Happy, uh, Merry, uh? Arrggghhh, well have a nice day!

I’m determined that some day I’m going to write a post and the preamble, the disclaimers, are going to be longer than the post itself. Today just might be that day.

First of all. I love much about Christmas and always have. I think I owe that to my mom who loved Christmas songs, and buying stuff and cooking at Christmas.
Second of all (how come nobody ever says “second of all”?). We never celebrated Christmas as a religious holiday. There was no angel lilting round our fireplace, no star atop our tree. We never heard “Jesus is the reason for the season”, and if a religious “Christmas” song (i.e. Joy to the World) came on our radio mom turned the dial. Now, to be sure (see more disclaimers), we weren’t taught they were wrong, ever, we just didn’t play along.
Third (any good sermon/post should have at least three points) of all (what exactly does the “of all” mean). When I had kids of my own I sort of followed suit with how my parents did.
Fourth. I was 21 when I first had to “contend” with Christmas as an issue. I’ll call him out on it, it as Johnny Ryan! One of our oldest (actually his wife may be older :)) and dearest friends. He knew I didn’t think Christmas songs were appropriate...so the first Sunday in December every year when he’d lead singing he’s lead “Joy to the World” and look over at me and give a little wink and a grin. When I went to Hamilton it didn’t get any better. I joined the Civitans (was told it was practically a requirement for the local preacher) and at their Christmas party one of the members of the church in that grand city had a bluegrass group and if they didn’t our with “Silent Night”! Double whammy for me, a Christmas song that was both spiritual and instrumental. I could go on but my work is done on this being the longest intro ever.
I studied it out and I moved on. Christmas is a day that the world turns to Christ and that makes me happy. It is no more right or wrong to think of Jesus birth on December 25 than on July 25. Silent Night is a beautiful song and it just seems weird to sing it in May, it just does. I have brothers and sisters who consider the day “above another” even though I consider “every day the same” and I’m fine with that. If I can capture someone’s attention for the Lord on that one day and keep them focused on Him longer I’m even more happy. Note: If this is your “Custer’s last stand” and I’m no longer a faithful brother for this I’m not sure what to say to you other than that surely you think the Kingdom is worth more than this issue. And feel free to correct me in the comment section below...I will read them and consider anything said.

On to the post:

The culture wars are on again. Many of us are put in, at best, awkward situations this time of year. We don’t celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday yet when a city counsel bends to a smidgen of pressure from some person threatening to call the “ACLU” because the nativity scene on the front lawn of the court house, the one that’s been there since 1933, is a violation of church and state and is bothering the one Muslum/Atheist/Buddhist in that the little town of 3000. So, we never really liked the nativity scene anyway but now because it is a sign our country is moving away from God by moving it we have a choice, side with the atheist or take a stand for God? It’s the same quandary we were put in a few years ago over the “prayer in schools” issue.

So, was it last year or two years ago, that the “Happy Holidays” thing came about? I can’t remember where it started, was it at some retail outlet that determined their employee’s should say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”, or was it a media thing (you know the godly Fox verses the godless CNN - explain that one to God). “THEY, are trying to take Christ out of Christmas” was the outcry.
Personally, I’ve said “Happy Holidays” as long as I can remember. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, holidays. I love them all. They are all religious/spiritual to me...as are the other 362 days of the year. And I don’t want people to just enjoy Christmas, I want them to be happy for each of them - hence “happy holidays”. But now when someone wishes me a “Merry Christmas” and I respond “Happy Holidays” gleefully back, I’m making a political statement. This is crazy!
It came up recently when two of “our” colleges sent out via email a greeting. One said “Happy Holidays from” the other “Merry Christmas from”. Now the extremists on both sides had something to crow or complain (probably complain because that’s what extremists do best) about. The extremists on the left thought the school who said “Happy Holidays” had compromised with culture by taking Christ out of Christmas” and the extremists on the right thought the school had compromised with culture by saying “Merry Christmas”. I seriously doubt either school had an agenda in this. I suspicion they just wanted to send out a nice greeting!
General group announcement: When I say “Happy Holidays” I’m not taking Christ out of Christmas. I am just wishing you more than one day of happiness! I think I’m going to run off a couple of hundred copies of this blog post and when I wish someone “happy holidays” I’ll just hand it to them :).
So, “Happy...uh...Merry...uh...have a nice day.”