I grew up in a church with no Christmas.
There was no nativity scene. No Christmas Eve service. No baby Jesus.
In the strictly literal reading of the Bible taught in many conservative Christian churches, celebrating Christmas is pagan and blasphemy. After all, the Gospels say nothing about throwing a birthday party.
Decades before political talk hosts were banging their desks about how liberals wage a “war on Christmas,” hundreds of churches were waging a theological offensive of their own.
Sure, we had a tree at home. And lots of toys. And Santa and Rudolph.
Just no crosses, or creches, or religious carols.
Christmas was strictly a secular holiday. It was a day to join the world in earthly gift-giving and celebration, but it was sacrilege to connect The Elf on the Shelf or deepfake flying angels to the earthly incarnation of God, holy sacrifice or redemption.
In the coming week, millions of worshipers in several conservative Christian denominations will observe the night of Dec. 25 in church. But only for the weekly Wednesday night service.