Linus Had it Right

CHARLIE BROWN: I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about. Isn't there anybody who knows what Christmas is all about!?
LINUS: Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
WALKS TO CENTER STAGE
Lights please.
LIGHTS GO DOWN, SPOTLIGHT ON LINUS AS HE RECITES LUKE 2:8-14
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock 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 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.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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.
LIGHTS COME BACK UP AS LINUS WALKS BACK
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

This dialogue between Charlie Brown and Linus, found in “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” is perhaps one of the best known discussions on the true meaning of Christmas found in any Christmas TV Special.

Christians have been celebrating Christmas on 25 December since the fourth century A.D. Did the birth of Christ actually take place on 25 December? I think a viable case could be made otherwise. But that is not the focus here.

Christians take one day a year to reflect on the birth of Christ—the first advent of Jesus—God in the flesh.

Today, however, many other traditions have been mixed in with Christmas. There should be one day set apart from the rest honoring that one person who is still followed today by 40% of the world’s population (and especially in a country where three out of four people claim to be Christian).

We no longer decorate Christmas Trees. We decorate Holiday Trees. We no longer greet one another with “Merry Christmas.” We instead offer a “Happy Holidays.” The Christmas Season is now called the Holiday Season.

It seems we have come to the point where the traditional practices of 75% of the nation are under assault. Christians are labeled “exclusionary” when they assert their freedom to enjoy the celebration of Christmas. What is ironic is that those who push to exclude Christmas are the ones being exclusionary.

This is America—celebrate anything you want. Just don’t take that one day away from the 75% who celebrate Christmas the same way their ancestors did since the birth of our nation.

If I were in a predominately non-Christian nation, I would expect the majority of people in that nation to celebrate non-Christian “holidays.” And I certainly wouldn’t whine about it.

So, go ahead. Decorate your Christmas Tree if you want. Offer a hearty “Merry Christmas” if you want. What’s the worst that could happen?