Christmas, to my parents, was not to be celebrated. My father told us some at church thought it was wrong to celebrate Christmas, so we did not even decorate the house for fear of making someone stumble or offending a brother in Christ. We even had a separate holiday we made up for our family on the 4th of July called “Family Day” on which we gave each other presents, but we managed to largely ignore the Christmas season. I do remember driving around looking at lights and attending a few parties our friends invited us to over the years, but we did not celebrate the day.
Those who don’t celebrate Christmas point to the fact that God never told us to do it. God never asked us to yearly mark the birth of Christ and celebrate in any kind of special way. Certainly God never spoke the first word about nativity scenes, decorating trees, or giving presents. They are correct who make this point.
Interestingly, many celebrate Christmas in a purely secular way rather, and this bewilders me now. It’s as if these Christians intend to “Keep Christ out of Christmas.” But His name is right there in the title—CHRISTmas. And what are we doing, dear Christians, trying to celebrate a day in a purely secular way, anyway? (Halloween? Totally different subject…)
I don’t think many have a problem thanking God on Thanksgiving Day, even though God has never asked us to observe that as a special day. Many praise God on the 4th of July in the United States because of what He has done with our nation. But on Christmas some Christians intentionally avoid singing and talking about the birth of their Lord.
Those Christians who do nothing on Christmas seem to me more consistent than those who avoid mentioning the birth of Christ while celebrating Santa Claus under a Christmas tree surrounded by presents. The latter understand that the day was originally intended to worship the Lord in a special way. Why would we take something that was designed to glorify Jesus, take Jesus totally out of it, and then observe only secular traditions?
On the other hand, over the past few years I have been more impressed with the original intent of Christmas day. The incarnation of Christ was an absolute miracle! The Word of God became flesh, God came to dwell with man, Mary and Joseph looked up on the face of God for the first time, and everyone worshiped. Most of the world went about their business as usual, shouting at their kids, taking care of their animals and fields, making sure the dishes were washed. But the few blessed souls who saw Jesus could not help but worship.
God revealed to the humblest of men—a group of nearby shepherds—the arrival of the King of Kings. The angels worshiped (“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”), and after they saw the Child, the shepherds “returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.”
At the temple, Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and said, “my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And the prophetess Anna, at the same time, “began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Later, wise men from the East followed a certain star all the way to Bethlehem, and they came in and “saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
When they saw Him, they worshiped.
If Christians want to focus special attention on this awesome miracle—Jesus born of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit—the Word becoming flesh—God dwelling with man—then why should they not worship? So they set a day—December 25. We are pretty sure that is not the exact day Jesus was born, but that’s not the point, is it? The point is that He was born and is worthy to be praised!
At the end of the day, I respect whatever decision you make on this. Do you avoid celebrating the day? Do you do only the Santa, tree, and presents parts? Or do you celebrate Jesus Christ coming into the world to save mankind from our sins?
Whatever you do, do it to the glory of God.
Merry Christmas!