No matter what is done to undermine Christmas, the holiday won't go away. Two thousand years of persecution from outside (and from within) the Church hasn't ended Christmas.
Despite their varied reasons, there are just some people who like to attack Christmas. Even Christians will take potshots at Christmas under the right conditions. Some Christians take aim at Christmas because it looks "too Catholic." Others attack Christmas because it looks too "Evangelical."
We can come up with numerous reasons to attack Christmas. The tree next to the altar is a pagan symbol. There are too many carols. The Nativity scene is too Catholic. The dramatic reenactment of Jesus' birth doesn't seem historically accurate. The projection screens and footlights cheapen the solemnity of the day. Whatever the reason, Christians can also jump feet first into temptation and attack Christmas.
On the other hand, atheists resent how much noise Christians make about an arbitrary date on the calendar. For them, why make such a fuss about someone who's no more real than Santa Claus. For atheists, as well as some Christians, Ebenezer Scrooge made a good point about Christmas: "Bah, humbug!"
But, no matter what is done to undermine Christmas, the holiday won't go away. Two thousand years of persecution from outside (and from within) the Church hasn't ended Christmas. Countless attempts by other religious traditions to dominate the season haven't succeeded. The absorption of non-Christians symbols and rituals into churches haven't dimmed the truth about Christmas, that "To us, a child is born, to us, a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
The unhappy atheists and Christians who weaponize their self-congratulatory ideas and theologies refuse to accept the reason Christmas persists. They can't accept that Christmas isn't about a date on the calendar. It's not about trees, nativity scenes, musical styles, or other aesthetics. Christmas is a celebration of the One who's born to die for the sin of the world.
Christmas is a time of great joy and glad tidings for those who sit in darkness. And there's nobody more in the dark than the one who reduces Christmas to a "Bah, humbug" of "It looks too Christian" or, "It looks too Catholic" or, "It looks too Evangelical."
Christmas is about the birth of Christ “that mysterious revelation that brought joy upon the earth,” as Charles Dickens wrote.
So, as much as we may be tempted to attack Christmas, weaponizing our ideas and theologies of how Christmas "ought to be," maybe this year we all hit the reset button. Maybe the season is intended by God to be a time of repentance and joy at the birth of the Christ-child. A time when our Lord calls us to turn back to the One who sleeps on Mary's lap. Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping.
Christmas is a proclamation heard throughout time and space that, "This is Christ the King whom shepherds guard and angels sing, who was born to bring joy upon the earth."
