This is getting ridiculous!
Christians: IT'S OKAY TO SAY "HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!"
It's okay to hear it, read it, buy it, smile about it and even endorse it! We seem to only stand up about something when we feel there's no real sacrifice, and believe me, there is no honor in this battle.
So what if the employees at your local department store do not say "Merry Christmas?!" They don't sell to Christians only! These are not LifeWays or Family Christian Stores! Bacon's, Dillard's, Parisian and so many others specialize in clothing and home items - not Bibles and Matzo crackers!
"But, Joey, we have got to stand for something or this world is going to walk all over us!"
Where were you when Gone With the Wind gave us cursing?! Where are the massive protests over the deaths of innocent babies everyday?! How many times have you changed the channel or ignored the Christian Children's Fund?! (and don't give me the junk about not knowing if all of the money goes to the kids - God calls you to give and He calls them to be good stewards!) Where are the protests over the fact that our country's minimum wage hasn't increased in 10 years?! I didn't hear your voices protesting the government's slow-as-molasses response to the Katrina disaster! (again I don't want to hear the crap about how they brought it on themselves - WE BROUGHT SIN ON OURSELVES AND WE STILL EXPECT GOD TO JUST FORGIVE US WITHOUT REAL RECOMPENSE! Let's revere Him a little more for not making calls that reflect the ones we would have made!)
I'm telling you the truth - there are much grander and heavier issues than this whole Christmas versus Holidays thing.
I will continue to shop at Target.
I will continue to be annoyed by those stinking bell-ringers.
And, while I do not shop there, I will still listen with joy to the great Garrison Keillor who advertises Land's End quite often.
I'm so flustered right now about the way "Christians" are acting about this that I can't continue this blog right now.
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7 comments:
Isn't it interesting how we get bent out of shape. I remember growing up in the "coc" that we couldn't even mention the birth of Christ around this time of year because of silliness. Now there are people in an uproar about the whole name thing.
I don't like it either when we tend to bend over backward in our society for everyone, except Christians, but it's time the real Christ followers stood up for some things that really matter.
When are we going to get out of our buildings and into the lives of people who really need to know Jesus. They don't need "church" in the institutional sense of that word, they need Jesus. In fact most of these people simply "Need."
Instead of becoming the incarnate word in our world every day, we sit back and compell them to come into our cathedrals and talk about a being they neither know nor care about. And part of the reason they don't know Him, is because so many Christians don't know Him either. O, they know "about" Him, they just don't know Him!
God help us to get to the point--YOU!
Thanks for the echoes of agreement, guys.
I have now noticed that this pure greeting which has been so loved, "Merry Christmas," which, by the way, I must say I am not against saying, has become a weapon! I hear it on all the talk radio shows and have even received it in response to my having said "Happy Holidays" at work. Are they really wishing me joy in this season, or are they merely doing what so many Christians have been known to do - fighting with ultra-belligerence toward anything that isn't of them? I think we know the answer, and I know they would hate to have the possible effects of such actions ascribed to them.
Please, do not mistake me on the subject of Christianity: I am a believer in the truest sense seeking truths in the purest form. I see Christ fighting those whose hearts He not only knew, but formed, and who He knew would kill Him. I don't see Him fighting with unbelievers who are lost without His touch.
People - the bible is not a weapon against humans, but "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." We are to be fighting the ruler of the world, not the world! We are using the right tool on the wrong people! The world NEEDS us!
It's quite devastating.
"Happy Holidays"?
Well, then, what holiday is it?
You know, if I moved into a Islamic country or even an Islamic neighborhood, and was greeted with "Happy Ramadan" or whatever, I would not be offended. I would not run to the Islamic Civil Liberties Union and sue. I wouldn't go whining to the media. And I wouldn't demand that everyone be aware of my (me, me, me...it's all about me) feelings.
Oh well, Happy Winter Break. May all your Winter Breaks be white. I'm dreaming of a white Holiday. "xxxxx is the reason for the season." "Oh, Holiday Tree." "Oh, Holiday Night" If only Elvis were alive to sing "Blue Holiday"
What Christmas (I mean holiday) music do they pipe in at Target, etc? I guess Jingle Bells would be OK -- although PETA is probably offended that they harnessed up poor 'ol Bobtail and put bells on him and made him drag the sleigh around.
I read where some school district changed the title of Silent Night to Cold in the Night, and changed all the lyrics to secular meaning. Sing along with me:
"Cold in the night,
no one in sight,
winter winds
whirl and bite,
how I wish I were happy and warm,
safe with my family out of the storm."
Just didn't have the same ring.
Nothing wrong with saying Happy Holidays. Nothing wrong with saying Merry Christmas either. And if Target, etc. are too afraid (or ashamed) to say Merry Christmas because they might lose a dollar, which by the way says "In God We Trust" on it (I'll be more convinced of their authenticity when they stop accepting these dollars with such an offensive message on it), and want to ENFORCE such timidity on their employees (many of whom are probably believers) then it's a free country and they can do so, and I can shop elsewhere.
Gotta go. Checking my receipts now to see if my wife bought anything from Target :).
I like the bell ringers. Need more cowbell, baby!
Sorry, Anonymous, I'm not with you on this one.
We are not a Christian nation and therefore cannot assume that all who live here must be Christian in order to have residence. This means that one does not have to say "Merry Christmas" out of respect for the almighty, cocky, and hardly-wrong American simply because he or she is "in our culture now." The difference between the predominantly Muslim countries and this one is that those countries were ruined long ago by establishing a state religion.
The founding fathers may have been beievers in some fashion (though according to many exclusive present-day religions they were still lost because they were not a member of a certain clique), but they would not have dreamed of a time when religious freedom would be in jeopardy in the manner that a "Merry Christmas" mandate suggests. And, no, I don't want to hear the whining that the Christians are being sqashed and discriminated against either. 2 reasons: 1. 60-80% of this nation believe in God. I don't think we'll ever be eliminated. 2. If you'll catch up on your apocalyptic, you'll see that we're supposed to endure a turning of the tide, and while I hardly believe any of us are subject to some type of Christian holocaust since some people now say "Happy Holidays," I do think it's another step in that direction.
I want to direct Christian attention to 1 Cor. 9.22: "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
Could it be possible that Paul was letting us know that we don't have to be so overbearing with our faith? Do you think he already understood that our faith is so powerful and self-sufficient that our duty is to merely introduce people to it and let God do the rest?
I promise you all, God doesn't need us to spread His message! He could do it just fine without us. We do it because we love Him and we experienced His love in a manner that made us feel accepted, and then it changed us - gently.
I realize that I'll never win some of you, and that's fine. Please, however, keep the thought in mind that the person at whom you are angry for saying "Happy Holidays" has been given just as much real estate in Heaven as you have been, and the ability you have to let them know how they can close on the deal hangs in the balance in relation to your response.
Look’s like we’re coming from totally different perspectives, and see the issue differently.
Joey Says
“Sorry, Anonymous, I'm not with you on this one.
We are not a Christian nation and therefore cannot assume that all who live here must be Christian in order to have residence. This means that one does not have to say "Merry Christmas" out of respect for the almighty, cocky, and hardly-wrong American simply because he or she is "in our culture now." The difference between the predominantly Muslim countries and this one is that those countries were ruined long ago by establishing a state religion.”
Reply:
Who has ever said that every one who lives here must be a Christian? No one has ever said that someone “has to” say Merry Christmas. Some of us “cocky” Americans are being told we “have to” say Happy Holidays. Remember? I don’t care if someone wants to say Happy Holidays. I do care if some of us are being denied the freedom to say Merry Christmas because it “might offend someone.”
Joey says:
“The founding fathers may have been beievers in some fashion (though according to many exclusive present-day religions they were still lost because they were not a member of a certain clique), but they would not have dreamed of a time when religious freedom would be in jeopardy in the manner that a "Merry Christmas" mandate suggests. And, no, I don't want to hear the whining that the Christians are being sqashed and discriminated against either. 2 reasons: 1. 60-80% of this nation believe in God. I don't think we'll ever be eliminated. 2. If you'll catch up on your apocalyptic, you'll see that we're supposed to endure a turning of the tide, and while I hardly believe any of us are subject to some type of Christian holocaust since some people now say "Happy Holidays," I do think it's another step in that direction.”
Reply:
Again, you confuse the issue. There is no mandate to say Merry Christmas. There IS a mandate by some to say Happy Holidays and NOT say Merry Christmas. I ask, “Who is mandating what?” Not whining, just stating the obvious. In my opinion, the whiners are ones who insist on Happy Holidays because of their sensitivities. We seem to have a fundamental difference of perspective on who’s forcing the issue. I believe an objective look will verify that it is those who have prohibited the traditional Merry Christmas greeting. Can you name me one retailer or organization that forbids someone from saying Happy Holidays? I doubt it. Are there now some retailers or organizations who forbid their employees from saying Merry Christmas? Yes there are. So who’s foisting the mandate on whom?
Just because a group is in the majority doesn’t mean they can’t be discriminated against.
Joey writes:
“I want to direct Christian attention to 1 Cor. 9.22: "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
Could it be possible that Paul was letting us know that we don't have to be so overbearing with our faith? Do you think he already understood that our faith is so powerful and self-sufficient that our duty is to merely introduce people to it and let God do the rest?”
Reply:
I don’t really disagree with this, but I don’t see the connection. What’s overbearing about a believer saying Merry Christmas? I agree we shouldn’t be “in your face” about it, if that’s what you mean. Aquiescing (sp?) to every individual who finds himself offended at any public reference to God or Christ is hardly what Paul had in mind here, I think. He suffered greatly for upholding the name of Christ in the most public manner.
Joey writes:
“I promise you all, God doesn't need us to spread His message! He could do it just fine without us. We do it because we love Him and we experienced His love in a manner that made us feel accepted, and then it changed us - gently.
I realize that I'll never win some of you, and that's fine. Please, however, keep the thought in mind that the person at whom you are angry for saying "Happy Holidays" has been given just as much real estate in Heaven as you have been, and the ability you have to let them know how they can close on the deal hangs in the balance in relation to your response.”
Reply:
Again – no one is angry for someone saying Happy Holidays – been going on for years, decades, probably centuries. I’m a little angry that some are forbidding the Merry Christmas greeting. Someone is going to miss heaven because a believer responds with Merry Christmas? I can’t connect all the dots here.
Here’s a response I found in my surfing that we could all use so as to be non-offensive:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. And without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.
Wow, Anonymous! This is what I had hoped would come about on this forum - voices and opinons.
I'll not reply again after this, Mr. A., simply because we, in the forum, have moved on, but I do sincerely appreciate your point of view and comments.
You said: "Who has ever said that every one who lives here must be a Christian?"
My reply: In order to save my own words, I'll let you reply to yourself when you equated this situation to the hypothetical situation involving your immigration to a predominantly Muslim country: "You know, if I moved into a Islamic country or even an Islamic neighborhood, and was greeted with "Happy Ramadan" or whatever, I would not be offended. I would not run to the Islamic Civil Liberties Union and sue. I wouldn't go whining to the media. And I wouldn't demand that everyone be aware of my (me, me, me...it's all about me) feelings."
You were so right, sir. The "me, me, me" feelings of which you speak seem to be the very impetus behind the national Christian movement requiring retail to employ "Merry Christmas." Good call, bro!
You said: "There IS a mandate by some to say Happy Holidays and NOT say Merry Christmas. I ask, 'Who is mandating what?'"
My reply: Corporate America employs people from all walks of life. When one works for them, they are representing the values of someone else - a contract solidified by employment acceptance. If you work in such a place, friend, you are being asked to abide by a company policy not unlike dress codes and attendance rules. You are not there to further your own causes, and if you say you are, I would wonder if you would continue with the company without pay. If you, however, want to be able to be paid and further your cause militantly, please feel free to gain presence on the president's "nice" list by starting your own company.
You are no more being asked to give up your identity by saying "Happy Holidays" than you are by being asked to wear tan pants and a button-up shirt with a tie or to show up at 8:00 a.m. and leave at 5:00 p.m. The mandate is to be an employee. It's hardly discrimination since our holiday is included in expression.
You said: "Aquiescing (sp?) to every individual who finds himself offended at any public reference to God or Christ is hardly what Paul had in mind here, I think."
My reply: You may want to re-think Paul. This is a guy who stood on the Areopagus and called idol worshippers "spiritual people;" none of whom believed in God and most of whom would have scoffed at the idea of having only one god. He went on to quote their, not God's, poetry and drama. In fact, he never once quoted any scripture in that lesson! This is the guy who went on the record saying he would go to hell so that the whole world (muslims, those who had had an abortion and gays not excluded) could go to heaven. I don't know that "acquiescence" is as applicable here as "understanding," "patience," or "compassion."
You said: "Someone is going to miss heaven because a believer responds with Merry Christmas? I can’t connect all the dots here."
My reply: You may want to get to know some of the people in America, then. These people get offended at anything at the drop of a hat. It's a little tiring, but, nonetheless, this is the generation to whom we are called to introduce Jesus. We should be figuring out ways to reach out and love them so we can teach them instead of rejecting them for not fitting-in to our worldview. I know it can be frustrating and daunting even, but I bet situations like idol meat and circumcision, and questions like "who will be the greatest in the kingdom?" probably wore Jesus out, too.
OK. Move on it is. I believe your premise is simply incorrect. I don’t believe Christians are forcing anything on anybody. I think you’re setting up straw men and throwing out red herrings. There is no “Christian movement requiring retail to employ ‘Merry Christmas’”. There is a movement to eliminate everything Christian from public venues, it’s been going on for a long time, and yes, Christians react. Dress codes, attendance rules, Paul even wanted gays and Muslims to go to heaven (of course he did, although I think his reference of giving up his own soul was in reference to the Jewish nation), have nothing to do with the discussion at hand, in my opinion.
Peace. Good luck in your blogging.
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