I believe faith has always played a larger role in American life than many modern narratives suggest. In much of the country—especially rural, Southern, and family-centered communities—weekly church participation has consistently rivaled or exceeded nightlife culture. Churches have long served not only as places of worship, but as schools, youth centers, and hubs of community care. Faith has been mainstream, not fringe.
History supports this. Early Protestant settlers, particularly the Puritans, rejected Christmas celebrations outright, viewing them as unbiblical and rooted more in tradition than Scripture. For generations, December 25 was treated as a normal civic workday, and it did not become a federal holiday until 1870—nearly a century after the nation’s founding. Even during World War II, celebrations were restrained by rationing, blackouts, and sacrifice. The highly commercialized Christmas culture we know today largely emerged after the war, shaped by economic expansion and mass media.
The irony is striking: Christmas—never commanded in Scripture and once opposed by early Protestants—now shuts down government and commerce nationwide, while Easter, the cornerstone of Christian faith, was never granted federal holiday status.
From an inside-out perspective, this challenges me to examine what truly shapes our communities. I believe lasting civic strength comes not from cultural customs or seasonal mandates, but from inward spiritual conviction lived outward through service, discipline, and love. When faith is rooted internally, it naturally expresses itself in healthier families, stronger communities, and a more grounded public life.
