Merry Christmas
“Merry Christmas.” Many of us have grown up with that greeting yet, in recent years, it fell into disfavor for fear that it could “offend” those who reject the true meaning of Christmas.
We should be more tolerant, they said. We should seek not to offend those who don’t share our faith, they pontificated.
Greetings such as “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings” were far more appropriate and “inclusive,” we were told. It’s too bad, because those are also fine greetings, but they’ve become proverbial ”political footballs” (favored by some, needlessly disdained by others) because they were thrust into a debate on political correctness.
The phrase “Merry Christmas” has, thankfully, since found its way back into our seasonal vocabulary, after the kerfuffle which became known as “the war on Christmas” settled down. That’s good to see, but the debate was an unnecessary distraction and hasn’t completely disappeared.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders had to push back against a related challenge just days ago and she did it well.
Christmas is what Christmas has always been: the celebration of the Savior’s birth. Its roots are deep in Christian doctrine and tradition and, for that matter, in American history and tradition.
The reason Christmas is what Christmas has always been, here, is simple: America was founded largely by Christians, and its system of government is deeply based on Christian principles, as we’ve previously written.
Before you protest to point out that our nation includes those of many faiths, or of no faith at all, you’re right. That’s precisely why they should be thankful to live in a nation which practices religious tolerance — another Christian tenet. You see, Christians do not believe in forced conversion, even at the point of a sword, as some other religions do. Instead, they hold to the idea that one’s faith should be based upon one’s own convictions and exercised by one’s free will.
Yes, America has something good to offer all at Christmas. For the faithful, its purpose is obvious. For others, it may be the trappings — the music, gifts, lights, and celebrations. For seekers, perhaps it’s finding the One they’ve sought. For all, it can and should be a season of peace and contemplation.
Merry Christmas!