I don’t like to get involved in the War On Christmas because I really don’t generally think it’s a thing. Well, it’s a thing to the guy who wants to sell his book about how there’s a War On Christmas. In that way, the War On Christmas is a lot like Y2K or the Japanese taking over the world in the late 1990s and all of us white people relegated to serfdom.
It makes a good ghost story for grownups who don’t believe in traditional ghosts but still like to get scared occasionally.
Everyone I have ever known to say “Happy Holidays” is either trying to be politely inclusive or trying to look as if they are trying to be politely inclusive. I’ve never known anyone–and I know a lot of non-Christians–to say “Happy Holidays” as a way of subtly communicating that they hate Jesus. In fact, the people I know who have a dislike of Jesus and/or the religion he spawned are always very upfront about it. Yet they are still generally pretty polite when it comes to Christmas. My experience may be outside the norm; I’m not sure, as it’s the only experience I have.
So when I got the email today I wasn’t really sure if I should be insulted or relieved.
The email was from Fandango.com and it said “Get Ready For Giftmas!”
If I want to use my dudgeon to argue, I’d say that it’s pretty offensive. Because the whole reason I’m giving gifts is as a sort of shadowplay celebrating the great Gift of Grace Jesus brings to the world. By not saying “CHRISTmas” the Fandango people seem to be saying “Jesus just isn’t that important.”
On the other hand, at least they’re being honest. Because, really, to most people Jesus ISN’T that important. At all. That’s a choice they’ve made. And yet they still wish to be involved in the general secular holiday celebrated at the same time we Christians celebrate Christmas. At least they’re being honest. To them it’s GIFTmas. All about the gifts. That’s their choice and they’re not going to pretend otherwise. It’s honest in that same callow Ernest Dawson way. “I have been faithful to thee, December 25th, in my fashion.”
So I guess I appreciate Fandango for tackling the whole mess head-on. But I’d like to humbly say I was happier before, back when we Christians hadn’t taken up arms in a war no one else seemed to be fighting. Because then people said “Christmas” out of politeness and peace. We took the war to them and shouldn’t be at all surprised when Giftmas and Kewl Yule start showing up in emails and store flyers. I should amend my opening statement. The War on Christmas wasn’t a thing. Until we made it one.
I’ve been thinking for awhile that Christians are fighting all kinds of wrong fights (or, more accurately, spending prohibitive time fighting secondary fights when our primary marching orders are Great Commandment / Great Commission-specific). I can imagine Christ saying, “Hey, thanks for defending ‘Merry Christmas,’ but what about all those people who are at risk of going to Hell because you abdicated doing what I actually commanded you to concentrate on?”
Or maybe that’s just what /I/ imagine Him saying…
Good points, Kat and Johne both.
I figure it’s not good to poo-poo others’ attempts at being cordial, warm, and kind at any time of the year. At least someone is saying something nice to ya… rather than ignoring your smile, your “excuse me,” or your “thank you.” Especially in stores.
I should remember that everyone’s tired and stressed and not expect friendliness and politeness at all the time… but be grateful when I receive it… and be sure to spread around the same cheer and warmth that I’d like to have. A genuine greeting that truly desires blessing for the other person is what matters… maybe not so much the words themselves. {Well, sometimes. Other times, yes, the words themselves also are huge, but that’s another blog post!}
Ah, Ernest Dowson. The Willie Nelson of the fin de siecle.
/derail
Thank you… once again you’ve put into words what I’ve been thinking.
I’m not going to get too exercised by anything uttered by a paper-bag puppet, which, if memory serves, is the Fandango schill. The Fandango puppets exist to sell you stuff. Christ does not. Why some expect both to be working towards identical ends and using the same language is puzzling.