Christmas? What’s wrong with celebrating Christmas? NOTHING! However, were you aware that it’s a holiday set up solely to placate pagans? Thereby make Christianity more palatable to those who might otherwise be unwilling to come to Christ through the preaching of the simple Gospel message? For more on the pagan origins of Christmas, click here.
There continues to be much controversy within the Body of Christ as to whether celebrating Christmas is something believers should even engage in! Let’s go to a few scriptures in the bible to get God’s perspective:
“1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.”
- 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 NASB
Now here, in context, Paul is clearly talking about believers eating food sacrificed to idols. But in the broader context, he’s talking about doing ANYTHING that would cause another to do ANYTHING contrary to the dictates of their own conscience! Another way to see this point is to consider expecting someone who has a severe allergy to say… Strawberries to sit down and eat a piece of strawberry shortcake with you (who have no such allergy), knowing strawberries are perfectly harmless (for you!). Wouldn’t your natural response be rather to choose a dish your friend CAN eat safely?
Christmas is an almost universally excepted holiday in western civilization. One associated with peace and good will. Many even insist we must keep it to commemorate Christ’s birth. THERE IS NOTHING INTRINSICALLY WRONG with this mindset!
However, keep in mind it is not a biblical mindset either. Therefore, as Paul, I will not celebrate this holiday (in the traditional sense), lest it cause my brother to stumble.
Lastly, let me post these scripture verses without comment. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions:
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14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
“I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.
“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.
18 “And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.”
-2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NASB
