'Merry Christmas' is back!

By Grant Swank

It all comes down to God incarnate.

America cheers "Merry Christmas," not "Happy Holidays."

I noted "Merry Christmas" in front of Rose's Restaurant yesterday. I noted the same on TV shows last week. Last night's local news kept hyping the lighting of Portland, Maine's "Christmas tree" in Monument Square.

When in Truro, Nova Scotia last week, I was delighted to see a huge manger scene configured in the Emporium's large front display window.

Thank you, Jesus.

The Washington Times' Cheryl Wetzastein confirms that "retailers shouldn't be shy about wishing customers a 'Merry Christmas.'"

Well, do tell.

If it were not for Christ, there would be no Christmas. Duh.

If it were not for the magi presenting gifts to baby Jesus, there would not be gift giving.

If it were not for the star over Bethlehem, Christmas trees would not be topped with stars.

If it were not for the angelic choir singing "Glory to God in the highest," there would be no plethora of angels.

If it were not for the manger in a stall, there would be no marketed nativity scenes.

If it were not for the incarnation, there would be no public "Messiah Sing-alongs."

If it were not for God becoming one with us there would be no hope of saving grace, no Calvary cross, no resurrection, no ascension and promise of Christ's return as King.

"Happy holiday" won't cut it. All that does is up the cash register cling and drunk the drinkers. Happy happy happy holidays holidays holidays. Even the more you repeat it, it does absolutely nothing in comparison to "Merry Christmas."

Let the atheistic regimes "Happy holidays" till they fall off their chairs. But in those nations with the Judeo-Christian heritage, we have the apex — "Merry Christmas." And we are going to keep that ringing and ringing and ringing all around the world until the King appears to receive His own.

"A new survey found that 67 percent of American adults prefer the holiday-specific greeting (that is, 'Merry Christmas') in seasonal advertising, while only 26 percent want to see 'Happy Holidays.'

"There wasn't a gender gap in the answers: Both men and women like seeing 'Merry Christmas' in store windows, according to Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, an independent polling company.

"But from a political perspective, there was a sleighful of difference: 88 percent of Republicans wanted to see 'Merry Christmas,' while just 57 percent of Democrats favored it."

Like would not evangelicals know that? The Republican Party is the party full of life breathing Bible believing Christians whereas the Democrats have given themselves to death —

• death to unborn infants,
  
  
• death to the biblical definition of marriage and family,
  
  
• death to biblical morality,
  
  
• death to America's Judeo-Christian tradition,
  
  
• death to worship except for their own campaign political opportunism,
  
  
• death to the biblical deity.
  
  

"In 2005, Target stores ditched the use of the word 'Christmas' in promotional materials, but the retailer decided to resume using it after immense public pressure.

"Also in 2005, Wal-Mart prohibited its employees from wishing customers 'Merry Christmas,' opting instead for 'Happy Holidays.' That decision was protested by religious groups, among them the Catholic League, which boycotted the retail giant. Wal-Mart announced during the 2006 holiday season that it would return to using the words 'Merry Christmas.'"

It may sound worn but the forever truth is very much there — "the Reason for the Season: Jesus."

So to you and yours: "Merry and Blessed Christmas!"

© Grant Swank