As the Christmas time is upon us I would like to take the opportunity to discuss Christians and holidays.
We Christians may use the holiday time as an opportunity to witness to our lost loved ones and our co-workers as the world pauses and recognizes this time as a special time. We will look at the New Testament to learn how we are to handle these things.
God ordained specific days and celebrations for the nation of Israel. With hindsight we can see how He used these to paint a picture of Jesus Christ. Just as in the New Testament we are given the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper which also are reminders of the work Jesus has done. Jesus Himself said the Lord’s Supper is to be done in remembrance of Him. The Apostle Paul instructed us to continue with the Lord’s Supper until He returns.
Let us look in the book of Romans.
Rom.14:[1] Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
[2] For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
[3] Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
[4] Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
I think it is noteworthy the one who refuses to eat certain things is identified as weak in the faith. Either way we must be tolerant for those who do not agree on this matter.
There are those who believe it is a sin to eat certain things while others believe in eating anything. As our diet is nothing more than attendance to the need of our fleshly bodies it is should not be an area of contention. (Though it is important to note the warning in in First Timothy four of the doctrine of devils which forbids marrying and abstains from eating meats which will be prevalent in the end of time.)
We belong to Jesus and as a servant of Jesus we must answer to Him and not to each other on this matter.
[5] One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
[6] He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
[7] For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
In respect of Holidays and Sabbaths it is an individual decision. The important thing to note is the reason one is honoring the particular day. Is Christmas to you the remembrance of Jesus coming in the flesh and being born of a virgin to die for our sins? If so, you are honoring it for the Lord and as such it is wrong for other Christians to belittle your observance just as it is wrong to ostracize those who do not observe. The key is not the observance or non-observance but the motivation behind each.
[8] For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
[9] For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
[10] But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
[11] For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
[12] So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
The important thing to remember those of us who have put our trust in Jesus belong to Him. I will not answer to my fellow Christians for these things but to the Lord Himself. I should follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit in these matters and cannot go wrong if I do so.
[13] Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
[14] I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
[15] But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
[16] Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
[17] For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
[18] For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
If you know certain things offend your brother in Christ then it is wrong to flaunt it in front of him or to try to get him to partake with you. We should not condemn each other neither should we provoke each other. However you are convinced in your own mind (vs. 5) you should act. We are to have respect for each others sentiments and not cause our brothers despair or encourage them to do something they believe is a sin.
( I.e. Give a Christmas card to a Christian who thinks it is a sin to observe Christmas or offer a ham sandwich to a Christian who thinks it is a sin to eat pork.)
We are to be His servants in righteousness, peace and joy.
[19] Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
[20] For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
[21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
[22] Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
[23] And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
We should look for the opportunity to build each other up and not bring each other down. We are to listen to our conscience as led by the Holy Spirit on these matters. If we go against this then we are sinning. We are to walk our walk according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and our understanding of the will of God.
In Colossians 2 we find:
Col.2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
[9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
[10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
[11] In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
[13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
[14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
[15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
[16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
[17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Being freed from the law through the death and resurrection of our Lord we are not compelled to observe holidays which is not to say we may not choose to observe them. As long as we keep Jesus as the focal point of our observance and not get lost in the traditions and commercialism the world has heaped into the season.