In just 5 days, Christmas will be here. People celebrate this holiday in a variety of ways, so it is important to consider how those who want to be faithful to God should celebrate it.
Is Christmas The Lord’s Birthday?
Many in the religious world commonly teach that December 25 is the birthdate of Jesus Christ. Thus, you will hear it said that we need to “keep the Christ in Christmas.” But if we want to follow what God’s word says, we will not celebrate December 25 as Jesus’ birth.
We cannot know for sure when Jesus was born. However, it is safe to conclude that it was not in December. In Luke 2:8, we read:
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
No shepherd, interested in the welfare of his flock would be out overnight with them in December. Temperatures are a few degrees above freezing. It is more likely that Jesus was born between late April and early October.
Those who observe Christmas as a religious holiday do so without authority (Colossians 3:17). It is a manmade holiday, foreign to the Bible, and religious keeping of it is lawlessness (Matthew 7:23).
Santa Claus & Gifts
Advocates of the religious observance of Christmas often speak out against the commercialization of the holiday. If it is not Biblical for us to celebrate Christmas as Jesus’ birthday, is it right for us to take part in the Santa and gifts aspect of the holiday?
The Santa Claus tradition seems to have a variety of sources. Among them are Bishop Nicholas of Myra, famous for bearing gifts, especially among the poor. Some parallels exist between Santa and the Germanic god Odin, who rode on an eight-legged horse through the sky. Children would leave their boots with treats for Odin’s horse near the chimney, and he would reward them with gifts or candy. These, mixed with more recent folklore in various countries result in the Santa Claus figure widely known today.
Santa Claus is a fantasy, no different from (though certainly more popular than) leprechauns, the Easter Bunny, Frosty the Snowman, or several other characters. Some people may find it disturbing that a portion of Santa’s origin traces back to paganism. If that is an issue for you, then certainly you should have nothing to do with Santa. But, an association with paganism does not make a thing inherently wrong.
Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about eating meats sacrificed to idols. He said,
…concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. …Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; for ‘the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness.’ (1 Corinthians 8:4; 10:25-26)
Though the meat had been on an altar to an idol, there was nothing wrong with the meat. The idol does not exist, and so long as the one eating understood this, then it was fine to eat. But, if an individual could not eat without thinking of the idol to which it was offered, then he should refrain rather than violate his conscience (Romans 14:14, 23; 1 Corinthians 8:10).
If when you see Santa you are caused to think of Odin or some other pagan god, then certainly, do not violate your conscience. If your mind is not drawn to honour an idol, then there is no issue with having Santa decorations, seeing the Santa Claus parade, etc.
I would caution parents though, do not lie to your children. As fun as the Santa tradition is, children ought to know that he is not real, just as they should know that the Easter Bunny or any other fictional character is not real. No lie is justified. Why put your soul in danger (Revelation 21:8) just to maintain before your children that their gifts did not come from you, but from a chubby white-bearded fella in red?
The same principles apply to any other Christmas time activity. Do not hold to that which makes it a day of religious significance, for this is contrary to the will of God. And yet we have the freedom to participate in and enjoy cultural or secular activity linked with the season. Those who are religious, but without knowledge will be offended by such (Romans 10:2). Perhaps we can use the Christmas season as an opportunity to teach those who are in error the way of truth more perfectly.
Enjoy the holiday season!
Links: YouVersion | GROW magazine
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