I guess I understand some of the "assault on Christmas" hoopla that's been going on over the last couple of years. There are a couple of different things going on. Last year in a nation wherein citizens are guaranteed freedom of speech and religion, certain retail stores adopted a policy that insisted their employees refrain from saying "Merry Christmas" to any of the shoppers who frequented their stores. The policy was evidently put in place to avoid offending those customers who may not have been there to do actual Christmas shopping.

The other thing going on is a reaction, by Christians and non-Christians alike who act as though, since no one has greeted them with a "Merry Christmas," that the world as they know it has begun to change drastically for the worse. I've got news for those people. The world has been changing drastically for the worse ever since the fall. It will only get worse until Jesus comes again. Does that mean I advocate sitting on my hands in the meantime? Absolutely not.

I can say that I am totally against a store owner, or store management infringing on any one's right to express simple greetings because of religious content or overtones. If my boss did that I would refuse to comply. I have no problem with somebody wishing me a happy or good day when it falls on a holiday time that they are fond of either. Take it as an opportunity to share Christ if you can, or at least to show Christ to another person from your heart. Don't just "cut a check" to them by muttering a monotone Merry Christmas to them. Make eye contact. Let them see in your eyes, the love from your heart that Jesus has for them and at least wish them a Merry Christmas.

Some folks react as though this has all been a big deal about nothing. I can't say I agree with that. It's been a bad trend. This isn't a group like the ACLU, organizing to take down a cross because it's a Christian symbol on state land, or removing the Ten Commandments from a courthouse. This is a bad trend, personally or corporately undertaken by a significant number of large retail business managers to downplay the mention of the very holiday they benefit from, because a reference to the Anointed One, Jesus, is included in the greeting. So which is a worse thing? Hard to say, although I certainly believe that these businesses arrived at this decision to restrict the speech of their employees due to the influence of such high profile groups as the ACLU, which constantly voice the need to abolish references to God (and especially to anything related to Christianity) from anything connected with our government.

I've had different experiences to deal with. At work, one of my co-workers told a departing customer to have a nice holiday. The customer turned to him and asked him, "What's wrong with saying "Merry Christmas?" Can't we say "Merry Christmas" here?" My co-worker was a bit perplexed by the man's reaction. That probably has a lot to do with the fact that our store windows, two feet from the customer, had the words "Merry Christmas" painted on them. We also had a hand-stitched series of framed patchwork appliques depicting the journey of the wise men, Mary and Joseph, and ultimately the Nativity scene hanging above our customer counter. I guess the guy missed that.

Another gentleman came into the store, whom I have always enjoyed helping, and when I wished him a merry Christmas, he rolled his eyes to one side and said, "Well, I don't celebrate Christmas." I said, "Okay. Have a nice holiday season then." He then looked at me and said, "That's very diplomatic of you." I just smiled back at him. I was slightly unprepared for his reaction, so I guess that's an opportunity that I may have squandered. I will be better equipped if something like that happens again.

When I was a kid, I said Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to people all the time without a second thought. When I became a Christian around age 15, the words took on a new meaning for me. It was no longer simply about gifts and gift-giving. It became about the free gift that was presented to all of mankind in a loving Savior, and His sacrifice, willingly made. I think it's wrong to prevent anyone from being able to say those words to others even in a retail setting, but I think that it's more important to concentrate on sharing what should truly be making a "Merry Christmas" wish so joyful.