Keeping the Christ part out of the word Christmas is like leaving pan out of pancake. The reason we call it Christmas is to acknowledge its direct connection to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The lunacy of refusing to say Merry Christmas as we celebrate the holiday called Christmas is beyond the pale. Should people say Merry Mas? Does anyone else see how distorted the thinking has to be to reason in this way?
Let’s say it’s your birthday, and some people decided it was not fair to say happy birthday to you on your birthday. They say that there are thousands of other people having a birthday on that very same day and unless we include everyone’s name and call it LesileDanteKimbaBrianKimariRoss…. Birthday, then we can’t use anyone’s name. Not only that, but people were traumatized in their youth by someone with your name, so they must not be required to even think about saying or hearing Happy Birthday using that name. We must simply say Happy Day to you, so as not to hurt feelings or alienate people who you did not say Happy Birthday to today. Or better yet, we could just have every day be Happy Day to everyone, that way no one is excluded or left to wait for their own birthday. What do you say to that train of thinking?
Isn’t that similar to the logic that saying Merry Christmas somehow hurts, insults, or minimizes those who celebrate other holidays like Hanukkah or Kwanzaa? Are we so unkind or short of words that we are unable to wish good tidings to others? Are others so angry that they cannot simply say thank you for the kind intention of wishing me happiness at this time of year? I don’t know about you, but I am perfectly capable and willing to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, or Happy Holidays for that matter.
Is it possible to celebrate more than one holiday during the Christmas season? As a Christian, as long as the celebrations do not violate the Word of God, have at it. As humans, we create all kinds of traditions and celebrations to acknowledge, encourage, fellowship, and worship. There is nothing wrong with that, unless and until it causes us to go against God’s Word. So, it does not negate Christ to celebrate Hanukkah’s Festival of Light, acknowledging that one day’s worth of oil miraculously burned for 8 days during the re-dedication of God’s temple; nor is it problematic to celebrate Kwanzaa as a unifying and faith building time to give thanks.
Frankly, even celebrating Christmas – commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ – can become a problem. If our eyes move from the worship and gratitude due to Jesus for his sacrifice to idolatry, selfishness, greed, and ungratefulness, we can fall into a worldly and commercialized view of Christmas.
All in all, the Christmas season can be a wonderful time to take advantage of the expanded atmosphere of love, joy and hope that comes from so many people turning their attention to Christ. Hearts are open and ears are listening. So, pray that words may be given you to say the things God would have you say, at the time He would have you say them, to the person He would have you impact … for our good and for His glory. Merry Christmas!
#KeepChristInChristmas #reunifyourcountry
EmmSix 