Merry what'sit
This morning on NPR they were debating "the war on Christmas"... Yes, I typed that correctly - the war on Christmas. Because several large department stores, corporations, and even the President himself are saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Some people feel that it's offensive to say "Merry Christmas" to everyone. And the crazier side feel that it's offensive not to say "Merry Christmas" because 95% (so they say) of the American population celebrates Christmas. That by saying "Happy Holidays" instead is to degrade the sanctity of Christmas.
As anyone who's known me for any period of time knows - I am a Christian. I read the Bible, I like going to church. I do believe that God sent Himself in the form of His only Son into the world to better it and pay for all sin. All sin. I also happen to believe that Christians are worshipping the same as Jews as Muslims as Pagans as anyone who believes in any form of Higher Power(s). I have my beliefs as others have their beliefs. I wouldn't want a Muslim to come up to me and go on about how my beliefs are wrong and I'm going to hell. I won't do it to someone else. I do believe in God and Jesus, and I accept other forms of worship because I think God is not a vengeful God - we're all worshipping the same God, just in different ways. I don't believe God would pick and choose His favorites - that's not how it works, and if it were - I'm screwed because the Jews are supposed to be God's choosen people.
Well anyway, that was a tangent and I didn't feel like finishing it right now. I will return to my feeling about faith later... this is about Christmas and the like.
Right, so my opinion about the proper thing to say. Personally I would not be offended if 20 Jewish people wished me a Happy Hanukkah without a second thought as to whether I was also Jewish or not. I'd find it a little strange maybe, but I certainly wouldn't be offended. I'd realize quickly that they are Jewish and wish them a Happy Hanukkah back. However I do think it's a bit ignorant and egocentric to assume that everyone celebrates the same as you do, or that it's okay to disregard their holiday in favor of your own. And that goes all ways - I think Christians should be considerate of holidays other than Christmas, Jews should be considerate of holidays other than Hanukkah, Pagans should be considerate of holidays other than Yule (and if you don't consider it a holiday the same way Christians do Christmas, etc... forgive me - I admit I know very little of Pagan celebrations). Tolerance and acceptance are a good thing to practice and not just preach. To wish Happy Holidays isn't about being careful not to offend - it's about embracing difference and letting people know that you accept them as they are. If I know someone is Christian, Jewish, or Pagan I will wish them Happy or Merry in their respective faith. (I don't know for sure that I am close with anyone who is Muslim and therefore have never wished anyone Happy or Merry in a Muslim celebration.) If I'm unsure, I'll say "Happy Holidays."
And to say that not wishing Merry Christmas will deduct from the sanctity of Christmas... oh, boloney. I'd bet a large sum of money that if you surveyed 500 people who say they celebrate Christmas 75% of them will name Santa or some other character as the main symbol of Christmas over Jesus. To the majority of people who celebrate Christmas it is not so much about Christ's birth as it is about the giving and the getting. And that's not always such a bad thing! It's good to be generous and giving. People should open the purse strings more often than Christmas, but if it's the one time of year that they reserve for donating to charity, helping feed the hungry, or volunteering some time - hey, better a little than not at all.
As a Christian, yes, I think it would be wonderful if everyone who celebrated Christmas listed "Christ's birth" as the most important thing of it, but the reality is that they don't. To say that Christmas is about the sanctity of Christ is to delude yourself. That's like saying that allowing gays to marry will deduct from the sanctity of marriage. Oh, right - "sanctity of marriage" my eye! Not when the divorce rate is over 50%.
So there you go - got a lot more than you bargained for out of this entry... you know I'm a Christian who is extremely tollerant of other belief systems and religions, I think the radicals are psychotic, and I am all for gay marriage. Yes, as a Christian I know that Leviticus 18:22 says "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." I also happen to know that Leviticus 19:19d says "Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material" and Leviticus 19:27 says "Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard." I don't know about you, but I bet that a lot of people who use Leviticus 18:22 to say homosexuality is wrong are wearing cotton-poly tee-shirts and have a clean-shaven face. You can't pick and choose which laws you think are still in effect.
When Jesus came he said "Anyone who breaks these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19). He then goes on to say "Do not murder, but also do not be angry. Do not commit adultry in flesh, but also not in mind. Do not divorce for reason other than adultry (though I think Jesus underestimated free will to be an abusive sonofa... and then again there's that whole non-sancticy of marriage now anyway. I do think petty differences should be worked on, but if you're being abused or cheated on, get the heck out). Do not swear oaths - let your Yes be Yes and your No be No. Turn the other cheek - forget "eye for an eye". Love your enemies. Give to the needy and do it humbly. Pray humbly. Fast humbly. Do not be materialistic. Do not worry. Do not judge. Ask for what you need and give what others need."
Didn't hear anything in there about homosexuality being wrong, or about it being wrong to wear blended clothing or cut your hair. Jesus had it right. It's more important to be compassionate, kind, honest, humble, and forgiving.
Jesus would say "Happy Holidays."