Life & Living: Welcome Back "Merry Christmas!"
The evening news ran a piece recently on the return of "Merry Christmas" as an advertising slogan. This year "Happy Holidays" is out; "Merry Christmas" is back. Do you remember the hullabaloo last year when merchants, in the name of fairness to all religions, decided that "Merry Christmas" should be out and "Happy Holidays" used instead? It was felt that Americans needed to choose a neutral expression; you know, one size fits all! But merchants, looking at last year's bottom line, discovered that shoppers spent less money with "Happy Holidays." So, fairness has been set aside this year and tradition is back. Welcome back "Merry Christmas!" Oh yes, sales are projected to be up this season. The Christian message is "good news" after all!
You recall that John's Gospel (chapter 2) reports that at the beginning of Jesus' ministry He chased merchants out of the Temple who were selling sacrificial animals there. And there were money changers too; the Lord upset their tables and sent coins rolling all over the floor. Jesus created panic that day, and religious leaders complained that He did not have the authority to do disrupt things. But Jesus Himself complained that the religious leaders totally misunderstood the use of the Temple, turning a house of prayer into a business venture. One has to be careful when dealing with holy things.
Of course, a slogan like "Merry Christmas" is not on the same level with the ancient Temple. Besides, I doubt that "Merry Christmas" is of any value in conveying what Christmas is about anyway. I suppose one could say the shepherds were "happy", and the angels, and Anna and Simeon in the Temple. But "Merry Christmas" is more on the level with songs like "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bells." Manger scenes may pop into the minds of the faithful when they hear "Merry Christmas," although I think maybe brightly wrapped presents and brightly lighted trees would take first and second place. What the merchants found out was that "Merry Christmas" brought in more cash and credit cards than "Happy Holidays." And when deposits are on the line, religious toleration has to leave by the back door. We must not get too hopeful however; the Ten Commandments are still on the outside looking in.
Slogans notwithstanding, I do hope your Christmas is merry; that is, happy. It will be if you see a cross in that Christmas tree, or the Magi in the gifts under it. You will be merry if you see Christ (messiah) in "Christmas" and a sinful world looking to Him for reconciliation to God. You can still be happy, even knowing that the babe is destined to die a horrible death and that His death will be what makes Christmas good-like "Good Friday." Your Christmas will be merry if you think how great God's grace is to include you in the kingdom of His love, and it will be a happy season if you learn how to pray for your enemies without rancor or judgment on your part. So, to you and yours,
Merry Christmas!
Jerry Mercer
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