Does “Happy Holidays” Attack Christ?
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I hear and read Christians who complain that Christmas is being attacked by ruthless, godless corporate America by saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” They make a stab at the business who choose one holiday greeting over another. They claim that it is an obvious and obtrusive sign that our society hates Christianity and everything associated with it. They shake their heads in disgust to the secular rejection of the term “Christmas.”
I’m a fan of Christmas, but do we really have reason to protest against a store putting Happy Holidays on their shopping bags instead of Merry Christmas? Is the complaint against bringing shame on Christ or is it more against the break in our Christmas tradition? Have business owners actually been offended by the gospel and thus have rejected His name in connection to this holiday?
It seems to me that our society has conscientiously switched from using the term Christmas in an effort to be as religiously tolerant as possible. They are not purposely rejecting the person and work of Jesus Christ, but they are trying to include the Christians, as well as the Jewish people, the atheists, and every other religious group.
The term Christmas doesn’t even represent what Scripture teaches about Christ, but only loosely holds His name. In fact, the majority of people who use the word “Christmas” don’t believe in the man, Jesus. Just as much as choosing to use “Christmas” doesn’t represent a genuine acceptance of the gospel, so choosing not to doesn’t represent a complete rejection of the gospel.
I don’t feel any special connection to the term “Christmas” because I don’t see any connection between Christmas and Christ in Scripture. I will stand and fight for an accurate understanding of the Incarnation (John 1:14), but if Christ and His glorification is not the issue at stake, I see no reason to contend for mere tradition.
What do you think? Do think that people using “Happy Holidays” instead of “Christmas” is an attack on the gospel of Jesus Christ or just a preference issue?
Merry Christmas!
How’s it going over there? It snowed here on Saturday. Did you guys loose power too last week? Thankfully ours was only out for one day
I’ve been thinking about this too. It seems like people are making a bigger stink about it this year than they ever have before, but I don’t really know why.
I tend to use a Christmas greeting more than “Happy Holidays” simply because Christmas is my primary holiday. But when I do say “Happy Holidays,” I am doing so simply to also wish them a happy New Year in the same greeting. I don’t know, I guess people can take it as “Have a happy Kwanzaa” too, but it’s not really what I mean. I just think of it (Happy Holidays) as a wish that includes Thanksgiving (when it’s said before Thanksgiving), Christmas, and New Years. I think it is kind of a funny debate. Sometimes I do think it’s a little weird when I use “Merry Christmas” and am answered with “Happy Holidays” but it’s not that big of a deal.
As you say, it’s not necessarily the gospel at stake, but tradition, though I do think that it may be from a general desire to secularize Christmas, and of course that’s not something I’m happy about. But if that’s the case, it’s another case of people trying to suppress the truth.
It’s an interesting thing to consider, but obviously, I’m not too passionate about it.