Jaimie Etkin: The Devil Wore Manolos
Christians To Blame For Secular Christmas
Filed under: Opinions
When the now infamous White House social secretary Desiree Rogers revealed to The New York Times that the Obamas were planning a "non-religious" Christmas for the "people's house," she put herself at the center of an entirely different, but no less fiery, controversy -- the Christmas wars.
Early this year, during a luncheon with other former social secretaries, Rogers announced that part of the Obamas' new spirit of inclusiveness (ironically) would exclude references to Christianity during Christmas. Most notably, the Obamas would not be displaying the 18th century White House nativity scene. An Obama official confirmed that there were internal discussions regarding the manger display, but in the end, tradition (along with post-state dinner scandal fatigue) trumped, and the Holy Family was not banned from the East Room after all.
Meanwhile, Dr. James Dobson's influential conservative Christian organization, Focus on the Family, is promoting StandforChristmas.com, a Web site that helps shoppers rank "Christmas-friendly" retailers (most friendly: Bass Pro Shops; least friendly: American Eagle Outfitters). The site reminds visitors that retailers "want your patronage and your gift-shopping dollars" and then asks, "but do they openly recognize Christmas?"
Sadly, both approaches precisely miss the point of this sacred and beautiful holiday.
It makes zero sense to recruit retailers in this crusade when consumerism is the reason why Christmas has morphed into a hollow shopping ritual that, come January, leaves too many families with debt hangovers and an empty feeling inside. Demanding that store clerks cheerily proclaim "Merry Christmas" as they ring up your power tools and iPod does precious little to put the Christ-child back in Christmas.
To the Obamas and others pushing the ridiculous notion of a "non-religious" Christmas, it would do them well to consider that respect for other people's faith is not accomplished by hiding your own. If the goal of the White House is to remain neutral about part of our nation's heritage, Christianity, or, for that matter, about the religious beliefs held by many of its current residents, fine with me.But if that's the case, then please spare us the tab for the reported 50,000 White House visitors who will be cocktailed and dined this month in an endless succession of banal and meaningless "holiday" parties.
If Christians truly desire to bring sacredness and religious significance back to Christmas, then it's silly to look to retailers or the First Family. Instead, let it begin, as charity does, at home. Families can start by reintroducing the season of Advent and the spirit of reflection and spiritual preparation that once occupied the four weeks leading up to Christmas.
Instead of allowing ourselves to get swept up in the whirlwind of "holiday" parties, useless gift exchanges and harried shopping, we can use those weeks to prepare our hearts and homes in meaningful ways for the Prince of Peace. Make time for family prayer, singing and the lighting of the Advent wreath. Choose cards and decorations that have religious significance.
How many homes have a prominently displayed nativity scene at Christmas time? My guess is not too many. The same goes for Christmas carols. Does your playlist include more Frosty and Santa Baby than Silent Night and Handel's Messiah? How about keeping those lights on and the tree in the house for the twelve days of Christmas - you know the twelve that follow Christmas day. Or consider caroling or having a Christmas gathering after December 25th? We have only ourselves to blame when we lose these beautiful traditions.
Should Christians be concerned about the secularization of Christmas? Sure they should. I resent school "winter" concerts, "holiday" parades, and the ridiculous fear that prevents people from wishing each other "Merry Christmas!" with total abandon.
But Christmas starts with us. In our hearts. In our homes. And in a very simple decision to reclaim the silence, joy, and quiet simplicity of that first Christmas in Bethlehem when God chose to speak to mankind in the small cry of a newborn baby.
Related: The December Dilemma
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 40)
12-10-2009 @ 9:05PM
Steven said...If Christmas is not your holiday; do you celebrate it? Don't you get it "Christ" mas the celebration of Jesus Christ's Birthday, the True Messiah! If Christmas is celebrated without the recognition of Jesus Christ than it would not be Christmas. Maybe those who do so, should start their own celebration like, BuyGiftMas and that would take Christ out of it for them and they could celebrate it for what satisfies them, like buying gifts.
12-10-2009 @ 9:26PM
j said...You are absolutely wrong! Christmas celebrates JESUS CHRIST''s birth- very simple- no question about it. The date may have been adjusted by Constantine, but nevertheless the holiday is to celebrate the birth of our LORD & SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. If they chose not to celebrate it -well that's their unfortunate choice, and then they shouldn't even bother with the "Christ"mas holiday. We will all have to answere to our decisions that we make in our lifetime. If we as a nation continue to deny JESUS CHRIST as our LORD &SAVIOR, we are certain for GOD's wrath. Why should we be any different than Israel. I suggest anyone who is questioning the belief and respect for GOD, should read Deuteronomy 28, Micah 5:2, Isaiah 7:14, Deuteronomy 18:15,18,19, Zechariah 9:9, Isaiah53:1,3:Psalm 118:22,Psalm 41:9, Isaiah 53:8,53:7,50:6, Psalm 22:7,8, 22:14,16,17, Isaiah 53:12, Psalm 69:21,Psalm 22:18, Exodus 12:46, Isaiah 53:5-6,8,10-12, Psalm 16:10, Psalm 110:1, Isaiah 42:8. - Now I've given you some of the Messianic Prophecies that were described in the Old Testament-which were written thousands of years and hundreds of years before CHRIST our LORD was born. They were all fulfilled and documented in the New Testament. This may seem a little extreme to show the truth about the birth of JESUS CHRIST, but maybe this will help someone out there who needs to know the "TRUTH." This information is not a secret, it's been known since before CHRIST was born. It's been the manipulation of the evil one to gradually deceit mankind. It's interesting to see that every holiday that honors the true GOD, has a diversion to distract mankind from learning and honoring the CREATOR. Other religions don't have these obstacles or diversions, somehow satan is not concerned with them. He's only concerned with keeping people from the "TRUTH." Next- everybody is their own GOD. Always keep in mind the truth of this great holiday-Christmas- the birth of our LORD & Savior JESUS CHRIST. Amen
12-10-2009 @ 9:02PM
Sifrina said...Tim - Merry Christmas to you! I already said I love to watch people celebrate Christmas (I've done this in 2 countries and thoroughly enjoy it) as a respectful bystander. But why wish me a Merry Christmas if I already told you I'm not Christian and don't celebrate Christmas (just because I will be on the same planet with millions of others are celebrating Christmas - huh?). Are you trying to convert me? If so, thanks but no thanks. You can express your religious freedom as you wish and no one can stop you from wishing others whatever you want but it really is about common decency and a measure of respect towards others and their differences. So sorry you don't seem to get that.
12-13-2009 @ 3:21AM
alicia Freda Pedersen said...IT IS not a HOLIDAY--it is my Holy day!---you have no clue---all your dong is RAMBLING!!
12-09-2009 @ 9:12PM
Sifrina said...PS On your related (2007) post, the government gives the day off to workers to be home with their families, not to endorse the Christian holiday, which it shouldn't do.
Reply
12-11-2009 @ 5:56AM
Jiffy said...Do you think the government would have just picked Dec 25 randomly to let people stay home with their families had it NOT been for the religious holiday "CHRISTMAS"?
12-12-2009 @ 9:43AM
Sifrina said...JIFFY - You wrote "Do you think the government would have just picked Dec 25 randomly to let people stay home with their families had it NOT been for the religious holiday "CHRISTMAS"?"
Of course not - The government recognizes most Americans celebrate this holiday on this day and allows people the day off to be at home, church, with their families, to let them celebrate as they see fit, but NOT because it is trying to have the entire nation celebrate Christmas (with Christ) on 12/25. Feds don't get Good Friday off and that's a Christian Holiday. If the government was trying to promote Christian Holidays why wouldn't it make that one a holiay as a well? I'll tell you why: Because the government's not promoting Christianity or Christ (as it shouldn't).
My son's public school system makes several religious holidays (Christian, Muslim, Jewish) a day off - based on expectations of absenteeism. So if they are expecting a certain percentage of students/teachers to take off for Yom Kippur, that day is a non school day because few will be at school, NOT because the government is telling you, me and everyone else to fast and go to temple. This is a proper way for our government to handle these holiays and allow people to practice their religion as they see fit, but without endorsing a particular holiday.
You may not like to hear this but your government is NOT promoting the Christ in Christmas just because it's a holiday. Sorry.
12-10-2009 @ 8:01AM
Thom said...What a sobering and accurately insightful article! Hats-off to Rachel for exhibiting a depth of spiritual thinking not often found on the Internet or anywhere else for that matter. To "others" who don't celebrate Christmas, rightly or not, get a life, don't take yourself so seriously and get over it. Thanks Rachel.
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12-10-2009 @ 8:35AM
bigauditone said...It would have so much more meaning not coming from a hypocrite. How many of those "meaningless "holiday" parties" will you and your husband - running for Congress in Wisconsin - be attending!
Reply
12-10-2009 @ 12:21PM
David said...Why so rude?
12-10-2009 @ 8:56AM
Jim said...Hah!!! Spot on!! About time somebody said it out loud. Keep up the great work!
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12-11-2009 @ 9:00AM
TDpix said...ITA! Beautifully said. Thank you for writing this article. It speaks to what is wrong with how we celebrate Christmas time as well as to what is wrong with our society in general. Way to go Rachel!
12-10-2009 @ 2:44PM
d said...rude!
12-11-2009 @ 11:13AM
Richie B said...Great Article, The best thing I see, is people talking about the MOST
Important Gift, which is Jesus Himself. Our Father gave him to ALL
Mankind, Not just to Christians. He is The One True KING.. If your
offended by this, I'll Pray for You. If you don't believe In God,
Just remember HE Knows You, each and every one of Us. Thats not my
opinion(It has been Revealed to Many of Us) We can ignore this Fact
that God came to Us,By Jesus being Born. How Humble Our Father is, He
sent his Son, to Fulfill the Old Testament. So we will have
Everlasting Life but most of all: To be forgiven for OUR Sins. There
is So much proof, That Jesus is GOD, But some would rather ignore His
Truth. Thats Sad, Many pick apart everything that has been revealed
to Mankind. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE OUR LORD, LOOK AT A NEWBORN
CHILD, A HOMELESS PERSON, THE ELDERLY, THE HANDICAPPED. Put your
heart out to all People, and you'll feel his Love and Presence. My
present to anyone who reads this is: Faith is believing without
physically seeing, but most of all its in OUR Soul, where GOD Created
all of US.
Merry Christmas
12-10-2009 @ 10:26AM
homeinimladris said...Excellent article. I'm a 'conservative' ( though I hate that word...Biblically based is more accurate) Christian and while I hate to see the commercialism of Christmas and the 'war' continue year after year....I have to remind Christians that really, it is our own fault that this has become so secular. First of all, Christ was likely born later than December. Why did the church pick this time anyway? And we are called to be separate from the world. However, to the pure all things are pure...meaning, does Jesus care if we also have some fun with presents and trees and stories of Santa? Probably not, so long as it doesn't REPLACE HIM! So if we have allowed the line to blur...yes, fess up! And perhaps to separate it once again, the Christian churches should consider once again whether we should celebrate Christs birth a little closer to when He was likely born and remove our Christian celebration from this worldly one entirely. Synchronicity has never succeeded for Christendom. We always buckle under influence instead of making it. How sad.
Reply
12-10-2009 @ 8:01PM
SaneOne said...Why did the church pick 12/25? Because it was a pagan time of celebrating the winter solstice. By 'scheduling' Christmas at the same time, it made it easier for pagans to convert to Christianity and still enjoy festive events.
12-10-2009 @ 8:28PM
miniaturehome said...ALL Christians are "biblically based." The difference is in how we interpret the Bible. Please do not insinuate that those who do not interpret it the same way you do are not Christian!
12-10-2009 @ 10:48AM
Jamie said...Sirfina - so beautifully and perfectly said.
" I resent school "winter" concerts, "holiday" parades, and the ridiculous fear that prevents people from wishing each other "Merry Christmas!" with total abandon" - So what you are saying is if you are not Christian you are not worthy of acknowlegment or you must be forced to practice a relgion that is false in my eyes? Or do my children have to be forced to practice a religion we do not believe by having religious concerts/plays/etc.? Let's remember this is not a Christian Country BUT a country founded on FREEDOM OF RELIGION
Perhaps Obama is using a bit of common sense by not putting out the nativity in keep a separation between church and state.
Also - I would say the majority of Christians I know (I'm Jewish, but have many Catholic family and friends) said they celebrate Christmas for the Santa - not the religious aspect. I minored in world religions and know that Christmas was actually started in a reaction to Pagan and Jewish festivals and holidays occuring in winter season (Solstice and Hanukkah). Refered originally to as Christ's Mass Day and followers spent the entire day in church in worship. The tree, presents, etc. all actually come from Pagan & Jewish traditions that were swept up to make assimilation of those cultures easier. So really, if you wanted Christmas to be truly Christmas there would be no trees or decorations or presents - just church.
So I'm curious since Rachel seems very put off by not having a nativity at the white house if she is getting rid of her "trappings" such as the tree, presents, etc. and spending her entire day in church as Christ's Mass Day was intended?
Reply
12-10-2009 @ 12:23PM
David said...Don't be ridiculous and exaggerate. And we are not asking you to participate but it is our holy day and we are re-claiming it. How about we secularize your holy days??? If you want to take our holy day and make it a glutinous season of greed and self-indulgence, knock yourself out. As for the manger scene in the White House of course it belongs there if other religions' symbols and holy days are recognized. The arrogance of this Presidency is astonishing!
12-10-2009 @ 10:00PM
Breeze said...I am so glad that some one finally had the courage to point out the truth about the tree and other decorations used during the Christmas season as originally being a part of the Pagan celebration. I observe the Yule during the Winter Solstice and each of the decorations from the tree to the mistletoe has a certain meaning. It is a time when the winter season is celebrated.
I am not offended in the least if some one wishes me a Merry Christmas. It is their choice to worship in the way they choose. I do not, however, like to have a religion forced on me just because it is the choice of the majority.
Happy Yule and Merry Christmas to everyone!!!!!
May the new year be filled with peace and love!!!!!!