How should a Christian celebrate Christmas?

It seems like this time of year people have a lot of different ideas about Christmas. The world say’s it is all about Santa Clause, presents, trees, lights, and spending more money than they have. On the other end of that are Christians that don’t celebrate Christmas at all because it’s roots are pagan. Then in the middle we have Christians who celebrate Christmas in the same worldly way as their unbelieving friends and some who remove Santa Clause and focus on the birth of Christ, still indulging in some of the worldly traditions.

So how should a Christian celebrate Christmas? Well I think it is a matter of conscience. I think it is between you and God since you will be accountable to God for the way you lived and the way you taught you’re kids. We do know that Jesus was not born on December 25th and that the wise men, also in the manger scene, didn’t show up until some time after Jesus was born. So it is very clear that we are not celebrating on the actual day Jesus was born.

No matter when Jesus was born I think we should celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. This was a one time miracle when the God of the Universe, the Creator became a man in the person of Jesus Christ. Whether you celebrate this on December 25th or in September I don’t think it matters. One thing I think does matter though is actually focusing on the birth of Christ and not just adding Jesus into the mix of all your other traditions.

So many Christians are crying out this time of year that “Jesus is the reason for the season” or “keep Christ in Christmas”, but how many of these same people actually take the time out themselves to focus on Jesus. Look at yourself. How much time do you spend shopping for gifts and how much time do you think, discuss and tell people about the birth of Christ? How much time do you spend opening presents Christmas morning and how much time do you take to read the Biblical account of Jesus’ birth and discuss it with you kids.

It is so easy, as a Christian, to say we celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas but how much do we actually do it. Look at your kids, their actions, are they more excited about presents or Jesus? I think we all fail at this and need to strive to be separate from the world and focus on Jesus Christ this time of year.

I have to add one more thing to this and that is Santa Clause. How many Christians tell their kids that a fat man in a red suit who is omniscient actually exists? As a Christian should we tell our kids this? When we tell our kids that this mythical figure does exist and he really doesn’t we are lying to our kids. We know that God hates lying (Prov. 12:22, 13:5, 19:5, 9, Ex. 20:16, Jer 9:8-9, Eph 4:25, Revelation 21:8) and does not take it lightly. He even says in Revelation that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire. So it is a huge danger to justify lying to God. So lying is a sin, it is actually the 9th commandment, and we know not to do it so why do we? Another danger is when we lie to our kids about Santa Clause for the first 10 years or so of their lives and then we have to crush them with the truth, they have to question us. They must ask their parents why they were lied to their entire life. They might even turn to their parent and ask if God is fake as well, if this whole bit about Jesus they were told their whole life is also a lie. So why do we do it? Why do we lie to our kids and sin against God? Why do we give our kids false hope in a mythical man when we can give them true hope in God? Is it because some Christians are so ingrained in the world that they are no different?

As true Christians let us focus on Psalm 115:1 this Christmas which says, “Not unto us O Lord, not unto us, but to your name give glory.” Why give glory to a mythical fat man and indulge in worldly traditions that distract and diminish the glory of God when we can give all the glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain, who bore all our sins and has cleansed every stain. Just something to think about.