s I child I looked forward to Christmas as my favorite time of year. It was marked by time off from school, television specials, and exchanging gifts. I have come to see that many adults do not look upon the season with the same fondness because of all the headaches that come with it. Long days of shopping, travelling, decorating, and cooking can be quite taxing on a man.
Many Christians also lament the commerical emphasis of Christmas in today's fast-paced society because it draws attention away from the holiday's "true meaning," which is of course the birth of Christ. Christian merchants try to put Christ back into Christmas by stocking nativity scenes and tapes of Christmas carols on their shelves. They even send customers out of the store with shopping bags that have Jesus is the Reason for the Season on them.
My mother worked very hard to keep our family focussed on the "true" Christmas spirit, as opposed to the crass commercialism that is so prevalent today. Though my brothers and I were too proud to admit it, she was successful. The candlelit Christmas Eve service and the advent calendar played an important role in our family's Christmas preparations. When the choice is between Christ and cash, the Christian's duty is obvious.
At the same time, it is truly ironic that Protestants have come to place such importance on a celebration which has absolutely no warrant from Scripture. But though the basis for this holiday is not in the Bible, there is a basis for it in pagan history. In fact, the earliest roots of Christmas go back to ancient Roman idolatry. In the third century AD, the Roman emperor Aurelian formalized the celebration of the sun's ascent after the winter solstice. This pagan holiday was called Saturnalia, and was altered later by Constantine to serve as a commemoration of the birth of Christ. Fortunately, there are not many purists today who long for a return to the "true meaning" of the season; not many are calling us all to put Saturn back into Saturnalia.
The celebration of Christmas began and developed under Roman Catholic sacramentalism, rather than as an honest attempt by Christians to follow biblical patterns of worship. It should not surprise us when we see that the Reformers, following the regulative principle (i.e. whatever is not biblically required in the worship of the church is forbidden in the worship of the church), did not celebrate Christmas. In fact, in 1659 the General Court of Massachusetts (governed by Protestants) passed an act against the celebration of Christmas.
In the New Testament, Paul implores the saints to avoid disputes over holidays. 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 . . . (Rom. 14:5-6a). The directive to let each be fully convinced in his own mind prohibits the imposition of sacred obligations in the observance of a day such as this. God is no more with us on December 25th than on any other day of the year. The church consequently must not observe Christmas as a holy day.
As a personal or family practice, it is fully acceptable. If you profit from setting that day aside in order to remember the Incarnation, then set it aside, and devote yourself to meditating on Christ's birth. If you find that they are too many distractions in your routine to afford such meditation, then you should feel no guilt.
Three years ago my alma mater sent their football squad to play in a college bowl game on Christmas day. Because Washington State University rarely earns a bowl bid, I was excited that the game was on television, and my Christmas afternoon was devoted to ABC Sports. Afterwards I felt guilty for allowing myself to be diverted from the "true meaning of Christmas" for frankly, on that day the WSU fight song meant more to me than silent nights and holy nights. Upon taking my guilt to the Lord, I realized that what I really needed to do was repent of my legalism and false humility.
If it is your practice to celebrate Christ's birth on December 25th, then do so to the Lord without distraction. If you set it aside as a special day to practice cheerful giving, then give as unto the Lord. If it is a special day for your family to gather together, then gather in His name. If you spend the day at the office, then commit yourself before God to hard work. In whatever you do on December 25th, or any other day, the goal should be to bring glory to the God who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light.
