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The Celebration of Christmas: Difference between revisions
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Is it possible for Christians to honestly celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th? | |||
Of course it is! | |||
Christmas was never about paganism to my parents, to me or my kids. | 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. | 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. We were taught that non-Christians used Santa Claus to take the focus away from Jesus Christ. | ||
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 | 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 in 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. | 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 | Legalism kills Christmas and destroys the wonderful family memories as we celbrate together, partake in special family meals, and commune with one during the holiday time. | ||
=The origins of Christmas= | =The origins of Christmas= | ||
We know what the origins of December 25th are. But we also know what the origins of the days of the week are too (and we still use a calendar). | |||
We don’t worship pagan gods, sit around an Asherah pole (more on that later), 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’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. | There is no condemnation to those in Christ. | ||
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). | 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). | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
=The Bible and Christmas= | =The Bible and Christmas= | ||
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:''So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths...<ref>The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Col 2:16.</ref> | :''So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths...<ref>The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Col 2:16.</ref> | ||
I don't think that needs any clarification (although it will not dissuade those that really do want to rain on your parade). | |||
===Romans 14=== | ===Romans 14=== | ||
Paul discusses Christians who criticize someone for observing religious celebrations: | Paul discusses Christians who criticize someone for observing religious celebrations: | ||
:''Receive aone who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things... | |||
:''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. | :''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. | ||
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:''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... | :''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.<ref>The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ro 14:4–6,10.</ref> | :''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.<ref>The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ro 14:1, 4–6, 10.</ref> | ||
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?” | |||
===Zechariah 14:20=== | ===Zechariah 14:20=== | ||