12/23/2005 10:01:00 AM|W|P|Jon Fortt|W|P|Since it's two days before Christmas, there's still time for me to weigh in on the "Merry Christmas" versus "Happy Holidays" nonsense.
As you've no doubt noticed, pundits nationwide, fueled by the hot air from Bill O'Reilly, have been wringing their hands about the dilution of Christmas. Happy Holidays? Humbug. It's Merry Christmas to you. How dare you trample on Santa and his reindeer? How dare you neuter an American tradition? This reached its peak (for me anyway) when I read about Sacramento pastor Dick Otterstad slipping into a Santa suit to protest Wal-Mart's "Home for the Holidays" promotion.
This hullaballoo, my Christian brothers and sisters, is stupid. Wait. Not only is it stupid, it might be irreligious.
Simply put, the American Christian seems to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is not about gift giving. It's not about family. It's not about being nice, donating clothes, eating turkey, gifting fruitcake or sipping eggnog.
Christmas is a celebration of the moment when God pulled the ultimate fake-out. The King of Heaven entered the world as a mortal man -- not with the pomp and flourish befitting royalty, but with a whimper barely heard above the braying of cattle. Jesus did not impose himself upon the world with loud pronouncements or bellicose wrangling. In fact, his near anonymity was part of his message. Who would dare to think that this Jesus, the son of a blue-collar wood-worker, could be the Messiah the world awaited? Who would dare believe that he could bend the hearts of men without using chariots or swords, without using politics or punditry; but instead using a message of love, obedience and self-sacrifice? Christmas is about humility and quiet devotion. It's a foreshadowing of Easter morning.
We American Christians seem to have forgotten much of this message, for here we are beating our countrymen about the head with the baby's swaddling clothes. "That holiday sale ought to be a CHRISTMAS sale, dangit," we seem to say. Apparently we believe Jesus came to earth to score us a bargain. How dare Target or Wal-Mart undermine the cause of Christ?
Last time I checked, there is no Santa Claus -- so a pastor dressing up like him to protest Wal-Mart's sales language is just silly. Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birthday, a celebration that the Church saw fit to hold at the same time as pagan ceremonies heralding the Winter Solstice. That's right, December was the holiday season before it was the Christmas season.
So if the non-Christian world wants to say "Happy Holidays," that's fine with me. I'd just as soon we not land Santa's sleigh on top of the barn where Jesus was born. And I think it's time we Christians reflected on the true meaning of Christmas -- if we can all quiet down a moment, we might hear that precious whimper above the braying of cattle.|W|P|113536188486248378|W|P|Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas. But leave my Jesus out of your culture wars.|W|P|jon.fortt@gmail.com12/23/2005 02:59:00 PM|W|P| Unknown|W|P|Thanks a ton for this blog. I just came across it via NetNewsWire Lite and love what you have to say. I'm one of those guys who is a minister at a Baptist church, but doesn't quite fit in due to my Catholic, Presbyterian and Charismatic tendencies. I guess I'm emerging, but who knows. Thanks for writing to people in the middle...like me.12/27/2005 01:06:00 PM|W|P| Missy|W|P|WELL said, Jon. Thanks.1/02/2006 05:43:00 AM|W|P| David Tieche|W|P|Thanks for your blog! I came across this blog when I was searching a Nigerian to transfer money into my bank account.
Check out my blog if you have a chance!
That last blog entry had a gestation period longer than my son. I've heard of writer's block, but come on.
Glad you're back, oh wise one.
DAT1/04/2006 10:34:00 AM|W|P| Russell|W|P|Well said Jon, I guess those guys on the other side of this issue must fear a type of secularizing of Christmas. Really as far as I can tell, the word already considers Christmas as a secular Holiday filled with like you said turkey or tamales, gifts, more gifts, football, some family time, reflection of a year that’s almost over and probably a dash of good will towards men. I guess that is what I consider “happy holidays” to mean too, and I’m okay with that. I guess you could also say I celebrate the Holidays season in the same fashion.
What Christmas is about for me is remembrance of what our savior was willing to do for the sake of the lost, a focus of prayer and thanksgiving for being saved. A special time when believers gather (even those that might not make church a regular thing) in honoring what Jesus did, and of course some of the most beautiful hymnals come out during Christmas. I just love listing to Oh Holy Night, it’s so pretty and says so well what Christmas is really about.
So let them say happy holidays. Frankly, I like the separation that it puts between the worlds definition of Christmas and the true meaning.1/07/2006 05:10:00 PM|W|P| |W|P|This is well said,however,there is a anti christian stance developing in the country (not a sirprise according to the bible). I believe we must take a look at the our history and not be pushed back in a corner. Regardless it should be done as a witness! If you look at other countries the society is limiting what can be said in a church,many people here want us to except the fact that beiefs are universal with no absolute or right and wrong.12/21/2005 10:47:00 AM|W|P|Jon Fortt|W|P|After a long hiatus, I'm quietly bringing back the Cross blog.
For all intents and purposes, I've been gone for about nine months. A couple of different factors contributed to my absence: One, I became Senior Web Editor at the San Jose Mercury News, and thus a lot of my online work started happening on the job rather than on off-hours. Two, after being away so long, I didn't want to come back halfway. I wanted to wait until I was ready to really devote time and thought to this publication. Now I'm ready.
There have been a few interesting developments in the blogosphere since I signed off. Dave Tieche, a onetime contributor to Cross, has gotten traction with his own blog. Josh Shipp, another member of the Tuesday Night Men's Group, produced a short film and blogged about it. Russell Pierce started a blog. Ben and Jess Van Meter officially declared that they are coming back to California in spring 2006 after their time in Malta.
There have been sad developments as well. The once-funny-and-brilliant writing on the Hulk blog has gone flat and boring. Also, mycathatesyou appears to have run out of creativity.
Then again, given the fact that I've been gone for most of nine months, I can't really talk, can I? But I will say this -- I'd rather go silent for most of a year than just ramble on without much of anything to say.
All right, enough with the long wind-up.
I saw something this morning that was cause for one of those chin-scratching moments. Victoria Osteen, the wife of one of the more prominent pastors in the country, was kicked off a Texas plane bound for Vail, Colo. It's unclear at this point what the problem was. But from early reports, it seems that liquid had been spilled on Victoria's seat or tray table, and it wasn't getting cleaned up as quickly as she would have liked. Reports seem to indicate that when she raised a stink about it, the whole family was asked to leave the plane.
Okay, this looks bad.
I've never been to Lakewood Church and I don't know all that much about Joel Osteen and his wife. But this much is clear: If you're leading a megachurch and selling lots of books, you're a celebrity. And every little thing you do (or your wife does) -- every LITTLE thing -- reflects on not just you and your church, but on the values you profess.
So be careful out there, everyone.|W|P|113519309412458412|W|P|The return of Cross, and a cautionary airline tale courtesy of Continental and Victoria Osteen|W|P|jon.fortt@gmail.com
Unknown|W|P|Thanks a ton for this blog. I just came across it via NetNewsWire Lite and love what you have to say. I'm one of those guys who is a minister at a Baptist church, but doesn't quite fit in due to my Catholic, Presbyterian and Charismatic tendencies. I guess I'm emerging, but who knows. Thanks for writing to people in the middle...like me.
|W|P|This is well said,however,there is a anti christian stance developing in the country (not a sirprise according to the bible). I believe we must take a look at the our history and not be pushed back in a corner. Regardless it should be done as a witness! If you look at other countries the society is limiting what can be said in a church,many people here want us to except the fact that beiefs are universal with no absolute or right and wrong.