A few years ago I remember hating on Christmas trees because I felt like a sacred holiday was being bastardised and sold. Of course as a greedy child I never rejected a Christmas present, but I often questioned why we gave each other presents, or expected presents, during a holiday that's meant to celebrate Jesus. We see crowds buying trees and ornaments, kids dragging parents by the neck to Toys"R"Us to pick out their favourite gift, couples lavishly splurging on candlelit dinners. We see pop singers in the secular world banking on the holiday with their latest Christmas songs, malls setting up nativity displays at the front of their entrances, shops slapping on anything red or green or reindeer/Santa-related on their products or in their stores. Christmas has been packaged and repackaged and it's no surprise that many Christians feel like it has lost its meaning in the age of capitalism and are eager to defend it. But why, please tell me why, do Christians engage in the War on Christmas every year?
(btw)
About the trees. I went to look it up, and it actually made sense. So I've moved past it. In 1982, it was introduced into the vatican by Pope John Paul II. In 2004, Pope John Paul called it a symbol of Christ. Because in winter, the evergreen tree is a sign of undying life, and is supposed to remind us of Christ as the "Tree of Life", referring to Gen 2:9
The Lord had made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground -- trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
There are many arguments about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but let's leave that one out for another time.
Pope John Paul also said,
Beside the grib, the Christmas tree, with its twinkling lights, remind us that with the birth of Jesus the tree of life has blossomed anew in the desert of humanity. The crib and the tree: precious symbols, which hand down in time the true meaning of Christmas.
So methinks the lights and festivities are very much called for.
I remember cringing at the word "Merry Christmas" and wishing for it to change to "Blessed Christmas" all across the board. While "Merry" is defined as cheerful and lively, "Blessed" is defined as Worthy of worship; holy, Held in veneration; revered. I felt like "Merry Christmas" took away the sacredness of the holiday, and would get really uncomfortable with the greeting. Lexicality, man.
But in the western countries, "Merry Christmas" is being seen as oppressive towards other religions, and "Happy Holidays" are used instead. This is where my knowledge on the War on Christmas begins, please enlighten me if you have anything to add or correct. In the past, WOC was about the over-commercialising of Christmas and having it lose its meaning of celebrating the birth of Christ. It was over displays of Santa instead of displays of Baby Jesus (but even displays of Baby Jesus have become just-another-decoration). Now, the WOC is about having Christmas be celebrated by all, not just Christians, so the removing or silencing of anything Christ-related to Christmas. Malls are supposed to use Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. And so many were pressured into doing it, until a few made the "bold" decision to continue using Merry Christmas.
So this year in the WOC, Christians are making headlines for boycotting or "tricking" Starbucks. Yup, the go-to step coffee place at the end of the year with the incredibly delicious Christmas drinks. Joshua Feuerstein posted a video on FB, which has been shared 482k times already. The gist? Starbucks is taking Christ out of Christmas. He says:
You know I think in the age of political correctness we've become so open-minded that our brains have literally fallen out of our heads. Do you realise that Starbucks wanted to take Christ and Christmas off their brand new cups that's why they are just plain red? And do you realise that Starbucks isn't allowed to say Merry Christmas to customers? While I've decided that instead of simply boycotting, well, why don't we start a movement? So I went in and asked for my coffee, and they asked for my name, and I told them my name is Merry Christmas. So guess what, Starbucks. I tricked you.
Let's ignore how he used "literally". Sirens are blaring in my head. He adds:
I know by sharing this video and getting other Christians to do it, well, I guarantee that this will go around the world. And Starbucks, guess what, just to offend you, I made sure to wear my Jesus Christ shirt into your store. And since you hate the second amendment, I even carried my gun. Yikes!
How spiteful and petty is this? There are so many things wrong with this I don't even know where to begin. Come, let me organise the issues into headings.
Starbucks has never been Christ-centric, nothing has changed.
Starbucks is not a church. What did you expect? Staff from Starbucks have commented on his post, and if what they say is true, then nothing has changed at all and this guy is just finding fault with the corporation to say something. Their decorations have always been snowmen and reindeers, snowflakes and christmas trees. But none of their merchandise have the word "Christmas" (I don't know about SG tho, maybe we should check it out). Also, if leaving out the word "Christmas" is such a big deal, this dude needs to know that Starbucks literally (this is how you use the word) has a drink named Christmas Blend. If I were a marketer, I'd tell you that instead of holding your Christmas cup in your hands, you can actually consume Christmas as you drink it, and it will keep you warm and full, much effective. Starbucks stores also have Christmas decorations throughout. Is that not enough? The cups are just merchandise, the red minimalist design (which I rly adore) is just a design, it's aesthetics!
Why using "Merry Christmas" is a big deal
He says we have become so politically correct that we don't use that greeting anymore. How about Happy Hanukkah? Every time we wish someone Merry Christmas, a Jew does not hear Happy Hanukkah. But you don't see them making headlines for things like that. Saying "Merry Christmas" is a big deal because you are acknowledging Christ in a world with so many diverse religions, you are representing Christ. You say it with joy in your hearts because Christ was born to be our salvation, you say it with gratitude because of the love of God who sent His Son to us, you say it with love, to wish others. At the same time, it is a big deal because it marginalises the Jews, who share the same holiday.
Why using "Merry Christmas" is not a big deal
Another staff said that they weren't forbidden from saying Merry Christmas. Perhaps some staff have personal views about Christmas and have chosen not to say that, perhaps some are just tired from their eight-hour shift and can't serve your every petty need. Malls, shopping bags, merchandise, have these words plastered onto them. Does it mean anything? No. It serves as a reminder to shop, to buy, to consume. Non-Christians use the word as a greeting, because its Christmas. It's used almost everywhere, but not everyone nor every corporation use it thinking about Christ. So no, it is not a big deal.
How Christians should respond to persecution (tho this is clearly not persecution)
Perhaps this guy feels so passionate and defensive because he feels he is being persecuted. This is not persecution. Someone omitting two words from your cup is not persecution. People dying for their faith, being tortured until they renounce their faith, being ostracised in communities for their faith, hiding in tunnels to have service, hiding bibles, risking their lives to import bibles and spread the gospel, praying in secret for fear they be killed, that is persecution. Even a child being made fun of in school for being Christian is persecution. But this, Starbucks' red cups, is not. BUT LET'S JUST SAY IT IS, for this guy's sake. What does the bible say about being persecuted? Always go back to the word:
Matthew 5:12
Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted the prophets which were before you
Not, be petty and exceedingly vengeful.
1 Peter 4:16
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf
Glorify God.
How Christians should treat their enemies (since its Christian man v.s Starbucks here)
Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Proverbs 24:17
Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice
Luke 6:27
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have done to you.
A GUN, BRO? A GUN?
why.
how is that Christian like?
imagine the uproar if a Muslim carried a gun to Starbucks
in America
and made a video to show it.
that's all.
'MURICA
CHRIST DOES NOT NEED DEFENDING, you are only defending your own ego here
His message is about spiting Starbucks, to trick them, to offend them. First of all, WHO IS THEM? Why are you talking about a corporation like they are people. They are a business. You are paying for your drinks, you are helping the business, they really couldn't care less if you want them to write "Merry Christmas". Secondly, how is this defending Christ, at all? It's all about the ego. It's shouting, "HEY, I'M CHRISTIAN, GIVE ME MY RIGHTS" (wow this would make a really good clickbait). It is petty and childish and really unlike Christ. Also, Christ does not need defending.
Romans 14:11
It is written: "As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God'"
It says every. It doesn't say "the saved", nor "the Christians", nor "those who write Merry Christmas on cups". It's every. Which means there will come a time where all creation will meet with God, and that undeniable proof, uncontainable awe and reverence and wonder, that overwhelming experience will have everyone bow and praise Him. He does not need defending, He is enough. God does not need us to go around making fun of coffee houses in His name. No, He is much bigger than that, much better than that, much lovelier than that. And let's face it. God is much classier than that. He is a God of reconciliation, always. The whole point of salvation and Christmas is to reconcile us to Him. Are we bringing people to God or pushing them away? It's never supposed to be an us vs. them. The war is not against other humans. It we never supposed to be this way.
Christmas is essentially a pagan holiday
Lastly, Christmas in its original form is a pagan holiday. Christian missionaries met people of different regional religious creeds as they were spreading the gospel through Europe in the first centuries A.D. They called them "pagans" and were fascinated with their traditions, which we refer to as the Midwinter festivals today. Christians, while trying to spread the gospel, share the holiday. Of course there are reasons as to why they chose the date, and there's a whole lot more depth into it but I am obviously ill-equipped to write about it, I still have problems understanding some of it, but this is the gist. Check out this site for a detailed explanation.
People can argue over theology, or the origins of Christmas, or anything at all. But we must always go back to the Word. Above all, we should always check ourselves: Is this glorifying God? Does this help me love others? Does this bring people to God or push them even further away? Even as Christmas remains a controversial issue and will always be packaged and repackaged, the gospel must never be. It is the truth, it is Truth, and it is enough. God is enough. Christ is enough. He doesn't need you to bring a gun to Starbucks to prove that He is real.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Cool sites that explain things better than I do:
Pagan Roots of Christmas
The History of Christmas
The phony 'War on Christmas' is back,
Why #MerryChristmasStarbucks Is So Misguided