Why do Christians Celebrate Christmas…?
Well, I guess this is the big day.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a large entry prepared. I really wanted to write something on the Christmas songs. You know, the ones that take “Christ” out of “Christmas” (or was Christ ever “in” Christmas?). Such as, “Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why, Santa Clause is coming to town. He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been <u>bad or good</u>. So, be good for heaven sake!”
What?! Is Santa “God” or something?! Last I checked, only God can know those things. Now, I can see how some might say “Oh, come on Paul. It’s just a little kids’ song.” YES! It is a kids’ song and THAT is the problem. Starting them off early into a lie…
Should we/they (if not “we” as in Christians, than “they” as in non-believers) be LYING to our/their children?
No really, it is a lie to sing that to them. Even the whole thought of “Santa” is a lie. “Oh, but it’s fun.” Lie = Fun? Hmm…
People tend to replace Christ with Santa instead of using a biblical basis for telling there kids to obey. The kids aren’t taught to obey because it’s right and God said so, but because Santa won’t get them a gift. And again it’s all going back to presents or actually the “GETTING” of them …Selfishness. So the kid obeys for a selfish reason. Christmas (for the kid) is a self-focused day. They are thrown a present every year from day one and after a while they come to expect it. Not because they deserve it but because “Christ was given a gift from the three wise men” or whatever the reason may be.
Telling kids that Santa has the power to know if you were good or not is a lie! It’s not “cute and adorable ’til they find out”. It’s just a lie. Some Christians tie the holiday to Jesus Christ and his birth. That is their reason for celebrating it.
I believe this is wrong.
First off, Christmas was “invented” (for lack of better words) long before Christ. Another thing, why do we celebrate Christmas on the 25th? Why have we converted the holiday to mean Christ’s birth? What does Christ’s birth have anything to do with this day in the middle of Winter?
Look what I have quoted below:
It’s true to say that “we don’t celebrate Christmas for those reasons, Paul”. “We have changed it and are celebrating it for our own reasons.” And that is fine! But don’t say “I celebrate Christmas because it’s a Christian holiday.” If you’re going to celebrate Christmas, celebrate it because it’s fun and it’s a tradition. But it doesn’t tie to Christ and for us to tie this holiday to Christ seems like just an excuse to celebrate Christmas “for a better reason”.
That’s my point.
Today, like any other day, is an excellent day to worship God and to be thankful for the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Just look around. Google it. Find out for yourself how Christmas began and how Christ was “attached” to it.
I’m not saying “don’t celebrate Christmas”. I’m saying, don’t attach Christ to it more than you would any other day.
We should call it Santamas. At least then we’d know it for what it was. Haha!
I’m sorta tired right now. So I can’t remember everything I was thinking of writing. Chances are, I’ll edit this a few times as I remember what I wanted to add to it.
;)
If you think this entry was “hum-bugg”, just wait for next Christmas. I have a feeling it’ll be a whopper.
:P
Celebrate Christ’s birth everyday!
-Paulie
P.S. I’m REALLY sorry I haven’t answered your comments. I’ve had very little time.
December 25th, 2007 at 1:16 am
Good points. I’m going to have to blog about this like I said. Lol ;)
What are you planning for next Christmas?
Eric
Man, I need to my my Christmas entry posted. To bad Mom hasn’t got to edit it…
December 25th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Ha! Well, I think by next Christmas I will be even more a scrooge. MAYBE…
;)
December 25th, 2007 at 4:33 am
[...] Why do Christians Celebrate Christmas…? On the Julian calendar it was proclaimed in 46 c.e., that the Saturnalia would fall on December twenty- fifth. [...]
December 25th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Hello, Scroo– er, Paul. :D Just kidding; I sort of do know how you feel about Christmas. Although I don’t think it’s bad to celebrate the birthday of the King — even when a lot of His citizens have no clue what they’re celebrating, or why.
However, as to the date of when we celebrate Christ’s birth, Dr. Kinneer has made a convincing case for why it could be December 25 — http://www.echohills.wso.net/FrmMatthew.htm.
Anyway, merry Christmas!
December 25th, 2007 at 9:40 am
And you thought I wouldn’t agree?? Maaan! I do agree. Easter was also an originally pagan holiday, one of celebrating spring and fertility! I have no problem celebrating Christ’s birth (no Santa for us) and His resurrection…but yeah, they were originally pagan holidays!
Um, I just woke up, I’m not sure how much of that actually made sense. ;)
December 25th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
[...] clarify what I wrote in my earlier post, I do believe it’s fine “to celebrate the birthday of the King“. As a matter of fact, it’s so “fine” that it shouldn’t be bound to [...]
December 26th, 2007 at 5:45 am
I grew up with Santa as many other people do, even though my Mom was a Christian, and I followed along with that with my girls, without a thought, until 2 years ago, when my then 6 year old daughter started questioning me as to whether Santa was real…Well, I have to admitt that I had put off answering that question for the past two years..Unwilling to destroy that childhood fantasy..Although I never emphasized the “better be good so Santa will bring you lots of stuff” aspect of it…This year however, was time to tell them the truth…My oldest, now 8 said she was very upset that I had lied to her about Santa being real. Mistake noted loud and clear on my part!!!
Through trial and error, I am learning to be a better parent, and this is one of those cases!! DON”T LIE TO YOUR CHILDREN!!! They find out the truth, and could be upset because you have lied to them…Thankfully, at 8, Des is a forgiving child, and has accepted that even Mom’s make mistakes, but depending on the situation, she may not be so forgiving of my lie, and so it was an important lesson for me to learn!!
I do have a question for you. How do you celebrate Christmas? If you celebrate that i
Sorry this is so long!!
The pictures of Sus are precious!!!
Blessings to you and your family!!!
December 26th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Ah, yes. Thank you very much for sharing this. I appreciate your comment.
Hmmm, how do we celebrate Christmas. Well first off, I think the rest of my family believes slightly different on this issue (than I do).
But “I” think we (as Christians) shouldn’t just set one day aside to celebrate the birth of Christ. We don’t see ANYWHERE (in the bible) the early church celebrating “Christmas”. Now, they did celebrate Christ’s birth, I’m sure. But they didn’t turn it into a time of “presents” and we don’t see a party or anything else. I’m sure they were just ALWAYS joyful of Christ’s coming. But, if we’re going to look for an excuse to celebrate Christmas. We do it in the name of fun or tradition. NOT in the name of Christ. We should celebrate the birth of Christ on this Christmas day just the same and just as much as any other day.
So, to answer you question, I think it’s fine to celebrate Christmas and to get together with friends and fellowship. Just don’t “trick” yourself and others into thinking it’s a “Christian” holiday. And don’t set aside this one day to think about Christ’s birth. Christ was NOT born any time near Dec. Think and celebrate over Christ’s coming everyday.
Again, I think Christmas is “fun”. Let’s just be sure to celebrate Christ’s birth everyday, equally. There’s nothing “special” (as far as a connection to Christ) on this day, than any other.
-Paulie
P.S. I think my comments length beats yours.
;)
December 26th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
*LOL* It’s a close race for the longest comment.
How does your family celebrate? Tree, lights, gifts,advent, how does it all work for your family??
I agree that we should celebrate Christ’s birth everyday, as well as the sacrafice that He made for us, but what about setting aside a special day/time to really focus on His birth, to read the story of His birth, and such things.
Okay, I completely lost my train of thought, so I guess this comment is done..*LOL*
Blessings!
December 27th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I actually agree with you. For the most part.
No, Christmas isn’t a Christian holiday, but I certainly don’t see anything wrong with using it to celebrate Christ’s birth. It’s not necessary, it shouldn’t be a replacement for worshiping Christ every day, but there’s no reason we can’t do both.
Personally, Christmas would lose a lot for me if I wasn’t celebrating Christ. Santa, gifts, etc. are all so LAME by themselves. I’d rather just not celebrate at all in that case.
January 24th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Amanda read this outloud to us after you posted it. I had actually forgotten about it. I was wondering, after reading it, how *do* you all celebrate Christmas?
You were quite clear on a couple of aspects, but a little vague on others, though I got your point.
I did a similar post:
To Christmas or Not To Christmas?
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/jacquedixon/80659/
lmk what you think. I wasn’t non-committal, but I may have been vague to some too I guess.
Blessings, A