Some people might be surprised —like I was years ago—to learn that there are genuine Christians who don’t celebrate Christmas. The reasons vary. The main reason being because to them Christmas has a pagan origin (in festivals if Sol Invictus or Saturnalia) — which honestly is debatable. But in their obedience to 2 Corinthians 6:16, which instructs the Christian to “come out from them [idols and idolatry] and be separate”, they chose not to celebrate. Some contrarians to Christmas base their views on the fact that the early apostles (church) did nothing celebrate it and that the Bible instructs us to celebrate (remember) his Christ’s death and not his birth (Lk 22:19,20).
Some also regard Christmas as part of “human traditions” (Mark 7:8). And I suppose a small number refuse to celebrate it due to Christmas being over-commercialized by the secular world for their profit interest. But the over-commercialization started when the Germans and Dutch introduced the idea of Santa Clause (Father Christmas) to celebrate St Nicholas. Marketers took advantage of it and began producing songs, jingles, images and gift items to influence parents into buying presents from Santa for their kids. Others also find December 25th to be problematic, being that Jesus couldn’t have been born in December because it snows or is very cold in Israel—when Jesus was born. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night ” (Lk 2:8). But let’s just say like the Queen has her actual birthday in April and her official birthday in June, those who celebrate have chosen to celebrate the birth in December.
Even though I celebrate Christmas I think whether or not it should be celebrated is a moot issue— subject to debate. Its neither right nor wrong. It’s a matter of personal preference. It’s just like worshipping on Sundays or Saturdays. Decidedly, Saturday is the sabbath day. Jesus and the apostles went to the Synagogue on Saturdays to teach (Matt 12:9,Jn 18:20,Acts 17:2;18:4). The reason we chose Sunday is because we interpret the sabbath differently under the dispensation of grace. We no longer see it as a day but as a way. Scripture says “anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his” (Heb 4:9–11). Christ is our spiritual sabbath (Heb 3:1) We know that his finished work was climaxed on Sunday, the “first day of the week” (Col 2:15; Mk 16:9) So we worship on Sundays —“the day of the Lord” to commemorate the resurrection. The day of the Lord is a shorthand for the day the Lord Jesus rise from the dead (Rev 1:10).
In the era of grace, there is nothing divinely sanctioned about any day. Paul in addressing the Romans said, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind” (Rom 14:5). Of course the context is not specifically about sabbath or Christmas. That the specific name is not mentioned makes it applicable to any day a person “esteems” as special. But here is the issue Paul was very concerned about, which we should be concerned about in regards to Christmas. He was not concerned about whether or not we celebrate a certain day. He was concerned about our attitude towards those who share a different view from what we choose. He queried, “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” (Rom 14:10)
There are some issues that will never be settled here on earth. It will be settled at “judgment seat of Christ”. So the jury will always be out on Christmas celebration. I am not more spiritual because I celebrate Christmas. You are not more spiritual because you don’t celebrate it. “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 14:17). It’s interesting Paul pitched “eating and drinking” against “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” That means whether or not you’re “eating and drinking” doesn’t necessarily underline your “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” It says of John the Baptist that he “came neither eating nor drinking, and they [people] say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
So it’s not the “ eating and drinking” —the celebration that makes us right. So what is? How do we know we are right? The answer is given in phrase “wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” In such disputable matters we show we are right by our deeds —our response towards others. Notice they spoke negatively of both John the Baptist and Jesus. People will say something negative no matter our position in disputable matters. But notice what they didn’t say about John and Jesus. They never said or could say anything negative about how John and Jesus related to each other. This is very important. And brings me to my next point. In fact, it’s one of my favorite scriptures. Paul said, “do not let your good be spoken of as evil” . We must do the good thing in an excellent way. The “more excellent way” is the way of love ( 1 Cor 12:31) . There are a lot of things we see “dimly” and know only “in part” (Ibid. 13:12) and thus we must be accommodating and understanding about. The opposite of the excellent way is the evil way. Evil in this regard means that which shares characteristic with the evil one (1 John 3:12)
It is evil when don’t love our brothers and sister in Christ. “Do not let your good be spoken of as evil” implies that you can do what may be good but in an evil way. Both John and Jesus attitude towards each other was beyond reproach. In other words, no one could say anything evil about their relationship. That’s what we are called to do as Christians. Jesus said to his disciples “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). This is why Paul said “For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men” (vs 18) Notice the phrase “approved by men” Did you know that God expects us to be approved by the world in the way we relate to each other? Unfortunately, the common slogan is that we shouldn’t care what the world thinks of us. But apparently God cares about what the world thinks of us in this area. All men can’t speak well of us but they should be able to speak ill of our relationship towards our brethren (Lk 6:26)
Paul cared about the love that the Roman Christian had towards each other because God cared. In the next chapter of Romans he prayed for them saying “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Rom 15:5-7). The “one mind towards each other” was the mind Christ and John had toward each other. John was the voice of one crying in the wilderness (John 1:23) Jesus have power to voice. Together their effort sought to “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Like John we might think our voice does not reach far when in reality God may be using our voice to do miracles. That’s why I believe Jesus replied to the messengers “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Lk 7:22) With a non-judgmental mind and voice of love, God uses our effort to perform miracles that bring glory to his name. We must accept one another without passing judgement (Rom 2:1; 14:13).
To accept people means to love them. Just as Christ didn’t require us to be perfect before loving us, we cannot require perfection before loving them (Rom 5:8) Paul said “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Rom 15:7). Of course, it doesn’t mean we never correct or point out their wrong. It just means we speak “the truth in love” (Eph 4:15) Love is the meeting point between “grace and truth” (John 1:14). When we accept one another we bring praise to God. We become unacceptable to God when we become unaccepting of our brothers (See Gen 4:7)
It’s interesting to note that both the people who celebrate and those who don’t celebrate Christmas are concerned with glorifying the Lord. It’s just like the situation with the Romans. Romans 14:6 “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. Celebrating Christmas for the Lord is acceptable. But judging others who don’t celebrate Christmas is not acceptable by the Lord.
I have found that often times it’s our followers or other brothers who incite us against each other. That’s why we the ones openly disagreeing with each other must be of “one voice” against disunity. The Bible says “An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” Notice the argument was about “ceremonial washing” but when they went to John they brought up a tangential issue —thinking John was going to side with them. But John’s response is refreshing. He said “He [Christ] must become greater; I must become less.” I love the phrase “Christ must” There are things we do and say that make us greater and make Christ “become less” But “He must become greater; I must become less.” Whether you celebrate or don’t celebrate Christmas ask yourself: is Christ greater in the way I relate to my brothers and sisters in Christ with whom I disagree?
