Saving Christmas

Adapted from Rev. Tim Simpson of the Christian Alliance

“[We have heard a lot about “saving Christmas” or keeping Christ in Christmas, and other more pious slogans during the last couples of Decembers. With people whipped into a frenzy by right wing pundits, it has become the rage among certain Christian groups to protest or to boycott any retailer who makes an inclusive mention of “Happy Holidays” or will sue town managers if they balk at placing manger scenes on the town squares. All this fuss and ferment, they say, is their noble effort to remind Americans about the true meaning of Christmas.

However, the meaning of Christmas, as I see it, transcends the cultural wars or any skewed theological interpretations. For Christmas is a statement to all humanity: Democrats, Republicans, Christians, Muslims, Jews, blacks, whites, its message is one that emphasizes peace and justice, love and compassion, and a hope for all the seasons of humankind, even though, to ample evidence, we have made quite a mess of our world.

Despite all our efforts to destroy the image of God in our rivals and neighbors, or to emphasize differences, extol prejudices or exclaim superiority’s, Christmas graciously stands above the fray to proclaim that hope reigns supreme. That we humans need not feel abandoned to our lower impulses that only serve to prolong violence, greed, or war, and that the birth of a child symbolically works miracles in affirming that within each of us is the promise of growth, change, peace, and healing.

The true meaning is less about sentiment and more about justice and compassion. Whenever one gives to a person in need, whenever one repays evil with kindness, whenever one stands firm in hopeful expectation and survives whatever despair and disappointments we have, then one relives Christmas; We incarnate the spirit and the hope of the Christ child within us, and we become part of a Holy family who can change our world with its hope, and enliven us with its promise of peace, justice, and love.]”