The purpose of this paper is to offer some options for people to think about in their celebration of Christmas.

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Evangelical Dictionary of Theology pg. 220 (O.G. OLIVER, JR.)
Scriptures do not reveal the exact date of Christ's birth and earliest Christians had no fixed time for observing it.
December 25 eventually became the officially recognized date for Christmas because it coincided with the pagan festivals celebrating Saturnalia and winter solstice.
The Church thereby offered the people a Christian alternative to pagan festivities and eventually reinterpreted many of their symbols and actions in ways acceptable to Christian faith and practice.
In every period of Christian history the observance of Christmas has been opposed by a minority of Christian Leaders.

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1. What is the purpose of the observance of Christmas?
2. Does the Bible instruct us in this observance?
3. What would be unacceptable to Christ?

1. What is the purpose of the observance of Christmas?
To emphasize the deeper truths of the doctrine of the incarnation. God became a Man in order to provide a way of redemption.
We that have been saved can rejoice in the birth of Christ.
It is an opportunity for us that have been saved to communicate to the people we come in contact with the significance of our experience with Christ.

2. Does the Bible instruct us in this observance?

The Bible does not instruct us in this observance.
The Bible does say:
Galatians 4:10-11:
You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11.) I fear for you that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

3. What would be unacceptable to Christ?

By lying to our children and telling them there is a Santa Claus would be unacceptable to Christ.
Telling our children that December 25th was the day Jesus was born, when in fact it was not, would be lying and unacceptable to Christ.
The money changers who are making millions of dollars exploiting the Christmas season, with their only motive to line their pockets, is unacceptable to Christ.
Christmas can be a good season for those having money.
For the poor who do not have money, Christmas can be a hurtful time.
Even those having money, Christmas can become a time of broken relationships and ill feelings, because of the pressures.
Just think of the number of things that the money is spent on to create some kind of atmosphere.
Creating this atmosphere is built on tradition, not Christ.
Many people in order to keep up with their friends and relatives and the traditions, go into debt at this time.

(All of which would be unacceptable to Christ.)

Most people are involved in the celebration of Christmas, but only a few go to Church and attempt to live for Christ. This should indicate that something is seriously wrong.

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Whatever importance Christ's birth has, Satan's desire is to blur the perspective so people have a difficult time perceiving the truths. Satan uses good and harmless appearing ideas in order to hide these truths, to accomplish his goal.

MAN CAN SIN AGAINST SELF.
MAN CAN SIN AGAINST HIS NEIGHBOR.
MAN CAN SIN AGAINST GOD.


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All sin is wrong,
but sinning against God and his work is most serious.
We should not want to be a part of a great Satanic deception against God.


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WHAT SHOULD THE CHRISTIAN DO?

Option 1.
Blend right in with the world and thinking somehow you can handle it correctly. (Maintaining relationships)
Option 2.
Draw a line of what may be acceptable and what would not be acceptable. (Maintaining relationships, but attempt to be a testimony to the truths of the scriptures. Indicate by word and example there are certain traditions about the way the world celebrates Christmas that are unacceptable.)
Option 3.
Look at Christmas as any other day and have nothing to do with the celebration, that is not even based on the correct day. (The intent for your relationships, is to be a testimony of the separation of your experiences with Christ from the world's view of Christmas. (You being the same example as Israel was from the separation from the world, as instructed by God.)

Each person is going to have to be persuaded in their own minds
what approach will be most acceptable to Christ.
A family should fall in step with the spiritual guidance
of the head of their household.