A few years ago there was an email going around from a guy named Van. Van, like many Christians, was pretty upset about folks trying to change Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays. I didn’t forward the email because it was a bit obnoxious (and I don’t generally forward stuff) and I don’t appreciate obnoxious Christianity. It’s not that I disagreed with some of the sentiments (at the time of publication), but I had a bit of a problem with the way it was presented (and still do). However, as it was making its rounds, we were on the same email list as our friend Dean. Dean wrote a reply to Van and I think all Christians should read it. Not only does he make some valid points, it is good for Christians to know how the world perceives some of the things they do. So, I asked if him if I could post it on my blog. Van’s letter is first, and Dean’s reply follows.
I’m Offended That You’re Offended -Merry Christmas Anyway!
I’m on a “Merry Christmas” mission and I’m in full throttle. My little yellow VW Beetle has turned into a Christmas billboard with Merry Christmas written across the back window. Yes, I’ve decided to trek off to work everyday on the public highways with a message that seems to offend people.
At stop lights, I even turn my music up a little louder, and to top it off, I sing along with it. Don’t I know that stopping at a red light to roll my windows down only to share the joy of Christmas carols on public streets is a No-No? Don’t I fear the Christmas Gestapo and those who would have me remove the written message from my car?
I’m sorry folks, but the only person I’m concerned about “offending” during this Christmas season is the Lord himself. LEAVE THAT MANGER ALONE! We’ve allowed the Baby Jesus to be kicked out of His lowly manger, and those offended by Christmas are still not happy.
I refuse to let this happen. I’m going to do my part to make sure “Merry Christmas” doesn’t become extinct. Because like it or not, if the believers in Christmas don’t take a stand now, it’s gone forever.
Listen folks, the Christian community has been underestimated before; we will have to show ourselves again.
I walked into a Wendy’s Restaurant the other day and was rather exuberant with my “Merry Christmas” greeting to the manager. He didn’t have much of a response and I said, “Where’s your Christmas spirit?” He said, “We’re not allowed to use the words “Merry Christmas” when greeting customers. We can only say “Happy Holiday.”
This morning I grabbed a quick breakfast at a Whataburger Restaurant. I noticed there wasn’t a single decoration in the store. I asked the manager why they weren’t decorated for Christmas. He told me the corporate headquarters decided not to send any decorations to any of their stores, and he didn’t know why.
After I heard about all the Macy’s and Federated Stores taking down their Merry Christmas signs, the Target stores not allowing the Salvation Army to “Ring the Christmas bells,” and the many incidents of children, choirs, and bands not allowed to play or sing Christmas carols, I realized it was happening right here in my own little Texas town.
How can this be? Not Texas!
We do, however, have a store, Hobby Lobby, that plays nothing but Christmas carols during the season. On Christmas Day they run a full page ad in our local newspaper. That ad is not to promote the store, but uses the entire page to tell the story of Jesus’ birth. Now that’s taking a stand. We need to thank them.
When I saw a news report the other evening of children being taught new words to a song we’ve sung for years – “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” – I was saddened to hear “We Wish You a Splendid Holiday.”
I know now that it’s just a matter of time that the “Merry Christmas” greetings will be gone. Look around your town. Notice the “Holiday” greetings and not “Christmas.” It’s happening right before our very eyes.
Start singing the songs; go down the streets of America singing to your heart’s content. Get some of those wash-off markers that these kids use to write on their car windows when they’re rooting for their hometown football team. It’s easy to do, and if a torrential rain washes it off, write it on there again.
We’ve got to get this message out. “Go Tell It On the Mountain . . . that Jesus Christ is Born.” Sing it, speak it, be a billboard for our Lord.
The story of this “Baby Jesus” alone has brought about more goodwill at this time of year than any other day we celebrate. How can we sit back and allow Him to be snuffed out of our lives?
Is it Jesus, or is it His followers that the “offended” don’t like? What kind of revulsion galvanizes one to campaign so vehemently against the mere mention of His name, the mere singing of a carol, or the mere visual of a sign that says “Merry Christmas?”
I can listen to my own boss at work use some of the vilest words and follow up with, “Excuse my French.” I may cringe inside at his damning of God’s name, but I tolerate it. So if you don’t like me wishing you a “Merry Christmas,” I’ll say, “Excuse my joy.” You may cringe that I celebrate the birth of Jesus, but just tolerate it.
I cannot be concerned that “Merry Christmas” offends you. If I’m not careful, the day will come when saying I’m a Christian will offend you.
I’m offended that you’re offended. How about that?
When we get to a point that we can no longer take part in a tradition we hold dear, we have no choice; we either defend that tradition or we give it up to those who say NO. That’s it . . . period. So, which will it be?
I’m not giving up my “Merry Christmas” joy to anyone. If I know of someone that celebrates another holiday during this time of year, I will be glad to wish them whatever holiday they want. Just tell me what it is and I’ll shout it to the world and wish you a grand celebration.
Just give me Christmas. To you merchants: Stop being so hypocritical and “filling your tills” on the back of Jesus! Who do you think is the symbol of giving at this time of year? It was the wise men bringing gifts to the newborn Christ-child.
You want your coffers full, but have ordered your employees to take down all the Merry Christmas signs. If that’s the case, I’ll buy gifts at a place that understands my joy.
If you’re worried about offending someone, you just did. The most recent Newsweek survey shows that 82% of Americans believe that Jesus is the Son of God. So, in trying not to offend a few, you’ve offended many.
It’s okay to jump into the “Merry Christmas” spirit when it fills your cash register, but let’s call it something else . . . and don’t stop giving . . . and don’t stop buying. . . we’ll just change the name and you’ll never know the difference.
I know the difference and! I’m feeling it greatly.
It’s hard not to be aware that townships across our country have actually banned the singing of Christmas carols because it might offend someone. And it’s not just the religious songs; it’s the secular ones too. No more “Jingle Bells” or “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” because they’re associated with Christmas. Boy, aren’t we getting sensitive?
If we’re not celebrating Christmas for the hope it gives with the birth of our Savior . . . there is no hope!
I noticed a few years ago that we changed the name of Abraham Lincoln’s and George Washington’s birthday so as to be all inclusive regarding the Presidents. Hark, if we should recognize anyone as exceptional. Now it’s called Presidents’ Day.
Well, if we’re going to be so all inclusive, next month I’ll have to refer to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as Civil Rights Leaders’ Day. We don’t want to exclude great Americans like Rosa Parks or Cesar Chavez, do we? And to think that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton might be left out.
We might need to change Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Grandparents’ Day to All Parents’ Day. Just lump them all together.
It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? So what’s the difference?
My freedom to celebrate Christmas in the tradition of the Christian religion is as much my right as it is your right to be offended by it. So what are we going to do? Did anyone hear me . . . what are we going to do?
Do we defend a person’s right to go forward with a time tested tradition (how about 2000 years?), or do we defend a person’s right to end it all because they’re offended? As long as we live in this great land and have the freedom to express ourselves and what we believe in, we will always offend someone.
If we try to make everything right for everyone, we won’t have anything for anyone.
May you always have Christmas in your heart!
Van W. Cottom
“Heal the sick, Teach the Word”
Van,
First off, Merry Christmas. I’m certainly not opposed to folks wishing each other a Merry Christmas. Nor am I opposed to or offended by folks saying Happy Holidays. I do find it a little annoying that you’re so upset by people wanting to INCLUDE 100% of the people they encounter instead of only 80-85%. Happy Holidays includes Christmas. No one is taking that away. The idea is to try and INCLUDE everyone and not EXCLUDE the 15-20% of Americans (if we’re trusting the Newsweek poll numbers) who don’t believe the Baby Jesus was the son of God.
If I pulled up to a light and saw your yellow VW Beetle Christmasmobile blasting Silent Night, I wouldn’t be “offended.” I might be annoyed by the obnoxiousness of someone blasting music the same way I’m annoyed by loud hip-hop music coming from a car next to me. I am also fairly certain that you are being much better received than you would be if you were driving a car plastered with Muslim slogans and blasting Middle Eastern music. I guess more than being offended or annoyed by your attitude, I’m confused. What exactly is it you are upset about? Are you upset that not 100% of Americans aren’t as intolerant as you are? Are you upset because stores AREN’T using Jesus as a marketing tool?
I don’t consider myself a Christian. I don’t know the New Testament or the teachings of Christ very well. Still, from what little I do understand of him, he doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who’d be overly concerned about whether or not Macy’s has a 40% off sale in His name. I think he’d be totally cool with the guy at Wendy’s saying something that would bring him closer to 100% of his customers instead of only 82%. I’m pretty sure he wanted people to love each other and treat each other with kindness. I really get the impression that you are kinda missing the whole point of his story.
Personally, I like the fact that they combined Lincoln & Washington’s birthdays and made Presidents Day. We’ve only got 365 days, so we certainly can’t devote one whole day to each great human being to come along. So, yeah, I like your idea of Civil Rights Leaders Day! Great way to include more good people. I like schools teaching kids songs that include all their classmates and not just the ones who attend the same church. No one is trying to forbid you from singing your beloved Christmas carols. No one is saying you can’t have “Merry Christmas,” “Jesus is Swell,” or “Down With Jews” bumper stickers on your cute little VW bug. Go for it. That’s what America is all about. You are free to say what you want. Stores are free to advertise as they wish. Get over it. You can boycott whoever you like. You can spread whatever intolerance you choose. I applaud your sincerity and motivation. I just think you’re behaving a little selfishly and narrow-mindedly.
Open your mind and your heart and let the rest of the country enjoy spirit of the holidays that December brings. Whether you choose to celebrate the fact that your Savior was born or I choose to celebrate the fact that I get a 2 week vacation shouldn’t matter. The important thing is that we each take the time to be grateful for whatever health and happiness we have and let our friends and family know we love them. If you choose to use that time to spread the word about Jesus, that’s fine. I support you 100%. I realize that this is your belief and that’s what you feel you need to do. But if retailers, teachers, and politicians want to open their greetings up to 100% while you try keep it exclusive to your 82%, I’m on their side. Rather than shun some, let’s include all. You guys swiped most of the Christmas celebration traditions from the Pagans anyway. Now you want to copyright it all and keep the other religions from co-opting peace on Earth and good will toward your fellow man?! Not real Christian behavior, is it? Hoarding the joy of the holidays isn’t the way to promote the spirit of giving.
Please Van, read the book again. I really think you missed what they were trying to tell you. Decorating the Bug and bellowing out Jingle Bells at the traffic light is neat. Not exactly healing lepers and dying on crosses sort of stuff, but a good effort in the 21st century. Still, I think being more tolerant of your fellow man might score even bigger points with your Baby Jesus. I could be wrong. Maybe He really does appreciate you writing stuff on your car in shoe polish. I honestly don’t know. I’m just happy you chose the shoe polish version of religious fanaticism instead of the suicide bomber route. Nice work Van.
Merry Christmas!
Dean
Dean Metcalf, Indianapolis, Indiana
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