So here are some thoughts I've come up with (or heard).
*While its true the Bible does not specifically tell us or command us to observe the birth of Christ ~ it also doesn't forbid it or command us not to. The birth of Christ was celebrated by Angels, Wise Men, and Shepherds in the New Testament books of Matthew & Luke. Gifts were brought and presented to the newborn King ~ our Savior.
*There are many celebrations we participate in yearly...our own birthdays, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, anniversaries etc. The Bible doesn't tell us to observe these either nor does it tell us not to observe them. We exchange gifts, send cards, plan special activities & eat yummy food associated with these days ~ so why not at the birth of Christ. Are we elevating ourselves, our society, our wants above God by doing this but refusing to even acknowledge "his birth"? (And I know he wasn't born on Dec. 25th, most likely it was in the fall immediately after the harvest so the people did have the money to pay their taxes)
*Many are regarding the celebration of Christmas as idolatry. And it can definitely be that but it doesn't have to be, thats our own decision ~ the dept. stores aren't holding guns to our heads to make us buy stuff we don't need or can afford ~ we do that to ourselves. No one is making you say yes to every invitation that comes your way or expecting you to bake 75 fruit cakes ~ we are doing that to ourselves. I am guilty of all the above (well, not the fruit cakes).
*We daily struggle with Sin. We are all guilty of the sins of pride, gluttony, covetousness, wanting our own way, insisting we are right & everyone else is wrong. We all need to bow before our Holy & Righteous Father and ask for His forgiveness & His guidance in our lives. Lets base our decisions on what the Lord reveals to us through His Word and time spent with Him ~ not on mans imperfect thoughts & interpretations of the Scripture. We all sin an.d we all fall short of the glory of God (daily).
I received the following poem on a Christmas card this weekend that I would like to share...
God Sent Us a Savior
It our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have set us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness,
So God sent us a Savior.
~Roy Lessin
I pray we will all remember in all the debating and presenting our own opinions that we cover everything we do and say with prayer & guidance from our Heavenly Father.
Love that poem. You are exactly right!
ReplyDeleteRie
I appreciate that you are considering whether or not it is biblical to celebrate Christmas as a Christian. Here are a few things that you should consider in determining what you should do in regard of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWe are commanded not to "add" or "take away from" the commandment of the Lord. This includes the worship of the Lord. We are not to look to other pagan nations to see how they serve their god and do likewise to ours. "30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."
Furthermore, Nadab and Abihu were made into rice crispies because they changed the worship of God. What they did was exactly what they had just done. But, it had not been commanded by the Lord. They were the right people, at the right place, with the right offering, to the right God, but the wrong timing. "1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD."
Thank you for bearing with me. It is VERY IMPORTANT whether or not we celebrate Christmas as worship to the Lord, it is not important whether or not we celebrate birthdays or national holidays as they are not for the purpose of worshipping the Lord.
Please carefully consider as you search the scriptures whether or not celebrating Christmas is a sin, as idolatry.
Come on, you can admit that you love to bake fruitcakes... :P
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you make some good points. Keeping the main thing in perspective is the important part, not the *how* of celebrating!
Haha, I have NEVER baked a fruitcake! Pound cake, yellow cake, devils food cake, angel food cake, yes...but not fruitcake! I've never liked them, my mom used to bake them many years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe idolatry of Christmas is an important reason to carefully consider your traditions. I believe when we lie to our children about santa we are first off telling a lie and secondly building an idol for their worship and expectation. Children need to be told that what is good comes from the Lord God Almighty, not elves and raindeer.
ReplyDeleteI think Nadab and Abihu tried to share in God's glory, much like Moses did when he hit the rock. But it must be remembered that they were on the other side of the cross. We are living in a sacrificial system where Jesus Christ has already finished all the sacrifice we will ever need for our salvation. We are free from the old testament sacrifice requirements and legalism. Jesus first recorded message in Mark is simple and profound. "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:15
Greg
The Celebration of the birth of the Lord is not commanded in the bible... Many will say that they are changing there practices to conform to the worship of Christ on Christmas, but we were never commanded to celebrate His birth. In fact, we are told only to observe His commands "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:20)
ReplyDeleteWe are also not to observe "traditions" in the Worship of the Lord EXCEPT those mentioned by our Lord or the apostles (Mark 7:5-13; 2 Thes 2:15)
The two chief New Testament "traditions"- baptism and the Lord's supper - pertain to His death, not His birth. There is much more to be celebrated about His death the means of our salvation.