It’s that time of year! May Christians observe Christmas? Most certainly, they can, but may they observe Christmas?
First, with today’s casual usage of the word “Christian,” it is necessary to define the term under consideration herein. By “Christian,” we do not simply mean some vague so-called Christian heritage or citizenry in what sometimes people at one time referred to as a Christian nation. Neither do we have in mind for the definition of Christian respecting one’s membership in a church nor a religion that had its origin after the first century, that was founded in some city other than Jerusalem, that was established by mere mortals or that may wear a name that cannot be found in the Bible.
“Christian” as it is used in this article refers to baptized believers (Mark 16:16), those who were immersed or buried with Christ in baptism (Romans 6:3-5) for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38) and who were added to the Lord’s church by Jesus Christ Himself (Acts 2:47). Herein we mean by “Christian” all that it means in the strictly biblical sense and not in a secular or a popular denominational way.
So, may a New Testament Christian observe or otherwise participate in Christmas? Well, that depends on some variables, such as what do we mean by “Christmas.” Yes, we are aware of the origin of Christmas regarding it coming about as the institution of the Christ Mass by the Roman Catholic Church and also being combined with tenets of paganism. If that were exactly and only what defined Christmas today, then, of course, faithful Christians could neither conscientiously participate in nor observe it in any way whatsoever. Clearly, the birth of Christ is not celebrated in Scripture as some religious rite to be observed comparable, for instance, to the Lord’s Supper or one of the other four acts of Christian worship.
If, then, one means by “Christmas” a religious observance in the manmade religion of Roman Catholicism or in any of its equally human denominational children or grandchildren, absolutely, “No,” a child of God can have no part in it (Matthew 15:9). At least as reprehensible would be the willing participation in some sort of paganism (Romans 1:18-21).
However, there is another completely different face of Christmas from either its Roman Catholic beginnings or its ancient association with paganism. Aside from any religious connotation, Christmas has been secularized and commercialized in ways that have no relationship among a multitude of contemporary people to anything religious or pagan. The Santa Claus of today, along with Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer herd, the North Pole residence of the plump jolly fellow, all of the little elves and such like bear no correlation to anything either religious or pagan.
The national holiday and the holiday season in many ways offer somewhat of a reprieve from the typical ugliness society demonstrates most of the rest of the year. It is a time of merriment, joy, family, gift-giving and a nicer version for many of us than what we seem to be the balance of the seasons.
The fact that some or even many people may abuse themselves in sinful ways at that time of the year (e.g. drunkenness, etc.), in the first place, doesn’t prove that those sorts of people are better models of the human race the rest of the year (e.g., sober, etc.). Furthermore in the second place, just because someone can abuse something doesn’t necessarily prove the unworthiness of what he abuses (e.g., fire that warms and cooks versus fire that destroys, water that sustains life or water that results in drowning).
Before one blindly jettisons everything labeled “Christmas” and attempts to bind that sentiment on other Christians, too, consistency demands of us some further reflection and a dosage of common sense. The names of the days of the week that we freely use had their origin in paganism. Sunday or the Day of the Sun was dedicated to the worship of the sun. Thursday was Thunder Day, and it was associated with the pagan worship of Jupiter. Saturday was Saturn’s Day. Yet, no one today makes those connections despite their origins, and even Christians with no hesitation refer to the days of the week in a modern-day context, without finding them repulsive.
There are four reasons why a Christian might not observe or participate in Christmas. First, anyone who has personal conscience against Christmas must not partake of it (Romans 14:23). Second, no Christian ought to participate in the religious version or appear to endorse a spiritual observance of Christmas (i.e., special religious service, commemoration of the birth of Jesus on December 25 with nativity scenes, etc.). We cannot add religious tenets to Christianity. Third, especially in some nations noted for their paganism and idolatry (e.g., Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) and where even the trappings of the secular and commercial Christmas are perceived by non-Christians as an association with Christianity, we would do well to avoid any and all of it for their benefit. Fourth, a Christian just may not have any interest in that or other holidays in which typically other people are interested. Therefore, he simply ignores it like he might not treat other national holidays any differently (e.g., Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.).
Can a New Testament Christian observe or participate in Christmas? Of course, one can, but the real question is may a child of God participate in it. A Christian may participate in or observe Christmas as long as he does not subscribe to the religious aspect of it, and as long as one’s participation in it does not become a stumbling block to those who see you observe it (Romans 14:13-22). Otherwise, the present-day secular Christmas is on the same footing as the names of the days of the week, where their contemporary usage is divorced from their origins.
