Curtis Kekoa III
November 22, 2005
[**I received an email concerning a debate over whether or not Christians should celebrate Christmas. The following articles were attached: Article 1
and Article 2. The following is my reply to the sender.]
The arguments for and against celebrating the birth of our Lord on December 25th can go on forever. I'm in the "for" camp. Not only do I find it fitting
that Christ / Christianity "hijacked" the biggest pagan holy day known at the time, but I also find it hilarious. It demonstrates the weakness of pagan
gods vs. the One True God, how pagan gods have no power over Christ while He has all power. Christ only "reclaimed" (with ease) what was his to
begin with: the day, for even every day is Christ's. The attempt by our culture to take Christmas Day away from Christ is a laughable attempt at
undermining Him and His authority. It can't happen.
Of course, Christ also "hijacked" another big pagan holy day concerning the spring, or what we consider Easter. This holy day had to do with fertility
and newness, and with Christ's resurrection and new body it was a perfect day of which Christianity could take for its own.
Think of the impact Christ had upon the pagan world the day He rose from the dead. "Surely, this must be the God which makes all things new. After
all, He's risen on the day we celebrate newness," they might have said on that spring day which celebrated the rebirth of all which lay dormant for the
winter. If I were a pagan worshipping some amorphous god-idea-thing on this big pagan holy day and witnessing the resurrection of Christ at the
same time, I would surely prostrate myself at the feet of Christ and ask for newness of life. Perhaps, then, the pagans just gave the day back to
Christ willingly so to speak.
As for the "against" campers, well, I suppose they can worship the birth of the Lord on any day they want. As pagans - Gentiles - we can worship Him
on any day or even multiple days, but to exclude Christ from worship on any one particular day results in these things: (1) allows the opportunity for
another god to be worshipped above Christ; (2) excludes Christ from that which already belonged to Him which is a whole day made by Him. Paul
also touches upon this very thing in Romans and solves the argument for us:
"One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it"
(Romans 14:5-6).
The best part about being a Gentile is that a Gentile is not under the Law. Therefore, a Gentile can worship on any day he or she pleases according
to the grace given him or her by God. Makes perfect sense. Of course, Paul wasn't talking about doctrines fundamental to the faith such as Christian
parents NOT giving their children over to Caesar (government schools). Rather, Paul was speaking of ritualistic and symbolic ordinances which
translate into today's worship as what days on which to worship and which Christian songs to sing, etcetera. Sunday or Wednesday or both? A
gospel hymn or contemporary Christian song? Does it matter? Not to me; I don't care if you go to church on Wednesdays and sing only hymns. Just
worship.
I think of this debate over Christmas as nothing more than a distraction from the real ills affecting our Church and culture. It's like a meaningless
bone which Christians argue over with no real impact other than demonstrating to the world how well Christians can bicker over the most paltry of
items. All the while, homosexuality is celebrated in the streets by not only the culture but some of the Church as well. Abortion is legal in our culture
and the Church stands idly by for the most part. In some cases, the Church condones "a woman's right to choose." Christians still send their kids to
government schools with odds being that of "Christian" high schoolers 80% will leave the faith when they graduate. While Christianity boldly scraps
on the periphery of social issues over whether or not to celebrate the birth of its God and on which day if any, it remains scared too death to discuss
the destructiveness of homosexuality and fornication, government schools and murders of unborn children by the millions. These are the issues
which control the destiny of our Church and culture, and it's not figuring out what day on which NOT to celebrate the birth of the Savior and calling it a
sin to celebrate it on that day as opposed to another. This debate over Christmas demonstrates how emaciated the church has become in its ability
to discuss real issues which impact culture.
I suppose each be fully convinced in his own mind. As for me, I'm going to a church service on Christmas Eve and telling parents to keep their
children from the grips of Caesar in order to save them among other soul-saving things, God-willing.
Just a few thoughts...
+curtis
"DUHMAG.COM"
2005
