starbucks didn't steal your christmas

It’s the holiday season.  A time when Christians can often be found fighting for their rights.  Arguing with Target over a holiday greeting. Boycotting Starbucks over a red cup.  Suing the county over a manger scene or a cross on the tree.

I get it. 

I get that Christians want Christ represented in Christmas.  I do too.

But Christians were never and will never be called to fight for our own rights in that way. 

In fact, what Christians should be much more concerned with, is fighting for the rights of others.  At the cost of our own rights and privilege. 

This Christmas season, rather than fighting for the word Christmas, fight for the heart of Christmas… a Savior coming to the world to spread Good News, to proclaim freedom to prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and releasing the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19).

If we, as Christians, are concerned about the meaning of Christmas being distorted, then we should look inside ourselves to see what we have made it about.  Because Starbucks can’t steal our Christmas.  The spirit of Christmas does not reside in a greeting or on a cup.  It resides within you.  Rather than fighting for how we feel Christmas should be celebrated, we should be laying down our own privilege and using the Christmas spirit to love the weak and lonely, give to the poor, and share hope with the hopeless.

Without pomp and circumstance, let’s spread holiday and Christmas cheer in the way that it came into the world: humble, lowly, and freely.