Should “Merry Christmas” Always Be Our Choice Festive Greeting?
Christmas is just around the corner.
The stores are full of decorations, colourful displays and gift ideas. This means the annual Christmas content battle between Jesus and Santa has begun. Within this battle, the debate over festive greetings also wages. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings?
However, as a season where people can be more open to Gospel conversations, a few questions surface during this season of Jesus vs. Santa:
- How will we share our faith without offending others?
- How will we promote Jesus without ruining the family traditions and childhood memories of others?
- For those who have not grown up with any Christian tradition, how will we reach them with the original Christmas story without attacking other components of culture?
As a Christian, sometimes I’m embarrassed.
Because Christmas is just around the corner, there are already rumblings of the annual Jesus and Santa cultural competition. Sometimes, I wonder whether this annual showdown is more about our collective Western need for dramatic discourse.
I feel like wherever I go, I overhear one of my brothers or sisters in Christ giving someone the third degree on why Santa is evil. It usually presents itself as a contention on why we shouldn’t be saying “Seasons Greetings” or “Happy Holidays.”
If you’ve ever found yourself pushing this ideal, I would suggest a pause. Let’s look at this situation logically. For those of us who are believers, and have chosen to follow Jesus, we’re on a discipleship journey, convicted by the Holy Spirit to follow His teachings.
With that understanding (and everything we know about the character and ministry of Jesus), could we see HIm giving a checkout attendant a piece of His mind because she accidentally said “Happy Holidays”?
We so easily jump to conclusions.
As we interact with people, we need to remember that we have no idea about their faith or cultural background. We can’t jump to conclusions on why they greeted us in that particular way, and make it a faith-based decisions. People aren’t going out of their way to offend the Christians.
- It might be something as simple as the employer requesting the greeting to be in that specific way.
- It might even be a higher directive within the company policy for that chain of stores during the holidays.
Coming back to logic, and what we know about Jesus, don’t your think Jesus would be far too concerned with the attendant’s well-being, to bother caring about how He was greeted?
“Are you saying we shouldn’t say ‘Merry Christmas’?”
No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. It’s not wrong to reply with a hardy Merry Christmas…and smile. Give the greeting because it truly holds a deep sense of joy in your heart and mind, not as a defence. If more Christians pursued that tactic, they’d being leaving peace, and perhaps questions.
Maybe we’ll have opened a door to ponder seasonal greetings as a whole, and maybe the origins of Christmas. Or maybe not. Maybe they won’t give the greeting a second thought. They may not perceive any connection between Jesus and Christmas. And that’s okay.
No further drama needed.
Instead, let the lack of response spark creativity. Considering the checkout attendant situation, why not come back with a pastry from the bakery? Tell them it’s for their next break (from the Christmas shopping chaos).
To go a bit farther, if you perceive strain and stress in the attendant’s demeanor (or you simply feel led by the Spirit to do so), add a small note and place it alongside the pastry. Provide a quick encouragement pointing to the true Christmas story.
Then strategically repeat the greeting in a poignant manner, “Have a very Merry Christmas!” I assure you; you’ll see far greater results in battling Santa Claus and his dreaded ‘Happy Holidays’ with this technique.
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- How can believers express their faith during Christmas without causing offense?
- Have the debates between Jesus and Santa become more about dramatic discourse than genuine concern?
- In what ways do you respectfully engage with those of different backgrounds during the holiday season?
