A Clarksville, Tennessee pastor is reminding citizens in several counties that "Christmas is All About Jesus" through the use of red-and-white yard signs.
On Monday, Tabernacle Baptist Church Pastor Jimmy Terry and other volunteers began placing 10,000 of the signs in yards across Tennessee, and hope to put Jesus Christ in the minds of all who view the displays.
"We have lost the meaning of Christmas throughout the entire world, and when I say 'we' I mean Christians," Terry told The Leaf-Chronicle. "Christmas is no longer about Jesus Christ. It's all about materialism. These yard signs are just one way we can help keep Christ in Christmas."
The pastor said the holidays have become more and more commercialised, and the materialism is a distraction to the true meaning of the season.
"It is a holiday, but first and foremost, it is a holy day," Terry insisted. "Christmas is not supposed to be about Black Friday and the success of America's retail stores.
"But, that is what Christmas is all about and has been for too long. The public is obsessed with buying that ideal gift for someone. That is deeply troubling to me."
The signs were paid for by donations, and will be placed in front of businesses and churches in Montgomery, Cheatham, Houston, Stewart and Dickson counties, and also in Oak Grove, Guthrie, and Hopkinsville, Tennessee.
"These signs will be constant reminders to motorists that Christmas is about Jesus because Christmas is Jesus," the pastor said.
In addition to the holiday's commercialisation, Pastor Terry is sad that the birth of Christ is only celebrated one day out of 365.
"There are dozens and dozens of these national months that celebrate or honour something," he explained. "We have American Heart Month, Black History Month, Jazz Appreciation Month, National Pet Month and on and on. For Christmas, we have one day. That's it.
"With all these special month-long designations, Jesus Christ is never mentioned," he continued.
"I am asking Christians: 'Are we saying that Jesus is worth recognizing and honoring only one day each year?' We count down the number of shopping days remaining and then pay little attention the actual meaning of December 25. This reflects so poorly on us."
