It's been an engaging conversation these past few days. People have some significant energy about what's implied by the greetings and titles we use in our culture when we talk about the Christmas - or holiday - season.
I just want to make a couple more comments about the matter.
- For years I have, along with scores of Christians around me, greeted and bid farwell to people with the phrase, "Happy Holidays", "hope you have a great holiday season". As I've wished people well, I've done so embracing the wonder, the joy of the love of the Father who sent his Son, Jesus, as an infant into our historical timeline. And no one thought anything about it. It was synonomous with "Merry Christmas".
Now, when I or any other Christ-follower uses that phrase, we'll likely be questioned about our intent. That's unfortunate.
You should know that I'm not going to walk the religious/political tightrope. I'll probably just live life and celebrate Jesus throughout the holiday season. Don't be surprised if you get a Christmas card from me or a holiday email that wishes you "a blessed holiday season" or "a joyous Christmas" or "a joyous season". It's all the spirit of Christ.
- I'm reading and hearing that a number of businesses have recently issued statements, indicating their intention to market differently next year, using "Merry Christmas" instead of whatever phrase they used this year.
Of course, scores of Christians are celebrating this as a victory for "us", for our society. It's hard for me to join the celebration.
What does such a victory mean? I think it means that a vocal group of activists who happen to be Christians applied enough economic and political pressure to threaten businesses who decided they still wanted to sell product this season. That's not the stuff that excites me this holiday season.
What excites me this Christmas season is that thousands of people will pour into churches across our country and around the globe to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Scores of people who are facing the toughest season of their life because it's the first Christmas without their daddy or son or grandma. And, maybe, just maybe, they'll hear that they matter to God... that there's a Friend who sticks closer than a brother... who says they matter.
That excites me!
- In our midweek service this past week I talked a bit about all this. In the message I mentioned a few questions that might be worth considering:
- Is America losing her bearings or is all this conversation a reflection of where we are?
- What if I allow all this to positively impact the way I teach my own daughter, rather than assuming she gets the point of Christmas?
- What if my ideas of evangelism are exposed to be making sure people know where I stand, rather than making sure people are loved?
- What if this conversation means I get to wrestle with what it is to be a global Christian, where more of the world faces this kind of spiritual/cultural disconnect than we ever have in America?
- What if we became less concerned about defending our right to pray... and prayed more? What if we became less concerned about defending our right to say, "Merry Christmas"... and pointed to the reality of "God with us" - Immanuel - all year long? What if we became less concerned about our right to post the Ten Commandments... and lived the heart of these commands as Jesus summarized them, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself."?
- What if all this allows us to be a guide in personal conversations with our friends, pointing out where God already is? He is here. He is active.
Okay, that qualifies as the longest post to date. I'm going to get back to the joy of Jesus now. There are more uplifting ways for me to engage the season.
I hope your holiday season is rich with joy, filled with love and marked by hope! Merry Christmas!
[Read Part 1, Christmas or Holiday: Do People Still Matter?]
