The heat has been on for years and escalates annually demanding political correctness relative to the Christmas season. People are substituting the greeting of Merry Christmas with Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings. Christmas trees are referred to as holiday trees and Christmas itself is often shortened to Xmas. I am not upset about this, but I’m not impressed either.
I have no intention of forcing my beliefs on anyone else, nor do I have any desire to insult or offend those of another persuasion. And I recognize we are in an increasingly multicultural and pluralistic society. However, a poll taken in 2001 revealed that 72 per cent of Canadians state that they are currently connected to and or have roots in Christianity.
Moreover, while the Christmas message may be offensive to some, there is evidence to the contrary. Much of what I have read recently reveals that many international visitors as well as immigrants find it disappointing that Canada is losing the very thing that attracted them and brought them here; its Christian values and freedom.
One individual from another nation, a secondyear chiropractic student and an active practitioner of a world religion other than Christianity said, “We know Canada is primarily an Anglo-Christian society, so we don’t get offended at all if someone says to us Merry Christmas. We actually expect it.”
Another immigrant stated, “It causes me, an immigrant to this beautiful country, concern that Canada has become so politically correct that we are seemingly unwilling to acknowledge Christmas. I am not the only immigrant to feel this way. Others do too. This whole ‘let’s be politically correct thing’ – it’s getting out of hand…”
In my experience most attempts to censor the Christian message (Christmas or otherwise) has emanated not from recent immigrants, but from long term Canadians who have felt bruised or battered by some of the moral teachings of Christianity, encountered Christians who have lacked tact and tenderness, or have simply developed mild to moderate allergic reactions to truth (especially if it comes from the Bible or a professing Christian).
The message of Christmas is a powerful and positive one.
For me as a Christian to fail to share this wonderful news at this time of the year (or any other time for that matter) would not have me exercising political correctness but spiritual cowardice. So, allow me to repeat the angelic pronouncement. “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10,11).
May you, your family and your friends have a blessed Christmas!
— Pastor Ross Helgeton is senior pastor at Erskine Evangelical Free Church