"Merry Christmas” Rather than “Happy Holidays”?

Should Christians Care About Whether Retailers Say “Merry Christmas” Rather than “Happy Holidays”? by Ken Eastburn

To some, this may seem like a ridiculous question and to others this question is of the upmost importance. It is one that has recently been asked by an increasing number of Christians with the help of folks like Liberty Counsel and Focus on the Family. Liberty Counsel recently released their “Naughty and Nice” list indicating which retailers do not recognize Christmas (“naughty”) and which do (“nice”) as part of their Friend or Foe campaign while Focus on the Family launched a new website allowing consumers to rate how Christmas-friendly retailers are. That way, when we go shopping, we know it is going to be with a retailer who doesn’t offend us by saying “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings.”

After all, if we’re going to indulge our consumerist greed on the occasion of the birth of our Savior, we need to make sure we’re doing it with those retailers who say words we like, right?

Well, now that I’ve said that, you probably guessed that my answer to the question is, “No, we shouldn’t care.” But if you’re on the other side of the fence, allow me to explain why I feel this way:

Only Pharisees Clean the Outside of Cups While Leaving the Insides Filthy

As I’ve noted elsewhere, Jesus and Paul were both surprisingly silent on how secular culture conducted itself. Paul even went so far as to say that the Christian has no business judging those outside of the Church (1 Corinthians 5:12-13). This exposes our faulty thinking. You see, the only reason why we care about whether secular businesses say “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays” is because for some reason we expect non-Christians to act like Christians. Even worse, we actually want non-Christians to act like Christians and are willing to throw around our collective weight to ensure that it happens.

So what’s the problem with that? It is a self-defeating goal. It is like tolerance…if it works, there is no reason to solve the real problem – in this case, their unbelief and/or their unwillingness to commit to Christ. Jesus said that this was cleaning outside of the cup while leaving the inside (the part that matters) filthy. He said that to the Pharisees (Matthew 23:25-26). Do we really want to go down this road?

Boycotting Non-Christian Retailers Sends The Wrong Message

I’m surprised that neither Liberty Counsel or Focus on the Family ever stopped to ask this simple question, but that’s okay, I’ll ask it for them:

What message is being sent to those “naughty” retailers when Christians boycott their stores?

There are a few that come to mind: do what we want or else; if you don’t cater to us exclusively, we’ll take offense; we will love you if/we will hate you if; etc. But guess which one isn’t being communicated? That’s right, the Gospel message – you know, the one that says that even while we were sinners, Christ died for us? The one that says that God loves us no matter what we do? That the gift of salvation is readily available to anyone who will believe and repent, committing to follow Jesus and make him Lord?

You know, the one that we are to be preaching at all times, in all circumstances, to all people?

Turns out, when we’re busy boycotting people and throwing our weight around to ensure their demise, we cannot simultaneously communicate the love of God to them. Now, I’m not saying that by giving them your money, you are communicating the Gospel to them. I’m just saying that boycotting them doesn’t communicate it and it can’t. At the very least, if you were to shop at one of these retailers, you could communicate the Gospel to the employees there and that could turn the business around.

Which brings another point to the forefront: just because a retailer doesn’t say “Merry Christmas” doesn’t mean there aren’t Christians employed there. And if you’re boycotting the retailer, are you not also harming your brothers and sisters in Christ by ensuring the business, and by extension the employees, don’t make as much money? We could be putting other Christians out of work for the sake of two words.

Is it worth it?

It Is A Distraction From Our Real Goal

Just after Jesus was resurrected he appeared to his disciples and gave them these instructions:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

I just cannot square this “Merry Christmas” uproar with the Great Commission. I cannot see how boycotting retailers for not saying words we like is creating disciples. Can you? Can you tell me how this is advancing the Kingdom of God? Can you tell me how God is pleased with us when we bully non-Christian retailers into “respecting” Christian beliefs to the exclusion of all others? Can you tell me why Jesus would engage in this type of activity?

If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

What do you think? Is the phrase “Merry Christmas” important enough for us to pick a fight about it? Why or why not?

You can comment here or at the source below.

Source: http://leavethebuildingblog.com