No one knows the day of our
Lord's incarnation. The Holy Spirit did not reveal it to us. And, as believers,
we must not be brought into a bondage observance of any day. We must not honor
one day above another. We do not observe holydays and Sabbath days of any kind.
To be sure, the world's observance of Christmas has little, if anything, to do
with the worship and honor of Christ. For these reasons, and many others, some
of the Lord's people conscientiously choose not to join in any form of
Christmas celebration. I respect their opinions and convictions - I must,
because I once shared them. While we must not look upon those who differ with
us in scorn or contempt (
At this season of the year people everywhere are
reminded of the fact that Jesus Christ lived and died in this world. I believe
that it is far better to spend our time and energy telling people who Christ
is, why he was born, what he accomplished in his life and his death, and where
he is now, than it would be to concentrate our energies negatively in
denouncing those who set aside this particular season for the remembrance of
the Savior's birth. Above all else, I have chosen to celebrate Christmas,
because it gives me an open door for preaching the gospel for the honor of
Christ and the salvation of men.
Another motive
for celebrating this season of the year is the fact that it is a time of
giving. It does my heart good to see men and women engaged in seeking the
happiness of other people. Such a spirit should be encouraged and nourished,
not dampened and reprimanded.
And Christmas is
a time for the family. More so than at any other season of the year, families
try to get together for Christmas. All the children come home with all their
children. It is truly a happy time. Seldom do I get to join my relatives at
this season. But I always think of them with love and joy, remembering all
those delightful Christmas eves we have spent together. Anything that promotes
such family feelings I am for.
Yes, I think that it is best for us to celebrate
Christmas, not as a religious holyday, but for the remembrance of that blessed
event when the Son of God assumed our nature, that he might live and die as our
Substitute and accomplish our eternal redemption. December 25 is nothing to us.
But Immanuel is everything to us. We will magnify our Lord, our Savior, our King for his birth: