James Martin is a Jesuit priest, the culture editor of America magazine, and author of numerous books, including The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life (2010). In his recent article, “The War on Christmas is Over . . . and Christmas Lost,” Martin suggests that “in public discourse the holiday has been distanced from the holy day.” He argues that Christians have been losing for a long time and that this is the year he is willing to declare that Christians have lost the war on Christmas. Now, the event, previously known as Christmas, is either nameless or goes by many names and involves excessive spending over a multiple month period. The religious component, for those who recognize such, has been compartmentalized and the size and significance of the compartment continues to shrink.
So What?
Rather than ignore the changed culture, Martin suggests Christians recognize their new position in it and respond accordingly:
. . . surrender. Stop fighting. Enough with the embarrassing and endless “War on Christmas.” It’s embarrassing because we’ve lost. It’s a waste of time because corporations have more financial firepower than churches, and the consumerism will only to get worse. Get ready for Santa to show up around Labor Day. (You laugh now; you won’t in a few years.) Can’t fight City Hall? Much less can you fight Madison Avenue — which has more money than City Hall. Give it up.
But, post-war, all is not lost. My advice is to go underground: engage in some nonviolent protest and some passive resistance to the new regime. Keep Christmas holy in your heart. Read the Scriptures. Sleep late next year on Black Friday. Refrain from buying stuff that no one needs. Tell everyone else not to buy you so much stuff. Spend less. Turn off QVC and turn on a CD of Christmas hymns. Don’t even open those emails from J. Crew and Eddie Bauer and L.L. Bean. Send cards not to 100 people, but 10. Pray more. Buy fewer gifts for fewer people. Set a limit on visiting department stores. Remember that Macy’s can’t tell you what to believe in. Cut back on the holiday parties. Stop eating so many cookies. Don’t get sucked into the craziness.
I encourage you to engage in introspection:
- What does it mean to you to “keep Christmas holy in your heart” or to “keep Christ in Christmas” this year?
- In the dominant culture, the holiday season has grown over time. While many Christian groups have always celebrated Advent, other denominations, churches or individuals are discovering it for the first time. What has your experience of Advent been in recent years? If you have celebrated it for many years, how might you approach it as if for the first time? If you are just uncovering the richness of Advent, how might you learn from those who have celebrated it for years?
- What are your family’s Advent and/or Christmas traditions? How do these help shape the rest of your experiences during this holy month?