Winning the War--But At What Cost?

During the past week, I spotted a headline on the internet that read something like, “Christians Winning War on Christmas.” The article was about the battle with stores over “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays.”

Many Christians would rejoice over the stats cited, I’m sure. When I saw the article, though, sadness washed over me. Maybe we are winning—and will win—this so-called war. But at what cost?

Don’t get me wrong. I agree this battle symbolizes the deterioration of our society and emphasizes how our culture wants to remove Jesus Christ from the culture. But isn’t that really all it is—a Symbol? In view of eternity, does it matter if an employee wishes me “Merry Christmas” or a store displays “Happy Holidays”? (Which, by the way, refers to Holy Days, and aren’t we Christians celebrating the holiest and happiest ones of all?)

More and more the issue seems cosmetic. A surface problem that points to a deeper one and that will solve itself when that deeper problem is resolved. So why are we spending so much time and effort and money over this? May not such attention to the outward ultimately cause greater damage to the inward?

If this war points back to Christ being removed from the culture, wouldn’t it be better to focus on putting Christ back into the hearts of men rather than just in their mouths?

“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34, NIV

So Merry Christmas!