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Should Christians be
Celebrating Christmas?
There are people who really
struggle to be happy this time of year. They watch old
Christmas movies, they think about their loved ones far away,
and they do unusually kindly things for strangers. And of
course they decorate their homes inside and out with bright
colors, while listening to lots of Christmas music.
Some of these people do these things in order to run away from
the dark feelings of gloom and loneliness they feel inside.
Doctors claim that the longer nights and shorter days depress
a lot of people. The lack of sunlight makes the season "feel"
gloomy.
Whoever knows the Lord Jesus Christ has the true and eternal
light of God already burning brightly inside. This does not
mean that we cannot feel depressed or unhappy. But it means
that a living spring of joy and peace forever flows upward out
of our innermost being. This spring is supplied by the Holy
Spirit which is given to every child of God.
Christmas music has special meaning to God's children.
Christian believers don't rely on music or other external
things to cheer us up, or to remind us of the "olden days"
when things were better. Music is meaningful to us for it's
message.
We don't try to ignore the words of an old Christmas carol, as
the world often does, because in those Scriptural promises and
reminders, we hear the truths of God's kingdom ringing out
loud and clear. We're able to rejoice without any ceremony or
rituals, because we're already alive to the truth of Jesus
Christ -- even without the holiday season.
We don't really need all the celebration that comes with
Christmas. Yet as followers of Jesus Christ we are certainly
free -- free to express our joy that a Savior was born for us
all.
While the Lord calls us away from dead traditions that once
held us in bondage, He also sets us free from the fear of
those traditions. True believers in Jesus Christ are the only
people truly free on this planet -- because the world no
longer owns us.
The world can no longer put us into a box and make us stay. So
we should not make a religious tradition out of "hating
traditions," lest we end up placing ourselves into yet another
kind of religious box.
For example, some Christians are reluctant to celebrate the
Christmas season because pagans once used the season to
celebrate the returning of sunlight. But what better time to
celebrate the entrance of the Light of the world, the eternal
Light of Jesus Christ that came crashing into the middle of
Satan's domain of darkness?
How can we govern our lives according to what pagans did
centuries ago on this or that day, or at this or that time of
the year? Modern pagans eat ice cream and drive cars. Shall we
abstain from eating ice cream and driving cars?
Our steps should be directed by the Lord, not by a
superstitious dread of pagans or their false gods. I'm not a
pagan. I'm a man who was once a blasphemer and unbeliever, who
has since been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.
The Spirit of God has made me alive in Jesus Christ. I'm now
alive unto God and dead to the traditions and superstitions of
this world.
So when I wish others a happy Christmas season, I really mean
it. I say "Merry Christmas!" as loud and as often as anyone --
and I say it as a blessing, as a prayer that God will truly
capture the hearts of all who hear it.
Only in the Lord can anyone have real joy. And only He can
bring true light (the precious and warm light of His own dear
Presence) into a downcast heart.
All believers are free to celebrate or not celebrate, as the
Lord works in each life and in each family.
Many Christians who celebrate the holidays do so as a perfect
opportunity to share their faith. And many who don't celebrate
do so as a testimony to the reality of Jesus Christ.
The Lord Himself must guide each heart, and each family,
according to where we live and according to His own purpose in
our lives, and in the lives of those around us. True believers
are servants of God, and do not merely live for their own
pleasures.
Certainly no believer should engage in the rowdy drunkenness
that the world often associates with parties and celebration.
The world should be able to tell by our laughter, our singing,
our worship of God, and the kindness that we show to others
that we truly believe in Jesus Christ.
Our love for Jesus should be evident in everything we say and
do.
Whether we celebrate a holiday or choose not to observe it at
all, we're not by that choice "more spiritual" or "less
spiritual" than those who do otherwise. So whatever the Lord
leads us to do, let's be careful to simply do it without
thinking that we're more correct or more sincere than others.
When we honor our brothers and sisters, God is glorified in
all that we do, and no shame (or needless division) is brought
on the church.
By all means obey the convictions that God gives you. But also
understand that God seldom directs all of us to do everything
in the exact same way. We don't all speak the same language,
or live in the same kind of a house, or wear the same
clothing, or eat the same kinds of food. But whatever we do,
we (should) do to the glory of God, as His Spirit directs us.
Nearing the end of his life, John the apostle wrote, "...the
darkness is passing away, and the true light is already
shining." (1 John 2:8b)
And in his Gospel of Jesus Christ, John wrote: "In Him was
life, and the life was the light of all people. And the light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend
it... That was the true Light which gives light to every man
coming into the world. [or: The true light, which enlightens
everyone, was coming into the world.] John 1:4,5 and 9
Every soul that belongs to Jesus Christ carries eternal Light
within, and it's for the sake of those who are still lost in
darkness that we let that Light shine out for everyone to see.
The only real hope for anyone is Jesus Christ. So whether we
celebrate or not, let's be sure to take advantage of every
opportunity to share the Light of Christ in every way
possible.
Jim
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