The Celebration of Christmas

Christmas was never about paganism to my parents, to me or my kids.

It was about time spent with family. Christmas is about spending time interacting with family and participating in traditions together that build memories, writing them on the pages of their hearts.

When we raise our children with the emphasis on Christ and family, then traditions set forth by that family are founded on love and wrapped up in fellowship. Many families have adopted traditions created by other families of yesteryear and some families create their own traditions. Grace is knowing we can celebrate family traditions founded on love while not worrying about how others of the past may have had the opposite focus.

Forgiveness lavished with grace erases the memories of what previous people did on the same days and gives us mercy as we seek to walk forward in Christ with our families.

Legalism kills Christmas and destroys the wonderful family memories as we decorate together, eat together, and commune with one during the holiday time.

What the Bible says

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.  Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.  The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since she gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.  For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.  For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, uwhether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s...

Why do you pass judgment on your brother?

The origins of Christmas

I know what the origins of December 25th are. I also know what the origins of the days of the month are too (and I still use a calendar).

I don’t worship pagan gods, attend a pagan basilica, or eat raw meat from strangled animals.

There’s no need to attempt to sway people into thinking they are doing something as horrid as that. Yet, even if they were, they would be considered the modern day heathens who Christ died to save. Because of the knowledge of Christ, we can celebrate our traditions with our families and not worry about the condemnation that legalism spreads.

There is no condemnation to those in Christ.

is it possible for Christians to honestly celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th?

Of course it is!

The argument from the Old Testament fails because I am a Christian; therefore, I am not under the law. Galatians 3:19 states, “Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made…” The law was in effect until Christ fulfilled it. Now, we are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14).

Second, even if things like Santa, Rudolph, trees, etc., are wrong (which I’m not claiming they are good or bad, but if they detract from Christ then I’m not in favor of them), it doesn’t follow that every single Christian celebrates Christmas in that way.

We never taught our kids to believe in Santa or any of that other stuff.

So am I not allowed to tell God “Thank You” on December 25th?

The Bible could really not be any clearer on this subject. Christians have the freedom to set aside a day (or multiple days) to celebrate the birth of Christ or for any other reason they may want to praise God.

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. (Romans 14:5–6)

That's the Bible!

In other words, if I want to celebrate the birth of Christ, I have the freedom to do that on any day I want, including December 25th.

You have the freedom not to celebrate Christ’s birth on that day, or any other day. Whichever one you do, let it be according to your own conscience and celebrate (or don’t celebrate) “to the Lord.” If you feel conviction that you should not do it, then God bless you, don’t do it, and serve the Lord, BUT DO NOT JUDGE a fellow believer for celebrating on that day. In the verse just prior to these two, Paul asked, “Who are you to judge another’s servant?”

The Bible and Christmas

Bible verses that support Christmas

Colossians 2:!6

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths...

Romans 14

Paul discusses Christians who criticize someone for observing religious celebrations:

Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.  He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks...

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Zechariah 14:20

In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD...

So does this mean that "Jingle Bells" is a scriptural song?

Bible verses used to kill Christmas

Jeremiah 10

Jeremiah 10:3-6 states:

For the customs of the people are vain:

For one cutteth a tree out of the forest,

The work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

They deck it with silver and with gold;

They fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not:

They must needs be borne, because they cannot go.

Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil,

Neither also is it in them to do good.

Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD;

Thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain...

It is obvious that Jeremiah was not speaking of a Christmas tree as this was over 600 years before the birth of Christ. So what pagan rituals was Jeremiah referring to?

Asherah appears in the OT both as the name of a Canaanite goddess and of her wooden cult-symbol. She functioned as consort of the chief god, El, and mother of the gods. The KJV mistakenly translates the name of Asherah as "grove". Asherim were the wooden poles that were used in the worship of Asherah.

It is quite clear, however, from a number of OT references that the Asherim were manmade objects; verbs used in connection with them include “make” (ʿāśâ, 1 Kgs 14:15; 16:33; 2 Kgs 17:16; 21:3, 7; 2 Chr 33:3), “build” (bānâ, 1 Kgs 14:23), and “erect” (nāṣab, 2 Kgs 17:10), which are inappropriate for living trees.

Jeremiah 17:2 speaks of “their Asherim beside every luxuriant tree,” which would be odd if the Asherim were themselves actual trees. This makes it impossible to suppose that the Asherim were living trees.

Deut 16:21 states that “You shall not plant any tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the Lord your God, which you shall make.” However, the word ʿēṣ can mean “wood” as well as “tree” so it seems that this also refers to something other than a living tree. Since all the other references to the Asherah in the OT (including other references in Deutoronomy) indicate that it is a manmade object, it is more natural to suppose that this is the meaning of ʿēṣ here.

The Asherah cult object does not appear to have been an image of her, since the Asherim are frequently mentioned alongside pĕsı̂lı̂m “graven images” (an expression including images of wood) as distinct objects (see Deut 7:5; 12:3; 2 Chr 33:19; 34:3, 4, 7; Mic 5:12–13—Eng 5:13–14). The most likely view is that the Asherah was a wooden pole symbolizing the goddess Asherah.

Jeremiah 2:26-27 states:

As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, Saying to a stock (ʿēṣ), Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned †their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

"Stock" here refers to a dead piece of wood, an Asherah pole.

Isaiah 44:14–19 also deals with this issue in a very similar way:

He cuts down cedars for himself,

And takes the cypress and the oak;

He 1secures it for himself among the trees of the forest.

He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it.

Then it shall be for a man to burn,

For he will take some of it and warm himself;

Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread;

Indeed he makes a god and worships it;

He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.

He burns half of it in the fire;

With this half he eats meat;

He roasts a roast, and is satisfied.

He even warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm,

I have seen the fire.”

And the rest of it he makes into a god,

His carved image.

He falls down before it and worships it,

Prays to it and says,

“Deliver me, for you are my god!”

They do not know nor understand;

For lHe has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see,

And their hearts, so that they cannot munderstand.

And no one nconsiders in his heart,

Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say,

“I have burned half of it in the fire,

Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals;

I have roasted meat and eaten it;

And shall I make the rest of it an abomination?

Shall I fall down before a block of wood?”

As a result of the above, it is clear that Jeremiah 10 is not referring to a Christmas tree.

References

• The Homespun Life - How Legalism Almost Killed Our Christmas
• Christmas Misconceptions: Legalism or Liberty?