Justin Bills, Canyon Creek Fellowship
“Merry… err.. I mean Happy Holidays.” There’s an ongoing debate that seems to come up every December. What greeting should be used for the holidays? On the side of political correctness is the “Happy Holidays” group, and on the other are the more conservative Christians who want to keep the “Christ” in Christmas by forcefully saying “Merry Christmas” to anyone and everyone they can.
Constantly what I am coming to learn is that in some debates, there is wrongness on both sides as well as rightness. Perhaps there is a third angle to this debate? I hope so.
I suppose I would belong to the “Christian” camp, but contrary to my tribe, I cringe when I read on facebook status’ people who insist on cramming “Christmas” on to those who don’t celebrate it. That somehow shouting “Merry Christmas” to a Muslim will have them on bended knee before the manger come Christmas morning.
You see, over the past few years I’ve been on a pilgrimage of sorts. I was a front-runner for the “Merry Christmas” Camp at one time. At one time I would even go as far as saying that abbreviating Christmas to X-mas was just about an abomination. But I was faced with a stark question in this debate. “Is saying ‘Merry Christmas’ really putting Christ back in Christmas?” Let me explain what I mean.
In studying the history of the church I came across some disturbing stories. Around the 300s and on, Christians began taking up the sword in order to spread the “good news”. Our evangelism was harsh to say the least. If a Jew or Muslim refused Jesus, they would be killed. Thousands of Muslims and Jews died at the hands of those who were following the Prince of Peace.
Even though this was a long time in the past, I sense there are wounds still lingering from this time. Many Christians in our history would blame the death of Jesus on the Jews. Some would say, “They are the ones who killed our Lord”.
As a Christian, I understand that Christmas is a beautiful celebration of God sending His Son to for the salvation of all. I believe it is “Good news” as the angels put it. I want everyone to know about the “good news”. But I also recognize that for some this “good news” doesn’t come off as “good” at all.
It’s a reminder that Christians at times don’t look anything like Jesus. “Merry Christmas” can be another reminder of the history of pain and oppression Christians have put people through.
So, I propose a different holiday greeting of sorts. An apology.
Perhaps, before we can ask our Muslim friends on facebook to join the “I say Merry Christmas” group, we need to say an apology.
Let me start…
“I recognize we don’t celebrate the same holiday this season. I also recognize that your relatives might have encountered mine at some time in the past. I want to apologize to you my Muslim and Jewish neighbors. We at one time celebrated a homeless, baby, come for those on the underside of oppression, by picking up swords and forcing people to submit to him. That’s completely wrong. I understand why you may not want to see me with a huge smile saying “Merry Christmas” to you this December. So, please accept this apology. You may still get some “Merry Christmases” from us, but please understand that we’re just really excited. We believe it’s good news for everyone, and want everyone to know… even though we can be ignorant about it sometimes. Well, thanks for listening. Have a great Holiday Season and Merry Christmas.”
To my Christian brothers and sisters out there. We do need to put the “Christ” back in Christmas. Perhaps if we picked up a metaphorical towel and basin and started washing the feet of our neighbors we would be accomplishing this task? Don’t stop saying Merry Christmas, but please, remember the pain we’ve caused people and that we may need a few apologies along the way.
With that said, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
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Wish me merry christmas on december 25, not before. No other holiday encompasses an entire month. Commercialism has taken over the entire month.
December 25 was a pagan holiday long before the chirstians took it over. Primitive celestial calendars such as stonehenge (and many others) tracked where the sun rose. Near the winter solstice the sun rises almost in the same spot for a few days and it wasn’t until december 25 when the position of the rising sun could be seen started moving north again (festival of light),
Dec 25th may or may not be a pagan holiday but I recognize than many people 2000 years ago understood the symbols that we seem to miss nowadays.
I look at the solstice as being the shortest day of the year and the initial return to Spring but I now look at Christmas as a celebration of the life of Jesus. If this is offensive to some then look at it how they want. When I say Merry Christmas to anyone it is not to celebrate the birth of Christ but instead is a way for me to show the christian principles of doing good to all men, by me.
Kersi and I sat in the isle of Home Depot discussing the day’s events and the people we ran into. I’ve been working with Kersi for close to a year and a bit and we have developed a friendship over time. Anyways, unsure I would see him until the New Year I wished him a Merry Christmas as I prepared to leave.
It seemed to surprise Kersi as he turned to me and said, “Oh! Thank you but we don’t really celebrate Christmas.” I must admit I had said it purely from a cultural practice and did not intend it to be at all “religious” in nature and yet Kersi and I discussed his family’s background with Hinduism and his dedication to their faith.
In truth it was a dialogue of gracefulness and appreciation between friends. No judgments; no condescending ideologies of who’s right and who’s wrong. Just two friends growing closer in relationship to each other. Actually, I quit admired Kersi’s dedication to his faith and it was a settling reminder to myself what it was I was celebrating as a Christian. Particularly that as a follower of Jesus I was not to be wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of family and social business nor a cultural ideology around holiday consumerism. In short my Hindu friend reminded through his graces of my faith and my savior!
Justin… I have been giving a lot of thought to the ideas around the apologetic church as of late. Specifically to the question of do I truly have the authority to apologies for the wrongs of the church in history. Yes, I would totally agree that many of the ideologies practiced by the historical church have greatly erred in their actions and caused them to commit grievances, some of which cannot be undone. Yet I cannot commit myself to being a follow of this ideological gospel. Quit the opposite, the Jesus I follow is a Prince of Peace, a Lord of Lord’s, and nothing short of Emmanuel, God with us!
That is what I celebrate at Christmas. A God who thought of himself as nothing; made himself in the form of a servant that through his actions of grace we might come to know him (Phil. 2:1-11).
Confession and true remorse is not something to be trivialized and locked into the simple expressionisms of words. It is an expression of deep emotion and repentive transformation leading to a change of total behavior. If the church is truly to be apologetic for the wrongs of it’s past it must do so through graceful transformational action with the understanding of a redemptive renewal in context!
Perhaps that is something we too can find as a calling reminder through celebrating Christmas. Just as Jesus was sent through grace we too are called to be sent through the practices of grace, humbled by the grievances of past, renewed through a rebirth in context, and encouraged by an unending mission for truth and love for all things!
Stephen… I can’t help but feel greatly judged and condemned by your comment. I sense anger behind it and grieve at the expense of what might have caused it.
That said, you are right to point out the plague and practices of consumerism which seems to ravage our culture; particularly around this season and time. I do not believe it is simply relegated to a Christian ideology and people though. Consumerism is a dangerous plight for many including those who celebrate winter solstice.
As to the nature of “no other holiday encompassing and entire month”; I do believe that there are several pagan holidays which do, not excluding the winter solstice. It is also interesting to note that their are several cultures which celebrate the solstice in different ways as well as times (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice).
The fundamental ideological practices of “religious” holiday’s can be a dangerous practice friend and I hope that you might come to understand that it is far easier to do so through the graces of celebrating diversity then it is a judgmental rebuke to self-righteousness. The history of paganism as well as many other religious groups is full of their own errors in violence and corruption right up to fundamentalists in the present.
All intellectual banter aside… I wish you all a wonderful winter solstice on December 21st-22nd… a Merry Christmas on December 25th… a Happy New Year on December 31st-January 1st… and a Happy Holidays!!!
Okay, this being politically correct BS really needs to stop. Whether it is Merry Chirstmas or Happy Holidays is splitting hairs. So what if some muslims, jews, and hindus get a case of diaper rash when you wish them a Merry Christmas. I for one, am tired of catering to every flavour, religion, or sect of the month to appease their little feelers. This is just getting ridiculous. It was Merry Christmas when I was a child and it still will be. I am not bending to every BS religious sect every time one sneezes. It is time to be politically un-correct. It is Merry Christmas. Period. I am not religious in anyway, because of idiotic childishness of every religion. Maybe people need to stop catering to what I call special ed. religions and call Christmas what it is. It was here long ago and over in Europe and I for one , am not going to change because of religious zealots and weirdos.
Dar,
I totally understand how being PC is taking over, and on a lot of occasions it is completely overboard. But, I think I wrote this article because in most occasions arguments have rightness and wrongness on both sides. I was exploring the “rightness” on the other side of the argument, I suppose and the “wrongness” on our side would be an arrogance over pushing our holiday on everyone. I do agree that I wouldn’t want to have to lose Christmas because of our oversensitivity to religions. But on the same hand, as a Christian, I never want to be un-repentant and arrogant about the pain my religion has caused many. As the celebration of the Prince of Peace, and his invitation to pagan Magi to celebrate his birth, I do want to invite those who don’t believe to be a part of Christmas, I just don’t think insisting on saying “Merry Christmas” to them is the best way to acomplish it. Maybe an invite for Christmas Eve dinner would acomplish more on that front? Just some things to think about.
Here here Justin! I totally agree! Christmas most definitely has different meanings for all with different memories in connection. It most definitely comes connected though to a purpose or value for any and all. These are the things we can share over that Eggnog Latte or Christmas turkey. Great thoughts!