Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Don't Like The Term Christmas? Here's An Idea

Maybe I'm just becoming a grumpy old man. It has always bothered me that the word Christmas continues to get brushed aside in favor of the generic term "Holiday". But for whatever reason, this year it's really getting under my skin.

I remember even as a young boy, it used to bug me that people abbreviated it as "Xmas". I was not raised in a home which was into going to church or anything. But even so, there was something obvious to even my (then) underdeveloped mind when this was the trend.

As I was driving around yesterday, a thought crossed my mind that just seemed to click. For those of you who are offended by the term Christmas, I think I have a solution for you. You see, December 25th, whether you like it or not, is the date that is recognized worldwide as the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A week from Friday begins Hanukkah, and I'm certainly not offended by this. But for reasons which are only too obvious, Christmas is becoming a word going the way of the 8 track tape, rotary dial telephone and ditto machine. In fact, I'm almost longing for the days when they abbreviated it Xmas. At least then there was some attempt at implying the identity of the holiday.

So here we are. December 2009. There is a generation growing up today who have no idea what this season truly means. We have become so politically correct by tippy toeing around the global minority who actually don't celebrate Christmas. In doing so, we have silently and wimpishly (yeah, I made that word up) communicated to the world that we're ashamed. 

Hey, if you don't believe in Christmas and what it means, here's an idea. Don't take the day off! Work that day! You can't have it both ways. You shouldn't be allowed to celebrate that day if the very meaning of the day offends you. I wouldn't feel right taking time off for Yom Kippur. I have nothing against it. It's simply a sacred day for Jews, and I'm not Jewish. I'm not offended by those who honor this day, nor are they offended that I work that day.

As for me, I am going to stand up and take back the real meaning of this season, and what December 25th means to me and those who share my faith. I am not ashamed of what Christmas means. I am not ashamed to be identified as someone who believes in the virgin birth of my Savior. 

If you don't like Christmas, be my guest. But while you're at it, just treat it like any other day. But you can't, and you won't take away what Christmas truly means. You won't take it away from me, anyway. Others may hand it over like they did their lunch money to the school bully. But I won't. 

So all of you who don't like the term Christmas, you're on notice from me. Jesus didn't come to this world so that I would kowtow to the milquetoast whims of my generation. He didn't come to appease the masses. He didn't come to be popular among the religious and political movers and shakers. He came to rock their worlds. He came to disrupt the pious and self-righteous. He came to save us from the fate to which our own pride and self interest destined us. He subjected Himself to the human frailty we too must endure. Yet He did so without sinning. He did so perfectly. He endured torture that makes waterboarding seem like patty cake. 

Christmas is sacred. You don't have to believe it for it to be true. But respect it you will, if you're going to be around me. 

If you're with me and you're tired of the advances made by those who seek to remove the sacred meaning of Christmas, it's high time we rise up. They're not just taking away the meaning of Christmas. They're going after everything we believe. They're going after the very core of our faith. 


What are you going to do about it?


"the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force"
Matthew 11:12b

38 comments:

  1. mucho mucho apreciado!! Well said!

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  2. Great post. We shared it on Keep Christ in Christmas.

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  3. Great Post. You hit it straight on! Cathy Williams/Nashville, TN

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  4. I love this :D
    good job!

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  5. A man after my own heartfelt wishes for my Granddaughters!!

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  6. That us the best argument I have heard in defense of Christmas!!!! Good for you and thanks for keeping the fight going. Christmas is Christ's birthday....MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

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  7. Well said. Christmas trees are for Christmas. Holliday trees can stay in the White House year round because we have lots of "Holidays"

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  8. From my deepest emotion I whole heartedly agree. It is our belief and faith and they will not take it away from me and my family. I am tired of bending to every minority faith and belief. It's our country and what we stand for. Our money even says IN GOD WE TRUST. Christmas is our most sacred day of the year.

    "the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force"
    Matthew 11:12b

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  9. You said it BEST!!! I agree with you 100%. I do not like to see the X for Christ in Christmas. I was raised in the church & I was taught that X was not the reason for Christmas so therefore it was not to be used. Keep up the good work. Keep Christ in Christmas!!!

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  10. Thank you so very much! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

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  11. I so totally agree! That is the best idea ever!

    I think that should hold for ALL the holidays.

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  12. I'm right with you, and oh yeah, one of these days He is coming back to rock everybody's world.

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  13. Thank you for standing up for the benedictions of all us who follow Christ Jesus, Merry Christmas and God Belss!

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  14. *standing applause*

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  15. i like the idea, Merry Christmas to everyone, but just to let the author know, Xmas was not originally used to x out Christ, its the Roman (i think roman) letter that starts the name Christ... I too, am completely annoyed when that usage has evolved into that. I just thought I'd let you know, if someone stops you for it in the future. ;)

    Merry Christmas!!!

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  16. Jesus' Birthday is the reason for the season and I choose to celebrate his birthday. No one can take that away from me. Glad to see that I am not alone in being ticked about the pc trying to remove any knowledge of God from our nation. Have a very Blessed and Merry Christmas.
    Nikki B.

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  17. that's great. I make it a point at retailers why there are no Merry Christmas gift cards available, and when they say that Happy Holidays is the way to go now, I call corporate and let them know my great disappointment. Why are they selling Christmas stuff, playing Christmas music, yet not able to say Merry Christmas?!

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  18. Excellent post. May I copy it for our church website? Would love for everyone to be able to see it!

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  19. I totally agree keep Christ in Christmas. Its all about Christ, not presents.

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  20. Thank you for saying this so well. Personally if a shop keeper wishes me 'happy holidays,' I make a point of explaining that I am celebrating Christmas. I also don't care how much time it takes from them being able to help other customers. As long as they offend me, I feel obligated to patiently and slowly explain the meaning of Christmas, this season, and why we are celebrating. If they want to waste my time with useless corporatate drivel, I don't have a problem educating them. Then they shrug and say it's store policy, and then, I make them give me my money back and I return the item. There are hundreds of stores where I can shop, and I won't spend money at one who won't respect my beliefs. Have I wasted everyone's time....I don't think so. I like to think I've made a point and even if it costs me time, it's cost these merchants time AND money.

    I also know that Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's and Kwanza all fall within a month of each other, and that people will tell you that Happy Holiday's encompasses all these events. However, I've never heard anyone hesitate to wish someone Happy Thanksgiving or Happy New Year's. And for my Jewish friends, I have no problem wishing them a Happy Hanukkah and they have no problem wishing me a Merry Christmas. The same with Kwanza. It's not the non-Christian relions that are causing the problem. It's the athiests who make up about 1% of the population that are making this into a civil war. FIGHT BACK!

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  21. GOD BLESS YOU ,I have no problem wishing others a Merry Christmas to those that wish me "happy holidays ", my sentiments are usually taken very HAPPILY and then I'm wished a Merry Christmas in return !! It's like people are afraid but when you let them know it's ok, they are happy to say it too !!! AMAZING !! MERRY CHRISTmas to ALL !!!!
    To Susan Ham ....Read what "anonymous" (2 lines up from your post) said about the "XMAS" I too used to have a problem with it until years ago, I found out what the "X " stood for. GOD BLESS YOU !!

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  22. I am with you! In a time wear jobs are hard to find and times are tough. I am still excited to celebrate the birth of my savior!! I have much to be thankful for, my kids are doing great and I am very proud of them. And they know the meaning of Christmas, what more could a mother ask for!!! Merry Christmas!!

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  23. Right on Brother!! I've been saying for years that atheists should have to work on Christmas and Easter! I don't get how they can in good conscience take a paid day for a religious holiday they don't believe in. But no, they complain (as my sister said above- only ONE PERCENT of the Nation is atheist!)and get laws changed and we christians allow it! And yes, unfortunately many, many companies do not allow employees to say "Merry CHRISTmas" - heaven forbid they offend the 1% who is complaining and causing the rift. Anyway, very well stated- amen and I'm with you! I too, as the lady above ALWAYS respond with Merry Christmas, I don't care who is offended by it! It's Christmas!

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  24. wow thats amazing god bless you !!!

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  25. BRAVO to you... Well said. I agree with everything you said. And as for me this CHRISTMAS season, I have a NEW POLICY.. I enter a store to shop and immediately go to Customer Service, where I ask if this store wishes it's customers Merry Christmas. If the answer is No or We say Happy Holidays, I explain that I won't be spending my CHRISTMAS dollars in their establishment! If one sells all the traditional CHRISTMAS decorations, wrapping and the like, as well as promotes with sales during CHRISTMAS season, they should be willing to respect my belief in Jesus Christ and in how I celebrate His Birthday! If by NOT saying MERRY CHRISTMAS to me..offends me...do they care??? Seems the answer is NO. I will celebrate CHRIST'S birthday and I will do it in shopping in stores that understand the true meaning of CHRISTMAS! And I will CALL OUT MERRY CHRISTMAS to all I see~!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL, Carol

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  26. My family and I were just having this very same conversation tonight. We were discussing that whether they want to or not by putting up Christmas lights & decorations, they are celebrating our Saviour's birth! One day evey knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! I too will not be silent about that "Silent Night!"

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  27. MERRY CHRISTMAS, MERRY CHRISTMAS, MERRY CHRISTMAS,MERRY CHRISTMAS,MERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASTMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMASMERRYCHRISTMAS!!!!!PRAISE GOD!

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  28. Raised in a religeon that does not celebrate any holidays I missed out on celebrating Jesus Birthday. Other than the true meaning for Easter and Christmas I really don't care what happens to halloween, weargreen day, valentine day,ground hog day, sweetest day, or april fool day! I missed out on many Christmas mornings and memories. It was very sad. That's important to a child. I'm grown now and put away the beliefs of my dad when Jesua made Himself Real to me. He is alive and breaths life into those who believe! Christmas and Jesus..can't have one without the other. If you continue to take Christ out of Christmas I'm afraid there won't be a Christmas. It will be just another holiday. That is what some of you want. People continue to keep Christ where He belongs...in Christmas and in your hearts. Just a side note: People have to take Christmas off because most places are closed. Also for those of you that don't care about the Holliness of Christmas and your fellow employee has to work trade places with those who do care. Work in place of them. After all the day means nothing to you .

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  29. Very well said, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and all! God Bless you! :)

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  30. I agree that it is a widely celebrated holiday and nationally recognized, and as a catholic I agree that it's a shame people now feel that they have to sidestep even those things our society is built on because one or two of the minority will act out like they're being rubbed the wrong way. I do, however, disagree with your last statement. I think that everyone should be free to believe in whatever religious ideas or gods their religion encompasses. So while I agree we should keep the generous, loving, giving ideals of Christ and the celebration of his birth in Christmas I would ask that no one tries to push these on atheists, Jews, Buddhists, Islamics, and everyone else with varying views. We're all entitled to what we believe in =) Thanks for the post

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  31. Unfortunately, we are unable to not "take the day off." It is a paid holiday and I am not going to come in to work and sit at my desk alone for no money.

    It makes more sense that there be NO holidays at all, since I can't think of one that is celebrated by every person in the country.

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  32. i wholeheartedly agree with all that you have posted (minus one thing, which i'll get to in a second) - i've only just found your blog and will be reading everything you have in archive, and so far i'm in 100% agreement with you....if you don't believe in what Christmas is TRULY about, then go to work that day!! if someone wasn't Jewish, they wouldn't take Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashana (not sure how to spell that one, eek) off - or would they?? just to have a day off??

    there is one thing, however, that i feel i should mention - the greek letter "X" is pronounced "chi", and one of the symbols we use in the Lutheran church is the Chi Rho, which, if you look it up, is an X with a P in the middle of it - it basically is a symbol of the crucifixion, and is a symbol of His status as the Christ - the "X" is a known symbol of Christ, and therefore not entirely wrong to shorten it to "Xmas"....(but i don't....)

    thank you for such a wonderful blog - i look forward to going through and reading what i've missed!!

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  33. Anonymous (about the Xmas topic), I understand the Greek origin of X, however, I think you would agree that MOST people do not have such understanding of the X and simply use it to intentionally shorten the word while also blotting out Christ. This is actually a perfect illustration of what I'm talking about. Despite the origin, the intent of our society is blatantly removing Christ from it.

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  34. corey, yes, i COMPLETELY agree with you, i really do, and i do find that people who use the term "xmas" are doing it to intentionally shorten the word, to basically, as has been put so eloquently, to remove Christ from CHRISTmas....and that is a HUGE reason why i personally don't shorten the word that way - but unless i personally know the person using that abbreviation, and know why they are abbreviating it, i can't just assume i know the answer - it could very well be as i stated earlier....

    but let the record stand - you totally ROCK and i think you are doing the internet denizens a huge favor by posting topics of this nature....

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  35. Having just read your superb site ,Itake it most of you are in the USA!! Just want to say its alot like that in the UK.May God bless you all richly And have a remarkable,rememerable Christmas:{)Charles Gale-Hasleham

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