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The penchant of some Christians today to shun all semblance of celebrating various holidays, even those seemingly quite “Christian,” such as Christmas or Easter, amuses me. And the fact that we feel the need to debate such things, is also, amusing, or maybe worse, saddening. 

I really don’t care where and how Christmas got its origins. Was a pagan festival somewhere on the planet in existence before formal Christmas celebrations by the Church? Or, did the Church’s celebrations actually precede those pagan festivities? While I lean toward the latter as being more historically accurate (Dr. James White’s research is helpful here), in the final analysis, I really don’t care much. And I think far too many Christians care too much; ergo, our ceaseless debates. 

Let us presume for a moment that Christians somewhere long ago found themselves in a culture of paganism and idolatry and raucous living (shocker, I know). And those Christians wanted to reclaim or redeem one of those pagan festivals and see if they could not employ it in the cause of making much of Jesus Christ. Or, maybe more accurately, simply use the culture’s already existing practices as a springboard for Christ-exalting worship and witness. While I am not one to say any and every method of evangelism is acceptable, I must say, I find it hard to be overly critical of those Christians who make renewal and redemption in Christ their primary business. 

After all, isn’t the “cultural mandate,” as theologians call it, still in effect? Very few Christian students of Scripture would deny the clear mandate from God to mankind to work, to cultivate, to nurture the world around them towards God-glorifying purposes (Gen 1:28). God is no killjoy! He created Adam and Eve in a world full of gifts, to be enjoyed rightly, in the spirit of worship of the Creator. So, why do we argue about whether a believer should enjoy a celebration of the Virgin conception and birth of our Lord and Savior, but we argue very little about a believer spending hours and hours on ballfields each year? Either watching sports, or coaching sports, or cheering on kids in sports? It is undeniable that in our culture, sports have risen to the level of religious idolatry. It is a pagan religion for millions and our culture has invested billions of dollars into maintaining it. 

But, should we forbid a Christian from any involvement in or celebration of sports? Of course not! There surely are ways for followers of Jesus to pursue and participate in sports to God’s glory. For one, athletes may use their platforms to speak of God and His salvation in Christ. Physical gifts may be returned to God’s glory as Creator and Redeemer. Parents and coaches and athletes may actively be sharing the gospel with other sports participants. That’s reclaiming sports! Redeeming a pagan religious practice. Renewing and celebrating God’s good gifts in ways that exalt His Son and our Savior. Christians have always, as far as I can tell, recognized both our ability to and mandate to enjoy God’s good gifts in this world without being of the world or giving into the spirit of this world that stands against God and His Christ. As Jesus prayed and taught, we are in the world but not of it (John 15:18-19; 17:11-19). As sinners saved by grace through faith in Christ, we’re in the redemption and renewal business so long as we draw breath in this life!   

J.I. Packer wrote: “The entry of sin cut across the Edenic pattern, but it did not cancel the cultural mandate, nor the principle that God is glorified when the good things of creation are received and enjoyed as his gifts, and men praise and thank him for them. These principles still have a decisive bearing on the Christian attitude to life in this world” (God’s Words, p. 62). 

When Christian coaches and parents and athletes participate in sports in these Christ-centered ways, we rightly say, “Praise God!” So, why do we scowl if those same Christians gather with family to feast and give gifts to one another to worship God for giving us His Son to save our wretched souls? Surely, every true believer agrees that the birth of Jesus is worth celebrating. Now! And Forever! Indeed, every single moment and aspect of our Savior’s life, death, resurrection, ascension and return is worthy of worship and celebration. And, certainly worthy of setting aside a special time to do so each year.  

What pagans are doing during this season we cannot control. Sin perverts all God’s good gifts. But grace in Jesus Christ reclaims them, renews them, redeems them, back to God’s highest glory. And that’s what we celebrate at this time which we call, in our culture, Christmas. We rejoice with what the Holy Spirit said through Matthew: “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sin” (Matt 1:21). We celebrate Immanuel, God with us. Now. And forever. 

I think at this time of year, all truly born-again believers in Jesus do well to remember Paul’s warning against our arguments regarding festivals and feasts (Col 2:16-17) and specials days (Rom 14:5). “The substance is Christ.” Yes. Amen. Whether you choose to worship and celebrate Christ as a part of what some call Christmas, or not, so long as we all adore and worship Jesus as the One and Only hope of salvation for sinners, then we ought to embrace each other in gospel kindness and cooperation. 

Writing some eighty (80) years after the angelic announcement of the conception and birth of the Holy Son of God, the aged Apostle John thought it was still very much worth celebrating with a special exuberance:

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the One-of-a-Kind Son of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). 

Hallelujah! Merry Christmas!   

 

by Keith McWhorter