I.
Text.
Luke 2:8-18 The Message (MSG)[1]
8-12 There
were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over
their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed
around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to
announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A
Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.
This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a
manger.”
13-14 At once the angel
was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the
heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18 As
the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s
get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has
revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby
lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the
angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were
impressed.
II.
Purpose.
There was great celebration at the birth of Jesus
Christ: our Savior. However, nowhere in the Bible does it say that we are to or
are not to celebrate Christmas. A lot of information, being taught now, is
confusing; because some are saying that it is sinful to celebrate Christmas and
others have taken Christ out of it altogether, making it a day for wild
partying. Today, (on this first day of Advent – which are the four Sundays
before Christmas) we want to give a balanced view (from the Bible) on whether
it is right or not to celebrate Christmas.
III.
Introduction.
Here
are some things that we do not have to argue about:
A.
It’s a known fact that many of the symbols
of Christmas are from Pagan origin:
·
Christmas
Trees.
·
Wreaths.
B.
It is also a known fact that many practices
have nothing to do with the birth of Christ:
·
Santa
Claus
·
Rudolph
the Red Nosed Reindeer
·
Frosty
the Snowman
C.
A lot
of Christian teachers have also corrected many erroneous views about the birth
of Christ
·
It wasn’t
a silent night
·
It was
very unlikely that Christ was born in the Winter time
·
We do not
know the number of wise men
·
The wise
men did not visit Jesus (as a baby) in the manger; but as a child in a house
D.
As a matter of fact, it’s known that December
25th itself was originally a Pagan holiday. It celebrated the Winter
Solstice in Europe (the time when the days start to get longer) and even in
ancient Persia it was a day devoted to idol worship (celebrating light over
darkness).
E.
Question: With all of this in mind; is
it right for Christians to celebrate Christmas and is Jesus the reason for the
season?
IV.
Body.
Here are the points that will answer our question:
1.
It is
not unusual for “Judeo Christian” (Israeli and Christianity) faith to adopt the
practices of the culture around them and to adapt them to our beliefs:
a.
Anointing
with oil was adopted from Egyptian culture.
In ancient Egypt, when a king was
inaugurated, a strong animal was killed. Its fat was then smeared on the new
king. The symbolism was that the strength of the animal was transferred to the
king. However, we have not been anointed with animal fat; we have been anointed
with the Spirit of God Himself.
b.
The
Tabernacle was adopted from Egyptian culture.
It
was the custom to have a “portable throne room” for the Pharaoh to travel in.
The Tabernacle (a portable sanctuary for God) was adopted from this concept.
c.
The
concept of an “apostle” came from Roman culture.
“Apostles,”
in Roman culture were not preachers. They were special messengers, sent with
special authority. Jesus adopted this concept and referred to His founding
ministers as, “apostles.”
2.
So
there is nothing wrong with adopting the “concepts” of the culture around us
(technology, infrastructure, finance, etc.); without adopting the ungodliness
of the world. We are in the world, but not of the world:
Luke 16:8-9. The Message (MSG)[3]
Streetwise people are smarter in this
regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for
angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for
what is right….”
John 17:16
They are not of the world, even as I am
not of the world.
1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things
that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not
in him.
3.
Being
not of the world, means that we do not celebrate Christmas (or any other
event), in the same manner as the world does:
1 Peter 4:2-3 Contemporary English Version (CEV)[4]
2 … you have turned
from your own desires and want to obey God for the rest of your life. 3 You
have already lived long enough like people who don’t know God. You were immoral
and followed your evil desires. You went around drinking and partying and
carrying on…
Romans 13:13 Contemporary English Version (CEV)[5]
13 So behave properly,
as people do in the day. Don’t go to wild parties or get drunk or be
vulgar or indecent. Don’t quarrel or be jealous.
B.
Christians
are not instructed in the Bible, TO celebrate Christmas and it does not
prohibit us to NOT to celebrate Christmas. As a matter of fact, according
to the New Testament, one day is not above the other.
Romans 14:5.
5 One man esteemeth one
day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind.
Romans 14:6.
6 He that regardeth the
day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord
he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God
thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God
thanks.
C.
Christians
are admonished in the Bible, to be led of God. If we celebrate Christmas,
we cannot look down on people that do not. If we do not celebrate Christmas, we
cannot look down on people that do.
Romans 14:5, 10-12, 13-14, 22-23. MSG.[6]
5 Or, say, one person
thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each
day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each
person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.
10-12 So where does
that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when
you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or
worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place
of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to
improve your position there one bit.
13-14 Forget about
deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned
about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more
difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything
as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about
it, can contaminate it.
22-23 Cultivate your
own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if
your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you’re not sure, if you
notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days
trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please
them—then you know that you’re out of line. If the way you live isn’t
consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.
D.
So is
Jesus the reason for the season? That is all up to the individual. HOWEVER,
the light of the Gospel does shine during the Holiday season as the story of
the birth of the Savior is shared by all means of media. That is half of the
battle: realizing that a Savior has come. BUT, the other half of the
responsibility is on the believer to share that this Savior that was born as a
babe in Bethlehem, grew up, died on the Cross for our sins, rose from the dead
and is coming again!
V.
Conclusion.
So
if the Bible does not command us TO or NOT TO celebrate Christmas; what
celebration does the Bible call for (or say that we ARE to celebrate).
A. We are to celebrate when a believer, who has gone astray, comes back to the fold!
Luke 15:6 Contemporary English Version (CEV)[7]
6 … Then you will call
in your friends and neighbors and say, “Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost
sheep.”
B.
Heaven
celebrates when a lost soul is saved!
Luke 15:7
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall
be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine
just persons, which need no repentance.
C.
We
are to celebrate because our name is written in Heaven.
Luke 10:20
20 Notwithstanding in
this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice,
because your names are written in heaven.
D.
If your name is NOT
written in Heaven; pray this following prayer (sincerely) to receive Christ as
Lord and Savior:[8]
"Father, I know that I have sinned against You. Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I believe that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. I believe that He was raised from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today.
"Thank You,
Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live
for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."
[1] Peterson, Eugene E. The Message. NAV: Colorado Springs, 2005.
[2] Mish, Frederick C. Webster’s
Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. Webster: Springfield, 1989.
[3] Peterson, Eugene E. The
Message. NAV: Colorado Springs, 2005.
[4] Holy Bible. Contemporary English Version. ABS:
New York, 1995.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Peterson, Eugene E. The Message. NAV: Colorado Springs, 2005.
[7] Holy Bible. Contemporary English Version. ABS:
New York, 1995.
[8] http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/EverydayAnswers/How+to+Become+a+Christian/.
(Accessed, March 2, 2011).
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