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Christmas:  Should we say, “Happy Holidays?”

Gary Googe Dec 27

It seems that every year more and more people are saying, “Happy Holidays,” instead of Merry Christmas.  Is there a problem with this? If people are trying to secularize things, they really haven’t affected that because Happy Holidays comes from Happy Holy Days.  Then we also have the term “Seasons Greetings.”  What are we to think of all this?

One thing you need to understand is that whatever you choose to use because of the power of tradition, people are still going to be mindful of what you’re talking about.  Christmas! Historically this has been celebrated as such because so many here in America have wanted to honor the birth of Christ with this term—Merry Christmas.  And it is an appropriate term! People should be “Merry” over what God has provided in a Savior that none of us deserved.

I think it is clear from the Scriptures that we need to be bold and excited about sharing the news of Christ’s birth, as well as that which He came to accomplish in providing a way of salvation for all.  Unfortunately, most professed Christians are far too timid about presenting Christ to unbelievers.  But that’s what we’ve been left here to do.  That should be seen as our primary mission in life.  This is because we are all said to be ambassadors for Christ.  An ambassador is someone who represents their country in a foreign land.

II Corinthians 5:19-21

19 To wit [that is to say], that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word [or message] of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]

II Corinthians 5:1-2

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [Emphasis added]

As believers, our home is now in heaven, even though we presently reside here on Earth for a time.

Philippians 3:20-21

20 For our conversation [POLITEUMA—citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. [Emphasis added]

Personally, as a Bible-believing Christian, I have never used the terms “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings,” and never will.  I see the greeting of “Merry Christmas” as a way of representing and presenting my Savior.  I think it is important that we let people know where we stand.  Furthermore, I think people need to know that if they’ve not accepted Christ as their Savior, they are missing out on the greatest blessing of life.  Why would we want to do anything to diminish or take away from that opportunity to share the joy we have in Christ?  I’m quite aware that to do such comes with the risk of being labeled “intolerant,” “insensitive,” and more, but that’s okay.  Due to “political correctness,” we have been pressured to refrain from common phrases just because they offend some peopleHowever, we all have the responsibility of representing Christ in a spirit of love and appreciation for what He provides.  We certainly don’t need to be confrontational with people about our message.  It always needs to be done with a desire to lovingly, gently, firmly, and persuasively lead people to Christ so they can get in on His blessing.

Something we always need to be mindful of is the blindness of unbelievers to the truth about all this.  Their opinion and their thinking about God and Christ are always distorted.

I Corinthians 2:14

14 But the natural man [the unbeliever] receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. [Emphasis added]

What we need to be is heralds of truth, helping them see what they need to believe about the identity of Christ and what He has done to provide them with a way of salvation.  Informing people of an eternal gift God offers freely to all should never be thought of as offensive.

II Corinthians 4:4-5

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. [Emphasis added]

This proclamation of truth needs to be done despite the opposition.  I’m afraid that as Americans we’ve allowed the pagan unbelieving citizenry to have their way.  We’ve been too timid with our message of truth.  In every passing generation, people are being indoctrinated with the ideas that all belief systems should be accepted and that we should coexist with everyone no matter what they believe. Such multiculturalism and religious pluralism have caused people to throw away the truths of the Bible in order to be acceptable to those who disagree.  What we must understand is that so long as we believe the Bible, we will never be acceptable to most people.  Some unbelievers are quite militant in their unbelief and determined to force their way of life upon us.  However, there are no directives in Scripture telling us to compromise our beliefs to seek to pacify unbelievers.

Although America has never actually been a Christian country, the Bible has been a powerful influence on many.  However, in recent times, it is having less and less influence.  Our very ungrateful citizenry has become more and more intolerant of Christians.  But they are demanding that we be tolerant of anything and everything.  To these people, there are no absolute truths.  Anything goes! As the history of Israel and Bible-believing countries of the past shows us, we cannot survive if it continues.

Isaiah 5:20-21

20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! [Emphasis added]

It is God who has made the standards we are to live by, not man!

As I mentioned earlier, we all need to see this situation as an opportunity to present the true meaning of Christmas.  That truth is that through a virgin God sent a sinless Savior into the world.  It is this that we should celebrate.

Isaiah 7:14

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. [Emphasis added]

If Christ had been born of man as we are, He would have been born a sinner.  That would mean He would not be qualified to pay the penalty for our sins.  Therefore, never think the doctrine of the virgin birth is not important.

Again, II Corinthians 5:21

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]

The debt owed for our sins was paid in full through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.  By faith in that alone, salvation can be immediately secured by anyone.

I Corinthians 15:1-4

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]

By simply putting one’s faith in this and this alone, salvation is immediately secured by anyone.

Acts 16:30-31

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. [Emphasis added]

And as noted, if anyone in one’s household believes, they, too, can be immediately saved.

The greatest of all gifts is the gift of salvation.  If you’ve not done so, put your faith in Him today and this will be your best Christmas ever.  Merry Christmas!

Romans 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Emphasis added]

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