Each year around this time, in Facebook posts and elsewhere, we are certain to be lectured by well-meaning Christians on the "sinfulness" of celebrating Christmas. Their arguments can be persuasive. "In the Bible, God never told us to celebrate Christmas," they say. "Christmas has its roots in paganism," they say. So that must mean we're just dupes celebrating a pagan ritual when we ignorantly think we're gratefully celebrating the birth of Jesus. Who wants to celebrate what God never told us to celebrate and which supposedly has its roots in paganism? Not me! But are those things really true?
While there is no specific instruction in the Bible to honor or celebrate the birth of Jesus each year (and no, of course we don't know the actual date of His birth), neither is there any prohibition of it. Further, when you read the Gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus, it is clear that heaven and earth celebrated that miraculous event. Can you imagine the breathtaking awe felt by those humble shepherds at the sight of the multitude of heavenly host praising God on that powerful, wonderful occasion?
I can think of nothing more worthy of annual remembrance and celebration than the birth of Christ, alongside the celebration of His resurrection from the dead (the supposed "paganism" about which we are also lectured by those same well-meaning Christians. "The root word for Easter is the name of a pagan goddess!" they say). These events are part of the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
I submit to you that the truth is the opposite of these assertions of paganism. The claims that the pagan rituals in which Christmas (and Easter) supposedly are based pre- date Jesus' birth, earthly ministry, sacrifice and resurrection from the dead are wrong. Nothing "pre-dates" Jesus. He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He is outside of time, because He is before time. All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing – nothing – was made. He is God. His willing sacrifice to save the world was set and planned before the dawn of time and creation of the world.
All pagan (satanic) rituals, "holidays" and celebrations throughout history are nothing more than cheap imitation knock-offs of the Real Thing. Satan has always tried to set himself in the place of Jesus, to be the object of worship. Before being cast to earth, he tried the same thing in heaven. To this end, he has created myriad false religions and rituals, from blatantly pagan to sneaky, fake "Christian." Not only are these designed for Satan to soak up men's worship, but also to deceive men and keep them from coming to a saving knowledge of Truth found only in the Word of God.
In so many different ways, since the fall of man in the Garden, the devil has deceptively imitated and mocked Christ's ministry and message, even before they played out in time. So, no, the celebration of the birth of Christ – that we call Christmas – does not have its roots in paganism. It's the other way around. Satan has always stolen the ideas he has from Christ's truth, and then he twists and perverts that truth into lies and grotesque wickedness.
Another point to consider is the fact that the world, currently under Satan's lordship, despises and reviles all things of God and Christ. Thus, we see Satan's war on Christmas, waged by his servants the God-haters among us. If Christmas was truly based in satanic paganism, don't you think the devil would be fine with its presence in the public square? Instead, we now see almost every major corporation aggressively scrubbing even the mention of Christmas from their businesses and advertising.
It's irksome to see the ridiculous level this corporate purging of Christmas has reached. Having been in radio for 22 years, I've watched as the generic word "holiday" has slowly replaced Christmas in national radio ads. It would be silly if it weren't so devilish:
"This holiday, give the gift your sweetheart wants!" "Make your holiday cards special!" "Find all your holiday gifts in one location!" "Do your holiday shopping with us, and save!" "We have the perfect holiday gifts at prices you'll love!"
It's not "holiday." It's Christmas. No one sends out "holiday cards." They send out Christmas cards. No one does their "holiday shopping." They do their Christmas shopping. No one gives "holiday gifts." They give Christmas gifts. This is yet another example of the world doing its worst to obliterate even the mention of Christ – in this case, as it appears in the word Christmas. The giant corporations are glad to scrub Christmas from their advertising, but boy do they love to load up on national "holiday" ads in order to separate you from your Christmas cash!
Christmas is not pagan, and it's not "holiday." It is part of the greatest True Story in the history of stories. How fortunate we are that God so loved the world! Jesus, stepped down from the glory of His heavenly throne and into the form of man. He was born into the world He loved so much that He willingly offered His precious, sinless life in place of ours, and all we have to do is believe and accept His free gift salvation.
For those well-meaning Christians who deeply believe celebrating Christmas is wrong, an offense to God, then for them, it is wrong. Let every man be convinced in his heart. But, for those of us who view it as the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, then let us celebrate it with joy and thanks to God.
Merry Christmas!
Gina Miller
Posted with permission from Gina! : )
Gina Miller, a native of Texas and current resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, is a conservative Christian political writer and radio/television voice professional.
