Christians used to complain about the overcommercialization of Christmas: Isn’t it terrible that stores exploit this sacred holiday just to make a profit?

Now, this year, some Christians are up in arms about a couple of retail chains that are using “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” on their literature.

Is it just me, or isn’t this exactly what we were asking for a few years ago? If we could wrestle the word “Christmas” away from the secular celebration it might help us to preserve its true meaning within the church. Frankly, I would rather that the moneychangers in the temple use “Happy Holidays” and leave “Christmas” to the Christians.

But I don’t see that happening. Our greatest threat is not this new worry that the word “Christmas” will be banished, but our long-standing concern that the word “Christmas” will lose its meaning. And when we force stores to use the word “Christmas” to sell blenders and video games, isn’t that what we’re encouraging?

I think this “Happy Holidays” issue is a tempest in a teapot started by religious protest groups that depend on controversy to drive donations and memberships. I mean, the phrase “Happy Holidays” has been around for decades. Why are we just now noticing it?

I had started writing a column about this for the newspaper a few days ago, but I don’t think I’m going to run it now. Someone was talking to me about the “Happy Holidays” issue this week and if I were to run the column now, this person would think I was responding to them, even though I really wrote the column before I knew their opinions on the issue.