Note: I originally posted this on December 22, 2008. I'm re-posting it now to preempt some of the stupid "war on Christmas" nonsense we hear every year.

I have gotten a few e-mails from a socially conservative issue advocacy group on a topic I see every year at this time. The so-called "War on Christmas" continues as Home Depot and Costco allegedly avoid any mention of Christmas on their web sites or in their stores. The emails (which often have factual errors) urge readers to contact both stores and make sure they recognize Christmas.

I am so sick of this bickering every holiday season. There are a lot of childish people on both sides of the "War on Christmas" who need to have a glass of warm milk and take a nap.

Who cares if a company does not mention Christmas in advertisements or on their web site? How does that harm anyone? How does that infringe on anyone's right to celebrate Christmas as they see fit? How and why would this interfere with anyone's enjoyment of the Christmas season? Complaining about retail chains that are "anti-Christmas" makes the complainers look like a bunch of busybody religious fanatics. Shop or don't shop as you see fit, but keep your mouth shut about it and stop embarrassing yourself.

Yes, some people actively oppose Christmas, but the actions of a few bitter people do not constitute a "war on Christmas" any more than the lack of the word "Christmas" on a retail chain's web site. The demands to include a "flying spaghetti monster" display with a manger scene or a sign generally criticizing religion as fantasy are childish actions that do not require full mobilization of an issue advocacy group's email list. I do not care of there are no manger scenes on government property. I would rather avoid unnecessarily offending people.

People, it is Christmas time. Stop looking for battles to fight and focus on what should be the happiest time of the year. Enjoy your friends and family. Easily offended crybabies need to recognize that they live in a culture that, while certainly not Christian, is heavily influenced by Christianity. The Christmas "warriors" on the other side need to approach the issue with love, mercy and grace and understand that there will always be people who are offended by the name of the Lord. Those people need prayer and the Gospel, not an obscene gesture.