Macon, Georgia is known as the Song of the Soul of the South. It is a city that holds tightly to heritage and culture dating back to when Native Americans were the sole occupants of the land.

A bronze-plated plaque adorns a World War II memorial that sits atop a hill overlooking Macon, Georgia. On the plaque are the names of the Macon men who died while serving in the military. One of those names is Baptist Missionary John Birch.

John Birch was shot on August 25, 1945 by Chinese Communists while leading a group of Americans, Chinese Nationalists and Koreans on a mission to reach Allied personnel in a Japanese prison camp. 13 years after his death, an American political advocacy group formally instituted the John Birch Society to oppose that which veers away from fundamentalist Christian principles in political arenas.

In 1959 the John Birch Society published a pamphlet called “There Goes Christmas.” In it, they claimed Christmas was under attack. They warned that the United Nations were trying to take the Christian meaning out of Christmas – thus giving Communists a leg up by wrecking a religious pillar of American society (Christmas) by taking the Christ out of it.

Every year since, groups of Christians spend a fair amount of mental and physical energy in outrage over the absence of the Baby Jesus in some place or other. They raise eyebrows at a greeting of “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” They scoff at the shortcut X-mas. They re-post messages of disgust at Michelle Obama for calling the White House Christmas Trees, Holiday Trees. (Not true, by the way).

There is indeed a war on Christmas. However, it looks nothing like the outraged Christian thinks it does. It is much more subtle than the removal of a nativity scene or hanging Kwanza ornaments on a Christmas tree.

The war is against the Christ-follower’s heart. You see, Satan isn’t after those who don’t believe in Jesus. The guy who says “Happy Holidays” intentionally to avoid saying the word “Christmas” poses no threat. Satan knows this. He would much rather a Christ-follower get all bent out of shape and expend copious amounts of energy in complaint, boycott, electronic slander and gossip over things that have very little to do with our personal salvation. Because when we do any of these things we are not:

1. Praying

2. Celebrating Christ, or

3. Demonstrating love

Is your salvation lessened because someone wishes you “Season’s Greetings” instead of “Merry Christmas”? Of course not. However, if you take offense and begin to slander the store and employee – now what’s at stake?

Your heart condition.

For the past 50+ years in North America, Christians have been distracted by a global “war on Christmas” not even recognizing that it is creating war in their hearts. Don’t use the perceived war on Christmas as an opportunity to take your focus off of Christ. Don’t use it as an excuse for bad behavior. Don’t spread gossip, propaganda or untruths about anyone because of what you think they believe or don’t believe. Let it stop with you.

Peace on earth will come when Christ’s people let the Prince of Peace rule their actions. Don’t let your heart be filled with war. On Christmas.

I found this trailer after I wrote this post… enjoy:

~ Peace.
Kimberly Parker