Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

The Need for Discernment

There is a tremendous need for discernment. We must study the Word of God daily to see if these things be true.

Applying the Lordship of Christ to all Areas of Life

Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to celebrate the Lord's birth, although we are commanded to remember His death. We are also commanded to apply the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life.

Reforming our Calendars

Rather than celebrate humanistic pagan festivals such as Halloween, May Day, Worker's Day, Youth Day, Women's Day, Freedom Day, etc., it certainly seems more appropriate to focus on essential doctrines such as the Incarnation of Christ, the Atonement of Christ, the Resurrection of Christ, the Ascension of Christ and Authority of Christ, the Power of Pentecost, Reformation Day and other meaningful events of a Christian calendar.

Practical Discipleship

There is no doubt that the world has secularised, paganised, perverted and distorted everything it possibly can, including churches and Christian holidays. That should not stop us from seeking to disciple our children on a thoroughly Biblical basis and bring them up in the love and admonition of the Lord.

Keeping our Focus

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. We dare not allow ourselves to be distracted into fighting fellow Christians who are sincerely trying to honour the Lord in all areas of life. We cannot know another person's motives. Let us deal with the big issues and the facts.

Solid Foundations

We are talking about thoroughly Christian festivals, celebrating the Incarnation of Christ, the Atonement of Christ, the Resurrection of Christ, the Ascension of Christ, the giving of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. These are great and important events in the history of the Church and vital doctrines for us to build our lives around.

A Christian Calendar

To integrate them into our calendar in a thoroughly Christian manner, is not to celebrate a pagan festival. We must reject the world and apply the Lordship of Christ in a thoroughly Biblical way in our lives and families. We want to have nothing to do with the pagan trappings of secular holidays. What we should celebrate are the truths and doctrines of Scripture.

Celebrate Christ

Christmas is not about Santa Clause. It should be a festival of Christ celebrating the Advent of Christ and the Incarnation. He is Immanuel - God with us. Jesus is the Reason for the season.

Rejecting Occultism

The Church needs Reformation and Revival and so do our calendars! All too many people thoughtlessly adopt occultic calendar events such as May Day and Halloween, and celebrate humanistic holidays such as Women's Day, Human Rights Day and Youth Day. Let us rather celebrate things that are thoroughly Christian. Put Christ back into Xmas!

Dr Peter Hammond