Okay, Whatever

'Tis the season, once again: Evangelicals must save Christmas from an imaginary enemy https://t.co/AZTgSqexct

— Raw Story (@RawStory) December 12, 2021

So, yes, for the next few weeks the battle will be joined again, and evangelical believers will once again be told the fight is difficult — but in the end (spoiler alert!) Christmas will be saved yet again. In truth, nothing much will occur to make this holiday season different: We will see no new laws enacted to help those in need, heal the sick, welcome the foreigner and serve the poor. But at least we get to say "Merry Christmas" — which of course we always did — and somehow that will make up for all our lost opportunities to make real change in Christ's name.

I didn't get the memo.  Republicans still refuse the idea of wearing a mask simply for public health (smoking in public is still banned; wearing seatbelts in cars is still "mandated," but masks are a bridge too far?  Huh?).  Jeanine Pirro declared the country is going to hell in a hand basket:

this escalated quickly pic.twitter.com/tC5pUCM3Zc

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 12, 2021

I don't think "Merry Christmas" or "Xmas" came up once as a cause or a concern.

The idea that somehow Christ's birthday — which definitely wasn't on Dec. 25, by the way — requires any form of annual celebration has no connection to Christ, his teachings or the Bible. I cannot even figure out what aspect of the "traditional" Christmas celebration has anything to do with Jesus. The madhouse shopping (both online and in person), the tree, the lights, the tinsel, the consumerist orgy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday and whatever other special days the marketing people can come up with this holiday season is a celebration of everything that money can purchase, and has literally nothing to do with the ministry of Jesus. Last I heard, according to Christian theology you cannot serve both God and money, and far too many are trying to do just that during the Christmas season — and for that matter all year round. Christ was removed from the Christmas season a long time ago, no matter what you call the holiday.

The author identifies as an evangelical pastor (and good for him!), but strong Cotton/Increase Mather energy in that first sentence.  As for the rest: true enough (still too much Puritan energy for my taste).  Christ wasn't really "removed" from the Christmas season, either; IMHT(heological) opinion.   AFAIK, there are two Christmases:  that of the church and the faithful, and the one the world observes.  I have no problem with either one, except insofar as the latter intrudes on the former, and the former yields.  But that only comes around about every 7 years or so,  so we'll survive that, too.

The War on Christmas?  I'm happy to boil that in it's own pudding and bury it with a stake of holly through its heart.  Hey, Scrooge has his uses.