Taking the Christ out of Christmas?

Is that how you find it? I've been getting a bit impatient with the complaining emails that have been coming my way the past few weeks, and yesterday seemed to be the last straw.

It began then with Harry Foster and Stewart Blake from Wideopen sharing this poem with me and an awful lot of people in their address books.

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,
not Happy Holiday !
Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

If you agree please forward, if not, simply delete

Sorry - I should have just followed the instructions of the last line. Instead, I rashly pressed "Reply to all" and sent the following message: -

The line "At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears gives the game away really doesn’t it?"

We are being bombarded with emails about a perceived problem the other side of the Atlantic – probably from a rather insecure wing of the Church.

I’ve not met anyone who’s wished me a happy holiday rather than merry Christmas!My grandson seems to have been having a busy time with the (state) school nativity play.When my church made an effort recently to get local schools in to share the Christmas story with them (in an imaginative way – see http://christmasjourney.org.uk/ ) they nearly all responded positively.

I’m afraid the people who succumb to these email viruses (and it’s not the first I’ve received: hence my growing impatience) are living in a different world from mine.I am not perceiving the injustices and marginalisation that they appear to be suffering - or is it even enjoying?

Is it too harsh to suggest that they get a life?

John

PS Apologies too for hitting Reply All. Following email etiquette and using bcc really would be better

.

My colleague Philip Gray from Wideopen and Ponteland didn't quite agree, and sent the following thoughts earlier this morning: -

Hi John

Having just enjoyed the winter festival play at the local school, that I can publicly abuse the name of God but not allah, that a bible can be torn up in the name of art, but not a koran. Hmmm I might at least have an idea where our cousins are coming from.

There again I might forget that because of our national foolishness the red cross ban christmas displays so as not to upset anyone, and councils are banning overtly Christmas light displays.

Perhaps we could start a discussion of how people feel about this issue?

Philip

So there we are. The discussion is started. What do you think??