Focus on the Family's Approved List of Christmas Retailers
What good is it to coerce anyone into repeating a Christian phrase?
Focus on the Family has published a list of retailers and is asking readers to submit additional names of retailers that they come across that instead of wishing customers a “Merry Christmas” are using the phrase “Happy Holidays.” The goal is to arm Christians with knowledge so that they can boycott retailers that do not wish their customers “Merry Christmas.” Good witness! That’ll reel them in. Wait — I have a better idea. Let us Christians gather together and stand outside of stores with boycott signs and anyone that tries to enter the non-compliant store, let’s bop them over the head with a 2 x 4. Focus on the Family — What were you thinking?
Don’t get me wrong, I am a Christian and I sure would love nothing better than the whole world to be wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and mean it. I ask myself what good is it to coerce anyone into repeating a Christian phrase? Using the phrase “Merry Christmas” is not a witnessing tool and does nothing except make the Christian feel good. Unless people are living in a cave or under a rock, there are no people left who do not know what Christians are celebrating on 25 December. The phrase “Merry Christmas” is not causing people to flock to churches to hear the Gospel. Using coercive methods to force people to mouth words that have no meaning to them is not going to cause anyone to wake up the next day and drive to the nearest church to hear the Gospel message. In fact, the opposite is true. Using such methods is having the opposite effect. I have seen people say that they will make a choice to visit retailers that do not use the phrase “Merry Christmas.”
To make matters worse, instead of making the Gospel attractive, these insane methods are making Christians the butt of jokes. And unfortunately, because I am a Christian, I am lumped in with those that are using these methods. I can’t even imagine Jesus taking on these ridiculous tactics and forcing people to repeat a phrase. There is no hint that Jesus forced people to repeat after Him. He drew people with His message of Salvation — the Good News.
What is the job of a Christian? We are to be a light unto the world. Distancing ourselves from those that we need to witness to because they fail to live up to OUR standards is the classic hiding the light UNDER the bed where it CANNOT be seen.
I for one will not boycott a retailer for failing to say “Merry Christmas.” In fact, I just may visit these retailers that Focus on Family charges us Christians to avoid and take the opportunity to wish someone a Merry Christmas in response to a “Happy Holiday.” It may be a good time to chat with an overworked clerk. Who knows what can happen.
Focus on the Family — you’re giving the wrong message and this Christian blogger/writer wants no part in the message you’re giving to the world. Focus on the Family’s message is “let’s avoid the lost until they live up to our Christian standards.” Yet it is clear that this is not what Jesus did. In fact, He did just the opposite. I would rather share the gospel with the lost than avoid them because they refuse to repeat a phrase that makes me feel good.
Let us remember that our jobs as Christians is to reach the lost and not distance ourselves from them.
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Well said. I agree with you 100%.
In fact, if we boycott the retailer, what happens? Jobs are lost. Then, if you figure in the average % of Christians in our nation, the boycott actually punishes Christians more than any other group!
This is called STUPID!
I agree. If a retailer loses enough business, they will have no choice but to lay off people
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You make a good argument. By like token do you want to give up on taking a Christian position on anything? Focus is just trying to keep Christ in Christmas and raise awareness that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. The accusation that they are just doing what makes them feel good is trying to turn it around on them. Focus on the Family is one of the best most positive groups for Christ in the world. They are not doing this from selfish motives, but from their faith. When anyone plays the role of devil’s advocate or accuser that is exactly what Satan which means “accuser” wants. Be careful of being critical of your own house.
Hi, no I don’t want to give up taking a Christian position on anything. In fact, I do not take that position. For instance, you can read my post on Proposition 8 and how I voted and why. But this is not a position that has any moral value or Christian value. We’re going to boycott because we prefer Merry Christmas over Happy Holidays? We’re shooting ourselves in the foot over this silliness. If we succeed in forcing people to to say “Merry Christmas” does not accomplish anything. They already are aware that Christians are celebrating the birth of Christ so saying that phrase accomplishes nothing.
Good post. I think I’ll go a few places and wish folks Merry Christmas and not be offended at all when they wish me Happy Holidays. …
I also take no offense. But I do reply with “Merry Christmas” and sometimes they will say “Merry Christmas” back at me.
Tishrei,
There certainly are things to consider here….. We do want to witness where ever we go in this world and our whole attitude does witness, even when we don’t realize it.
All these thoughts led me to think of the account in John 2:14-17, where Jesus made a scourge of cords and chased the money changers and sellers of goods out of the Temple….. He declared, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a house of merchandise.”…..
The merchants of today aren’t literally going to the churches to make a buck, but they are greedy for every Christian’s money at Christmas time — while taking out all reference to Christ’s birth from their place of business….. Where we live, it’s extremely difficult to find anything pointing to Christ’s birth in all of the Christmas decorations being sold, or in much of the music…..
It seems like the merchants are banking on creating a “politically correct” Christmas, while schools, Santa’s followers and Frosty’s followers create a “Winter Holiday”….. God’s gift in Christ Jesus is being despised….. And yet, we have to live in this world where the hearts of the people are becoming cold — just as the book of Revelation speaks of….. It’s like we’re between a rock and a hard place.
Margaret
Hi Margaret, I understand what you’re saying. The Temple and what it stood for is vastly different than the retailers of our day. Retailers are in business for one reason, and that is to make money. They have to appease a lot of people to draw in business. In this country, we are not limited to Christians and the retailers are already doing Christmas stuff such as Christmas decorations, playing Christmas carols, etc. Without having Christ in their hearts, they have no moral compunction to say “Merry Christmas.”
And yes, I agree with you 100% that the hearts of people are becoming cold. But we’re not doing any good if we avoid them because they won’t repeat “Merry Christmas.” In fact, now is a good time to reach out to people including clerks at stores that are doing a difficult job. When I was young, I worked in retail for a couple of Christmas’ — and let me tell you, it’s difficult.
Also, what people may not realize is that Jesus never ever celebrated His birthday. Jews did not celebrate birthdays in those days and it was just a day that came and went without mention. Unfortunately, it was considered pagan. That aside, Christians celebrate His birthday and non Christians celebrate the holiday season. I don’t want to force someone to say something that they don’t mean. You’re right, God’s gift to this world is despised but forcing someone to repeat “Merry Christmas” does not change anything. Non-Christian retailers are in business to make money so they have to try and please everyone.
When I lived in a muslim country many years ago, the muslims sold Christmas trees to Americans and other westerners living there. They wanted to make money so they sold Christmas trees, LOL. It was actually pretty funny. They knew when to start selling the trees and they knew the reason Christians wanted trees. They knew the reason for the season. For the Americans, they sold turkeys during Thanksgiving. And they would have all the trimmings to go along with the different seasons, such as tree decorations, etc. What I’m saying is that non-believing retailers will do what they need to do to sell their product. In this country, they are drawing from a bunch of people and not just Christians.
I guess I’m of the mind that if I’m going to battle, I want it to mean something worthwhile. How people greet me this time of year is not something I want to battle. I would rather battle things like abortion, same sex marriage, etc. And lastly, I don’t want to turn a non Christian off because I take offense to Happy Holidays — I would rather keep lines of communication open so that I can witness if that’s how God leads me.
I would even argue that ‘Happy Holidays’ is *more* Christian.
It’s not Christmas yet, it’s still Advent! So wish me happy holy-days, and save Christmas for the 25th
That’s interesting that you said that because the origin of holiday is old English meaning ‘holy day.”
The version of Christianity practiced in America is backwards. We don’t show those around us a message of Christ’s love. We show them a message of anger and intolerance if they won’t do things the way we want them to do them.
Why should we expect someone who is not a Christian to act like one? Christians would be up in arms if practitioners of any other religion in this country started demanding stores give their traditional greetings during their religious holidays?
It’s sad, but Christianity projects a decidedly negative image. How does that old saying go? Something like: We are known more for what we dislike than what we like.
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.
I agree with you. There are certain things we need to stand for as it simply is the right and moral thing to do.
I think how people greet one another is taking things too far and makes Christians look bad.
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you too!
P.s. I had to do a revamp of my computer and lost your website. Glad you came back so now I can visit your site again.
What a FANTASTIC post! Great observations.
To insist that those who do not know the Lord act as though they do is to encourage hypocrisy. To punish and persecute (boycott, etc.) those who fail to fall into step is downright Pharisaical.
I have been getting those Emails lately encouraging me to boycott certain stores, or else make a scene in pious indignation if someone chooses to say “Happy Holidays.” I agree whole-heartedly with you, Is this really the best way to witness for my precious Savior?
It might make us feel good to have everyone appease our sense of piety by uttering a certain phrase, but we are only lying to ourselves when we pretend that we are not living in a lost and fallen world. Demanding that non-believers pay lip service to the Lord is definitely not what God would have us do:
“Ye hypocrites, well did [Isaiah] prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:7-8)
Excellent post, thank you.
Loren, I think you totally nailed it when you said:
“It might make us feel good to have everyone appease our sense of piety by uttering a certain phrase, but we are only lying to ourselves when we pretend that we are not living in a lost and fallen world.”
I guess I just feel right about that whole campaign.