What is the 'War on Christmas' and how should Christians respond?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The “War on Christmas” refers to societal pressures that downplay or remove Christ from Christmas celebrations, often replacing it with secular greetings like “Happy Holidays” or discouraging public displays of nativity scenes. While the Bible doesn’t directly address this issue, it gives principles for honoring God, teaching His truth, and responding to opposition with love rather than anger. Christians are called to speak the truth in love, letting the Holy Spirit minister through their words and actions. At its core, opposition to Christmas is spiritual, not merely cultural or political. By keeping Christ central, celebrating intentionally, and responding with grace, Christians can honor Him despite societal pressures.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament provides principles about honoring God through our celebrations. . God rejects rote worship and requires that we honor Him with our hearts in all our celebrations. The Lord sent Amos to rebuke Israel because they were carrying out the proscribed celebrations but not honoring God through them: “For thus says the Lord God . . . ‘I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen’” (Amos 5:3, 5:21-23). Christians should always keep the birth of Christ central in all Christmas celebrations and lovingly resist secular efforts to eliminate Him from the holiday.
• Through Isaiah, God reproached Judah for their heart condition: “. . . this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me . . .” (Isaiah 29:13). Christians’ celebrations of Christmas should be more than just saying “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays.” It should be keeping Christ central in the celebration; setting that example is the best way to combat society’s “War on Christmas.”

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Satan will do everything he can to keep our focus off of God. We don't want to allow the "War on Christmas" to get us riled up and respond out of anger at or fear of what we see going on. The Bible tells us to keep our eyes (mind, heart, attention) fixed on Jesus—He is our example of how to respond in all circumstances (Hebrews 12:2-3).
• Even when we resist efforts to remove Christ from Christmas, we should continue to pray for those who oppose us, that they would find Christ (Matthew 5:44-45).
• Christians should respond to the “War on Christmas” by celebrating Christmas! We should remind ourselves and teach others the real meaning of Christmas in our homes and let the joy of Christ's birth shine through in our lives (Luke 2:10-11).
• In discussions about the “War on Christmas,” Christians should speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). When we allow God's love to flow through our interactions with others, the Holy Spirit can minister to them in ways we may not even realize.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Many in our society perceive a concerted effort to disassociate Jesus Christ from the Christmas holiday; this has been called the “War on Christmas.” The main way this is done is by removing the word "Christmas" from public discourse. For example, advertisements and media will say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Stories of people complaining of or trying to sue over nativity scenes being on display or Christmas programs occurring in public schools because it offends them are more and more common these days.

One reason given for avoiding the word "Christmas" is so as to not offend non-Christians. One problem with this reasoning is that Christians could use the exact same argument, saying it offends them when people say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Deliberate attempts to remove Christmas in the name of "tolerance" and "inclusion" actually result in intolerance and exclusion of Christian values. Though often described in political terms, the bias against Christmas and its meaning is, at its root, a spiritual issue, not a political or personal one (Ephesians 6:12).

UNDERSTAND

• The “War on Christmas” seeks to secularize or downplay Christ’s birth.
• Christians should keep Christ central, celebrate intentionally, and share His truth with love.
• Christians are called to respond to the War on Christmas by honoring God through a truthful and loving witness.

REFLECT

• How are you keeping Christ central in your own Christmas celebrations despite cultural pressures?
• How can you intentionally teach and share the true meaning of Christmas with others?
• How do you respond when you notice Christmas being secularized or criticized around you, and how can you do this in a loving, godlike way?

ENGAGE

• How can we as believers encourage one another to celebrate Christmas in a way that honors Christ?
• What practical steps can we take to show love and grace to those who oppose or ignore the spiritual significance of Christmas?
• How can we balance cultural sensitivity with faithfully sharing the truth of Christ’s birth in our communities?