EAST TAMPA CHRISTIAN CHURCH

The debate about whether Christians should celebrate Christmas has been ongoing for centuries. There are equally sincere and committed Christians on both sides of the issue, each with multiple reasons why or why not Christmas should be celebrated in Christian homes. But what does the Bible say? Does the Bible give clear direction as to whether Christmas is a holiday to be celebrated by Christians?

Some refrain from celebrating Christmas because they see a link between the traditions surrounding the holiday and similar practices in ancient pagan rituals. It is true that bells, candles, holly, and yuletide decorations are mentioned in the history of pagan worship, and for some Christians that is enough to keep them away from celebrating Christmas.

Other Christians, even as they acknowledge some Christmas traditions may have borrowed from pagan rituals, deny that celebrating Christmas indicates a return to paganism. They focus on modern tradition’s association with the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of the Savior of the world. Bells are played to ring out the joyous news, candles are lit to remind us that Christ is the Light of the world (John 1:4–9), a star is placed on the top of a Christmas tree to remember the Star of Bethlehem, and gifts are exchanged to remind us of the gifts of the magi to Jesus, the greatest gift of God to mankind.

Another reason some Christians have for not celebrating Christmas is simply that the Bible does not support such a celebration, either by example or command, and it is difficult to reconcile much of what takes place at Christmastime with true biblical worship. Other Christians see deep significance in the rituals surrounding Christmas celebrations and believe that participation in such is an acceptable form of worship to God.

Some Christians do not celebrate Christmas with a tree, citing Jeremiah 10, especially verses 3 and 4, which condemn the “worthless” practices of idolaters: “They cut a tree out of the forest. . . . They adorn it with silver and gold.” Other Christians see no application here to Christmas trees, since the passage refers to cutting down trees in order to fashion them into idols, which are then decorated with silver and gold (see also Isaiah 44:9–18). As long as no one is worshiping his or her Christmas tree, say these believers, having a tree in one’s home is acceptable.

Christians who choose not to celebrate Christmas may also point to the fact that the Bible doesn’t give us the date of Christ’s birth. This is certainly true. December 25 may not be even close to the time Jesus was born. Other Christians do not see the Bible’s silence on the issue as a reason not to celebrate.

Some Christians do not celebrate Christmas because the holiday has become increasingly secularized. There’s not much “Christian” about most of what the world celebrates on December 25. Those Christians who do celebrate Christmas often see the festivities as an opportunity to proclaim Christ as “the reason for the season” and point to the virgin-born Savior of the world who came so humbly to Bethlehem.

In the end, while there is no biblical mandate to celebrate Christmas, Christians can and do observe the birth of the Savior in many ways. Whether to celebrate Christmas in traditional fashion is a personal decision. As Scripture states, “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord” (Romans 14:5–6).

Whatever Christians decide to do regarding Christmas, their views should not be used as a club with which to beat down or denigrate those with opposing views. Neither should one’s view be used as a badge of honor inducing pride over celebrating or not celebrating. As in all things, we should seek wisdom from Him who gives it liberally to all who ask (James 1:5) and accept one another in Christian love and grace, regardless of our views on Christmas celebrations.