Some folks don’t believe that Christians ought to have anything to do with Christmas. Frankly, there is nothing wrong with decorating a tree, sending Christmas cards and exchanging gifts with your friends and family. Like Paul said, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not."

The idea that Christians should avoid Christmas comes from several things. For one thing, Jesus wasn’t born on December 25. December 25 is the feast day of the son of Isis in ancient Babylon and is associated with the worship of the sun god. Jesus’ birth was in September, around the time of the feast of Tabernacles. Shepherds would not have been in the field with their flocks in December.

For another thing, decorating evergreen trees, caroling, hanging mistletoe, making wreaths and gift giving were all parts of pagan feasts and celebrations that had nothing to do with Jesus Christ or his supernatural birth. Even the name Christmas (Christ-Mass) comes from a Catholic or Lutheran designation for this holiday.

If that’s not bad enough, there is no such thing as Santa Claus, flying reindeer, coming down chimneys, or any of the other stuff that we see the world doing at Christmas. This holiday is more of a commercial enterprise than it is anything else.

Nevertheless, Bible believing Christians recognize these pagan origins and traditions and don’t worship the sun or the sun god. They simply rejoice in the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and sing hymns of praise to him, remembering not only his coming as a child, but his earthly ministry, his death, burial and resurrection, his ascension into heaven and his soon return to rule the world (Rev 19). Christmas songs like "Joy to the World" are good examples of Christian hymns that worship the Lord and not some sun god.

Zealous opponents of Christmas often quote Jer 10:1-5 as the authority against Christmas trees. However, those verses are not about Christmas trees; they are about idols that are carved out of the tree, "the work of the hands of the workman … they … speak not."

In the end it is possible for Christians to enjoy Christian fellowship this time of year without getting caught up in paganism and worldliness. Yet, at the same time, if there are those who refuse to wish another a Merry Christmas, they are well within their Christian liberty to separate themselves from having anything to do with Christmas.

Like Paul said in Rom 14:5-6a, "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 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."

So, if you choose to enjoy the Christmas season, have a Merry Christmas.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Welder