Should we celebrate Christmas?

Should we celebrate Christmas?We should celebrate the birth of Christ (more than once a year though) but should we celebrate Christmas?

I love Christmas and celebrate it everyday. The date matters not, and if the world can see a celebration that honors Jesus Christ and His birth, so be it. We should be Christmas to the World everyday, the Birth of Christ in us.In Christ: Phillip

There is no Biblical command to do so. The observance of Christmas is a human tradition, a compromise with paganism. Christ's birthday was chosen 3oo years later because it was the birthday of a pagan deity. When something is done over and over again, then the conscience thinks it must be the right thing to do. That is how we become enslaved to man's traditions. There is a big difference between doing something out of choice and out of obligation. Let the Spirit reveal to you what he desires for you regarding the Christmas season. That is the only way you will know what God requires of you. Getting a consenses among Christins may help you think through things, but that can't replace the Spirit's guidance for you. Enjoy your journey, and may God reveal to you surprising truths about himself! Diane

This year has been the first the my conscience has even quentioned Christmas. Having dedicated alot of time to the study of Church History, this year, and learning of how the papacy, under the "Chirtian Emperors", between Constantine and the fall of Rome, moulded christianity to conform with the pagan religions of the nations they preached to (including incorporating Mary, and saint worship, to appeal to the need for goddess and pantheon worship).Few of us would participate in worshipping Mary, or a transubstantive (ie, Catholic style) eucharist, or bow down to the anti (oops, I mean "viccar of") christ (naughty, I know), so why stop there? Why don't we celebrate the Jewish festivals, when we do celebrate pagan ones?Still wrestling with this and, to be honest, I have my tree up again this year, however, I find it hard to sit stillwhen I hear someone say, "Jesus is the reason for the season", and "We need to get back to the Christian origins of Christmas."Anyone else sharemy concerns? Even more-so, does anyone else get accused of "fanaticism" whenever they mention it to another believer?

I have recently been questioning whether or not to celebrate Christmas, my former house church leader was dead against it. In our family though, and were all christians (except my dad), we have never questioned celebrating Christmas, we are aware it has it's roots in a pagan celebration, but we are celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus into the world. my question to those who don't celebrate Christmas, do you celebrate the Lord's birth around the feast of tabernacles? If so, great! if not, when do you celebrate the Lord coming to our world?As my mum often quips 'When you read the gospel accounts of the nativity the only one who isn't celebrating the birth of Jesus is Herod'mat

Had thought about attempting to pull together all the various post's and threads in this regards at one point and found it to be likely more confusing than helpful. So, would suggest a search or as a help will try and pull together a series of links that have some history over the duration of this site's existence.Am of a dissenting opinion here. To use some of the logic reasoned for not 'observing' Christmas is curious;No where in Scriptures are we commanded to observe the birth of Christ. On the contrary, we are commanded to observe the death of Christ. That is enough for me to not "celebrate" or observe Christmas. There is no Biblical command to do so. That is an argument from silence.Gal 4:10 - Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. Lest the apostle should be thought to suggest, without foundation, the inclination of these people to be in bondage to the ceremonies of the law, he gives this as an instance of it; which is to be understood, not of a civil observation of times, divided into days, months, and years, for which the luminaries of the heavens were made, and into summer and winter, seedtime and harvest, which is not only lawful, but absolutely necessary; but of a religious observation of days, &c. not of the lucky and unlucky days, or of any of the festivals of the Gentiles, but of Jewish ones. By "days" are meant their seventh day sabbaths; for since they are distinguished from months and years, they must mean such days as returned weekly; and what else can they be but their weekly sabbaths? These were peculiar to the Israelites, and not binding on others; and being typical of Christ, the true rest of his people, and he being come, are now ceased. By "months" are designed their new moons, or the beginning of their months upon the appearance of a new moon, which were kept by blowing trumpets, offering sacrifices, hearing the word of God, abstaining from work, and holding religious feasts; and were typical of that light, knowledge, and grace, the church receives from Christ, the sun of righteousness; and he, the substance, being come, these shadows disappeared. By "times" are intended the three times in the year, when the Jewish males appeared before the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the three feasts of tabernacles, passover, and pentecost, for the observance of which there was now no reason; not of the feast of tabernacles, since the word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us; nor of the passover, since Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us; nor of pentecost, or the feast of weeks, or of the first fruits of the harvest, since the Spirit of God was poured down in a plenteous manner on that day upon the apostles; and when the firstfruits of a glorious harvest were brought in to the Lord, in the conversion of three thousand souls. And by "years" are to be understood their sabbatical years; every seventh year the land had a rest, and remained untilled; there were no ploughing and sowing, and there was a general release of debtors; and every fiftieth year was a jubilee to the Lord, when liberty to servants, debtors, &c. was proclaimed throughout the land: all which were typical of rest, payment of debts, and spiritual liberty by Christ; and which having their accomplishment in him, were no longer to be observed; wherefore these Galatians are blamed for so doing; and the more, because they were taught to observe them, in order to obtain eternal life and salvation by them.John GillThe problem with a lot of these deriving's from scripture is that they have no basis in what was meant when they were written. The whole of the "Christmas tree". Been over this in other threads, what was spoken of in Jeremiah needs to be taken within it's context, fully. What is the point of the whole matter there? 'Creating' and worshiping of idols, For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest,... They are like a palm-tree, of turned work, and speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good. It is quite the reach to attribute this to our modern day usage, is the first week of January a day of rejoicing because all the 'idols' are taken out to the trash? Which leads to the next question, what are we to do with all the other 'pagan' things that corrupt this world we live in. Day's of the week, names of the month, cities, street's derived from all sorts of historical assumptions and previous usages? Some examples;March"In ancient Rome, March was called Martius, so named after the Roman god of war and was considered a lucky time to begin a war. AugustAugust was named in honor of Augustus Caesar. The month reputedly has 31 days because Augustus wanted as many days as Julius Caesar's July. Augustus placed the month where it is because that's when Cleopatra died. Before Augustus renamed August, it was called Sextilis in Latin, since it was the sixth month in the Roman calendar which started in March.In the pagan wheel of the year August begins at or near Lughnasadh in the northern hemisphere and Imbolc in the southern hemisphere.Wheel of the Year In Neopaganism, the Wheel of the Year is the natural cycle of the seasons, commemorated by the eight Sabbats.Because one tenet of Neopaganism is that all of nature is cyclical, the passing of time is also seen as a cycle, a wheel which turns and turns. The course of birth, life, decline, and death that we see in our human lives is echoed in the seasons. The eight Sabbats are religious holidays that celebrate the passing of the year.Each Sabbat also symbolizes a time in the life of the God, who is born from the Goddess, grows to full manhood, mates with her, and reigns as king during the summer. He then declines and dies, rising anew the next year.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~All these things have root's and derivatives. More of this brought out in other postings, cereals come to mind of more of the same. It would be dishonest not to address some of these things, that are mentioned along with the commercialism, materialism, the ironic flippancy towards Whose birth it is that at least at some point in time was the whole reasoning behind acknowledging and celebrating this most incredible event in human history. The irony is for some, the pagan aspects are being drawn back to it's roots by changing the meaning back more in line with those very roots. In other words, those that would have a problem with this are getting much help, the world has already come alongside and taken Jesus Christ out and replaced it with various out takes more resembling pagan activities "Winter Solstice", seasonal this and that, whatever they wish to call it. Not unlike efforts to eradicate the name of God due to spurious and absurd collisions of 'separation of church and state', out of the schools, out of the courts, take down the Ten Commandments, shouldn't be much longer before it's taken off the currency here... What it boils down to is, the world is waxing cold or is it burning hot with indignation at any mention of God, of Jesus Christ and the "Christians" are just as happy to oblige them in some sense. Are you happy now? Will you be content to join the miserable Jehovah's Witness's taken up with their misconstruing of scripture and replace what might be a heart honoring love towards God for sending His only Son to this miserable planet to save the likes of the unappreciative, rebellious ______* that we are, with a bitterness towards this 'Pagan' holiday? By the way, this might sound more 'angry' than intended, it's not that. Just wonder where our hearts are sometimes. Some of the other articles posted have much to say about this. Wish it was easier to put in a nice nutshell, but for all the traditions and particular upbringing, Christmas was always a respite from the dregs of living on this sin infested planet. A time of wonder and joy and hope at the possibilities and long sought for coming of the Lord again for the second and final time. It now has much more deeper and truer meaning than it once did. "O Holy Night" is something I keep appealing to. It can draw out the richness of longing for the Lord to return and return the world back to it's right intentions once and for all. To think of it in an altogether different light, what Christmas means not to the 'pagan' world, not to the 'mass' nor the masses, not even to all the "Christians" that now want to close the church on this particular day, something telling in a general sense out of all this... What does this all mean in the broad sense? Doesn't it seem peculiar what is happening in our day, especially here in America? Just in the last few years, this build up, this effort to 'remove'... The interesting thing is that though in large part there has always been the truth of "these people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me" Now even the lips are to soon stop. If we don't have a true and real revival in this land soon, all this belly aching over Christmas will become but a wished for longing one day. We will have our pagan proscriptions proven true right before our very eyes. Watch out what you wish for.Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!O night divine, O night, when Christ was born!O night, O holy night, O night divine.The irony there is that we will not fall on our knees, even as it is being sung.*meaning here (Edit: Second thought's on leaving this word in here, too many possible misunderstandings)

There is no Biblical command to do so. The observance of Christmas is a human tradition, a compromise with paganism. Christ's birthday was chosen 3oo years later because it was the birthday of a pagan deity.Even though there may have been some pagan elements that were originally associated with a celebration at this time of year I don't believe that makes celebrating the birth of Christ wrong. Our celebration of Christmas is not the same as that old celebration. In fact, it's quite different. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus.I agree that we aren't under obligation to celebrate Christmas and that there is no Scripture that commands it but it strikes me that it is entirely appropriate. There are many cases in the Bible of feasts being kept in order to remind the people of the importance and significance of certain events. For me Christmas is a wonderful reminder of the mercy and grace of God. What we do on Christmas is focus on the birth of Jesus Christ, and what an event that was!You could probably go back and find all kinds of wierd ideology behind many of the things we do every day, but it doesn't matter because that ideology doesn't have any meaning for people NOW. I guess I just don't see how celebrating the birth of Christ is wrong. In Christ,Ron

Christians celebrate Christ every day. He is our indweling Life, we pray, we fellowhip with Him, we feed on Him, and we live by Him. He is not a baby in a manger. Today He is the Risen Lord Jesus ascended in the heavens and indwelling us as our Life. My experience has been the more the Lord has gained in me and the more of Christ I have gained, the more "celebrating Christmas" has become just an excercise in overcomming. It does provide opertunites to speak of Christ and many seem to be more open to talk about spiritual thigs, But the day itself is just a day. The existance of "Christmas" is probably good for unbelievers because it forces them to consider this great "event". The incarnation of the Lord Jesus. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us". But for believers, we ought to be one with the Lord every day and don't need "special days".The biggest trial is in dealing with family. With parents who are offended if you don't do "Santa Clause" with your kids, or who religiously celebrate the day. I think we just have to walk closly with the Lord and be sensitive to the Spirit. We are not opposed to Christmas and walk around with a scoul on our face and condemn everyone who puts up a tree. Who doesn't like "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" and pretty lights and snow and sleighbells?But it is to us just a day to know and Live Christ and to walk in the reality of our union with Him and to express Him in all things.If we can get through the season without grieving the Spirit we have done well."As far as lies within you, be at peace with all men."Graftedbranch

We have a vivid picture of Paul in a heathen context in Acts 17. There was so much that was wrong but Paul found enough things that were right to use as an opportunity for the gospel. “And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” (Phil. 1:14-18, KJVS)

Christmas just died in me one year, and...if it is possible just kept dieing. Trusting that it is a pagan holiday for profit, this death was a gift.As far as celebrating birthdays...the only one I can recall being celebrated in Scripture was Herad's...which as we know, resulted in the death of John the baptist.

We cannot ignore all the various aspects surrounding Christmas, and we can’t ignore what is on the hearts and minds of others. To do so would be very un-Christian. The reality is that Christmas is an important observance in our culture, and we all interact with it in some way – because we interact with people. Here is an example: we have our own special day where we do things for them and this year were going to buy them a ping pong table. That’s all they care about. I’m even thinking of having some outdoor lighting around my house because the kids like the lights but nothing colored which I don’t care for anywayWe must seek to know what would please Christ and what would displease him. Some things that displease him are: going after the delights of this world, doing something under obligation, insisting on certain religious observances and holidays, gluttony, materialism, worshipping idols, making choices without seeking God, living according to our natural reasoning… feeling guilty when we shouldn’t (like not meeting everyone’s expectations), worry, allowing pressures to run our lives, having a form of godliness without the power, judging the way others observe holidays, Etc….etc… etc Clearly, Christmas can induce a host of sins. Yet, not observing it does not absolve us of any sins. It’s not a matter of should we or shouldn’t we observe it, but rather: Are my choices pleasing to God? “Whatever is not of faith is sin.” There are a lot of choices that come not from faith, but from obligation, the natural flesh, or natural reasoning. The original question should be worded, ‘What are my responsibilities regarding Christmas? 'When you read the gospel accounts of the nativity the only one who isn't celebrating the birth of Jesus is Herod' I don’t think that this justifies the observance of Christmas. Hardly anyone even knew of the birth of Christ, only a few lowly shepherds, and some astrologers from a distant land. It wasn’t a big event – and far from the way we celebrate birthdays in our culture. For me, Christmas time is filled with opportunities to glorify God through contacts with others, through music, and through a heightened sense of good will, and much more. It can be our golden opportunity to shine the light of Christ in the midst of the darkness. Diane

Luther is supposed to have cut the first Christmas tree. The story may be apocryphal, but we know that on Christmas Eve, 1538, he was in a jolly mood, singing and talking about the incarnation. Then he sighed, saying, "Oh, we poor men, that we should be so cold and indifferent to this great joy which has been given us." Loved Ron's sentiment expressed a couple of replies back, it is a very, very difficult verse to get around isn't it? And how often it applies and makes some of us squirm ... myself included.One thing that is a bit puzzling is the extremes this can be taken to. Did some more searching around and some of the reasonings for opposing are just incredible, legalistic and far afield as the ones that would want to buttress an argument the other way.Some interesting things came up though, even as this holiday developed in the US primarily. A lot of the 'lore' could be tied directly to a book almost, with a 'built in' history. Here's a few to take a look at for the curious;The Real Story of Christmas December 25, 336 • The First Recorded Celebration of Christmas December 24, Annual • Christmas Eve.Let's Celebrate Christmas, But When and How?All things being equal and taking what is read with some real possibilities of misconstrueing...Couldn't pass this one up, it seemed to be possibly a bit much at first glance but ... let the reader decide;Pagan Claus: A look at Christmas Symbols

I have been troubled by this discussion and how some can cling so tightly to there man made tradition instead of following the word of God. I have been reluctant to post my own thoughts and ideas, but I think the recent thread started by brother Shibu relates what I feel almost exactly. I also feel like Christmas naturally died for me when I was born again by the Spirit of God, as another brother related. Before I start to go off on a rant, I'd like to point this discussion to what I believe is a voice of reason shedding some light on the subject - Zac Poonen - as posted by brother Shibu - I feel it most likely better to let Zac do my talking for me on this matter. CHRISTMAS AND EASTER - CHRISTIAN OR PAGAN? Zac PoonenPlease go read the whole article, but hear is a little taste.It is amazing that many believers are not willing to accept what even secular writers (like the authors of Encyclopedia Britannica) have understood clearly - that Christmas and Easter are basically pagan festivals. You can call an ass a lion, but it is still an ass. Changing the names has not made these festivals Christian! There is no difference between Christmas and Easter and Ganesh Puja and Dussera...True spirituality is to follow Jesus in all aspects of life. This involves primarily a taking up of the cross and obeying God's word in the power of the Holy Spirit in daily life. It also involves a forsaking of all human traditions that are not found in the New Testament. God desires a pure testimony in every place - a church that is not only free from all sin, but also free from Babylonian traditions.

The choice of the 25th as the day of the birth is certainly not based on chronological fact but was simply an expedient so that 'Christian's could have their own celebration without being drawn into the Winter Solstice. For many years I spoke at an 'All Saints' day conference in Poland. 'All Saints' is the day after 'Haloween'. The reason was simple. The Catholic Polish folk were used to visiting the cemetries on 'All Hallows' Eve' and paying their respects to their dead relatives and praying for their souls The cemetries are ablaze with candles at this time and it was a key aspect of Polish cultures.Some evangelicals saw the danger of young converts being drawn back into Catholic ways and coming back under the influence of their Catholic families. The solution was a very simple expedient. They developed an alternative 'celebration' so that young Christians could meet together in a residential conference at that time of the year.The choice of 25th December was the same kind of expedient. It provided an alternate 'celebration' so that the Christians were not drawn back into their pagan cultures. Their perceived choice was reject it or replace it. As some of you will know I am not afraid of 'replacement theology'! :-D Loved Ron's sentiment expressed a couple of replies back, it is a very, very difficult verse to get around isn't it? And how often it applies and makes some of us squirm ... myself included.me too! ;-)

Christisking wrote:I have been troubled by this discussion and how some can cling so tightly to there man made tradition instead of following the word of God. CHRISTMAS AND EASTER - CHRISTIAN OR PAGAN? Zac PoonenPlease go read the whole article, but hear is a little taste.

It is amazing that many believers are not willing to accept what even secular writers (like the authors of Encyclopedia Britannica) have understood clearly - that Christmas and Easter are basically pagan festivals. You can call an ass a lion, but it is still an ass. Changing the names has not made these festivals Christian! There is no difference between Christmas and Easter and Ganesh Puja and Dussera...True spirituality is to follow Jesus in all aspects of life. This involves primarily a taking up of the cross and obeying God's word in the power of the Holy Spirit in daily life. It also involves a forsaking of all human traditions that are not found in the New Testament. God desires a pure testimony in every place - a church that is not only free from all sin, but also free from Babylonian traditions.

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." - Romans 14:12-23

brethrenI have no problem with those that do not want to celebrate it. You follow the convictions that God lays on your heart, but please do not impress those onto others as something they are doing wrong. Neither Christ nor the aposltes gave us the liberty to do so.i think this sums it up, let each of us seek the Lord on what we ought to do and do that. if the Lord is indeed tugging at you to leave this whole celebration alone, then leave it alone. i've never really been that into Christmas, it always seemed weird to me how all of a sudden people became all nice at this time and were mean every other time of the year :-( We never did the Christmas tree, we did get together with family but we did this often so it wasn't a big deal. i enjoy time with family, i don't do gifts, trees, cards or anything else really. i think though we should celebrate Christ each day.if it bothers you that these holidays have pagan influences, then i would suggest you not celebrate them. at the end of the day though, let each one seek the Lord's counsel earnestly and if the Lord calls for us to repent from this then let us fall on our faces and repent, repent and repent some more.AMEN.