As the radio plays “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Silent Night” and other beloved carols about the birth of Jesus, it’s a ray of hope in a culture that seems otherwise intent on making Christmas a bad word. A growing number of businesses have opted to avoid specific mentions of Christmas entirely and instead use the holiday placeholder term dressed up in red, green and white. American culture has become undeniably more secular with each passing decade and stories confirming a war on Christmas are frequent. However, it’s impossible to erase the truth of the gospel. The birth of our Savior cannot be canceled. 

The Real Battle

A “war on Christmas” or not, the debate has become a distraction from a much larger issue. The real battle we must focus our attention on is the one for the hearts and minds of our children. It begins by teaching them the significance of Jesus’s birth and making the celebration of His life meaningful. It begins by teaching them that Christmas is not a bad word. 

Americans Love Christmas, but Don’t Know Christ

In a 2021 study conducted by Lifeway Research, more than 9 in 10 Americans (91%) said they celebrate Christmas. The data included both Christians and non-Christians and further revealed that just slightly more than 1 in 5 Americans (22%) said they could accurately tell the Christmas story found in the Bible from memory. 

It seems that Americans love Christmas, but many of them don’t know much about the divine event upon which it’s based. With that, they’re also not likely to understand the redemptive, hope-filled gift of the Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Parents’ Most Important Job

One of the most important jobs we have as parents is to steer our children toward things that will uplift their hearts, and in turn, also protect them from things that could harm it. While the traditions of Santa Claus, gift-giving and festive lights make for wonderful family traditions, if we don’t guide them to Jesus this time of year, we’re missing a profound opportunity to shape their future, and that of society as well. 

For years, researchers and evangelistic ministries have asserted that most people who decide to follow Christ do so before the age of 18. Those who obtain a solid foundation of faith from an early age are more likely to follow the Lord their entire lives. Fostering the spiritual development of our children is of critical importance as we endeavor to prepare them for adulthood in a world that will challenge their mental health, threaten to rob them of their identity and attempt to divert their attention from their God-given purpose.

Respected sociologist Dr. Morris Massey said that up to the age of seven, people are like sponges, absorbing everything around them and accepting much of it as true, especially when it comes from their parents. He further asserted that an individual’s values and beliefs are formed at the age of 21. Our objective should be to infuse biblical truth into our kids now, while they’re listening. 

The Truth of the Gospel

Teach your children to say, “Merry Christmas.” Our concern cannot be about politics or inclusivity as much as it is to uphold the truth of the gospel. “Merry Christmas” is more than just a wish for a happy holiday season; it’s a profession of faith acknowledging the singular and unmatched significance of the birth of Christ. 

Brent Dusing is the CEO and founder of TruPlay, a gaming platform created to bring high-quality, fun and biblically-sound entertainment to audiences worldwide. Committed to seeing the betterment of children around the world, TruPlay is building games, digital comics, video content, and Web 3.0 content to bring light to a world in need of God’s love, hope and truth. For more information, visit truplaygames.com.