Several years ago now, I developed a problem with Christmas. Saying that may sound like I’m not Christian, but I am. I appreciate that we have a time set aside to remember the greatest gift God ever gave us. He loves us so much that He gave us His only son and if we believe that we can have everlasting life. It’s something worth remembering and passing on. But, my problem is how we do it… and maybe even when we do it.
One December evening, when my boys were little, we were watching Christmas movies. I never believed in Santa, didn’t feel right that my boys did, and was getting annoyed with all the Santa movies. I thought I’d go write my own Christmas story. If I was going to write my own story, I should know why we do what we do at Christmas time. Funny how we continue on with our traditions with no questions asked about how they even fit into our Christian beliefs. My research bothered me as I was lead to believing what we do has pagan roots. I could get carried away telling you all the things, but instead, I encourage you to do your own research and pray about it.
Some people think I’m crazy, too legalistic, taking things to far, not seeing the Christian aspect of why we do what we do. I’ve prayed about this a lot y’all. I didn’t want to take these traditions out of my life. I’ve loved every bit of Christmas for as long as I could remember. I love buying and wrapping gifts, receiving gifts, sitting on the couch with a cozy blanket and coffee in the glow of the lights on the tree.
Here’s a few verses that have lead me to believing that what we do is wrong.
Jeremiah 10:2-4
Thus says the LORD: "Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move…”
If you continue reading this chapter you might decide this is talking about worshipping idols and it doesn’t apply to you. But, I’m still personally convicted. No, I didn’t worship the tree. But, I did bring it into my home and decorate it. It did seem to be the focal point of the room too. The Christmas tree is kind of a big deal. It’s an important part in our decorations. And I personally can not tie it into my Christian beliefs without feeling like I’m trying to justify something that can’t be justified. We should be set apart from the pagan world. So why do we do what they do, same intentions or not? Right here in Jeremiah, God tells us to “learn not the way of the nations.”
And then…
Mark 7:8 (Jesus is speaking)
“You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
In Jeremiah 10, God gave us a command to not learn the ways of the nations. But, we do because we want to hold onto our traditions. As you read on in this chapter out of the book of Mark, you may decide that this is not talking about what I’m talking about here. But, it was a verse that was brought to my attention after I had been praying about whether I should continue celebrating and decorating for Christmas as I always have or not.
And I’ll provide one more here that came to me later on as I was still praying and sorting through all of this…
Revelation 2:19-20a (Jesus is speaking)
"I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel…”
You can read more about Jezebel here as well as in 1st and 2nd Kings. My thoughts on this is we are tolerating her when we do as the pagans, heathen, nations do. That’s what we are doing, in my mind anyways, when we celebrate Christmas and other holidays that include pagan traditions.
I plan to write more along these lines in the future, but for now, this is enough to get you thinking. Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!
~ Lavenda