If you want to keep Christ in Christmas…

When I was at my parents house over the Thanksgiving holiday, one topic of discussion that came up after our meal was about how people were going around saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”  It all started over a commercial on television followed by a short rant by my very conservative grandmother and her son, my uncle.  I’m sure between now and December 25th, I’ll be receiving forwarded messages from people who want to keep Christ in Christmas, or, as the subject line typically screams, “LET’S KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS!!!”  Sometimes these people are angry.  They’re tired of hearing people say “Happy Holidays,” instead of “Merry Christmas.”  They want somebody to do something about it, that’s why they forward those e-mails, or they feel by forwarding those emails, they are “doing” something about it.

Dr. Jim Somerville, who is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Richmond, VA, writes about this over at his blog and cites an article by Mary Fairchild, who writes the following:

The number one way to keep Jesus Christ in your Christmas celebrations is to have him present in your daily life. If you’re not sure what it means to become a believer in Christ, check out this article on “How to Become a Christian.” If you’ve already accepted Jesus as your Savior and made him the center of your life, keeping Christ in Christmas is more about the way you live your life than the things you say—such as “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays.

You can read the rest of the article, which includes a number of simple, practical suggestions like reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 with your family; planning a project of “good will”; going Christmas caroling in a nursing home; or writing a letter to a missionary.

Ms. Fairchild hints that any attempt to force Christ into someone else’s Christmas celebration will be unsuccessful, but “where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.”

Instead of focusing on trying to shove “Merry Christmas” and our faith down someone’s throat, what if you and I lived in such a way that people will inquire about our faith?  What if we celebrated Christmas in such a way that people would be open to Christ?

What say ye?