what is this holiday about?

It’s been exactly two years since I was emailed a petition asking me to commit to never shopping at Target (a huge U.S. retail chain) again unless they reintroduced the word “Christmas” to their holiday signs and decorations. It seems that, in an attempt to greet customers of all religious (and non religious) backgrounds, this non-Christian affiliated company chose to use a very generic greeting, one that would express holiday greetings to all of their customers, Jews and Gentiles alike.

As often happens with me, my hurt and disappointment with the church quickly turned to anger as I came to believe that another selfish protest would only lead to more people turning away from the message and the mission which were most important. And I vented that anger quite publicly.

This year it has been on my mind again as I will shortly travel home to the U.S. for a month of Christmas insanity. There are a lot of things I’d like to say in a post like this. I’d love to throw out facts about pagan holiday traditions that we’ve embraced in our own Christmas traditions. I’d love to outline the history of both Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations in an attempt to remind my brothers and sisters that our claim on the month of December really wouldn’t hold up in a court of law. But what I think I should do is simply implore you to consider the witness you bear when you spend your time only standing up for self serving interests (celebrate our religious holiday or else!) rather than standing up for justice. Not self serving kind of “justice”, but true justice.

For instance, can I assume that those who signed that Target Petition turned right around and shopped at Walmart? Walmart, of course, is another huge chain in the U.S. only this one takes human rights violations to a new and impressive level. Not only does it buy and sell products made in sweatshops and often by child labour throughout China and other parts of Asia, Walmart underpays employees (by an average of $1 an hour), has been accused of doctoring time sheets, costs U.S. tax payers and other employers over $1 Billion a year in health care costs for Walmart employees who are not covered (over 70% are not), and, for every two jobs Walmart creates in a community, they destroy three more by putting other local businesses out of business. Most branches have also worked out massive tax breaks with local governments that local citizens have to pay for. So that cheap toy, made by child slaves, that you’re giving your own children to celebrate the birth of the Messiah, isn’t nearly as cheap as you might think.

This Christmas consider the cost and your witness when you shop.

- Is it really honouring to Christ when you give companies like this your money in His name?

- Aren’t our protests surrounding the Christmas holiday a lot like Peter cutting off the ear of the guard? Didn’t he think he was standing up for exactly the same thing that we think we’re standing up for? And what was Jesus’ response? What do you think it might be today?

- When Jesus was given the opportunity to defend himself against charges of blasphemy (among other things), Jesus did not take it. Jesus wasn’t into self serving “justice”. But, when money changers decided that they would cheat other people by using small sacrificial animals as a huge cash cow, er, money maker (sorry), Jesus actually took the time to leave the temple, hand weave a whip, then return to the temple to dish out some serious premeditated justice. Jesus believed in and lived out a very holy kind of anger and justice. And so should we.

- And in that vein, when unbelievers see organizations like The Red Cross doing more for needy people than the church, they wonder if we have any purpose beyond a self serving one. And they have a point. In fact, one could make a strong argument that The Red Cross is actually more Christ like than many churches.

I can’t wait to give my daughter presents this year. Jamie and I have made a commitment that, in an attempt to teach Olyvia the real meaning of Christmas, we’re going to do our best to make birthdays the “big present day” and leave Christmas for family, and charity, and others. Still, presents will be given and I can’t wait to see her face. But can’t we also find a way to instil in our children, and maybe also ourselves, that when we celebrate the birth of Christ, we really should do it in a Christ honouring way? Where we shop and how we shop really does matter. And what we protest and who we protest does as well because, when we take on Christ’s name, we insinuate that he would be doing what we’re doing.

Your witness matters and people are watching to see what your religion is all about. I don’t know about you, but I hope mine is more about holiness and justice and the meaning and values behind the name Christ, than a word and a holiday that I invented. Want people to respect that holiday? Then give them something to respect. Love God and love others.

Merry Christmas!