Let's be clear. There is no war on Christmas. That is, there is no war on Christmas if a war on Christmas means that some group is trying to put an end to the story of the birth of the Christ, Jesus. All conversations suggesting such stuff are exercises in absurdity. No one can put an end to a story when there are always people who are ready to hear that story again - no matter what the context may be.
I would suggest it is a soft and fear-filled people who make such an accusation. And yet, it may be that the cultural, sappy, sentimental, everyone-has-to-stop-to-watch 'A Miracle on 34th Street' kind-of-Christmas has become something that makes no sense in the world as we know it. The American Christmas may be fading away but the story of the Christ that is not fading away. No one can halt that story. Rather, our culture (even the so-called religious culture) does not recognize that there would be no interest in the birth of Jesus if there was no execution of a Jewish peasant in Jerusalem - one who actively resisted the culture of the day by living counter to its rules and values. But few see more than bunnies and hard-boiled eggs when we are invited to witness that execution. Also, there would be no holiday glee and gifts and grief if there weren't already popular celebrations of the wider solstice in the cultures of ancient times. War on Christmas?
To be able to say Merry Christmas is not a sign of respect or faithful adherence to the holiday called the Nativity of our Lord. I'm quite sure that this merry salutation has a very short history to it - and it is a salutation not even tied to the gospel story. If it was tied to the gospel story, these last days of the calendar year would be a time of humility, service, self-sacrifice, and an active consideration and presence with those of no status among us. I would suggest that those who cry about a war being waged on Christmas know little of how the biblical story of the nativity of Jesus is tied to the visions of the Prophets that was always a call to a change in life so that the least, lowest, and left out would be ours to serve.
This so called war is a part of the ongoing voices of the weak-of-faith who must try to make their own lives into lives that suffer. And for them, to have others say Happy Holidays - or even have their office rule be one that says, Let's be inclusive of all traditions at this time of the year - is, for them, to have to suffer under the oppression of a godless society. That, my friends is that which we are seeing more and more in our society. It is a need to be cast as the victim when in reality, such people know nothing of victimization. They are usually folk who are quite comfortable and really have lost nothing. Therefore, pain and anguish and being outcast must fall on the notion that a seasonal greeting - not offered by all for all - will mean the end of us.
I find it odd. I have never had anyone tell me I cannot wish them a Merry Christmas because they find it offensive. Just like I do not find it offensive when someone looks at me and says Happy Hanukkah. When we honor the other person - any other person - and also honor their heritage and beliefs and customs (though different from our own) there can be no war against Christmas. For we would be living in the way of the Christ - where there is no division - at all. Instead, for too many, if their way of doing things is interrupted - if their way of wanting the days to pass does not go as planned - if their way of hearing and seeing the society around them takes on a shape that is not under their control, some folks cry foul. To be quite honest, when that crying comes from the lives of folks who claim to be follower of Jesus within these days in which the year comes to an end, their tears and their anger reflects nothing of the peaceable Reign of God. Instead, it comes from the bowels of self-absorbed lives that are unable to see the joy that comes when we do not get our way as we want it and have had it. The joy of the season is the unbending love of others - a love that comes at any cost - and a love that creates a whole new life.
Therefore, if you must weep and complain and moan about a war that you are making out of nothing, please know it is unnecessary. The season is really quite full of many ways to celebrate how wonderful our world can be at this time of the year.
TRRR
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