As I researched Christmas, it’s meaning, it’s origin, it’s traditions, it’s everything I found all that I wanted and all that I didn’t want. I learned many things as I dove into the Bible for my answers. I was proven right and I was proven wrong. I found sermons all for it and sermons all against it. I found it all. But now what? Change. Definitely change; but to what extent? Get rid of it all together? That doesn’t feel right anymore, though it did at first. Continue as normal? That doesn’t feel right either; though it would be easier I do believe. So change it, make it different and be knowledgeable. As Pinterest says “Be educated, not just opinionated” - yes, I just quoted Pinterest.
Starting with the most important verses that God showed me: Romans 14:5... One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
In context - which is crazy important when reading the Bible - this is telling me to do what is right for our family as we feel we are honoring Christ - how we “do Christmas” for our family for Christ. This also tells me and is probably more important (if you read all of Romans 14), to not judge others and how or if they celebrate Christmas. What is in each person’s heart and their intentions are not for me to judge. Are there people who have false idols; yep. Does the Bible say a tree in my house is an idol? No. Are there people who are celebrating Christmas with absolutely no honoring of Christ in their heart; yep. Does that mean I can’t celebrate Christmas? Nope. Does that mean I have idols that can be linked to Christmas? Nope.
What I just realized? This chapter did not come up in my research. Nor the side for Christmas nor the side against it used it. Why? Maybe because it proves that both are right? That both are ok to do or not to do? That it doesn’t give a this is wrong depiction. See, I took the stance in the beginning of “prove me to be wrong; show me where the Bible says to celebrate Christmas”. It doesn’t. It really doesn’t, you won’t find “celebrate Christmas” anywhere. But that also doesn’t mean it’s wrong, with what intentions we celebrate or don’t celebrate it is where it goes right or wrong. Again, this chapter tells me that. It is probably talking about the Sabbath - Saturday, Sunday, Monday, heck, Wednesday; it doesn’t matter. In honor of Christ, it doesn’t matter what day it’s on. Christmas either - No, Christ wasn’t born on December 25th - doesn’t matter.
So what matters to me now? Well, I learned a lot. Mostly I learned that my heart and intentions are what I need to focus on. I am blessed, so blessed (not what I would have said a few weeks ago regarding this very touchy subject) to have a husband who let me figure it out, who stood by me and tried his best to help me through the struggle without condemning and judging me himself. He did pretty good, most of the time. He even agreed with me on some things! Oh my. So for our family Christmas does still exist, is is celebrated in our home, but yes, it will be different. Our goal it to get our hearts right to where what we are doing is honoring Christ - not just tradition - for us.
Verse 13 is important here too - let us not judge one another, but resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or cause to fall in our brother’s way. We need to be careful not to judge others and their hearts, but to also not cause another to fall. For me, that is taking the pressure off having “the best” lights, tree, presents, Christmas experience. That makes me fall to not having the right intentions in my heart. To others it may be something completely different. Also, as Christians, and all being on the ‘same team’; we need to not let things cause division in our relationships and walk with Christ. Some do this, some do that, don’t let it divide us.
In conclusion? Celebrate Christmas or don’t. That doesn’t matter, neither is right or wrong. Do what is in your heart with a Christ like mind. I could quote scripture that was, I feel, made to prove the point of the side the interpreter was trying to prove - some very thought provoking scripture, scripture that in the right context is very right, but I won’t. I will just do what God has lead me to understand and what he has given me peace with and continue to celebrate Christmas; in a different way.
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