What a wonderful time of year! Or, is it? For many, it is, but for many others, it isn’t wonderful at all.

For some, it is a reminder of a painful Christmas in the past. Perhaps the death of a loved one occurred during the Christmas season, and now, each year when it rolls around, it is nothing more than a horrific memory from a bygone day. Or perhaps Christmas was never a happy occasion for some, and as they watch others who seem to experience such joy and gladness during this time of year, it only causes deep anguish as they languish in the sadness this season means for them.

For others, it is not a painful memory, it is no memory at all. Christmas was never part of their family tradition. Perhaps they were reared in a non-Christian home, having parents who adhered to a different religious tradition, or to no religion at all. Christmas, to them, is just another day on the calendar. They may be thankful that it is a day off from the demands and deadlines of their busy work schedules, but still, nothing more than that.

For others still, it is a day of bitterness and animosity. The mention of the name of Jesus Christ is a matter of revulsion to them. They embrace a different theological/philosophical/idealogical mindset that causes them to be antagonistic toward Christianity. As a matter of fact, many are so adamantly opposed to Christianity that their greatest desire seems to be to rid the earth of every Christian, and every vestige of Christianity.

This has caused a great deal of confusion on the part of many. In the madness of political correctness, and in the push to be non-offensive to those who might embrace a perspective on life that is opposed to the Biblical Judeo/Christian worldview, Christians are being coerced into putting the true celebration of Christmas into more of a private, personal corner of their lives. Many are giving into the pressure of political correctness, and have replaced their “Merry Christmas” greeting with the more generic, “Happy Holidays.” Traditional Christmas carols, such as Silent Night, Away in a Manger,   and Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, have been replaced with Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer. Christmas trees have been replaced with Holiday Trees, and neighborhood Nativities have been removed from the landscape.

What puzzles me is why a greeting of “Merry Christmas” should be offensive to anyone. The day we celebrate is, after all, Christmas. It is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Whether an individual embraces this particular meaning of this holiday should be irrelevant. They may choose to say “Happy Holiday” as their greeting of choice, and I will not let this offend me. But since I do celebrate this season as the birth of Jesus Christ why should it be offensive to anyone if I choose to greet you with “Merry Christmas?” I am not trying to be rude or abrasive or obnoxious by greeting you with “Merry Christmas.” I am not trying to somehow manipulate you into accepting and embracing my personal beliefs about Christmas. It is, rather, simply my way of acknowledging the birth of my Savior, while at the same time showing a sincere desire for their life to experience the joy of Jesus’ birth.

Other religions have their own special, holy days. I am not offended when someone shares a greeting which is cognizant of a holy day on their religious calendar. I don’t take it as an attempt on their part to persuade me to embrace their particular ideology. I will show respect, even if I reject the religious or philosophical or theological system from which the greeting is taken. Should I not be able to expect the same respect from others for my personal beliefs and practices?

So, Merry Christmas! May God’s blessings of grace and peace, which were made possible by the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ, be a reality in your life this Christmas season. And may the spirit of Christmas abide in your heart each day of the coming year.