The other day at church I was asked to wear a button which was advocating the right of people to say "Merry Christmas". I declined to wear the button, not because I don't think people should say Merry Christmas, but because of some of the language and concepts I am seeing behind the desire. Facebook can be an excellent way to stay connected to where people are at, but it also gives you, at times, surprising glimpses into people's thoughts. During this season I have seen many posts declaring that 'Canadians' have the should right to say "Merry Christmas" and "Christmas Tree" rather than "Happy Holidays" and "Holiday Tree". What comes across clearly is that people are feeling angry that the traditions they have grown up with and value are under attack. Where this seems to lead is to express this anger from 'us' against 'them'. A lot of these post finish up with statements such as "if you don't like our traditions go back to your own country." Some, like my title suggests, use even stronger language to express their anger.
You may be anticipating that I am going to point out that most Canadians are from another country etc. Well while I think that is a valid point, others have made it already. Rather, I want to look at this issue in a slightly different light; pastorally. I am a pastor and I have been learning skills to equip me in this calling for many years now. As a result of my training I hear a problem with this approach to the issue. Before I dive in though I realize I should make a distinction. There seems to be two types of people who use the expression "Christmas"; believers and unbelievers.
What I mean by that is there are people who celebrate Christmas who believe that Jesus really did come in human flesh and was born to Mary and was laid in a manger. Further, these people believe that this was of tremendous significance and that this same Jesus grew to be the man who was crucified, buried and on the thrid day rose again. Further, these people declare Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. When these people say "Christmas" they say it from a position of faith.
The second set of people who use the word "Christmas" often are refering to a traditional holiday which had roots in the biblical narrative above, but has now become just a holiday. We are friendlier, we take time to be with friends and family, we exchange gifts and we are just generally kinder. Yet, we do this without it being 'religiously' significant - in fact some are even atheists. When these people use the word "Christmas" it is refering to their traditional holiday which is important to them; rightly so.
I must admit, I don't have much to say to those who are approaching this issue from a traditional holiday position. Other than, I get it. Holidays and traditions are important - especially as traditons become less important in our culture. You feel like something you value is being taken away and you want to fight to hold on to it. I get it. I suppose my one pastoral encouragement to you would be to be careful. In your rush to hold onto your own tradition don't lose sight that those who you see as "them" are people too, with their traditions which they value. Maybe the task if for us to say "Merry Christmas" to those who might celebrate it while saying the appropriate greeting to those who celebrate something else. How will you know? You'll have to ask them, which means you'll need to get to know them, which I assure you is a good thing. Win your rights by valuing theirs.
To those who are approaching this topic from a position of faith, please reflect on the irony of what you are demanding - your rights. Christians don't have rights and if they do they need to get rid of them. Reflect on the Christmas story - the one and only God made himself nothing, taking on the very form of a servant and being found in human flesh, humbled himself to death, even death on a cross. And in case you think the cross was just a bad ending, please remember it began with a manger. From start to finish the one we celebrate as Lord and God was lowly; exercising no rights. How then will we face the world demanding ours? We can't. Even if we somehow won the day through such means we will have betrayed the very story we profess to believe. We will have undergirded the world's belief that violence must be used to establish our rights.
Jesus when born was greeted by shepherds - a very small group said "Merry Christmas". Jesus continued throughout his life and ministry to be unrecognized; people rejected him, tortured him, mocked him and killed him. Our culture today continues in the blindness of the world, unable to see Jesus as Lord - don't be surprised. We cannot open the eyes of men and women through violence. Rather, we must undergird our testimony that Jesus is Lord through our lives together. We need to continue to love both God and our neighbour even as they strip us of our rights and our lives. And as we are marginalized and killed we wish them "Merry Christmas" because the gift which God gave is for them even as he is for us. So put down your fight for rights and simply say to those whom God loves "Merry Christmas" and show them what you mean for the other 364 days.
