First of all, I am a fan of saying, “Merry Christmas,” and I will continue to do so. “Happy holidays” always sounded so generic to me. That being said, I have my own opinions about the controversy over Merry Christmas vs. Merry Xmas or Happy holidays.

First of all, we can’t expect non-Christian people and companies to have Christian mindsets. I personally think the problem with America is not lost people acting like lost people (which is natural for them to do), but those who call themselves Christians and not living like Christians. But that is for a different blog on a different day.

I myself am not going to get all bent out of shape if people say Happy holidays. Besides, the word “holiday” is derived from “holy day.” And the “X” in “Merry Xmas” represents the first letter of Christ in the Greek. Kind of like an abbreviation that still means the same thing.

Ultimately, we look to Christ for our example. When people reviled him personally, he didn’t get angry or carry picket signs. He was silent before those who mocked them. The one action He took was to die in the most agonizing way possible on a cross. The only words He spoke in response were, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

How can we expect those without the Spirit of God in them to understand the things of God, especially Christmas? How can someone whose mind has not been renewed and transformed by Christ even fathom what Christmas and the Incarnation mean?

I don’t even pretend to have the final answer on this question. I do know where I stand and that is on the side of grace, not on the side of judgment and legalism. I don’t break fellowship over this. I love people like Christ loved people and I try to be Jesus to all people, whether they say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy holidays” or “Bah humbug!”

That’s my take on “Merry Christmas.”