With only 4 shopping days left, my opinion on the topic of celebrating Christmas this year is quite a few days late. There's already been a lot of blather on the topic - Christians who are offended by those who insist on the use of the word "holiday" instead of Christmas. At this point, I'm not even sure stores like Target, Home Depot and others, who have opted to use "holiday," have caved into the pressure from the religious right to use "Christmas" again. Earlier this month, that was the talk everywhere. The president also caused a stir when he chose to use the word "holiday" in the card sent to his supporters this year. I thought he said he was a christian?!
I don't think most of the folks who have been stating their offense with the omission of Christ from the season have been paying attention, well for the practical length of their lives. Christmas in our culture is not about Christ. It hasn't been about Christ in a long, LONG time. In fact, the term "post-Christian" has been circulated for nearly a decade and a half as a description of our culture. In a time when church attendance is in decline, government is removing references to religion. In case this comes as a shock, back away from the computer and take a couple of deep breaths.
(Pause)
Now, is this offensive to you? Does it make you mad? Before you start planning to blow up my house or set my car on fire, stop for a second. What are the most prominent aspects of Christmas right now? What are the predominant concerns that people have as they enter the holiday season in our country? Ask nearly anyone anywhere, it will go something like this:
"I have so many gifts to get. I don't really have time for all the shopping I've got to do. Then, there's getting together with family. How are we going to work it out? Where will we/they stay? I have so many things going on this year. So many parties and get togethers. I'm so stressed. I can't wait for it all to be over!"
So much is made each year by how commercial the Christmas holiday has become. I get frustrated when I start seeing Christmas decorations on display in September and October. We can complain about it all we want. But, if we're spending money and running up credit card bills and running ourselves ragged with holiday events and stress - just like everyone else - we're just feeding the beast. Most folks do all those things and complain because Jesus isn't on display in the stores and shopping centers they go to. If it were on display, it would only be window dressing. There's no question why everyone is there - money is changing hands.
The truth is that it's not the job of any merchant to put Jesus on display in the first place. It's fine if they want to. It's their right to decline as well. It's not any business for any federal, municipal or civic governments to be involved in, either. This falls squarely on the shoulders of believers. What the world needs is not some clever marketing that includes the name of Jesus or pictures of a baby in a manger. Calling it Christmas or winter holiday won't make a bit of difference. No, what the needs is a fresh demonstration of Christ from His body - the church - plain and simple.
Remember the stir caused by the Passion of the Christ not too long ago? Christian leaders started calling that movie the greatest tool for evangelism that the world had ever seen, or something like that. How did people come to Christ before the Passion? Was it possible to become a Christian without it? No wonder it's been so hard to become a Christian all those years before! There are stories of those who turned to Christ as a direct result of watching the movie. In the time since, the furor has died down. With the release of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe this year, the same people are saying some of the same things about this movie as they said about the Passion.
Do you see what's happening? We're expecting someone else to step up to do something spectacular that will "win the world." The truth is it's a lot harder to demonstrate a living Christ as we live out our lives. We can mess it up and often do. We have so many cares and burdens and have so little time to spare for anyone else. It's easier to tell someone to go watch a movie or give them a book and ask them what they thought about it than to get involved with them and their lives. Getting involved often gets ugly. But that is what makes a difference in someone's life.
As for "saving" Christmas, I don't know that it's possible to save the holiday at this point. Commercialism surrounding the season is big money. Our culture doesn't need another marketing scheme. It's become brazen to them, which is why we see more and more shocking means of advertising. If we approach it as a marketing scheme there will be no lasting affects. Public sentiment can be swayed as easily as the wind blows. The church must demonstrate to the world of what Christmas is supposed to be.
So, stop crying about the world recognizing Christmas. It's your chance to show them exactly what it is.
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