Christmas celebration

Since there are few threads floating around Christmas celebration, I want to post a recent incident that happened in my life. I frequently meet with a group of believers who attend a different Church, I found them having Zeal to know the truth and were open to the word of God that I shared with them whenever opportunity permits.

One brother from that group invited me to plan a Christmas celebration in our neighborhood (as we live in same complex). I do not believe Christmas is Jesus birthday and I am aware of the Pagan roots of this festival. But I wanted this celebration to be a Chance for me to spread the Gospel message to our neighbors. So I attended a planing meeting in which he invited all Christians in the complex. Some of them were very nominal Christians and some Catholic. The discussion started and one Catholic family who had some influence in the administration side of the complex had an upper had. Both the Husband and wife in that family wanted this celebration to be just done for the purpose of organizing a party in the name of Christmas. They did not want anything about Christianity as a Religion to be included. They also did not want Gospel message to be shared because according to them it will disturb the unbelievers who are invited into this celebration. They had a say in the skit and songs and wanted them just to spread the Christmas magical mood instead of anything about Jesus.

Finally when the message section came, I suggested that we should explain the Gospel and Purpose of Jesus Birth. But they immediately opposed my Idea. Once the meeting was over the guy who invited us all called me privately and told that he will make sure Gospel is inserted without their knowledge. But he wants all Christians to work together.

I came home and decided not to be part of this celebration anymore. I gave the brother a call and told him that if this is being organized just to show others the party mood of Christmas then I cannot be a part of it. He wanted to meet me in private and we met. He asked me to correct him. His point was to just to get all Christians to work together and then slowly tell them Gospel. I told him that in Acts of Apostles whenever Paul entered a synagogue, he first preached Christ to the Jews there. If they rejected Christ he then went to Gentiles in that city. He did not stay there with Jews, agree with them and then gradually trying to win them for Christ. It was like hitting the nail on the head.

Now my question is, what do you guys think about this situation? What will you do different?

Hi Sree,

I think you did the right thing. You're heart was to try to be involved and use it to be a witness for Christ, but when it got to the point when they did not want anything said about our Lord you had no choice but to pull out. It would be compromising.

I think the brother organising this has zeal, but lacks a lot of wisdom in trying to get all 'Christian's' (even those who are not the true Christians) together like this.

maybe if this brother is sincere in wanting to share the gospel in your neighbourhood, you could suggest you meet together (just him, you and others that are like minded) to pray on a regular basis for the Lord to lead you in outreach. I believe that if you pray with the Word of God being given a central place, then maybe God will direct you in how best to evangelise your neighbours.

God bless.

I think you did the right thing.

I would suggest you take some lessons from this incident..perhaps next year put on a 'program' that will reflect the Gospel. Or, maybe you could do an Easter program being selective who you invite to participate. Something to think about.

I do not think your idea is wrong at all. This experience just teaches one what would not work. But meditate on it asking the LORD for direction and see where He would take you.

I admire your refusal to be a part of something that compromises your beliefs.

Opps! you asked for guy's advice and I am not one - oh well, you can take it or leave it, however you wish! Have a good day!

Quote: "Opps! you asked for guy's advice and I am not one - oh well, you can take it or leave it, however you wish! Have a good day!"

Ginnyrose, I had to smile when I read this :)
I may be wrong, but I think he wrote in the vernacular when he said 'guys'! I'm sure your advice is appreciated, as it always is.

I love Christmas, all the lights, the shopping, the stories of people being nice to one another, the egg-nog- but this is just all the stuff that has been thrown in to mask the extreme simplicity of a child being born in ancient Jewish poverty- who would turn upside down the course of human history.

Without Him, there is no story, no celebration, no reason to buy those delicious but over-priced smoked oysters.

Is it fair to perhaps ask these people whether they want to just ignore the foundational reasons for the celebration, or would they like to share in the awe of the Creator God visiting His human family, coming as a tiny baby and growing into the most remarkable man in history?

Is Santa enough for you? The reindeer? A fruitcake from an uncle you can't stand?

Alas, the war never goes away. The world desperately wants all the fun trappings and the exclusion of the stark reality that this man has called mankind to account for their sinful behavior.

No to that! We want fun, not to be ruled by this Man!

So it should be no surprise that people, "christians" by some definition not recognized by God, would not want to be reminded of the original story. You do well to agree to attend, stipulating that you bear witness to the truth that got this whole thing started.

Who knows, you might meet someone who wants to hear the real story. Someone whom the Father has drawn- and given into range of your testimony!

Thank you everyone for you posts answering my question. It now appears that I am not alone in this stand and there are believers who have similar direction of thought. I will pray about this to see how Lord is directing me further. As suggested in this thread, the brother who organized this event is also a zealous brother but his approach is to reach maximum count as possible even if it requires to agree with their unreasonable conditions. I will meet him in prayer meetings, I have no bitterness towards him or judgmental towards his approach. It is just that I cannot work with him. God willing he will come to know the way God wants his word to be shared.