ROM.14:5-6 "WHY WE OBSERVE CHRISTMAS"
* Some Christians are touchy, sensitive, and full of objections about Christmas.
A) To you I say (in the Words of Scripture), if you regard the day, regard it unto the Lord!
* If you do not regard the day, then be sure you are Christian about it!
* Do not judge or criticize others for an honest, worshipful, loving & giving attitude about the
Christmas holidays!
B) In this message I want to answer some of the objections raised by those who oppose the
observance of Christmas. * Note five or six things.
(1) SOME ARGUE: DEC. 25 IS NOT CHRIST’S BIRTHDAY!
A) Every Leap Year People Are Born On Feb. 29.
* Does this mean they should only celebrate their birthday every four years?
* Would you tell your little child she can’t have a birthday this year because she was born on the
last day of Feb. in a leap year?
* Is it wrong to celebrate her birthday any day except the exact day (Feb 29) which only comes
once every four years? * I’m sure that all would agree that the exact date is not so important!
* The important thing is, another year has passed & she is another year older!
* She deserves to be recognized just like the other children!
B) What About Thanksgiving? * The last Thursday in Nov. is not the only day we get blessings
from God, is it? * Since we get blessings all through the year,
* Is it wrong to set aside a whole day to celebrate the Lord’s blessings?
* The important thing is not which day we set aside on the calendar!
* The important thing is, the reason for setting aside the day!
C) We Don’t Know The Exact Date Of Christ’s Birth! * The Bible doesn’t tell us the date on
which Christ was born! * There are no trustworthy sources!
* It could possibly be Dec. 25, in spite of the arguments to the contrary!
* Most of the arguments against Dec. 25 are based on normal weather conditions for that time
of the year, but no one knows what the weather was like the year Christ was born.
D) Christians Should Not Waste The Opportunities Of This Date!
* Christmas is an accepted time to speak for Christ! * It is an accepted time to portray pictures
depicting the birth of Christ in a manger! * What other time can you do this?
* We teach about the virgin birth, the baby in the manger, the angels singing, the shepherds
coming to worship, the wise men bearing gifts from afar!
* We should continue to use Christmas to teach the Gospel!
(2) SOME ARGUE: CHRISTMAS IS A ROMAN CATHOLIC HOLIDAY!
A) Some Say We Should Not Use The Word Christmas Because It Is Roman Catholic And
It Refers To A Mass. * So is the word "saint." Are we not suppose to use that word .......?
* So is the name "Mary." * Are we not to refer to Jesus’ mother because it’s a Catholic name?
B) This Line Of Reasoning Came From The Seventh Day Adventists!
* They also look down on us for worshipping on Sundays. * They say that Sunday was named
after the god of the sun. * But they worship on Saturday.
* I guess they don’t realize Saturday is named after Saturn! * None of us have reference to
the sun when we talk about Sunday! * I’ll guarantee that your pastor doesn’t!
* Nor do we come to church to worship the sun, we worship the SON!
C) Some Make An Artificial Distinction About Christmas!
* It is foolish to make an artificial distinction about Christmas when none exists in the minds of
those who do observe the holiday! * What do you mean preacher?
* All of my life as I was growing up, we celebrated Christmas without even knowing what a
Roman Catholic was! * We didn’t have any Roman Catholics where I grew up!
* We were all FWB, Baptists, Church of God, Pentecostals, and Methodists.
* All I knew was, this was Christ’s birthday and we got a bunch of gifts because of Him!
* Christmas was always a time to celebrate the birth of Christ!
* It had nothing to do with any Roman Catholic mass!
(3) SOME ARGUE: CHRISTMAS WAS A FORMER HEATHEN HOLIDAY!
A) There Was A Pagan Feast Day On This Date. * It was called the Mithraic Feast Day.
* It was to celebrate the victory of some Pagan god, & was held widely through-out the
Roman Empire.
* Christmas was probably celebrated on this date to keep young converts from going back into
Paganism on this date. * This is like Hallelujah Night instead of Halloween.
* Watch Night instead of drunken parties on New Year’s Eve night.
* Or Christian Banquets on Prom Nights.
B) It Was An Alternative To Something Evil, Not A Continuation!
* Christmas is not a Pagan holiday around here! * We don’t speak of anyone but Jesus!
* Dec. 25 is under new management now! * It once was pagan, but now it’s Christian!
* I’m under new management too! * I once was lost, but now I’m found!
(4) SOME ARGUE: CHRISTMAS TREES ARE AN ABOMINATION! * Jer.10:3-4
A) Some Believe Jeremiah 10 Speaks Of The Christmas Tree!
* This was actually speaking of idols! * Look at v.5-6
B) It Is Simply Ludicrous To Think We Worship A Tree!
* Some have gone so far as to make something evil out of everything normally put on a tree!
* Popcorn strings are supposedly to feed the gods (forget the fact that popcorn wasn’t even
discovered until the Europeans came to America).
* Electric lights are supposedly to guide the gods to the popcorn strings.
* Jokingly, I ask, do you think they had tracer lights in Jeremiah’s day?
(5) SOME ARGUE: THERE IS TOO MUCH REVELRY AT CHRISTMAS TIME!
A) This Is True, But It Should Not Stop Us From Doing Right!
* After one of the marriages I performed a couple of years ago, some went out to drink later.
* Does that mean that I shouldn’t perform any more weddings?
B) There Is Drinking On The Lord’s Day! * Just because some abuse it, should we count
Sunday as the devil’s day and give it up?
* NO! That’s all the more reason to worship God on that day!
* Just because some think that baptism saves ’em, should we abandon baptism altogether?
* NO! We need to teach the truth & practice the scriptural method of baptism!
* Likewise, just because some abuse Christmas, that is no reason to abandon it!
(6) SOME ARGUE: IT’S IMPROPER TO GIVE GIFTS ON CHRISTMAS!
A) Giving Honors God When It Is Done Properly!
* Acts 20:35 "I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to ......."
B) When The Word Of God Was Revived, The Jews Exchanged Gifts!
* Turn in your Bibles to the Book of Nehemiah 8: 9-12
C) When The Jews Were Saved From Haman, They Exchanged Gifts!
* Esther 9:22 "As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which
was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they
should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and
gifts to the poor."
* So giving gifts at Christmas is not improper when they are given properly!
* These people gave gifts because of love & that is the only reason we give on Christmas!
CLOSE
A) I hope that I have shared some light on why we observe Christmas!
* Remember, Christmas is all about Jesus! * If it wont for Him, there would be no Christmas!
* Remember, always leave "Christ" in Christmas!
