GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST

Last night, I watched A Charlie Brown Christmas.

When it first aired forty years ago, Charles Schulz was firing back against the commercialization of the Christmas season. He chose to place the focus on the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Charlie Brown found happiness when Linus reminded him of the true meaning of Christmas. His spirits were lifted when Linus explained:

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men'". That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie brown.

How politically incorrect!

Christmas is about the joyful celebration of God’s love for us, not getting the biggest aluminum tree you can find, maybe painted pink, as Lucy suggests.

Given today’s movement to sterilize Christmas by banning references to Christ, it’s ironic that the message of the 1965 program was precisely to protest the elimination of the religious meaning of Christmas. Obviously, Charles Schulz revealed the Peanuts gang to be a bunch of Christians. Linus is such a fanatic he can even recite Bible verse.

I’m sure the networks would never let that off the ground today. It has the potential to alienate children of other religions or trouble those being raised to believe that there is no God. The program would have to be filled with inclusive references and disclaimers if it were made today.

I guess it continues to air annually because the network executives know it gets ratings, always putting profit ahead of principle. They also probably think that it’s part of American “holiday” tradition and no one really pays attention to its message anyway.

The message of A Charlie Brown Christmas couldn’t be more in your face in terms of taking a specific religious stand. It could be viewed as promoting Christianity, not only decrying commercialism. The program is truly a vestige of the past.

For years now, the trend has been just the opposite of what Charles Schulz championed. Rather than protesting the secularization of the season, some want the connection between the celebration of Christmas and Christ to become almost taboo in American society.

It’s considered insensitive to wish someone a “Merry Christmas.” That could make non-believers uncomfortable if exposed to those horrible words.

According to some, that's a sign that war has officially been declared on Christmas. It’s been deemed inappropriate to call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree. The politically correct public square has decided to go with a zero tolerance policy for Christmas carols. Stores have decided not to refer to Christmas in their advertising.

Personally, I don’t feel threatened by any of that. It doesn’t impact my celebration of the birth of Christ, nor does it affect my immediate family. I suspect I would feel differently if I had to deal with public schools. I'm sure if my family’s right to exercise our beliefs was hindered by loony PC teachers I'd be much more bothered by it. Thankfully, I'm spared the need to challenge that injustice.

On the flip side, I think that the outrage expressed by some Christians over the War on Christmas is a bit misguided to say the least.

For instance, some conservative Christians are bent out of shape about the White House Christmas card. They charge that it is a secular greeting and that Bush has sold them out. That is ridiculous.

The card has a verse from the Bible, Pslam 28:7, clearly in Christian tradition.

How did Bush stab Christians in the back?

"The Lord is my strength and my shield;
In Him my heart trusts;
So I am helped, and my heart exults,
And with my song I give thanks to Him."

What is secular about that? The White House card certainly isn’t referencing the "holiday" Lord; it refers to Christ the Lord.

By far, to date, the most disturbing aspect of the War on Christmas comes from some Christians.

From the Associated Press:

This Christmas, no prayers will be said in several megachurches around the country.

Even though the holiday falls this year on a Sunday, when the churches normally host thousands for worship, pastors are canceling services, anticipating low attendance on what they call a family day.

Critics within the evangelical community, more accustomed to doing battle with department stores and public schools over keeping religion in Christmas, are stunned by the shutdowns.

It is almost unheard of for a Christian church to cancel services on a Sunday, and opponents of the closures are accusing these congregations of bowing to secular culture.

…The churches closing on Christmas plan multiple services in the days leading up to the holiday, including on Christmas Eve. Most normally do not hold Christmas Day services. However, Sunday worship has been a Christian practice since ancient times.

Cally Parkinson, a spokeswoman for Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., said church leaders decided that organizing services on a Christmas Sunday would not be the most effective use of staff and volunteer resources. The last time Christmas fell on a Sunday was 1994, and only a few people showed up, she said.

"If our target and our mission is to reach the unchurched, basically the people who don't go to church, how likely is it that they'll be going to church on Christmas morning?" she said.

Among the other megachurches closing on Christmas Day are Southland Christian Church in Nicholasville, Ky., near Lexington, and Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, outside of Dallas. North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga., outside of Atlanta, said on its Web site that no services will be held on Christmas Day or New Year's Day, which also falls on a Sunday.

The AP article cites criticism from the evangelical community. I’m not a member of that community. However, as a Catholic, I am adding my voice to the criticism.

If my priest came out next weekend on the third Sunday of Advent and announced that we would not be having a Mass on Christmas Day because it's a family day, I would never go back to my parish church again.

The reason that families are gathering is to celebrate the birth of Christ. If one had to choose, the gatherings should be cancelled if the day is too busy, not the church service.

It is unimaginable to think that the Pope would sign off on no Christmas Masses.

I am far more troubled by the decision of these megachurches to cancel services than I have been by any of the other supposed assaults on Christmas. This is the worst attack yet. It makes all the outrage over the White House Christmas card and holiday trees and holiday sales seem like much ado about nothing.

The message these megachurches are sending is that the church serves the people rather than the people serving God.

Apparently, these churches think it’s acceptable to disregard the third commandment, “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.” They don’t want to screw up social plans by actually holding worship services on the day that Christianity recognizes as the birth of Christ.

Without question, this decision by Christian churches has to be seen as the most grievous assault on Christmas.

How can churches not offer members the opportunity to attend Christmas Day services? It is a religious, holy celebration.

As Linus said, "That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."