not started by pagans. Catholicism was the original True Church, founded by the Apostles of Jesus Christ.
It was only after the Catholic church began to adopt doctrines contrary to the Words of Christ and the Holy Scriptures that they became a fairly secular sect of "Christians".
True Christians now are not limited to a certain denomination. We have reached the point in history where True Christians are those who believe in the total supremacy and flawlessness of the Word of God, who believe that Jesus Christ died after living a sinless life, and then rose again to continue being a living sacrifice for our sins, allowing man to finally have communion with God again.
Sorry that was slightly rambling from the original purpose, but that's how it is.
JT
"Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen."
Actually JT, Catholicism was started by Constantine. The original Christians, as detailed in the Bible, had no ceremonies similar to what the Catholics practice.
Liberty:
That's what I mean when I say that the Catholics began to adopt different doctrines than are in the Word. When they began to ritualize the faith, that's when they started to slip.
The Catholic church was not started by Constantine in anything but possibly the name. The Church itself was founded by the Apostles after the Ascension of Christ into Heaven.
Son3: Nah, I don't suppose Jesus was influenced too much by pagans considering he was the Messiah. That would be a pity if the Son of God was converted to polytheism, wouldn't it?
Christianity, the religion, was influenced by paganism.
Liberty: I can't tell if that's sarcasm or not, but the following answer applies to both!
I'm less witty than I pretend.
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