With the holidays just around the corner (Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, New Year’s – not to mention my sister’s, my sister-in-law’s, and my birthdays), I thought this would be a great time for my yearly rant on the “Salutation War”. What’s that you ask? It’s the pointless argument of “Merry Christmas” Vs “Happy Holidays” that gets so many folks in an uproar.

Once again, I must remind the reader that this is my blog, and therefore my opinions and revelations are what I write about. Right or wrong; faith, different faith, or no faith, your opinion can be expressed in the comment section.

Christ is definitely not the “reason for the season.” Oh, did that upset you? Well, let’s look at some of the evidence that strongly supports my belief system. First, Jesus was not even born in December. Second, the trees, ornaments, lights, etc. are all derived from pagan practices to pay homage to false idols and gods. Third, I find it very hard to believe that Jesus supports the rude, selfish, and greedy behavior seen among most of the shoppers who are spending money (they may or may not have) on worthless items to impress family members, friends, and co-workers. Don’t’ even get me started on the money wasted to wrap these items! And my last piece of evidence is that you can’t possibly convince me that while you are out doing your holiday ( yes, I wrote “holiday”) shopping that visions and heart-felt meditations of the virgin birth, life, miracles, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus our Christ are the reasons you are doing so.

Let’s look at my first piece of evidence regarding the birth of Jesus. Scripture strongly supports a fall birth most likely during the festival of Sukkot. It begins with the visitation of the angel, Gabriel, with John the Baptist’s father, Zacharias, in the temple. Zacharias was a Levite, or priest, who was serving in the temple during the course of “Abia,” the eighth course of the year. (Luke 1:5, 1 Chronicles 24:10) This event would be during our calendar months of May or June. Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, conceive John the Baptist shortly after this visitation. (Luke 1:23-24) Therefore, John the Baptist was probably born around Passover during early spring. According to Scripture (Luke 1:24-27, 36), Jesus was conceived six months after John the Baptist was conceived by Elizabeth. This would place the birth of Jesus during the festival of Sukkot. There are also the facts that shepherds were in the fields with their sheep (Luke 2:10) and Sukkot would have been an opportune time for King Herod to take a census of the people because all were encouraged to participate in this joyous festival therefore making it easier for a census to take place. So, all this fussing over a particular day in December is really pointless. There are way more details than what I want to get in to here. Study for yourself!

The second piece of evidence I present to you deals with the pagan practices that are all too popular during the holiday season. A few years ago our former pastor here in Louisiana gave a great informational message regarding this subject. I wish I had a copy of it to share with you here. But, you are just going to have to read about my sparse findings because I am too lazy to go as deep as he did.

Let me start by pointing out that neither Jesus, nor the Apostles, nor the Early Church/New Testament Church ever observed such a holiday. However, for thousands of years pagans observed this particular day before Jesus was ever born! They were celebrating false gods, most notably the Sun-god. Christians took over this day that the pagans set aside to worship the Sun-god. This day marked the beginning of the winter solstice and the “birth” of the Sun-god. This was a practice forbidden by God!

And what about that tree? The Christmas tree also has pagan roots. (No pun intended!) In Egypt it was a palm and in Rome a fir. These trees were representative of the mother of Adonis, the Sun-god! In pagan practice it is believed that the mother gave birth to her son in this form. Mom is a tree and her son is the branch. Trees were also worshipped. The pagan Yule Log was to be thrown on the fire the night before the “birth” celebration and in the morning the tree would appear. The decorations on the trees were actually offerings to the gods. (Are you still upset over our president not calling his White House tree a “Christmas” tree? Perhaps we should be concerned about any tree being decorated in our Nation’s Capital!)

We all know about Saint Nicholas so I won’t go there. He was a cool dude who wanted to help people in need be happy. We could use a lot more saints like him today!

I will lump my last two pieces of evidence together since my blog is not being graded by my high school English teacher. I see no sign of Christ when hateful, busy-bodies bump in to me at Walmart or run over my daughter’s foot with a shopping cart just to get a better position in the check-out line. (Okay, you got me…that happens during every season!) I really don’t see Christ in the TV commercials and newspaper advertisements manipulating parents into buying worthless, mind-numbing games and toys for their children who won’t appreciate the gifts past day three. There is certainly no Christ in drunken office parties where married folks “hook up” with co-workers in bathrooms. Then there is the long list of loved-ones who have died or will die leaving a party drunk. (Don’t judge me! I’m fully aware of my past involvement in such parties. I am thankful I am alive and that I never killed anybody! At one point I thought “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” meant there would be cocaine at the party.) And just where is Christ in the parking lot when people are cursing one another over parking spots? Do I really need to go on?

No, Christ is not the reason for the season. So why get your panties in wad over whether or not someone wishes you a “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays?” If Christ was really the reason then people would spend less time and money shopping for worldly items that have no real value and, instead, people would spend more time and money on items that would bless His kingdom. You know, food for the hungry, clothes for the naked, homes for the homeless, letters to folks in prison, etc. (Matthew 10) After all, isn’t that what putting or keeping Christ in any day is all about?

Let us not forget that we live in the United States of America. Freedom of speech is for all US citizens – Christian or otherwise. If a business owner decides that his employees should refrain from saying “Merry Christmas” then so be it. My theory is that if more employees actually cared then the business owner would back off. Both parties certainly have that right. Just because the employee does not say “Merry Christmas” does not mean that you cannot! Honestly, how often do YOU say “Merry Christmas” to the slow, rude clerk who mishandled your groceries? Without sarcasm? And why would you boycott a company that does not allow this particular salutation? I do not see anything Christian about that at all. The employees need their jobs! Boycotting would only create a loss of income for the employees. Think about it….your spouse comes home and says, “Sorry honey, I lost my job because the Christians wouldn’t shop at our stores anymore. There is no money left for food and shelter and I won’t be able to keep the insurance that was paying for your cancer medication. But that’s okay. As long as I get to say, “Merry Christmas” everything will be all right.” Are you going to organize boycotts because someone said, “Gesundheit” rather than “God bless you” when you sneeze? (By the way, Gesundheit was a saying that wished good health and a blessing to ward off evil spirits during the Middle Ages when the bubonic plague was running amuck. It’s about as harmless as wishing someone “Happy Holidays” which actually means “Happy Holy Days”).

I will conclude by telling you this; I do say “Merry Christmas”. Why? Because I like to and it is the only time of the year this salutation makes any sense. Just like during our other pagan holiday season, Easter, it makes sense when I say, “Happy Easter.” But wait for it, there will soon be a demand for “Happy Resurrection” or else!

I am not opposed to the salutations. I am, however, opposed to a bunch of people who are unwilling to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ on any given day of the year getting all bent out of shape over this debate. Jesus our Christ was about Salvations not salutations!

Happy Birthday to my sister and my sister-in-law!
Happy Hanukkah to my niece’s boyfriend and his family!
Merry Christmas to all my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus!
Feliz Navidad to my precious Mexican and Nicaraguan friends!
Happy Kwanza to …..okay I have no one for that!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!!!!

By the way, I am a Christian who loves to celebrate the birth of my Savior Jesus Christ on December 25th and I do go spend money I cannot afford on gifts!

Now go share the reason for your faith!

******I wrote the above in November 2011. I still feel the same. With everything the god-haters are doing to make Christians look intolerant and full of hate, we really need to choose our battles wisely. I believe that insisting non-believers adhere to Christian sayings and beliefs is just as bad as them trying to make us conform to secular ways.

Trust me on this, they are not going to come around because we post on facebook (or wear buttons that read), “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Truth be told, most will be turned off by the constant “Likes” showing up on their walls. (Do it anyway…lol)

For the record, and in keeping with my honesty theme, I do have a sign for my yard that reads, “Jesus is the reason for the season!” I’m all about visual witnesses as long as they can be backed up by real human witnesses. Just understand, the visuals are no match for the humans!

What I am trying to say is this, be the one who shares God’s love and good will with others. You are the one with whom the Holy Spirit dwells, not the visuals!

It may seem that I am not upholding the true Spirit of Christmas. Not true. I truly believe that Jesus is the reason for every season, not just Christmas. I love how the Christmas season reminds us of the great Gift of God.
Merry Christmas! And Shalom!