This time of year we are often asked if we believe Christians should celebrate Christmas. Surprisingly, those questions usually come from Gentile, not Jewish, believers.
They point out the holiday often replaces the Jewish roots of Messiah’s incarnation with folk rites originating or associated with pagan deities. They are grieved at the extent to which Christmas is centered on material greed and gluttony. I can’t say I disagree with them.
But, for the sake of discussion I can think of at least 10 reasons why Christians should still celebrate Christmas. I’ve listed them below in the spirit of Romans 14:5: “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.”
1. The Savior of humankind came from heaven to earth, an incomparable gift from God worth celebrating more than any other. Quite possibly He was conceived at this season.
2. A testimony of Yeshua resonates across the earth through Christmas.
3. Jews and others can be uniquely reached with the gospel at Christmas. Some Israelis are especially interested in Yeshua at this time of year. I myself committed my life to Him at Christmastime 40 years ago.
4. Christmas can help preserve and protect the expression of Christianity in an era when religious freedoms are declining. Some Jewish American conservatives have become strong advocates of Christmas for this reason.
5. With Christmas comes Advent, a month of spiritual focus which is generally less worldly in its expression.
6. Christmas traditions can draw families closer together.
7. Most believers now acknowledge some of the pagan, materialistic and other worldly roots, fruits and trappings of Christmas. This acknowledgement can free them to celebrate the holiday with much greater focus on Yeshua.
8. Christmas is probably going to remain part of Western culture, at least for a short while. If the righteous do not preserve the holiday’s true meaning, secular expression could eliminate it altogether.
9. If Christians stop celebrating Christmas, the result in some gospel resistant cultures could be no public mention of Christianity at all.
10. Quite possibly God likes it when global attention is directed to His Son one day a year.{eoa}
Sandra Teplinsky has been in Messianic Jewish ministry since 1979. She is president of Light of Zion, an outreach to Israel and the church based in Southern California and Jerusalem. She is an ordained minister and prophetic conference speaker, and has written several books and articles about Israel and the church.
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