Growing up, Christmas was all about decorations, Santa, gifts, food, family and church plays. I remember the excitement of trying to figure out if Santa was actually real or not and what gifts were going to be by the tree on Christmas morning. Big piles of gifts always waited for us as my parents tried to give us the best Christmas. I saw family that I didn’t often see, made our traditional finger foods and desserts, watched all the Christmas movies, went to the candle light service and of course practiced for the yearly church Christmas play. I remember being told that Christmas was about Jesus but the church play was honestly as far as that went. Outside of rehearsal and play night, it was about the food, family, gifts, decorations etc.
Inside I always wondered…..why did we celebrate Christmas this way? What was the reason for cutting down a tree(cutting a fresh tree every year was my favorite tradition), placing it in a stand, wrapping it with lights, covering it in ornaments, placing an angel on top and piling gifts underneath? What did Santa have to do with Jesus and why were we told this lie about some fat old guy sneaking into our houses at night to give us gifts to celebrate Jesus’ birth? Why did we rehearse for a play about Jesus’ birth and then just give mountains of gifts, indulge in sweets and watch movies about Santa and “love” stories? Why did we celebrate this holiday and so did the people who openly deny Christ? How could we celebrate the same holidays?
Each year Christmas came and Christmas went…the day after I just remember feeling so empty and confused about the whole thing.
As I grew up and began to have a family of my own, Tim and I decided that we were going to tell our children the truth about Santa instead of lying and that we were going to focus on truly making Christmas about Jesus. After all scripture makes it clear that liars have their place I the lake of fire and I don’t see a clause for parents to lie to their children just for them to have fun and use their imaginations.
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” — Revelation 21:8 (KJV)
Still, every year, I found myself wondering and frustrated with the whole thing! I always felt empty and confused afterwards. I began to learn the reasons behind the Christmas trees, lights, Santa and the rest of it but I ignored the facts and continued celebrating with the mindset of “We are making it about Jesus.” I told myself it didn’t matter if we celebrated this holiday as long as we made it about Him. After all, God knows my heart and that’s what matters! I wanted to hold on to those family traditions. I didn’t want to believe that what I had been raised doing for my entire life was evil.
Boy was I wrong!! When I finally let go of my feelings, desires and self…truly letting God get ahold of me, I began to see it. As I studied the Word and really let it speak for itself….all that confusion and emptiness started to make sense!! I started to understand why I felt that way….because everything about Christmas is pagan. It’s all against God… antichrist!
When Tim and I finally agreed to stop celebrating this pagan holiday, along with all of the others, this weight was lifted. I understood that while God does see my heart, I have to worship Him in spirit and in truth, His way! Not my way! Man made traditions are not acceptable to God! We can’t slap His name on pagan traditions and call it worship(do the Israelites and the golden calf sound familiar?).
I didn’t tell many people when we stopped celebrating Christmas because I wasn’t sure how to and I didn’t want to get into debates or lose friends/family. I didn’t want to force our decisions on anyone, I wanted to let them figure out what was best and I’m honestly not one to stir the pot usually. I won’t be ashamed any more because Jesus said…
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
— Mark 8:38
This life does not come without trials and struggles though. We know what it is like to be mocked, cursed at and reviled because we have chosen God’s truth over these worldly, pagan ways. But we are called to follow His truth alone. We can not be friends with the world and friends of God.
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” — James 4:4
There is no question that Christmas is a pagan, worldly holiday and the word makes it clear that we are to be unspotted from the world.
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” — James 1:27
Are these traditions, rituals and feelings really more important that eternity? That may seem extreme but it’s the truth.
Tim has a post with the details of why we, as born again believers, do not take part in these pagan holidays. I pray that you will let God’s word speak for itself and really look at why Christmas is celebrated and what God considers worship.
