Posted in Life

I knew Christmas was going to be a downer for me, again, this year when I saw Christmas displays in full force in the beginning of October.  This felling was reinforced when I went to buy a sweater in October, only to be told it was out of season, because October begins the holiday season.  This feeling has continued to fester and then I received this email from the American Family Association (AFA).

Best Buy Bans Use of Merry Christmas In Advertising

Best Buy has announced they will be using "Happy Holidays" this coming Christmas shopping season, and they will not be using "Merry Christmas."

Dawn Bryant, a spokeswoman at Best Buy Co. Inc., says their advertising will not be using the term "Merry Christmas." "We are going to continue to use the term holiday because there are several holidays throughout that time period, and we certainly need to be respectful of all of them," Bryant said. Click here for reference article.

While many other retailers have decided to return to the traditional "Merry Christmas", Best Buy will not be among them. Best Buy considers the use of "Merry Christmas" to be disrespectful.

But while Best Buy, the largest consumer electronics company in the nation, will not be mentioning Christmas, they sure do want the shopping dollars from those who remember the Reason for the season.

Normally, I agree with the emails the AFA sends me, but this one pushed a button, for some reason.  The reason is this; the inference that Best Buy considers Merry Christmas to be disrespectful.  The rep for Best Buy never said that.  What she said was their company has decided to encompass and resepect all the holidays during the season.  To be clear, I do not disagree that the season started with Jesus.  However, I don't find it wrong for the store to choose to respect all walks of life. 

If Best Buy had stated that they would not be selling items that are directly related to Christianity during the season for fear of disrespecting others, that would be an issue for me.  Any store that deliberately alienates Christ from Christmas is wrong.  However, they haven't done this.  Last time I looked at my address it still read USA, meaning they have the choice to do so.  They can choose to encompass the many holidays at this time of year.  The way I see it, saying this does not mean they are belittling the Christ holiday, they are choosing to accept all holidays. 

Since I have never shopped at Best Buy and its not likely that I will, this has no affect on me or my family.  However this email will result in thousands of people banning the store because it has chosen to be repspectful of everyone, including Christians.  The statement sent to me from AFA does not even imply that best Buy wants to be disrespectful of Christians or Christ's role in the season.  However, the AFA chose to interpret that to mean disrespect and then put it in print and bold for those on their mailing list.  By rephrasing the statement (incorrectly) they are doing what secular people have been doing with the Bible for centuries.

Perhaps there was more to the interview than was sent in the email.  Perhaps they focused on just that one sentence and re-phrased it themselves.  I do not know and was not given all the information with which to make an informed decision.  This happens with people who take one controversial verse from the Bible and preach it from the hilltops.  With  no context, background, or knowledge of clear intent, a person would not have enough information to discern the statement.  Then people get their undies in a bunch about it and retort with comments about crazy Christians and the Bible. 

All I am asking here, is that when making decisions this holiday season about what you will be buying, where you will be buying it, who is getting a card, what functions you will attend, and how you will glorify and thank God for Jesus, please make sure you are getting clearly informed.  Don't make decisions based on others' views, search the answers for yourselves. 

With each year, I find myself pulled more and more away from the world at this time of the year more than any.  Each year, I pray that all people will come to their senses and focus their attention on Jesus. 

These are my thoughts.