Is it displeasing to God for a Christian to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"

Question

Is it like when Peter denied Jesus three times in the bible?

Answer 1

Since the celebration of Christmas is not found in the Bible, I don't think it is displeasing to God at all to say "Happy Holidays".

Also, "Happy Holidays" includes all of the holidays during this time of year. To me "Happy Holidays" is very appropriate and a lot easier than saying "Happy Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and/or what ever other events you may or may not celebrate."

For me, I place no religious significance on Christmas. Since I am a Christian, I believe the authority for the things I believe and practice religiously should come from God's word. Since Christmas is not found in the Bible, I have no authority to add it to my religion.

Jesus has "all authority" and He told the apostles to teach the things He had commanded. (Matthew 28:18-20) Since neither he, nor the apostles, taught the celebration of Christmas, if I add it to my religion, I must do so by the authority of men. "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)

I celebrate Christmas as a special time to spend with family and friends and show my love to them by being together and exchanging gifts, but it has no religious significance over any other time of the year.

For religion, I seek authority from God's word.

Since Christmas has no religious significance to me, I don't care if you say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings". Either way, I am thankful for the greeting and well-wishes.

As a reminder of Christ, I partake of the Lord's Supper on the first day of every week, precisely as Jesus and the apostles instructed (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11, Matthew 26).

Answer 2

I'm a Christian, and I have no problem saying "Happy Holidays". Christians are not the only people on this planet. I encounter many different people from other religions and cultures, and a lot of them observe winter holidays other than Christmas. What is the harm, exactly, in wishing somebody a happy Hanukkah, Yule, or any other holiday? What would displease God about showing a little courtesy toward others?

Answer 3

I usually say Merry Christmas, because it upsets me how people have to be so politically correct that they can't even acknowledge a holiday, that like %99 of Americans celebrate. However, I don't think it is "displeasing to God" to say happy holidays. That term has been around for a long time as far as I know, and used to be in reference to Christmas and New Year's and possibly Thanksgiving, so as to include the whole holiday season.

Answer 4

I think it a Christian says "Happy Holidays" with an intention to make someone's day brighter, that would matter more rather whether he said Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas is a phrase that doesn't make much sense anyway, really. Jesus was born, but we dont' know exactly when. We can selebrate His birth at any moment, anywhere. To tell someone "Jesus is Born" would be more suitable for a Christian rather "Merry Christmas". Merry Christmas phrase has a stretched meaning behind it, and I dont' think God would be displeased if you sayd "Happy Holidays" instead.

Answer 5

No it is not displeasing to God to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". This is what I base my answer on,, which by the way I think God would be more pleased with

Romans 12:18

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

So it doesn't matter which way you say it.,,,bottom line is if you know it upsets someone,, say it the way it makes the most peace between you

Answer 6

Since God is a perfect being, it would be impossible to be displeased..Since he has made everything, there is nothing he could overlook, forget ,not include, or even be surprised of something that occurred..When you speak of Peter in the Bible, These are earthly finite things that occurred.As Jesus predicted,beforehand.. God is all knowing..So ,He knows what has happened, will happen and has allowed whatever to happen..God couldn't care what anyone called any holiday,because he already knew what any and everybody has and will say and do from the beginning of everything.. Do you now realize how silly your question and any question you ask about God is, or what his feelings are or would be?? If God exists, he is INFINITE..That means not of this world and no beginning and no end.. YOU are finite, meaning of this world,with a beginning and an end.. YOUR mind isn't capable of understanding ANYTHING about God or what he feels or thinks.. You can only think from a finite( or limited) field of view!! So just keep your faith, if you have faith, and hope what you think is correct!! Leave God to God!! SOLOMON

Answer 7

No. It doesn't. Although we celebrate the birth of Christ, Christmas is not a biblical holiday.

In the western world the birthday of Jesus Christ has been celebrated on December 25th since AD 354, partly to replace the pagan worship that was commonplace in those days. However, we can be fairly sure that Jesus wasn't actually born on that date.

The Bible tells us that shepherds were staying out in the fields overnight when Jesus was born (Luke 2:8), but in that part of the world it would have been far too cold at night to do so in December. What is more likely is that He was born in the Spring, perhaps between March and May. Whatever the time of year, it is virtually impossible to identify the actual date.

This situation is further complicated by the fact that the Christian scholar Dionysius Exiguus was asked by the Pope in AD 525 to calculate new cycles for fixing the date of Easter. However, he decided to base his calculations on the date of Jesus's birth. Unfortunately, it wasn't discovered until the 9th century that he got it badly wrong, by which time it was too late to change the calendar.

He fixed the birth in the year 1 BC or AD 1 (Historians apparently can't agree which.) and beganJesus birth counting from the latter. But both earlier and later scholars agreed that Jesus was born at an earlier date. Indeed, it was eventually established that Herod the Great died in Spring of 4 BC. If Jesus had been born at the start of AD 1, as we currently have it, then Jesus would have been born some 4 or 5 years after Herod died. There is no way of accurately establishing the actual date of his birth, but it is most likely to have been between 5 and 6 BC.

The important thing is that he was born, and his nominal birthdate of December 25th seems as good as any to celebrate his birth and his message. It also a wonderful catalyst for enjoying the precious and simple pleasures of being, if only for a brief time, close together in the warm familiarity of friends and family, renewing relationships and sharing memories.

Answer 8

It is NOT like Peter's denials. Peter's denials came as a result of DIRECT CHALLENGES to him... "I saw you WITH Him!" "You're one of THEM!" etc. Wishing a Happy Holiday vs Merry Christmas is simply a polite form of interaction. Would God be displeased if we say, "Bless You" instead of "God Bless You" when somene SNEEZES??? C'mon now.. you can think up a better dumb question than this one!


Have a blessed day.

Answer 9

Don't say either
Christmas has nothing to do with Christianity. Just look around you. What has all this Santa Claus mess have to do with The blood of Christ? What has it got to do with our redemption from sins? What it does is cause sins. Enmity's,Jealousy,strife,and that's just at the toy store trying to please your spoiled children who cannot be happy with anything you do for them. Is it pleasing to God for folks to pretend that this is the saviors day? Put aside the fact that it is not really his birth,It is an insertion from the church of Christendom to satisfy the heathens in order to get them into the church. People we cannot compromise our faith in Jesus by going along with man made devilish holidays that are chock full of lies and deceptions and short lived gratitude,pretending that we love the Lord then behaving like Idiots 364 other days of the year. To make it right we need to dump Santa and have Christmas everyday of the year. Even the Grinch that stole Christmas is a devilish conception which borders on Greed and nonsense.

Answer 10

Absolutely not.

Saying "Happy Holidays" is not indicative of denying one's own religion. Saying "Happy Holidays" is indicative of acknowledging and respecting the fact that there are other religions, and not everyone you are speaking to has Christmas during this time.