Keeping the Christ in Christmas...

What a joke.

I get so frustrated when I hear about the "war on Christmas." Seriously, what a crock. Let's review:

Christmas was not originally a Christian holiday. It was a pagan celebration that we modified because everybody was doing it anyway. That tree you've got - it's a shrine to some kind of German tree-god.

Christ was probably born in the spring - more specifically, scholars think April. All those songs about mid-winter and snow and whatnot are pretty, but misplaced.

"X-mas" is not sacreligious. That does not mean you want Christ out of the picture. "X" is an abbreviation for Christ. It is the first letter in the Greek spelling of the word. Ranting about that is just an announcement to the world that you have no idea what you are saying, but you really like saying it.

American Christians are the most powerful people in the world. Why do we get so defensive when somebody suggests that other groups have a little voice in the public sphere? Could it be we are insecure and maybe like to deny that we have such pull. Christ tells us in the Bible that Christians are supposed to have it rough - Blessed are the persecuted and whatnot. Is the fact that we are so comfortable and complacent some kind of comment on our faith? I won't leave that as a rhetorical question - yes, it is a comment on just that.

Finally - throwing Christmas in somebody's face doesn't make you Jesus's favorite. Period. The world is supposed to recognize you as a follower of Christ because of the love you display. Ranting and raving in public that everybody should recognize your way of doing things isn't love - it is arrogance that is meant to compensate for your own downfallings.

If you want people to appreciate the Christianity of Christmas, do Christian things. Give money. Do it anonymously. Make cookies for your neighbors. Call your friends and relatives just to say hey. Here's a big one - be polite and thankful to those in the service industry. Tell the custodians and the mail clerks that you appreciate them because the place wouldn't run without them. Smile at people - all people. When a homeless person asks you for money, take them to McDonald's. Give to the Salvation Army. Hell, volunteer to ring bells for the Salvation Army. If you need to give presents to people who don't need anything, donate a water well or a couple of chickens in their name to a poor village.

It seems to me that's the way to go about Christmas. Go Jesus!

Happy Holidays.