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Now That Christmas Is Over

The presents have been exchanged, office Christmas parties with all the focus on drinking alcohol have come and gone. Now that Christmas is over I'd like us to assess in what it was we participated? Sure, there is often mention of the "reason for the season", Jesus' birth -- whether we believe it actually happened on December 25th or not. We can debate about the pagan origins all we want; of the Roman Winter Solstice and Saturnalia but many well meaning Christians world wide still participate.

Since this is a Reformed Christian site, we should mention that the Puritans considered Christmas (from Christ + Mass) to be a Catholic invention. In 1647 Christmas was outlawed in England. In America, Christmas was banned from 1659-1681 in Boston.

All of this controversy aside, the Christmas season; along with days like "Easter" are some of the only times when Christ is spoken in the lives of people. Does that justify the celebration of these days? Is it right for Christians to take things once considered "idolatrous" and use them for Christian good?

This question reminds me of the issue in 1 Corinthians 10:27-33 where Paul is talking about whether a Christian should eat meat known to have been offered to idols. Paul indicates that if the Christian is invited to a meal by a non-Christian, that the Christian should not ask as to whether the meat was offered to idols, but merely eat the food to the thankfulness and glory of God. However, if it is revealed that the meat was offered to idols; the Christian should not eat of it. Not because it would have any shame on the Christian but for the conscience sake of those in attendance; both Christians and non-believers.

As a matter of fact, the basic tenets of practice instructed to the non-Jewish Christians are found in Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29, and Acts 21:25 and are summarized as:

  • Don't eat meat offered to idols.
  • Don't be sexually immoral.
  • Don't eat non-kosher meat.

Although, presumably the "Gentile" or non-Jewish Christian need not adhere to the full dietary laws of Judaism. Christians could eat pork for example.

The point is, a pagan thing can be transformed to the glory of God. And isn't that the sentiment of 2 Corinthians 10:5:

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Whatever Christmas may have originally meant, it has come to mean a time to focus on Jesus Christ. It has come to mean a time for reflection on family, friends, charity, and general care and love -- whether its participants accurately demonstrate these attributes or not. We have truly taken "captive" the pagan thoughts and ideas of this season and have made them "obedient to Christ" and put them into service for the thankfulness and glory of God.

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