Ok, enough already with the American Family Association, Jerry Falwell, Bill O’Reilly, and people in general boycotting stores because they are not using the term “Merry Christmas” in advertising for the season.
I received this plea via email this morning:
“Would you join us in a boycott of Target, and forward this to friends and family asking them to do the same? Yes, there are other companies which refuse to use Christmas. But if Target gets the message and their sales go down�every other national retailer will also get the message! Then we can expect some big changes in their promotion and advertising next year. Target doesn’t want to offend a small minority who oppose Christmas. But they don’t mind offending Christians who celebrate the birth of Christ, the Reason for the season.
Several retailers have joined in the push to ban the use of “Christmas” in their in-store promotions and retail advertising. The new push to ban “Christmas” and replace it with “Happy Holidays,” “Season’s Greetings,” etc. is gaining ground with several retailers participating. So far, the list includes Kmart, Sears, Kohl’s, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target, JC Penney, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Kroger, Office Max, Walgreens, Staples, BJ’s, and Dell.”
Then, I read this last night. Check this out:
FALWELL FIGHTING FOR HOLY HOLIDAY: HE’LL SUE, BOYCOTT GROUPS HE SEES AS MUZZLING CHRISTMAS
Evangelical Christian pastor Jerry Falwell has a message for Americans when it comes to celebrating Christmas this year: You’re either with us, or you’re against us. Falwell has put the power of his 24,000-member congregation behind the “Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign,” an effort led by the conservative legal organization Liberty Counsel. The group promises to file suit against anyone who spreads what it sees as misinformation about how Christmas can be celebrated in schools and public spaces.
Fanning the Yule log of discontent against what the Liberty Counsel calls “grinches” like the American Civil Liberties Union are evangelical-led organizations including the 150,000-member American Family Association. It has called for a boycott of Target stores next weekend. The chain’s crime, according to the group, is a ban on the use of “Merry Christmas” in stores, an accusation the chain denies.On his show last week, Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly offered a list of other retailers that he says refuse to use “Merry Christmas” in their store advertising.
In signing on to “Friend or Foe” this month, Falwell urged the 500,000 recipients of his weekly “Falwell Confidential” e-mail to “draw a line in the sand and resist bullying tactics of the ACLU and others who intimidate school and government officials by spreading misinformation about Christmas.” How the season of ho-ho-ho evolved into “Friend or Foe” shows how the nation’s culture wars have pushed into the season of giving. Each side wants its beliefs accurately represented around the nation’s winter hearth — its public schools and government spaces.
And if not, it will sue. “It’s a sad day in America when you have to retain an attorney to say ‘Merry Christmas,’ ” said Mike Johnson, an Alliance Defense Fund attorney in Louisiana who will push the Christmas cause. “We’ll try to educate,” said Mat Staver, president of Liberty Counsel. “But if we can’t, we’ll litigate.” Or boycott. The American Family Association called Thursday for a Thanksgiving weekend shunning of Target stores, saying the chain was refusing to allow the phrase “Merry Christmas” on in-store promotions and advertising.
“I don’t know where they’re coming from,” Target spokeswoman Carolyn Brookter replied. “We have no such policy on Christmas. You can see it in our stores.” That’s not good enough for American Family Association President Tim Wildmon, who wants to see “Merry Christmas” signs displayed prominently “if they expect Christians to come in and buy products during this so-called season.”
� Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Staff Writer, San Francisco Chronicle, 11.20.05
I honestly have no idea why people are getting so upset over secular retailers not using the word Christmas. Do Christians honestly believe that if someone doesn’t use the term “Christmas” that it changes anything? If we believe in Jesus Christ as a sovereign God, every day should be about him. EVERY DAY.
This whole argument is ridiculous and a waste of time and resources. Further, it shows the continuing pettiness and ignorance of the Christian community at large. I just watched the movie Christmas with the Kranks. It was not the best movie, but it made me think about the whole issue here. If someone dares to not participate in the whole Christmas thing, it’s like you are committing a mortal sin! You are called a Scrooge, a Grinch, and ostrasized. How dare you not celebrate this holy holiday! What’s wrong with you? Don’t you know that this is the celebration of Jesus birth? This is a season for joy and hope and love. People feel better on this day. People are more giving on this day … blah blah blah. And now, we see that if a store doesn’t use the correct terminology, we will sue them and FORCE them to do it our way. What is wrong with Christians? We’ve become so focused on the nomenclature that we have forgotten who it is we think we are celebrating. God in heaven help us for our pettiness!
My friends, in the grand scheme of things, there are much bigger fish to fry. This world is falling apart… getting worse. What people need to hear from Christians is that you can have a relationship with Jesus Christ who loves them wherever they are. He came to this world and died so that all could have life. It’s good news! It is glad tidings of great joy… for on that night, a Savior was born… for each of us.
JESSE IN RESPONSE, IT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THOUGH ONE IS ABLE TO CHOOSE WHOM HE OR SHE MAY WORSHIP, THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE G-D, THE G-D OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB. AT THE END OF ALL TIME, ALL OF THE OTHERS WILL BOW TO THEIR KNEES TO THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS AS PROPHESIED IN THE LIVING AND POWERFUL HOLY WORD OF G-D! THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO FOLLOW G-D MUST BE UNAFRAID TO SPEAK OF HIS COMING JUDGMENTS. AS A WHOLE, SOCIETY HAS BECOME SO TOLERANT AND FOLLOWERS OF G-D ARE IN MUCH FEAR TO SPEAK WITH BOLDNESS AS DID APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. G-D SPEAKS OF GREAT LOVE FOR US AND WHILE IT IS IMPORTNANT TO EMPHASISE THAT, IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTNANT TO EMPHASISE THE FORERUNNER MESSAGE THAT THE KINGDOM OF G-D IS AT HAND AND SWIFT AND CERTAIN JUDGMENT IS COMING TO THE EARTH.
hahaha, oh eward. for one i think that when it was said, “man can not serve two masters” i’m not really sure if that meant, for me or against me. i’m not serving anyone here, i’m simply saying it’s an individuals choice to worship whatever he’d like. as for muslims… i’m not sure if you’ve ever spoken with one. i know a person who was a muslim at one point in his life, but then became a christian due to someone’s very meaningful, loving, and non-judgemental relationship with him. he didnt think christians were dogs or cut off his head. that’s a pretty broad stereotype. but i know this wont change your mind, and you wont change my mind on any of this either.
Josh, I’m SO with you… It seems to me that in order to be as winsome as possible to the world, WE should be the ones saying “Happy Holidays” to whomever we run into! Who are we to presume that they are Christians? What are we trying to prove? We are not trying to argue or condemn people into the Kingdom; we’re trying to love them in, to GRACE them in… In my experience, no one has ever come to Christ because they were condemned by Christ-followers. No, quote the opposite is true. It is KINDNESS that leads us to repentence. That is scriptural!
Another point I would like to make is that we should not forget the fact that Christmas is a Christian Holiday. Why are others getting so ticked about it. It’s like saying we shouldn’t light candles for Hannakah. Don’t say Merry Christmas, it’s Christmas. Sonn it won’t be Christmas anymore, it will be Holidaymas so everyone can be involved. The only reason this is the way it is is because it’s about Christ. The world hates Him. If it were about Allah it’d be different.
MMMM…Hmmmmm…*Snap* *head roll*
Ps 94:16 – Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
I, for one, really don’t care what targets marketing scheme is. This world is going to digress more and more whether we like it or not. We see it happening and I think we try to prolong it because of our fear of tribulation. What we need to be concerned with is our own relationship with Jesus. I belive He was the one to say that you can’t serve two masters thus saying you are either for Me or against Me. So if that is a load of crap, take it up with God. As far as tolerating and listening to muslims. As a Christian, I might as well give them a knife and say take my familiy because we believe Jesus is the Messiah. Muslims believe all Christians are dogs, and thats reality. All I can do is pray and react upon how God would see fit, which I know is to love in truth. Not listen and tolerate.
dearest joshua,
remember the discussion we had about “crazy” people? i’m really not sure if this is a way for “crazy” christians to show their love for christ or what… correct me if i’m wrong, but the united states of america was founded on “freedom;” one of those so called “freedoms” being religion. every person has the right to celebrate or not to celebrate a holiday as they see fit. no, not everyone will agree with it, but that is a choice to be made by each and every person. why the litigation? will it prove a point, sure it will. it will prove that the “church” has its priorities more than a little out of whack. for us or against us- i just don’t see it that way. will target or any of the listed corportations be hurt by any of this? simply put, no. the fact is these corporations understand that for a very small group of “christians,” there are plenty of Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and every other religion that believe in other things. if “christians” really want to make a difference in the world, i think it’s time to stop talking and start listening and actually caring for people- that is where our energy should go. there is plenty of hurt in this world, why is the “church” contributing to such worldly things?
FOR US OR AGAINST US/FRIEND OF FOE… what a load of crap
-jesse
There they go again, making the rest of us look like morons.
Does not the Bible say a few things about non-Christians not being held to our law? Think about it, and start spreading the truth of Jesus instead of rediculous agendas!
Bah! Humbug.
Hey Josh, why do you require an e-mail address? I thought you hated sites that do that! Anyway, e-mail me if the spam is still an issue. I’m sure we can work out an end-all solution if I know your situation.
Amen and Amen. Doesn’t seem very Christian-like and loving to me. Jerry Falwell…isn’t he related to Jerry Lee Lewis? Isn’t he the one who had affairs with prostitutes in the 80’s? Or is he the one that predicted Jesus was coming back in the 80’s or early 90’s? Either way, I don’t give what he says much weight. And I’m not boycotting Target. They label the tree ornaments as Christmas ornaments. That’s good enough for me. And they sell Starbucks “Christmas Blend”. So there!
I was going to say the same thing to eward, “Sounds like you’ve never actually talked with a Muslim.” But then I read on and Jesse already said that.
Sorry, but that is so ridiculous, eward. You totally sound like one of those people who think nuking the Middle East will solve everything.
I’ve read some of the Koran. It’s a radical book, for sure, but it doesn’t advocate violence in the way that you think. The majority of Muslims in this world would listen to a Christian talk, but would you listen to a Muslim share about his life, faith, philosophy?
Ask a foreign missionary to a predominantly Muslim country what their strategy is.
I’m not saying you should “tolerate” everyone’s contrived religions, just that ignorance is as bad or worse than the tolerance you’re so opposed to.
I believe that I can reach the Muslim world for Christ. Sounds like you don’t care at all. Perhaps it’s not God’s call on your life to save people from the Islamic path to hell, and I’m fine with that. It’s not God’s call on my life to protest abortion. But scan your comments for a second and count the sweeping generalizations. I appreciate your point of view, but I have to disagree with it completely.
I just wonder what you would think of Joshua if he wrote an entry that said all you want to do here is spread poison. Maybe even he banned you, putting up barriers to you leaving comments in the future. Would you respect him any longer? Should he stop tolerating you if he doesn’t agree?
I’m just exploring, here. Just letting the gears turn a bit.
Seriously though, I am open to your point of view, and I would like to hear what you think of Jews and Atheists, not to mention Hispanics and African-Americans.
Hypothetical (not knowing you at all):
If you are Caucasian, does it offend you that I wrote African-American and not black? If so, why do you care? Is it Indian and not Native-American? What about the country called India? Just asking…