the reason for the season

I am somewhat ashamed to admit that only four years ago, I was a card carrying (at least I would have carried the card if they really issued one) member of the “religious right” and Republian denomination. [DEFINITION ALERT: Republian - n. an american divergence of the Christian faith where Republican political agendas replace the gospel as the preeminent belief and source of faith.]

During this dark time in my life, I felt that this strong “christian nation” was under attack by “liberal agendas” and it was the churches’ responsibility to protect our nation from moral decay. So like a good soldier of Christ I subscribed to all the email alerts that would let me know which store/product I should boycott and which public official was my sworn enemy.

I have not completely de-subscribed form all the email lists. So unfortunately, I still get many emails like this one:

*** [REPRINT OF AN AFA EMAIL:

Target Doesn't Respond, Refuses To Include "Christmas"
AFA asks for boycott because of Target's anti-Christmas stance

In an effort to get Target to include "Christmas" in their in-store promotions and retail advertising for next year's (2006) season, we wrote Chairman Robert Ulrich. We told Chairman Ulrich that we knew it was too late to change his in-store promotions and retail advertising for this year. We asked him if Target would assure us that the company would make Christmas an integral part of their promotions and advertising next year. 

We told Chairman Ulrich that if Target would honor our request, we would encourage our supporters and others to shop at Target. But we also said that if he refused, or did not respond, we would ask our supporters to boycott Target. 

How did Chairman Ulrich respond to our request? He did not respond at all! Chairman Ulrich sent a clear message—Target will continue to ban "Christmas." 

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. 

It is very important that you sign our pledge to boycott Target. Nearly 600,000 have already done so.
Our goal is 1,000,000. We need your help. END OF QUOTED TEXT]****

What? Maybe I’m missing something, but according to this article the burning spiritual issue -- the attack on our morality and faith -- these pagan corporate types at Target are leveling against us is using the word Holiday instead of Christmas in their sale ads! (Collective gasp from the reading audience)

Holy Moley -- if Target refuses to use the word Christmas in their sale ads this country really is on the fast track to H-E-double hockey-sticks!

WHAT THE HECK -- Talk about missing the point!

I would like to circulate a petition for the opposite purpose. My petition will call for the removal of the word Christmas from ALL SALE ADS -- because the birth of Christ has nothing to do with getting a George Forman Grill for $14.99 instead of $29.99 (a 50% savings!).

To me this is yet another symptom of how sick American Christianity has become. No wonder Christians have become a joke in the marketplace of ideas. I can understand why people would not want to have anything to do with a religion where their most important issue is being pissed off because their Savior is not getting top billing over a Baby Wetsalot in the Target sale ad.

Meanwhile there are children starving to death around the world, homeless people sleeping in the streets, and thousands of people who are lonely and cannot find true community.

Christmas is about HOPE! Hope for the long awaited presence of our King. Our King who: came as a baby, was (literally) born in a barn, slept in an animal’s food dish, and had a dirt poor Jewish family with (according to all the neighbors) a scandalous reputation. Let the retailers and marketers have their Holiday Sales; Christmas will have nothing to do with the conspicuous consumerism that is thrust upon us and has mutated a holy-time of expectation into an orgy of covetousness.

If you want to boycott Target -- boycott Target -- but do it because they are a box store (like Walmart) that drives the mom-and-pop shops out of business and doesn’t pay their workers a living wage. In fact boycott EVERY store this Christmas -- but boycott them BECAUSE you do not want to participate in the crass consumerism that has marred our national psyche NOT BECAUSE they used the word Holiday instead of Christmas.

Padre en cielo, forgive my family and me for buying when we don’t need -- and not giving to those that do. Help us to live the way of Your Son our King. Thank You for the ultimate gift of Jesus the Christ and the Kingdom. I pray that we will humbly accept the gift and never stop praying THY KINGDOM COME. En el nombre de su hijo Jesus Cristo, amen.

Comments

[Casey Burns]

Where is Mike Ray? Did he disappear from the blogosphere?

[paul soupiset]

plus, there's much better reasons to boycott Target & WalMart ;)

[duane]

I've been trying to formulate this idea in my own mind for some time...now there is no need. You have stated it so perfectly. There is so much that is wrong with our country this time of year, and Target omitting the word "Christmas" isn't one of them. Thanks for articulating this so well!

[george]

Great thoughts. We think a lot alike you on this. Shannon wrote something very similar about the growing "controversy" of taking Christmas out of marketing. You can read what she said at our blog at: http://georgeandshannon.com/blog/2005/11/a-new-kind-of-christmas/

I liked your suggestion for a petition to remove Christmas from all marketing. Now that's one worth signing!

Christmas is NOT about greedy consumption. It's about something so much more wonderful than what all the retailers have to offer. But what to do so that our celebration of this time is set apart? This is something that we are struggeling with. I'd love to hear more about what your family is doing. How do you celebrate?

[Casey Burns]

Mike, that email excerpt was just unbelievable, and all I can say to your response is--Amen! (even though I always try to get you to not be so agree...) I agree that it is best if Jesus were not at all part of any marketing scheme. Lord help us to await our Saviour this Advent, and help to love, to serve, and to forgive.