For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
donna lynch
the verses given as christians can we use them to defend why we celebrate christmas as christians when it is seen as a pagan kind of worship or belief
Matthew White
Jesus Christ was not born on Xmas day....Sunday worship,Easter & Xmas are the 3 greatest lies perpetrated on the Church! You don't see Sunday,Easter or Xmas mentioned anywhere in scripture! The original Sabbath was Saturday,man(Constantine changed it to Sunday! The 4th commandment says remember the Sabbath & keep it Holy(that's Saturday,not sun-day=sun gods) Also Easter & Xmas are man made holidays,not God's Holy Days(Feast Days)
Jennifer Rothnie
You can use some verses to defend why you personally celebrate it (such as Freedom in Christ, not judging others in regards to what days they keep [although that verse should not be taken too far, as it was in reference to the those who still felt like keeping (or not) the Holy Days that God appointed]. That would be appropriate in a discussion about the day.
However, scripture should not be used to defend Christmas in general (as if it were a staple of the faith or a day appointed by God), or to defend lies or traditions over the precepts of God.
The focus with unbelievers should -never- be Christmas, but should be on the reason that Christ came in human form and died for mankind.
John Butt
I agree about not wanting to celebrate Christmas,Easter and other holidays. As far as I know I am the only one in my family who don't want to celebrate these holidays. So what can I do when my family insists on celebrating and giving gifts? I have told my family and friends the way I feel,but they want to hold with traditions of men. Some agree that it's a waste of money and I feel that some of them would like not to celebrate but they don't want to offend anybody. Hope to hear from some of you on this matter,thanks!
Gerald LaRosa
The Christmas season is and has been a time for families and loved ones to come together and share time and good cheer. The nativity story is derived from the Bible, and I know many Christians who take to heart the account of Mary and Joseph and their meager means for the Christ to be born. How appropriate that the Messiah, the King of Kings be born in a stable! I agree that the thought process and heart of the meaning of Christmas has been corrupted by Wall Street, Madison Avenue and overt commercialization. The "traditions" have changed over the years. I remember when I worked with Mr. Christmas himself, Singer Perry Como, he told me that his family went to church on Christmas Eve and the only present he would receive was a bag of peanuts and an orange, This was what was expected! It was what was practiced! The "Heart" of Christmas was not pumping to shop till you drop. Yes! How much we have changed since then!
Christmas has for me always been about the joy of His coming, the gift of salvation. I have often thought how our religious leaders should call upon the Christian community to boycott the insane toy buying and instead buy food for the poor or perhaps boycott all stores that insist on omitting Jesus from their shelves. When Wall Street, Madison Ave feel the financial shock, they may see the light?
But alas! What does all this accomplish? We see in Ecclesiates 7 The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly that we need to seek God in all things sad and good.