There's been a concerted effort to steal Christmas.

In this quote, Jerry Falwell expresses his belief that there has been a deliberate, organized effort to diminish or undermine the true meaning of Christmas. Falwell, a prominent evangelical Christian leader, felt that the commercialization of the holiday and the secularization of Christmas traditions were eroding the religious significance of the season. His statement reflects a broader concern among some religious communities that Christmas has been reduced to a consumer-driven celebration rather than a time to honor the birth of Jesus Christ.

Falwell's use of the word "concerted effort" suggests that he believed there was an organized campaign, perhaps by secular groups or the media, to remove religious elements from the Christmas holiday. This could refer to things like the replacement of traditional religious symbols, such as the nativity scene, with more secular imagery like Santa Claus or generic holiday decorations. Falwell's concern was that the true spiritual message of Christmas was being overshadowed by commercial interests and cultural trends.

The quote also highlights Falwell's broader criticism of the secularization of society, where he felt that Christian values were being pushed aside in favor of more inclusive, less religiously focused traditions. For Falwell and others who shared his views, the growing emphasis on gift-giving, shopping, and festivities was seen as a threat to the religious core of the holiday, which they felt should be about worship, reflection, and faith.

Ultimately, Falwell’s quote reflects his deep concern about the spiritual integrity of Christmas in the face of secular pressures. It underscores his desire to reclaim the holiday as a time for Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ and to resist the commercialization that he felt had hijacked the holiday’s true meaning.