The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Christmas

Denny,

As I do with Rose I also do with you, i.e., to respect your scruples in regard to recognizing or not recognizing a certain day. But what needs to be also recognized is that it is not of necessity that anything deemed "Pagan" and therefore "evil" be inherently attached to an object, e.g., lights, a tree, a gift, et al, nor a specific day.

Romans 14:5-6 (ASV) "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. . . . 14 I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: save that to him who accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean."

One may and should take issue with how a man uses that which is good. For example, partaking of wine is not pagan, wicked, evil nor sinful. However, over-indulging of wine, i.e., drunkenness is sinful. Likewise, should a believer decide to give special recognition to the birth of His Saviour Christ on any particular day, whether it be December 25th, March 10th, July 6th, or any other day, Paul writes that it is acceptable to the Lord and no man may judge him for doing so. If such a man should contradict the biblical account concerning the birth of Jesus with a foreign teaching, then that error must be rejected. But one cannot judge that which is true, i.e., that God became man and was born of a woman in order to save His people from their sins. If a man chooses to decorate his home with festive lights as an expression of his joy over the birth of His Saviour, who is another man to judge him for doing so? Again, are lights inherently evil?

What is unfortunate is that the author of the article you linked to and others who hold to similar views lump everything that they construe to be "pagan" or "evil" into one basket thus condemning that which God Himself has deemed God and thus acceptable. This has always been a problem with men. Another small example is that some condemn any games played with cards, whether it be Old Maid, Crazy Eights, Cribbage, etc., because according to their mind, cards originated with some pagan and/or custom and thus they deem them to be inherently evil. Again, the apostle Paul clearly teaches that this view is in error and most often leads to judgmentalism; a sin odious in itself.

So again, if your conscience forbids you to have anything whatsoever to do with the 25th day of the month of December, then you must follow your conscience else you will sin before the Lord. And, should you judge any of your brethren in regard to how their esteeming that day as one to give special thanks and sing praises to God for His unspeakable gift of the Lord Christ, then you also commit sin. Condemn the hedonism practiced on that day or any other day if you like and most Christians would join with you. Condemn the profaning of Christ's holy name by men on that day or any other day and Christians will join with you. What is required of you and all who name the name of Christ is that we judge rightly, calling that which is evil, evil and that which is good, good. In this we are to emulate our heavenly Father Who is a righteous Judge.

In His grace,