thesoulpurposedotorg

I remember being told to be offended at the term Xmas in church as a child. We all thought the X was meant to X Christ out of Christmas. It was much later in life when I learned that the X was the first letter in the Greek alliteration of Jesus Christ. I think it was the Jesus people movement era when I wore a necklace in the shape of a fish with ἰχθύς written on it that I learned the X actually stood for Christ and was originally a sign of respect and holiness.

With the popularization of certain forms of Christianity, we who call ourselves Christians are often incredibly ignorant of what the term means. Add to that, many of the best-selling Christian authors and preachers do not have a seminary education. I have had great respect for Rick Warren for example until I heard him interviewed on Larry King Live. A caller asked if God was male and Rick answered: “Of course he is! The Bible refers to God as “he” and that’s good enough for me!” Such ignorance from a leader of the popular version of Christianity is frightening to me because people will believe him thinking he is an authority.

And so we are told to: 1) be very upset about business owners not saying “Merry Christmas” on their signs and 2) to think such a thing is an attack on our Christian values. To that I say Bah Hum Bug Read the article. What used to upset us as Christians was the commercialization of Christmas – it still bothers me. I am thrilled to see fewer Christmas decorations and thrilled to not have someone say “Merry Christmas” to me because I purchased something at their store. And I don’t want some political pundit telling me what should upset me as a Christian.

I think my parents had it right this year: They gave to the Salvation Army the amount they would have spent on Christmas gifts for all of us. We all thought the people without homes needed the money more than we needed gifts. Now that is what Christmas is really about if you ask me.