The War on Christmas

Sorry I haven't been posting-- December can be quite a busy month, with getting ready for the holidays and also at work (I have co-workers trying to fit in the rest of their vacation hours, so I've been taking on some more hours).  If you read my other blog, yes I just copied and pasted this from it.

I am sure you have heard of the war on Christmas.  The news media reports on it, the fake news media does skits/"stories" on it...

I believe that there is a war on Christmas, but that it is different from the one we talk about, or make fun of... the war on Christmas is one that each and everyone one of us (at least in the U.S.) has taken part, and it wasn't on the side of Christmas.  It is consumerism.

I am not the only one who thinks this.  The folks at the Advent Conspiracy propose moving ones focus away from buying and buying to the real meaning of Christmas, and consequently to giving gifts that are thoughtful, that take time, and are based on the relationship one has with the receiver of the gift.  They also argue, in their first video on the dvd, that getting mad at stores who say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" is missing the point-- it is not the stores' job to tell the story of Christmas.  It is the church's job, and christians' job.  I would take this a step further, and argue that as a christian myself, I have seen first hand how christians have been as guilty of allowing, and even encouraging, consumerism to hijack Christmas.  I am as guilty of it as anyone else.  I would also argue that not only is it hypocritical of us, it is a way for us to feel as though we are standing up for Christmas-- to feel as though we are doing something-- while we continue to buy into consumerism as much as ever.

So, I encourage you, whether christian or not, to give time, or make gifts, or give to charity for those you still need gifts for this year.  I encourage you to consider celebrating Christmas differently next year.  (To be smart about giving to charity, check charities out on GiveWell, Charity Navigator, and CharityWatch.)