Source: Dallas Morning News
13 DEC 2010
By Deborah Fleck
First Baptist Church of Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress didn’t mention the Grinch during his sermon Sunday. Instead, he preached about righteousness.
But before the service ended, he did address the growing attention he’s received for starting www.grinchalert.com. The website points out those who don’t acknowledge the religious meaning of Christmas. Chief offenders are companies and groups that say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
Jeffress admitted that he has heard feedback that the church shouldn’t be so vocal on how people celebrate Christmas. He understands that, he said, yet he defended his position on “bringing the Gospel into Christmas.”
His congregation applauded a couple of times, expressing their support of his headline-grabbing actions. The Dallas Morning News ran a front-page story about his website, and television news stations have covered the story as well. The church website even highlights coverage by Fox News and CNN.
After the service Sunday, a few church members shared their opinions on their pastor’s campaign.
“Absolutely I agree,” said Bettie Tomlinson, a retired missionary. “If we don’t stand up for the king of kings, who will?”
Her friend, Charlotte Vineyard agreed.
“So much has been taken away from us,” Vineyard said. “Just look at our schools and other places that remove prayer and references to God.”
Jeffress’ critics say referring to this time of year as “the holidays” is sensitive to Jews, Muslims and other non-Christians who wish to participate in holiday festivities.
One First Baptist parishioner, who didn’t want to give her name Sunday, said she doesn’t support Jeffress’ campaign.
“I feel it is too judgmental,” she said. “The church should be more inclusive.”
In the church cafe, a few youth members offered mixed opinions.
“It’s not a bad idea,” said Ronald Budzi, 18, of Garland. “It’s a good thing if it gets people aware so they don’t fall into the commercial aspect that the world gives us.”
At nearby First United Methodist Church of Dallas, the sermon didn’t include any references to Grinches. The subject was ignored and the pastor wouldn’t comment on the record, preferring not to draw any more media attention to the issue.
One Methodist church member shook her head when asked her reaction.
“We need to let people do what they want to do,” said Lucy Barlow of Richardson. She added that preaching is OK, but “not this way.”
A few fellow members echoed her feelings. They said they would like to do what their pastor is doing and just ignore it.
So far, Jeffress’s Grinch website reports only 18 naughty companies, which “use misplaced political correctness to halt the celebration of Christmas.”
The nice list contains nearly 100 companies that “are celebrating Christmas with excitement and meaning — especially those who keep Christ in Christmas where He belongs!”
The comments come from not only Texas but nationwide. A resident in Tulsa commented that the city voted to change the name of its Christmas parade to Holiday Parade of Lights. So Tulsa’s on the naughty list.
So are Sears and K-Mart in Grand Junction, Colo., because employees say “Happy Holidays” and not “Merry Christmas” when selling Christmas trees.
Target made the naughty and nice lists. One shopper disliked the lack of items with religious references to Christmas. But another shopper from Appleton, Wis., commented that Target displayed large “Merry Christmas” signs above the checkout lines.
While Jeffress has said he started the list in fun, the backlash hasn’t been all light-hearted. One response mentions putting First Baptist on the naughty list for creating the list in the first place.
