Would you be willing to boycott stores that refuse to use the word Christmas?

Would you be willing to boycott stores that refuse to use the word 'Christmas'?

AFA will call for a boycott of a national retailer this Christmas

October 9, 2009

Christians celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Christ. It's a federal holiday and has always held a special place in the hearts of Americans. Yet there are those companies which feel that a public recognition of the birthday of Christ is not appropriate. Why? Because a few people may be offended!

In early November, AFA will choose at least one national retailer and ask you to boycott it until it begins recognizing Christmas in its "holiday" advertising. Will you let us know you will support our efforts by participating in the boycott?

Would you be willing to boycott retailers which refuse to allow the word Christmas to be displayed in their stores? Give us your answer.

Take Action!

Would you be willing to boycott stores which refuse to allow the word Christmas to be displayed in their stores? Click Here to take our online poll now!

Christians can take a stand and proclaim to our communities that Christmas is not just a winter holiday focused on materialism, but a "holy day" when we celebrate the birth of our Savior. We can do it in a gentle and effective way by wearing the "God's Gift - Merry Christmas" button.

Click a STAR to add your rating of this content

(average 2.5 out of 5)

=============== COMMENTS ===============

11/19/2009 8:47:21 AM
speak out to save christmas the way it should be.

11/17/2009 12:05:11 AM
No, don't let them bandaid their insult. Keep boycott thru Christmas season. Next year they should sing different tone!

11/16/2009 2:59:28 PM
If our religion is not recognized-then our money will not be either! It will be spent elsewhere...

11/16/2009 2:11:20 PM
Does it honor Christ for retailers to use the word Christmas? Has anyone ever heard the gospel through a sales catalog? Has anyone ever come to Christ by seeing the words "Merry Christmas" with a picture of Santa? I've done my research and Christmas isn't about shopping! If this offends you, that's not my intention! Celebrate Christmas in a way that honors our Lord. If you choose to boycott then go ahead, or go shopping with a sweet spirit, a bold witness and a handful of "Million Dollar Bill" tracts. (purchase at www.livingwaters.com) Then have fun this Christmas sharing the gospel!(ps-I'm a very, VERY conservative Christian)

11/16/2009 9:34:12 AM
People that are posting comments here have obviously NOT done their research. There are reasons for the boycott and it's not just because they refuse to use the word Christmas. IT's because they use other words and then exclude christmas. Plus, it's our right as Christians to boycott something if they do not adhere to our beliefs just as it's your right to not to come this website anymore.

11/14/2009 8:14:39 AM
So...it's OK to buy jeans, sweaters, and Legos in the name of Jesus to wrap and give away, because that, you know, keeps Christ in Christmas where he belongs and isn't all commercialized and tacky? Got it. You people crack me up.

11/13/2009 6:56:17 PM
The AFA has taken entirely the wrong approach here. Christmas was never meant to be a retail holiday. Let the pagans and materialists have their retail extravaganza. Return Christmas to being a spiritual and religious celebration. In fact, it's really a benefit to Christians for these retailers to remove Christmas from their advertising. I say, the AFA should call for Christians to give up the retail spending altogether. Stop trying to show the love of God with hundreds of dollars of material things. Show it with real acts of charity.

11/13/2009 4:21:06 PM
I was born in 1955 and have many fond memories of the Christmas holidays. What has happened in the past few years regarding a so-called "War on Christmas" has me puzzled. Many stores use the phrase "Happy Holidays" and now all of a sudden that phrase is seen by some Christians as completely unacceptable. However, I recall as a child hearing the phrase and receiving Christmas cards with the phrase "Happy Holidays." I think as Christians we need to step back and take a look at the big picture and not become that which we dislike in other cultures.

11/13/2009 12:11:37 PM
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Ignorance, Judgment, and HATE are the new Christian family values. You people have twisted and tweaked and made GOD'S word into what you want it to be. You all are the reason people are so turned off by Christianity.

11/13/2009 10:12:29 AM
Celebrate Christmas for what it is, Christ's birthday, otherwise I am offended. It is just more of the politically correct jargon that we all are subjected to. I am tired of it. Call a spade a spade, or am I being politically incorrect????"? Sorry!!!!!!

11/13/2009 10:06:25 AM
I don't understand. If you believe in your faith, why do you need some giant multinational corporation to affirm those beliefs? What does it matter what other people say or believe if you're secure in yourself? I'm a Christian and a liberal (no, I'm not being paid to post here) and I don't need any company to bolster my faith.

11/12/2009 6:08:49 PM
Christmas is not about shopping! The fact that you are harassing these companies to advertise Christmas is just emphasizing the commercialism of Christmas. Really - let's keep CHRIST in Christmas!

11/11/2009 3:30:06 PM
Most of these negative posts are from liberals who are paid by organizations to target Christian and conservative websites. Be cautious and aware. I think that sanitizing Christmas from the marketplace is secular hypersensitivity. In addition, the Freedom From Religion Foundation loses most of its cases because, even though it "quotes," legal precedent, it very clearly does not follow Constitutional law. In addition, they quote precedent out of context. Merry Christmas and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

11/11/2009 11:56:40 AM
IF we really want to put "Christ back in Christmas", then I don't think the most Christian way to go about doing that is boycotting a secular business b/c they don't slap a word on their marketing campaign that will give us an excuse as Christians for focusing on greed and excess in the name of Christ. Instead we could start with not focusing on buying an insane, inordinate amount of gifts for everyone that has absolutely nothing to do with Christ or the celebration of Christmas. We could LOVE people and actually act like Christians...

11/11/2009 8:39:17 AM
This is a case of Christian hypersensitivity. I am a Christian and I realize there are more holidays than just Christmas in the winter. If they put the word "Christmas" in their advertising then that would imply that people of other religions would not be as welcomed as Christians. This is a business decision - not one of persecution. Everyone calm down.

11/10/2009 4:47:39 PM
no i would not be willing to boycott stores simply because the will not use the word christmas. i think it is good that they r leaving the word christmas out because i feel that most people have lost sight of what christmas is all about. and for all the people standing around judging these companies and critisizing these companies thats not what true Christians do!!!!!!!!!!!

11/10/2009 12:23:10 PM
I would be more likely to boycott stores that gave in to the pressure of such an exclusionist campaign. The holiday season leads up to many holidays -- Christmas is certainly an important part of it, but that does not give us ownership of the 2 months leading up to the day!!! I will gladly not shop in those stores on Christmas Day itself. But I imagine that won't be difficult since ours is the ONLY holiday the recognition of all the stores closing. Perhaps we should be thankful for what we have and remember that Jesus believed in INCLUSION not exclusion.

11/10/2009 12:51:13 AM
first of all, if there was something like gee i don't know EVERYTHING, that offended Catholics you would be the first to announce how the first amendment doesn't cover that its profane blah blah. So why is it ok for other people to tolerate being offended but not you? Why do u care if capitalistic people participate in Christmas? Shouldn't you be home praising His name and not out shopping 4 material goods? Stay home and stay out of popular culture, you don't belong!

11/9/2009 8:02:37 PM
i'm willing...but what stores....it seems like you should have a listing or something.

11/9/2009 5:21:49 PM
Christmas is just the old pagan holiday Saturnalia duded up by the Catholics to sort of look like a christian holiday. It is not and never has been about jesus. It's just another day for materialism to triumph over love and good will to all men. Read my lips, "THERE IS NO WAR ON CHRISTMAS!" End of story.

11/9/2009 1:57:13 PM
Thank you for your continued efforts in making us aware of what is going on in the world around us. For years, we have prayerfully participated in boycotts that AFA has recommended. However, I have a question in regards to boycotting stores for lack of Christmas wording in their advertising. I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic were under Jewish ownership. If so, does that make a difference in their approach to leave "Christmas" wording out of their advertising? I don't mean to appear cynical. I am a Christian. And yes, Christmas is OUR Holy day. And yes, it is getting to be a more materialistic holiday as time goes by. . .

11/9/2009 6:27:13 AM
Some of the comments here are so negative. Yes, commercialism has deminished the meaning but that doesn't mean we should stop buying things altogether. Much of my family's Christmas money is spent on those less fortunate and it would be nice to hear "Merry Christmas" as we're making our purchases. And, of course it's the stores' right to choose what words to use in their advertising or in the store but shame on them for taking advantage of the season if they're not even going to acknowlegde the reason for it!

11/7/2009 2:46:01 PM
No I wouldn't because there is no so-called "War on Christmas". The7Sticks

11/6/2009 12:20:57 PM
I believe that intense commercialism has diminished the meaning of Christmas. It is a religious time and business has taken advantage of it in an over-the-top way. Therefore, I will boycott any business that uses the word Christmas in order to sell more merchandise that we do not need. I say put the Christ back in Christmas, not the business.

11/6/2009 11:21:29 AM
Yay AFA! Bless you all for continuing to be Salt and Light in this dark world! We are called soldiers of Christ because we have a duty to fight for what's right! We must not continue to sit back and do nothing! That is why we are in the mess we are in right now! The truth in love is this, Christ never told us to tolerate sin! Lets reclaim America for Christ!

11/3/2009 1:37:56 PM
I asked Toy r Us after trying to hawk 80 pages of toys this last week--how come no mention of Christmas? Thank you for contacting Toys "R" Us. We appreciate your input and opinion regarding our advertising. It is never our intention to disparage or single out any group in our advertising. We work very hard to find snippets of every day life to highlight, in a manner that appeals to our customers in a light-hearted way. The Big Book is not gear toward a specific holiday. It is a promotional add that we run during the month of November every year. We are very sorry that you find this particular ad objectionable and will take your concerns into consideration as we develop advertising in the future.

10/29/2009 10:41:43 PM
If it wasn't for the birth of Christ it would be just another day of the year to sell merchandise. Little by little God is being taken out of everything, even out of his own Birthday. When do we finally stand up and say enough is enough; the buck stops here! Sure it's their right to not display Merry Christmas, but it's my right to disagree and to stand up for what is right.

10/27/2009 11:15:50 AM
Let's see...shall ew Christians take the difficult road and bear witness to the gospel by picking up our cross and serving even those who would deny Jesus Christ just as our Lord did or shall we take the cheap road and utilize the manipulative political power games employed everyday in this fallen world to get our way regarding the use of "Merry Christmas"? Is it any wonder why more and more people want nothing to do with Jesus...when those claiming to be his followers employ the power of this age rather than the self-sacrificial servanthood power of the cross?

10/17/2009 3:45:35 PM
When Christians come together under God/Christ, we can make positive change in the world. And we can help stop or derail the efforts of those who are enemies of God and of humanity, really. Edwin Crayton Natchitoches, LA

10/15/2009 9:51:14 PM
If businesses want to sell products and not use "merry christmas" that is not only their right of course but not something I get upset about. If Christians are to say Christmas has become too comercial then it doesnt make that much sense to force retailers to use more religious language.

10/15/2009 9:48:45 AM
In many stores I've been in recently, I've already seen the Christmas decorations going up, but not a sign of the real Christmas story anywhere in which Jesus Christ was born into this world to ultimately die for our sins that we may be forgiven. It's sad to what our season of Christ and joy has gone to in this land, and this world. But Christ has already won the victory for us and we know the outcome; we win!

10/14/2009 12:14:59 AM
I went into a HOME DEPOT in Aurora, CO Southlands Mall location about 10 days ago. They had their Christmas decorations up already but no mention of Christmas anywhere. My Christmas $$$ will not return anytime soon.

UnMute Volume

CFC Member Number: 12037

Divisions of the American Family Association

American Family Radio keeps you informed and encouraged with Christ-centered programs and music!

OneNewsNow.com keeps you informed and engaged from a Christian point of view on issues that affect you.

OneMillionDads.com was begun to give dads an impact on all the negative influences our children are forced to contend with.

OneMillionMoms.com is an online community of mothers aimed at stopping the exploitation of our children.

The AFA Journal is a monthly publication of the American Family Association.

AFA Planned Giving helps you select the best means of leaving a legacy that lasts for generations to come.

AFAFilter.com is the Internet pornograpy filter recommended by the American Family Association.

AFA Supported Ministries

TheHomeschoolChannel.tv is a website that provides resources for home schoolers across the country and is a counterpart to the channel on the SkyAngel network.

Awaken Generation is a website dedicated to reaching out to a generation that has fallen asleep to Christ.

TeaPartyDay.com is a website that invites people to attend or organize a rally in their community.

The AFA Channel is now one of the many channels on the Sky Angel Network .

InTheFight.com is the website for the In The Fight Fellowship, challenging Christians to take a stand for Christian principles.

SpiritualHeritageTours.com offers guided tours to national historic sites with a Christian heritage.

Join Tim Wildmon for a Holy Land Tour March 12 - 20, 2010.