I got an email from the American Family Association asking me to sign a petition threatening companies that do not use “Christmas” in their advertizing at this time of the year. Here is the complete text of the email:

Companies Ban ‘Christmas,’ Not Worried About Backlash

Dear Thomas,

Several retailers have joined in the push to ban the use of “Christmas” in their in-store promotions and retail advertising. The new push to eliminate “Christmas” and replace it with “Happy Holidays,” “Season’s Greetings,” etc. is gaining ground with several retailers participating.

Not wanting to offend a handful of complainers, these companies are willing to offend the vast majority who hold Christmas as a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. Their attitude is that those who identify themselves as Christians don’t care if they eliminate “Christmas.”

While it is too late to make changes this year, we have already sent letters to several major retailers we have identified as participating in banning “Christmas,” asking them to put Christmas back into their in-store promotions and retail advertising next year. We have sent letters to the chairmen of Target, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Kmart/Sears, Costco, Kohl’s and Lowe’s about their practice. (Lowe’s even refuses to promote their trees as Christmas trees, but calls them “Holiday Trees.” Their toll-free number is 1-800-445-6937.)

Please sign our petition letting these companies know that banning “Christmas” in their promotions and advertising next year will result in a loss of business. As we identify other companies participating in this practice, we will contact them.

We need your support to be effective. That is why we need your petition. Please help us get the word out by forwarding this to your friends and family. Many of them will want to participate. We will keep you informed on which companies make changes and which ones refuse.

Click Here To Sign The Petition Now!

Thanks for caring enough to get involved.

Sincerely,

Don

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

P.S. “There is an anti-Christian bias in this country, and it is more on display at Christmas season than any other time.” – Bill O’Reilly, The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel (Speaking about the decision of Target and other stores to ban the use of “Merry Christmas” in their stores and advertising.) Please forward this e-mail message to your family and friends!

Isn’t it interesting where we evangelicals often choose to draw battle lines with the world? We take personal offense when retailers make marketing decisions that have absolutely nothing to do with biblical standards of morality and yet heartily support them when they blatantly violate biblical standards. The Bible says nothing about Christmas–either as a special day to be observed or a term to be included in marketing (for the record, I do celebrate Christmas, but not because I think I am biblically obliged to do so). So, why should Christians be exercised when retailers don’t advertize “Christmas” specials?

On the other hand, the Bible does teach that one day in seven should be set aside for special observance in recognition that God is the Creator and we are His creatures. Yet, many (most?) Christians have no qualms about going to the mall on Sunday or treating it as no different from any other day of the week. Even conservative Southern Baptists reduced the Baptist Faith and Message in 2000 on the observance of the Lord’s Day. I have always been confounded by those (like AFA) who argue loudly for the public display of the 10 Commandments and yet who do not seem to care that those commandments are virtually unknown and largely unregarded in our evangelical churches.

So count me out of the boycott. I will save my bullets for the real war.