While Wal-Mart has apparently seen the error of its ways (or at least of its bad business judgment) and done an about-face from last year’s ban on employees’ use of the words Merry Christmas in greeting customers, the war on public celebration of one of the nation’s holiest days continues unabated.

In announcing a volunteer cadre of more than 930 allied attorneys available across the nation prepared to combat efforts to censor Christmas celebrations in schools and on public property, the Alliance Defense Fund noted that surveys indicate 95% of Americans celebrate Christmas. “Yet,” said the ADF, “due to political correctness, disinformation, and even the threat of lawsuits from the ACLU and its allies, religious expression at Christmastime is increasingly absent from the public square.”

Citing other equally-significant poll results, the ADF also noted that: 90 percent of Americans recognized Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ; 88 percent say its okay for people to wish others “Merry Christmas”; a majority of Americans are more likely to wish someone they just met “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays”; and 87% of Americans believe nativity scenes should be allowed on public property.

In light of such findings, and of the continuing efforts (though denied) by the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United For Separation of Church and State to assault public expressions of Christmas at every turn, the ADF has launched its Fourth Annual Christmas Project, aimed at “informing all Americans about the Truth—that they have the freedom to celebrate Christmas publicly, joyfully, and without fear—for generations to come, and to spread the message ‘Merry Christmas. It’s okay to say it.™’”

However, while commending the ADF and its lawyers for the invaluable services it is offering, it is important that we realize there other things each of us can do, as well.

One: Become informed about the relentless assault on religious symbols and expressions that have, historically, been integral to who we are as a nation. With the limitless access to information most of us now enjoy via the Internet, this is not difficult to do.

Two: Refuse to cave in to the pressure of political correctness, whether in our own daily speech or in conversations with others. For example, when confronted with the usual “Happy Holidays” at this time of year, why not respond politely but directly with “Merry Christmas”?

Three: Refuse to shop at retailers who are openly hostile to religious beliefs, symbols or expressions – and let them know of your decision! Do it politely, but do it firmly.

Four: Express your concerns with letters, phone calls, emails, and/or faxes to the appropriate corporate leaders, city officials, and others who have the power to make decisions affecting the constant efforts to “secularize” our culture. Wal-Mart’s recent reversal is an example of what can be done, as boycotts by The American Family Association (AFA) and the Catholic League are credited for Wal-Mart’s decision to come to its senses regarding the issue.

The bottom line? People of faith and traditional values can either spend their time and energy whining and complaining that the culture is “going to hell in a hand-basket,” or they can begin to play a bit of informed offense and move the ball down the field and into the end zone against the cultural grinches of the day. The worst way to lose a game is by default – never even showing up on the field. On the other hand, no team has ever won by simply playing impeccable defense!

And for Christians especially, such action isn’t an option. When the Lord said “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14), He intended that we do something, rather than merely whine about evil’s effectiveness in determining our culture’s direction.