Post 139—Wishing people “Merry
Christmas"
Jim Denison somehow has
switched the banner under which he writes and now does so under the Denison
Forum. Anyhow, he has an interesting take on whether or not to wish people
“Merry Christmas” that I am sharing with you today. A relevant topic for this
pre-Christmas week, don’t you think?
He wisely ends without giving
you a definite “yes” or “no.” So, here it is and think it through with him.
Instead, he asks you to think through your motive for your “yes” or “no,”
trusting the Spirit of God to guide you.
That’s a great way to avoid any semblance of legalism like Yes! Or No!
Dr. Denison, you have the
floor….
Should we wish others a
"Merry Christmas" this week? Americans are deeply divided on the
issue. According to a new survey, 47 percent
of us think we should greet each other with "Happy Holidays" or
"Season's Greetings" out of respect for those of different religious
faiths; 46 percent of us disagree.
As we will see, the issue is larger than it seems.
I can understand the case for being inclusive. Christians are to
defend our faith "with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15) by
"speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). We want our beliefs to
be respected, so we should respect the beliefs of others.
In addition, Christmas is not a holiday mandated by Scripture.
It was not celebrated by the church until the fourth century after Jesus'
birth. Nowhere does the Bible require us to wish others "Merry
Christmas," an expression that did not become popular until the early twentieth century.
Why, then, shouldn't we broaden the holiday to include everyone
regardless of their faith (or lack thereof)? Consider three questions.
One: What about other religions?
If "Merry Christmas" might offend non-Christians,
could Ramadan offend non-Muslims? Could Hanukkah offend non-Jews? Could Vesak
(the celebration of Buddha's birthday) offend non-Buddhists? Should any
religious holiday that might offend any person who is not part of that religion
be abolished or amended?
Two: What about the sentiments of Christians?
Requiring Christians to say "Happy Holidays" rather
than "Merry Christmas" feels to many believers like a depreciation of
their Savior and their faith. If we should avoid offending non-believers, why
is it acceptable to offend believers?
Three: Should the minority dictate to the
majority?
Some claim that Christian holidays are unique among religious
traditions in America because they are so ubiquitous. You can ignore Ramadan or
Hanukkah if you wish, but it's hard to avoid the Christmas season. Thus, Christians,
more than those of other faith traditions, should be made to honor the
sentiments of non-Christians.
By this logic, however, the minority would always be able to
dictate behavior to the majority. This logic would extend even to heaven and
hell. In The Great Divorce, C.
S. Lewis exposes what is behind the claim that none in heaven should be happy
if souls are perishing in hell: "The demand of the loveless and
self-imprisoned that they should be allowed to blackmail the universe: that
till they consent to be happy (on their own terms) no one else shall taste joy;
that theirs should be the final power; that Hell should be able to veto
Heaven."
So, how should we approach the "Merry Christmas"
debate? Here's my advice: Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how he wants to use
your words and witness in engaging non-believers today. Ask for the sensitivity
to respect the beliefs of others while stating your beliefs clearly and boldly.
If the Spirit leads you to wish someone a Merry Christmas, do so with sincerity
and grace. If he leads you to defer, be sure you do so only out of sensitivity
to them and not from a lack of commitment on your part.
Here's the larger lesson behind this simple subject: We are
called to be Jesus' witness in the power of the Spirit every moment of every
day (Acts 1:8). When we fulfill our calling, those who accept the Christ we
proclaim will have a Merry Christmas, indeed.
