2013 War on Christmas

[Paulos23]

I find Christmas to be a time to enjoy family and give gifts. As long as I can do that I don't care what the rest of you do.

 

[Oafman]

I find Christmas to be a time to enjoy family and give gifts. As long as I can do that I don't care what the rest of you do.

It's this kind of apathy which allows Christmas to continue unchallenged. We need you in this fight soldier!

 

[dad]

There is no war on christmas.

Hey christians, you want to celebrate christmas your way? Have a ball. No one will stop you. Seriously, no one. NO. ONE.

This is news?? You really think anyone COULD if they wanted to?? It is not an option.

However, for those that want to share the joy of the season and love of the Christmas Child, they will find that they are limited and stopped at every turn in public.

What you don't get, though, is the right to define the holiday for everyone else.

Not the birth of Christ! That is for Him.

The celebration at the end of December has been called many things over the entirety of humanity's history, and has acquired many different traditions from many different cultures, both religious and secular. At the present day, the celebration we call "christmas" contains elements of pagan worship, secular celebration, and observances from just about every religion man has come up with.

You can have Santa and elaborate ornaments for the pagans. The issue is a nation with a supposed Christian majority being unable to have the freedom to celebrate the actual reason for the season publicly.

But one thing christmas isn't is an exclusive christian holiday. It predates christianity by a long while.

False. The birth of Christ is what elevated Christmas to what it is. The also ran pagan nonsense would never have gotten anywhere alone.

So christians complaining about others not observing the holiday "the right way" are kind of like someone crashing a party, declaring themselves host, and yelling at everyone that they're at the wrong party.

They don't see it that way. Once they fully realize that their country was truly stolen and usurped, maybe they will focus their efforts on something other than a national level. See how the pagans fare alone?

Christmas is an all inclusive celebration.

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ. All are welcome. However, not all are welcome to reinvent the greatest event in history, or supplant it with something else.

You want to join in and add your traditions to the mix?

No. Believers do not have that celebration of pretending there is no One God, and Messiah.

Fine, have fun. But don't forget, you didn't start it, and you don't get to call the shots.

Long as people realize that a nation is the enemy of Christ, that is all well and good! Christians celebrate every day of the year!

If there is anything like a "war" on christmas, it's you guys who have started it. Knock it off and enjoy the holidays with the rest of us. Or go into a corner and sulk. Your call really.

The banning of God's message and Son in the nation is fine! It is like a field getting ripe for harvest. Happy cavorting this season, folks. Just remember that Christmas was never about anything else but Christ. What you have after expelling Him is more akin to a pride parade than Christmas.

That's what it all boils down to, isn't it? "The War on Christmas" (tm) is nothing more than an ad campaign designed to turn the focus onto you and your agenda.

Christmas has traditionally been the time of the year when the unbelievers were inundated with the message of Christ! Where the Spirit of giving, and loving others, and sharing was unstoppable! Even the normally secular artists often did a Christmas album or song! Hark..the angels are changing their from carols to trumpets!! Rejoice people of God.

The sooner you realize it ain't all about you, the sooner we can all enjoy the tidings of the season and get a little bit closer to peace on earth, good will to men.

-- A2SG, forget where I heard that....

There is no peace on earth, I said. The message of CHRISTmas is that the Prince of Peace came and will come to rule soon.

 

[dad]

As ever - Christians complain about the festival they hijacked from another group.....being hijacked by other groups.

Couldn't make it up

God stole it fair and square!

 

[dad]

The easiest thing to do is just not care about the holiday like I do.

Christmas has very little to do with Christ. It is more about spending money to either impress people or annoy me by playing Christmas music for over a month.

I don't need a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Right. I think the issue is that we had one though! In the US in particular, in this thread, it was being discussed how that the nation rejected Christ, and therefore Christ IN Christmas.

Here is a gift that the pagans and unbelievers can give mankind this Christmas...stop murdering babies. How much better to love them, and give them gifts! That is the kind of spirit of Christmas I am talkin bout!

 

[TheBear]

I think It's about time that Christians stood up for their First Amendment rights to free speech regarding our religion. That same amendment specifically "prohibits the making of any law that impedes the free exercise of religion," yet we have sat silently while our religious freedoms have been taken from us, one by one. Freedom of religion in America has come to mean freedom to be anything but Christian. Let's change that. A great place to start is by keeping Christ in Christmas.

Over 80% of Americans are Christians. No one is preventing them from celebrating Christmas any way they want, and in the spirit/manner they always have. No one is preventing them from "keeping Christ in Christmas". The way O'Reilly speaks, though, (you know - "The tide goes in, the tide goes out. We don't know how so I'm throwing in with Jesus." guy), one would think that churches are being shut down and that people are getting arrested for celebrating Christmas, the sky is falling! Nothing could be further from the truth.


This boils down to not allowing all voices to be heard.

 

[technofox]

2013 War on Christmas What happens on a typical Christmas other than the usual restrictions on Christian expression. (hint: wouldn't stop at just being "neutral" and preventing Christians from being "offensive".) - Columbia University hosts “XMAS!”, a production where the Virgin Mary is seen begging for sex - “Naked Holidays NYC ’09? and “Filthy Lucre: A Burlesque Christmas Carol” are nude productions competing with gay shows titled “Santa Claus is Coming Out” and “The Gayest Christmas Present Ever” in New York City - Those who want to see baby Jesus electrocuted can see “Hot Babes in Toyland,” while those who want to see a fetal rabbit morph into baby Jesus are advised to see “A Very Sandwich Christmas”, also in New York City - “The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” is being performed in Philadelphia and features a discussion of Santa raping Vixen. - Seattle is home to “Ham for the Holidays: Lard Potion No. 9,” a play that sparkles with a “teeny-tiny Sequin Gay Men’s Chorus.” Also in Seattle is “It Came from Under the Tree!: A Pickled Puppet Christmas Special” that features nudity and a Michael Jackson character who envies Santa’s way with children. - “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” is being shown in Oakland, California - “Madonna’s Christmas Celebration,” one that features a sexual deviant dressed as the Virgin Mary: he/she talks about the difficulty of having sex with God, coining the phrase “Oh, my God” while having sex with him (this plays in several venues coast-to-coast). The War on Christmas is really trending. Social Trends: https://www.facebook.com/WarOnChristmas a new page on the war getting ~2k fans in 2-3 days. https://www.facebook.com/KeepChristInChristmas old page with 500k likes T-shirt campaigns to Keep Christ in Christmas Keep Christ in Christmas - 7 Days only! | Teespring launching News: Bill O'Reilly started in late October. Sarah Palin's new book on the war will be launching on 12th Nov. Fox news & The Christmas Candle showing support How Should Christians react? I think It's about time that Christians stood up for their First Amendment rights to free speech regarding our religion. That same amendment specifically "prohibits the making of any law that impedes the free exercise of religion," yet we have sat silently while our religious freedoms have been taken from us, one by one. Freedom of religion in America has come to mean freedom to be anything but Christian. Let's change that. A great place to start is by keeping Christ in Christmas.

LOL!!!!

Wow dude stay off the O'reilly weed. Ok. In all seriousness there is no war on Christmas, this is a Fox News cage rattling agenda that has occurred yearly since like 2005. If someone is obviously not Christian then I think it's ok to say happy holidays; however, if they are not then I don't see a problem saying merry Christmas.

Also the real war on Christmas is the commercialization of Christmas, not the political correctness movement that has been hating on Christianity for a while. The materialism and greed of this country is why PC has gotten as far it has. If you want to end the war, then stop buying into celebrating Christmas with presents and toys for the kids. Teach them about Jesus on 12/25 and have a family dinner. Avoid all commercialization and you will be working against the war. The more people who do it the more we can change things back around.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Call me a grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge, but I hate Christmas. If there's actually a war on Christmas, where do I enlist?

 

[AirPo]

The first shots of the Fake War On Christmas fired even before November starts.

Can't we just please eat a big turkey dinner first?

 

[revanneosl]

I'm in. And somebody should tell Grizz we're on again.

 

[Gailerina]

Also....why make Christmas all glamour? Talks of a dude in a suit giving toys and millions of children wake on Christmas with nothing :/ Christmas adds nothing but stress to a lot of people.

 

[A2SG]

This is news?? You really think anyone COULD if they wanted to?? It is not an option.

Then I fail to see a problem.

However, for those that want to share the joy of the season and love of the Christmas Child, they will find that they are limited and stopped at every turn in public.

That's an exaggeration, first of all. And second, well, you can't control how others celebrate the holiday. Not everyone celebrates the way you do, get used to it.

Not the birth of Christ! That is for Him.

If you are truly celebrating that event, then why not celebrate it on the day it occurred, not the day it was moved to in order to coincide with the existing celebrations at the solstice?

But hey, if you want to move it to the solstice, fine. Just don't pretend there wasn't already plenty of traditions and celebrations already in place, like gift giving, decorating trees, exchanging cards, etc.

You can have Santa and elaborate ornaments for the pagans. The issue is a nation with a supposed Christian majority being unable to have the freedom to celebrate the actual reason for the season publicly.

Um, dude...you have that freedom in abundance! Celebrate it publically all you want to, no one will stop you. No one.

Just remember, you're not the only ones celebrating this time of year, so if someone doesn't share your traditions, well, you can't force them to. Live and let live.

False. The birth of Christ is what elevated Christmas to what it is. The also ran pagan nonsense would never have gotten anywhere alone.

And yet, it has.

Most of the traditions we celebrate at this time of year did not originate with christianity. Gift giving, decorating trees, exchanging cards, general revelry and celebration, etc. None of these originated with christianity.

The birth of christ, actually, didn't take place in the winter at all. It was moved to that date to coincide with the existing celebration.

So christians complaining about others not observing the holiday "the right way" are kind of like someone crashing a party, declaring themselves host, and yelling at everyone that they're at the wrong party.

They don't see it that way.

I'm sure they don't, but that's how they come across to the rest of us.

Once they fully realize that their country was truly stolen and usurped, maybe they will focus their efforts on something other than a national level.

By "they", you are now referring to native Americans, right?

See how the pagans fare alone?

Pagan society may not have survived intact to this day, but many of their traditions have.

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ.

On a date it didn't occur on.

Wanna join me in celebrating American Independence Day tomorrow?

All are welcome. However, not all are welcome to reinvent the greatest event in history, or supplant it with something else.

Why not? You've already supplanted it to the wrong date.

And besides, if others wish to celebrate that event in a different way than you do, well, surely that's their business. You don't have the exclusive right to determine exactly how historical events are commemorated.

You want to join in and add your traditions to the mix?

No.

It was a rhetorical question. Christians did that already when they moved the celebration of the birth of christ to December 25.

Believers do not have that celebration of pretending there is no One God, and Messiah.

So? As I said, you're free to celebrate December however you wish to.

As does everyone else.

Long as people realize that a nation is the enemy of Christ, that is all well and good! Christians celebrate every day of the year!

Good for them. Maybe they can then untwist their panties during December.

The banning of God's message and Son in the nation is fine!

No one's banned that here.

It is like a field getting ripe for harvest. Happy cavorting this season, folks. Just remember that Christmas was never about anything else but Christ. What you have after expelling Him is more akin to a pride parade than Christmas.

To-may-to, to-mah-to.

Thing is, you are wrong. What we call "christmas" is an amalgam of many different traditions, and always has been. The birth of christ aspect was added to it, despite not happening at that time of year, but it doesn't define it any more than November 2 defines American Independence Day.

Christmas has traditionally been the time of the year when the unbelievers were inundated with the message of Christ! Where the Spirit of giving, and loving others, and sharing was unstoppable!

Yeah, maybe. But the US has always been a nation where freedom of religion is an important right. That christians have hogged that right as if it belongs to them exclusively isn't the way it was ever intended to be. So the christian stranglehold on society is over.

Sorry, guys.

Even the normally secular artists often did a Christmas album or song! Hark..the angels are changing their from carols to trumpets!! Rejoice people of God.
There is no peace on earth, I said. The message of CHRISTmas is that the Prince of Peace came and will come to rule soon.

...and please buy our beer!

STAN FREBERG - Green Christmas (1958) - A Classic! - YouTube

-- A2SG, just 'cuz you changed the name on the door, don't think you've taken over.....

 

[dad]

Then I fail to see a problem.



That's an exaggeration, first of all. And second, well, you can't control how others celebrate the holiday. Not everyone celebrates the way you do, get used to it.

The issue is more that Christmas was celebrated a certain way, and some have banned the nativity scenes and plays and music, and whatever they can! Not everyone celebrates the way they do, get used to it. If I move into Mayberry, and try to get the people there to stop having a lot of things they like to have on Christmas, then I am not melting in, I am expecting them to melt to what I am. Multi culturism might be great if it started on Mars with no people, who might already have a Christian oriented civilization.

If you are truly celebrating that event, then why not celebrate it on the day it occurred, not the day it was moved to in order to coincide with the existing celebrations at the solstice?

Because you do not know the day, so why not pick one! That is what they did. Who knows, maybe it is the day.

But hey, if you want to move it to the solstice, fine. Just don't pretend there wasn't already plenty of traditions and celebrations already in place, like gift giving, decorating trees, exchanging cards, etc.

There was not plenty in place in the US! If Christians of long ago used certain days of the year for holidays, and tried to include Christ, that is a wonderful thing!

Um, dude...you have that freedom in abundance! Celebrate it publically all you want to, no one will stop you. No one.

So I can put up a manger scene in public, and have Christmas carols and plays about Jesus in the schools?

Just remember, you're not the only ones celebrating this time of year, so if someone doesn't share your traditions, well, you can't force them to. Live and let live.

Just remember that when we come into a neighbors house we live by their rules. Did not the people coming to the US know that Christmas was there?

And yet, it has.

Most of the traditions we celebrate at this time of year did not originate with christianity. Gift giving, decorating trees, exchanging cards, general revelry and celebration, etc. None of these originated with christianity.

Jesus gave His life. He gave us gifts and salvation. That is what it is about, not 'revelry'...or commercialism.

The birth of christ, actually, didn't take place in the winter at all. It was moved to that date to coincide with the existing celebration.

Says you. Try to prove that one! Hint: Sheep did move in the Israel winter, as sacrifices of sheep were happening all year!

By "they", you are now referring to native Americans, right?

No. I was referring to the Christians, who are also native. If you think that it should go back to natives, then don't be a hypocrite...give it back and leave. Remember that natives often took it from other natives.

Pagan society may not have survived intact to this day, but many of their traditions have.

In the hearts of pagans, no doubt! So?

On a date it didn't occur on.

Cut the claims, you don't know what you are talking about. You do not know what date it was!

Wanna join me in celebrating American Independence Day tomorrow?

No. There is a new holiday coming...Judgment Day.

And besides, if others wish to celebrate that event in a different way than you do, well, surely that's their business. You don't have the exclusive right to determine exactly how historical events are commemorated.

I did not invent Christ or His birth. You do not have a right to pretend CHRISTmas is anything but Christ.

It was a rhetorical question. Christians did that already when they moved the celebration of the birth of christ to December 25.

Maybe God did. Who knows? You sure don't.

So? As I said, you're free to celebrate December however you wish to.

As does everyone else.

Like I'd ask you.

Thing is, you are wrong. What we call "christmas" is an amalgam of many different traditions, and always has been.

Christ is what Christmas is about actually. If some folks want to pretend it isn't and invent some little ritual, fine!

The birth of christ aspect was added to it, despite not happening at that time of year, but it doesn't define it any more than November 2 defines American Independence Day.

False. You cannot say what time of year it was. Be honest. If a day is picked to celebrate it, then that' ll do anyhow.

Yeah, maybe. But the US has always been a nation where freedom of religion is an important right. That christians have hogged that right as if it belongs to them exclusively isn't the way it was ever intended to be. So the christian stranglehold on society is over.

If they are or were the majority, they have a right to hog.

 

[A2SG]

The issue is more that Christmas was celebrated a certain way, and some have banned the nativity scenes and plays and music, and whatever they can!

None of those are banned. Sure, nativity scenes aren't appropriate in public buildings (would you support a similar display depicting a scene from the koran, I wonder?) but that's it.

On the other hand, if you want to put a nativity scene on your own lawn, have at it. If you want to put on a religious-themed christmas play or concert at a private theater, have a ball. No one will stop you.

If I move into Mayberry, and try to get the people there to stop having a lot of things they like to have on Christmas, then I am not melting in, I am expecting them to melt to what I am.

Actually, that's a pretty good description of how christians have treated the solstice. They moved in on several existing traditions and celebrations and now expect everyone to celebrate what they say the day means exactly how they feel it should be celebrated.

Your example works against your point, my friend.

Multi culturism might be great if it started on Mars with no people, who might already have a Christian oriented civilization.

But we don't live in a christian dominated society, so some of us may choose to celebrate this time of year differently than you choose to. Freedom and all that.

Because you do not know the day, so why not pick one! That is what they did. Who knows, maybe it is the day.

Doesn't look like it:

A careful analysis of Scripture, however, clearly indicates that December 25 couldn't be the date for Christ's birth. Here are two primary reasons:

First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:7-8). Shepherds were not in the fields during December. According to Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays, Luke's account "suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night" (p. 309).

Similarly, The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary says this passage argues "against the birth [of Christ] occurring on Dec. 25 since the weather would not have permitted" shepherds watching over their flocks in the fields at night.

Second, Jesus' parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke 2:1-4). Such censuses were not taken in winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and roads were in poor condition. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating.
...
If Jesus Christ wasn't born on December 25, does the Bible indicate when He was born? The biblical accounts point to the fall of the year as the most likely time of Jesus' birth, based on the conception and birth of John the Baptist.​

According to the United Church of God.

There was not plenty in place in the US! If Christians of long ago used certain days of the year for holidays, and tried to include Christ, that is a wonderful thing!

The US was settled by people from Europe, whose traditions for christmas came from many different sources, incuding pagan influences. And many of those traditions remain, including the exchange of gifts, decorating trees, etc.

So I can put up a manger scene in public, and have Christmas carols and plays about Jesus in the schools?

Let me ask you a question: can someone put up a scene from the muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha on public property, say one depicting the ritual sacrifice of an animal and the distribution of it's meat among family, friends and the poor? How about some atheist group wanting to put up a display on public property denouncing any and all versions of a deity?

Same answer.

Just remember that when we come into a neighbors house we live by their rules. Did not the people coming to the US know that Christmas was there?

Did christians not know that pagans already celebrated the solstice? They most certainly did, as they moved the celebration of their savior's birth to that time.

Jesus gave His life. He gave us gifts and salvation. That is what it is about, not 'revelry'...or commercialism.

That's what it's about to you. For others, it's about different things.

The birth of christ, actually, didn't take place in the winter at all. It was moved to that date to coincide with the existing celebration.

Says you.

Says a lot of people, including the Biblical Archeological Society.

Try to prove that one!

I can't definitively prove he was born on any specific date. Neither can you.

And that includes Dec. 25.

Hint: Sheep did move in the Israel winter, as sacrifices of sheep were happening all year!

But was it warm enough for shepherds to watch their flocks at night? Did Roman censuses take place at that time?

The evidence stands very much against Dec. 25th, dude.

No. I was referring to the Christians, who are also native.

Native to North America? Seriously?

Dude, ever hear of the Mayflower?

If you think that it should go back to natives, then don't be a hypocrite...give it back and leave. Remember that natives often took it from other natives.

I was just pointing out that your description applies to native americans more than it does to christians, that's all.

Pagan society may not have survived intact to this day, but many of their traditions have.

In the hearts of pagans, no doubt! So?

Do you give gifts at christmas? Do you decorate a tree, or exchange cards with friends and family?

If so, then you're observing traditions that began in pagan societies.

Cut the claims, you don't know what you are talking about. You do not know what date it was!

Neither do you. But the evidence against Jesus' birth occurring on Dec. 25 is pretty strong, enough to discount it, certainly.

No. There is a new holiday coming...Judgment Day.

Ooookay then.

I did not invent Christ or His birth. You do not have a right to pretend CHRISTmas is anything but Christ.

Sure I do. I can say christmas is about anything I like. So can you.

The only difference here is I'm not pretending I have the exclusive right to declare what christmas means for everyone.

Maybe God did. Who knows? You sure don't.

Hey, if you want to present evidence for Dec. 25 being the definitive birthdate of Jesus, have a ball. I'd be curious to see what you came up with.

Like I'd ask you.

You don't have to ask me. I don't care how you, personally, choose to celebrate the holiday.

Christ is what Christmas is about actually.

To you. Not to everyone.

If some folks want to pretend it isn't and invent some little ritual, fine!

They have. In fact, they did it long before Jesus was born!

False. You cannot say what time of year it was.

Not definitively, no. And neither can you. However, given the evidence, I'm pretty confident it wasn't Dec. 25. What evidence do you have that it was?

Be honest. If a day is picked to celebrate it, then that' ll do anyhow.

Exactly. See, no one is disputing that you can celebrate the birth of your savior any day you want to. Just don't act like yours is the only celebration going on, when a lot of traditions predate yours.

If they are or were the majority, they have a right to hog.

Nope. Remember the first amendment, freedom of religion. Everyone gets that right, not just christians.

-- A2SG, even NON religious people.....

 

[Belk]

2013 War on Christmas
What happens on a typical Christmas other than the usual restrictions on Christian expression. (hint: wouldn't stop at just being "neutral" and preventing Christians from being "offensive".)

- Columbia University hosts “XMAS!”, a production where the Virgin Mary is seen begging for sex
- “Naked Holidays NYC ’09″ and “Filthy Lucre: A Burlesque Christmas Carol” are nude productions competing with gay shows titled “Santa Claus is Coming Out” and “The Gayest Christmas Present Ever” in New York City
- Those who want to see baby Jesus electrocuted can see “Hot Babes in Toyland,” while those who want to see a fetal rabbit morph into baby Jesus are advised to see “A Very Sandwich Christmas”, also in New York City
- “The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” is being performed in Philadelphia and features a discussion of Santa raping Vixen.
- Seattle is home to “Ham for the Holidays: Lard Potion No. 9,” a play that sparkles with a “teeny-tiny Sequin Gay Men’s Chorus.” Also in Seattle is “It Came from Under the Tree!: A Pickled Puppet Christmas Special” that features nudity and a Michael Jackson character who envies Santa’s way with children.
- “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” is being shown in Oakland, California - “Madonna’s Christmas Celebration,” one that features a sexual deviant dressed as the Virgin Mary: he/she talks about the difficulty of having sex with God, coining the phrase “Oh, my God” while having sex with him (this plays in several venues coast-to-coast).

The War on Christmas is really trending.

Social Trends:
https://www.facebook.com/WarOnChristmas a new page on the war getting ~2k fans in 2-3 days.
https://www.facebook.com/KeepChristInChristmas old page with 500k likes
T-shirt campaigns to Keep Christ in Christmas Keep Christ in Christmas - 7 Days only! | Teespring launching

News:
Bill O'Reilly started in late October.
Sarah Palin's new book on the war will be launching on 12th Nov.
Fox news &
The Christmas Candle showing support

How Should Christians react?
I think It's about time that Christians stood up for their First Amendment rights to free speech regarding our religion. That same amendment specifically "prohibits the making of any law that impedes the free exercise of religion," yet we have sat silently while our religious freedoms have been taken from us, one by one. Freedom of religion in America has come to mean freedom to be anything but Christian. Let's change that. A great place to start is by keeping Christ in Christmas.

Try living as a non Christian then come tell me how your freedom has been taken away by America.

 

[mpok1519]

Please just leave if you feel so persecuted.

Youre annoying the heck out of all of us and I just can't live my life the way I want to if all I hear is this nonsense about how life is just oh so terrible.
You're impeding my right to not have to listen to that depressing garbage.

 

[TerranceL]

Try living as a non Christian then come tell me how your freedom has been taken away by America.

It must be so hard to be in the majority.

Well, when you desperately want to be persecuted anyway.

 

[Glass*Soul]

The beatitudes create a puzzle for some, it would seem.

He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

The first 7 beatitudes represent attitudes that one can freely, and under any circumstances, choose to adopt. The 8th requires that one be acted upon by an outside agent. Yet, it is the 8th that is singled out for extra emphasis and explanation.

So, what is one to do when insults, persecution and such are not forthcoming?

One solution to the problem is to lower the bar as to what can be accepted as insults and persecution. Another is to up one's insult and persecution attracting behavior. I don't think either one is a good option. If the greatness of one's reward in heaven hinges upon the difference between a "happy holidays" and a "merry Christmas". that strikes me as reason to pause and reconsider the whole gist of the thing.

 

[Supreme]

There is no war on Christmas. Not here, not in the States, not anywhere in the West. If anything, our Christian festival has proved so popular that even atheists, Hindus and Muslims celebrate it, or at the very least observe it. Of course, Christmas means more to many people than Christ's birth- although that's the central theme for me, I love the secular aspects, such as the Christmas trees, the lights, the cheery music, the dark and cold nights, the presents, the abundance of food... love this time of year!

 

[dad]

There is no war on Christmas.

False. Of course there is, as much as there is a war against Christ. Why do you think He got booted out of schools? Out of public buildings, and many places? I am not saying they are winning, as you pointed out, Christmas seems to keep rollin right over them all! There are 2 sides in any war