Against Christmas: Is that Victoria's real secret?



(Scrooge:  The original Grinch?)



According to the American Family Association (AFA), Victoria’s Secret is against Christmas.  Not only that - so are Barnes & Noble (or ignoble, as the case may be), Staples (that was queasy), and a number of other retail “Grinches.”

Although the managers of these stores are not (yet?) throwing Christmas trees down the aisles, neither are they using the word “Christmas” enough to suit the AFA.   Another company on the AFA’s “Grinch” list is Gap Inc.  MSNBC’s Bottom Line reports that this is the case even though Gap marketing utilizes many Christmas themes.  Randy Sharp, AFA Special Projects Director, calls Gap’s Christmas displays “essentially window-dressing” since most Gap advertising refers to generic “holiday” sales. Gap spokesperson Louise

Callagy explained that “as a global retailer, we embrace diversity across all of our customers…”

According to its website, a large part of the AFA’s mission is “to inform, equip, and activate individuals to strengthen the moral foundations of American culture…”  This entails “a culture based on biblical truth…” – which in turn hinges upon “personal transformation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ…”  To promote this mission, the AFA uses its “nearly 200 radio stations across the country” (American Family Radio) - as well as its internationally-syndicated online news provider (OneNewsNow.com) and its “activist websites” (OneMillionMoms.com and OneMillionDads.com).

At first glance, the activism goals of the AFA sound laudable.  After all, who could possibly argue with such things as “decency and morality,” “sanctity of human life,” and “media integrity…”  However, these terms are broad enough to include the diversity of perspectives that Gap Inc. claims to “embrace.”  If the Bible is what most defines these concepts, then which part of the Bible?  The 66 books that many Bibles are comprised of often contain statements and scenarios that seem to conflict with one another.  Discernment can be tricky, especially with a holiday like “Christmas” which is neither a Commandment nor a Commission.     

Resources

http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/13/9421835-war-on-christmas-waning-list-shows

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Commission

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_66_books_of_the_Bible

Copyright December 14, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved