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One company says 'Yes' to Christmas, and one says 'No'

September 22, 2009

A few years ago American Family Association noticed a trend among major corporations (which profit from Christmas sales) not wanting to recognize Christmas. Since that time we have been making the public aware of these companies while applauding those companies which are not making the "politically correct" decision to censor the word "Christmas."

We are pleased to see the Sears company is already offering a "Christmas Club" on its website. You may recall, AFA asked our supporters to contact Sears three years ago when it too was avoiding the word and Sears responding positively. Thank Sears the next time you visit one of their stores.

Well known retailer The Gap, on the other hand, has clearly indicated it WILL NOT use the term "Christmas" in any of its promotional advertising again this year. AFA has repeatedly contacted The Gap and spokesmen say they "don't want to offend anyone" by using the word Christmas. The Gap also owns Old Navy and Banana Republic.

We want you to stand with us and other Christians in proclaiming that Christmas is special, not just any winter holiday. And the gift buying that Americans do for one another is because of Christmas. People don't exchange gifts on Thanksgiving or New Year's Day.

Here's how you can take a stand for Christmas. AFA is making available an attractive button and sticker that carry this thought-provoking, Gospel-focused message: "God's Gift: Merry Christmas."

Purchase enough buttons for each member of your church and enough glossy stickers for each family to have one to go on their automobiles. Urge your fellow members to wear their buttons and display the glossy stickers during the entire Christmas season.

I'm asking individuals like you in thousands of communities across the nation to head up this project in their local churches. Your willingness to underwrite the cost for your church and enthusiastically promote this project is the key to making an impact in your area.

Order your pack of 10 buttons today, or, sponsor your entire church by choosing a Large or Small Church Packet or the NEW Display Box of 250 buttons.  And, we will include FREE SHIPPING on all Christmas buttons and stickers.  Click here to order.

 

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=============== COMMENTS ===============
10/28/2009 9:33:38 AM
How about this. Don't exchange gifts, rather sit together and celebrate with an advent wreath and reflect on he story of the birth of Jesus. If your idea of Christmas is where to shop than you have missed the boat. You want to celebrate the reason for the season then tell your grandchildren that all the money that was going to be used to buy gifts will be instead given to charity as I believe Jesus would have done.
10/24/2009 9:34:42 AM
I will be patronizing Sears, and avoiding Gap (as if I didn't, already).
10/23/2009 10:27:19 AM
"Christmas" (ie, the Dec. 25 holiday) was actually celebrated long before Jesus, and includes many Pagan customs, including Christmas trees, mistle toe and yule logs. Santa also isn't Biblical and has nothing to do with Jesus. Christians shouldn't focus on "Christmas" as such, but the birth of Christ!
10/22/2009 9:04:46 PM
Excellent. 5 Stars. Christmas is Jesus' Birthday. It is not just another winter holiday. If other religions are offended,tough. Deal with it. The ignorance of some of these posters is astonishing as it is obvious that some have been brainwashed by the cult of political correctness. JESUS is the Reason for the Season. I will only shop retail that use Christmas in their advertising. Ironic and hypocritical how some retailers will not acknowledge Christmas but do not mind making money off of it.
10/21/2009 9:27:49 PM
Another sign this has become a Christ-rejecting secular society, money is all these businesses are concerned with. It's time for Christians to 'wake up'--this is 'war'! Sober up! Be alert! We are now being 'persecuted'! As history tells it, Christmas was invented in 336AD by Catholics compromising with pagans. My faith is not disturbed if I don't celebrate Christmas. Let the devil have what's his festival of drunkenness and filth. Jesus is ALL we need everyday of the year! Our joy is in being right with God--and our laughter is genuine..not from eating, drinking and being merry for a season!
10/21/2009 6:46:35 AM
In other countries celebrations from imigrants are not truely welcomed, and we Americans allow others to bring and celebrate theirs on these lands, why should we be stopped by anyone to celebrate the reason for the season that allows for these freedoms in the first place. If some choose to not join in the celebration, why not share that with others? Let those support those who share in their joy for the Christmas season. Those who don't, don't, they can support who they want, that is the freedom of this country, and Gods love. I thank you for the informantion.
10/20/2009 12:31:16 PM
If you don't appreciate a particular store's policies, then don't shop there.
10/20/2009 8:28:06 AM
I think that this is not a big deal
10/18/2009 10:33:58 PM
I don't understand how a group of people with such a loving God can be so hateful. "...Christmas is special, not just any winter holiday." Other religious holidays are "just any other" winter holidays? You're disrespecting people of other religions.
10/17/2009 9:08:10 PM
Excellent! Thank you so much for keeping us informed about the truth. I am informing my grandchildren what stores we will NOT be shopping in for Christmas ... & they will be fine w/it, because they also believe JESUS is the Lord of all.
10/17/2009 12:32:12 PM
I am in no way ashamed to proclaim that JESUS IS LORD, and CHRISTmas is THE celebration of this truth. Those denying the reason for Christmas, ahould NOT profit. Maybe if this holiday "Offends" them, maybe they could close their business during this time, to confirm their hurt feelings and explain their reasons to their corporate office.
10/17/2009 7:53:42 AM
I wish we didn't call it Christmas. This holiday should be for EVERYONE, not just Christians. Christians don't OWN this beautiful season of lights, love, and giving. This article is about HATE. Religion is HATEFUL. Christians preach love, and promote hate when people don't do things the Christian way. Let's all just believe in a Creator, and leave organized religion out of it.
10/16/2009 2:17:58 PM
They don't want to use the work Christmas - I have the right not to use money in there stores. Turn about is fair play - right? Anne
10/16/2009 12:59:10 PM
I appreciate this information. I will cancel my Old Navy Card and no longer shop there. As a Christian, this is a slap in the face. They want the money, but could care less about the reason for their boost in sales.
10/15/2009 7:36:55 AM
Its about time you stuck up in Buying and VOTING.
10/13/2009 2:11:47 PM
Amen. We need to speak up in love as Citizens of Heaven (Eph 3:20).
10/13/2009 1:12:09 PM
It's time for these stores to realize they offend US by NOT mentioning Christmas.
10/12/2009 4:51:53 PM
Keep Christ in Christmas
10/12/2009 7:10:59 AM
We have to fight the constant erosion of our Christian beliefs that our country was built on. The anti-Christ is alive and well in Washington
10/11/2009 11:44:17 PM
If we could only celebrate one holiday it should be CHRISTmas. Why are people so quick to "allow" a few dictate to the masses? STAND UP PEOPLE!! "In GOD We Trust"
10/11/2009 12:40:16 PM
YES! God save the Christmas spirit over the world! Non-believers don't believe in it, so where is the offense?
10/11/2009 12:11:08 AM
I and my wife are 100% in favor of this movement and I've printed out copies of the button order form to present to my pastor so we can take a stand in our community of Fort Worth' Texas. God bless your efforts in this grassroots movement.
10/10/2009 9:10:39 PM
I just took the poll as to whether or not I was going to boycott stores that did not use the term "Christmas" in their stores and advertisements. I went out of my norm and said that I would not boycott those stores. Here is my reason: How will the employees and management of local stores know of our desire to see Christ placed back in the center of the Christmas season? We can't do that if we do not enter those stores. It may not make its way to the CEOs of those stores, but at least we can have a face to face encounter and possibly several divine appointments to share the Gospel if we say Merry Christmas to the employees of such stores and why we wish to do so. AFA, boycotting is not always the best resolution to cultural problems. Living the light of Christ in front of the lost who are blinded by Satan and sin (2 Corinthians 4:3-6) will go much further than always boycotting.
10/10/2009 6:07:31 PM
This is what is so wonderful about America. I am not offended by stores that refuse to say Merry Christmas, but choose to say Happy Holidays. I just choose not to buy my Christmas gifts there. If I were to buy Happy Holiday gifts then I would considered their store. Buy your gifts at stores that you are comfortable with. Don't support those that might be offended that you would give a Christmas gift with their product.
10/10/2009 12:43:46 PM
Another viewpoint: When one says "happy holidays", it encompasses all holidays. The easiest way around this is when one says, happy holidays, we can say Merry Christmas back. It is not about being in their face. Tell me, did Jesus 'boycott' those who didn't believe in Him? No, He ran straight towards them. What a chance for us to gear up our witnessing and have Jesus use us the way He intends.
10/10/2009 10:58:03 AM
JESUS is the ONLY REASON we have CHRISTMAS!!!!! We cannot take the CHRIST OUT OF CHRISTMAS!!!
10/10/2009 9:48:27 AM
I Will again be writing to a Hardware chain and an other store in my town this year. For 3 years I have written them that I would appreciate them putting Christmas back in there stores instead trying to appease a minority. If it wasn't for the birth of Christ it would just be another day to sell light bulbs and snow shovels. By bowing to complacency we have ended up where we are now, sitting on our hands, instead of stand up and saying something wrong. No wonder our Churches are in a decline.
10/9/2009 10:19:49 PM
I wasn't aware that Christianity had the monopoly on gift giving. There are a lot more religions than just Christianity, and if you count the number of people who are NOT Christian who will be doing their holiday shopping, I think you'll find that it's substantially more than the number who are. Why should people feel that only Christmas is being recognized? It's Happy Holiday's because there are many other cultures and religion's that celebrate during that time. America is a multi-cultural nation.
10/9/2009 6:42:36 PM
All people celabrate there own birthday and we all should celabrate jesus birth.Jesus was born to save and he does and i pray for all that dont celabrate the birth of christ ,People get ready Jesus is comimg.
10/9/2009 5:02:10 PM
Once again a good idea is being pushed too far! I will be happy to boycott stores that PROHIBIT employees from saying "Merry Christmas," but I won't support any organization trying to FORCE people to say it either! This is supposed to be about religious freedom, not religious suppression. If an employee of a company doesn't want to say "Merry Christmas" because they are Jewish or Muslim or Aethiest or any reason that is their right. I don't want my employer forcing me to wish people a Happy Channukah and that means I don't want my Jewish friends forced to wish me a Merry Christmas. Stay focused on the real issue: the anti-Christian sentiment and attempts to prevent us from exercising our religion!
10/8/2009 2:55:22 PM
DO YOU THAT WORK FOR OR AT THE GAP, OLD NAVY OR THE BANANA REPUBLIC KNOW WHY CHTISTMAS IS. IT IS BECAUSE ARE CHRIST WAS BORN. WE HAVE ENJOYED THIS SEASON BECAUSE OF THAT FACT. YOU NEED TO FOLLOW ARE HISTORY THE NAME CHRIST-CHRIST MAS (CHRISTMAS) GRT REAL. THANK YOU
10/8/2009 1:18:01 PM
I'm a little confused by the post that says, "I think we as a culture are forgetting why we selflessly give to others....." If it isn't because of our Christian pricipals, then WHY is it? I give to others because Christ gave so much to me - because in His Word, God tells me to put others first - I don't give Christmas gifts in the name of Jesus either - but I DO celebrate Christmas in HIS honor - remembering His birth - we give "birthday" gifts on our loved ones' birthdays, do we not? That's what they're called - they're gifts given in honor of the special day - the "birthday". So the gifts given in honor of Christmas should be CALLED Christmas gifts. Just my opinion.
10/8/2009 11:14:36 AM
MERRY CHRISTMAS! Spread the good news Jesus will be here shortly.
10/8/2009 8:28:56 AM
In addition I was just sent an email from Shutterfly.com for "Holiday" cards. I have emailed them and told them that I will not be purchasing from them this year as they are not giving me the option to buy Christmas Cards.
10/7/2009 4:33:18 PM
Blah. Who really cares? I will buy holiday gifts this season without the implication that I do so in the name of Jesus Christ. My Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Baha'i friends and family will receive my gifts as they always have in the spirit of love and giving, not necessarily in the spirit of Jesus. I think we as a culture are forgetting why we selflessly give to others. Capitalism is not solely a Christian ideal, and nor is the Christmas season.
10/7/2009 1:56:25 PM
If a store's publicity says "Happy Holidays", just politely inform the manager that you are shopping for Christmas gifts, not holiday gifts, and you're taking your business to a store that has Christmas gifts. There's no need to be mean or spiteful--the stores just need to remember what's been forgotten about America.
10/7/2009 8:42:27 AM
It is not Merry CHRISTmas for nothing. Jesus was born to deliver us from evil and Christmas is his birthday. It deserves to be celebrated. I do believe that it has become commercialized and needs to be redirected back you our lord and savior.
10/6/2009 8:32:01 PM
Some think this is about sales. Are you kidding? This is about telling Christians to "Shut up!" We do not force anyone to celebrate Christmas, and if retailers choose the phrase "Merry Christmas" then that is their right. Just as it is the right of the "offended" to not shop there. These stores sell clothing I don't always agree with , but I don't expect them to take it off their shelves. People amaze me!!!!!!! They will pay too much for a bowl of soup just so the chef will curse them out, but they complain about the phrase "Merry Christmas". WOW, How silly people can be about Christians. I am a child of God through Jesus!!! It's so nice to be saved!!
10/6/2009 7:25:33 PM
Christmas is not about shopping!
10/6/2009 2:08:39 PM
Although I don't believe Christ was born on "Christmas," I welcome the symbolism recognizing his birth. Although I believe that Christmas has been terribly commercialized, I DO BELIEVE THAT HIS BIRTH NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED. The secular move to quash recognition of Christmas has been an effort to destroy Christianity. I DON'T SUPPORT THAT!
10/5/2009 2:51:57 PM
I'm a Christian, and I am deeply saddened and appalled that the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has been reduced to "which stores will say Merry Christmas" in their advertisements and which do not. Why are we not addressing the rapid decline in church attendance especially during this time of the year?
10/5/2009 2:36:40 PM
This has nothing to do with a liberal or anti-Christian agenda. They're businesspeople trying to appeal to a broad audience for the sake of profit. If they determine that "Happy Holidays" is more profitable than "Merry Christmas," thank them for stimulating the economy and paying taxes.
10/5/2009 3:42:34 AM
It can not be Christmas without Christ.
10/4/2009 11:25:52 AM
by not buying their liberal agenda items we don't add dollars to their bottom line to continue to support non christian beliefs and morals
10/4/2009 8:44:28 AM
Good Idea. It needs to be done
10/4/2009 7:37:48 AM
Happy Holidays!
10/3/2009 6:52:08 PM
How unbelievably arrogant, materialistic and self centered we Christians have become. Has all that is meaningful about this holiday been reduced to mere consumerism? This is an attitude that I find disappointing and repugnant. No wonder American Christians have such a bad reputation.
10/3/2009 9:33:18 AM
I am all for supporting those businesses that honor the real reason for Christmas. I'm tired of the anti-christian attitude infiltrating our country. If it were not for our founding fathers and the favor and grace of our God, our country would not be where it is. We need His mercy more than ever before.
10/2/2009 9:38:13 PM
PRAISE JESUS!! Thank you AFA for your support in Christian values. We, as Christians, can not let the government or anyone take away every religious ethic we have. I would like to ask some of these so called leaders what is the difference in offending non-christians and offending Christians. They don't protect us as Christians, just like the judicial system protects the guilty but not the innocent. The guilty people keep getting more and more protection.
10/2/2009 1:40:35 PM
To all the anonymous, it's time to stand out and be noticed. The time will come when we all will be tried for our faith and it may be very soon.
10/2/2009 11:51:44 AM
guess I will 'fall into the Gap' from now on -- thanks!
10/1/2009 2:20:14 PM
God bless the AFA for reminding us what Christmas is all about.
9/30/2009 12:02:22 AM
Gap doesn't want to OFFEND anyone??? Well they have greatly offended me as a Christian! Not only by refusing to acknowledge CHRIST-mas for what it is but by the vulgar, trashy, racey posters and ads which they are well known for! If they do not want to offend anyone then they should fire those in charge of advertising because they have offended me, and thousands of others, year after year after year! Their failure to ackowledge Christ in Christmas is the last straw. We will no longer be purchasing from Gap. BTW, I hope that this offends them in the same manner that they have offended so many countless Americans who understand that there IS no Christmas without Christ.
9/29/2009 6:24:13 PM
I am all or Christmas. I am very sorry that I do not share the religious sentiment of the holiday but I so enjoy the festive spirit, the songs, even the gaudy decorations! It's a super holiday; the very King of holidays in my book and no amount of 'personal growth' and scientific reason will take that away from me! MERRY CHRISTMAS
9/29/2009 9:23:22 AM
Thank you for your wonderful work in support of American families. We appreciate you and these buttons will be a blessing for our family to wear. We always have worn the "Jesus is the Reason" pins and now we have something new. :)
9/28/2009 9:18:07 PM
Please post scripture to support our tradition of decorating, parties, and conspicuous consumerism. Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with how it is celebrated. How about this for a button? A picture of Christ's face and text that says: Where did I say that you should buy so much stuff to celebrate my birthday?
9/28/2009 9:04:08 PM
love what you do...by Sharon Reynolds
9/28/2009 12:31:10 PM
Wonderful job you do AFA
9/28/2009 7:29:06 AM
How are Gap's commercials trashy? Have you ever seen a Gap ad? If anything, they're the tamest out there. People are wearing clothes and dancing. They're not Abercrombie.
9/25/2009 2:30:00 PM
Christmas is not about shopping!!

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