Hello blessed child of God, Merry Christmas.
Today is such an important day, and I thought of sharing with you the lyrics of a song I wrote 2 years ago.
There are so many Christians who get negative about the word “Christmas”. I think it’s totally normal for Christians to be against the way “the world” celebrates Christmas. In families which aren’t Christ-centered, Christmas is more of a feast to have fun (often in ways which don’t honor God), to spend a lot, and to offer gifts to each other.
I also have Christian friends who prefer not to celebrate Christmas because we do not know the date of the birth of Jesus Christ and because it is said that the chosen date (25th of December) was previously the day of celebration for the birth of the sun-god apollo (an Egyptian idol).
Though I understand the legitimate reasons for which such Christians would decide not to celebrate the birth of Christ on the 25th December, I don’t really understand why they do not choose their own date to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth.
As for me, I don’t have any issue with celebrating Christmas (the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ), let it be on the 25th of December, or on my birthday or any other day.
I believe that all days have been created by God and for God, including the 25th of December.
For example I know that there are people who use Christian hymns in their satanic rituals for satanic purposes. Should I stop listening to Christian hymns and singing them because there is someone somewhere right now using them in a satanic ritual? No.
Or should I stop using a guitar to play worship music because there were people in the past (and there still are now) who used guitars to sing worship songs to their idols? No
As such what I have to say is “It is what we make of it”.
Why should I refrain from using a day that God created to worship God just because there are people who have used this day and who are still using it to worship idols?
This reminds me of one of Paul’s teachings in the New Testament. The Christians at that time were living in towns where not everyone was Christian (just as it is now) and so, they had friends, neighbours, acquaintances who worshiped idols and sacrificed meat to idols, and their friends would invite them over to eat. The question then came up “Should we eat of their food sacrificed to idols?” which I think is quite similar to the question “Should we celebrate the birth of Christ on the 25th December though it was used as an idol worship day?”
We can borrow some insight to this from Paul’s letters.
1 Corinthians 10:27-31 NIV
If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Colossians 3:17 NIV
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Furthermore, we can look at the etymology of the word Christmas.
Christmas means: Christ + mass
Mass is a term used to describe the main Eucharistic liturgical service in many forms of Western Christianity. It’s a term I mostly hear of in the Roman Catholic Church.
To make it easier to understand, it’s about coming together, to pray, read God’s Word, worship God, give our tithes and offerings, take Communion and then go home.
When we look at the term Christmas (Christ + mass) this way, we see that there is no problem with the word Christmas in itself. If people use this day to come together as families to celebrate Jesus Christ, read God’s Word together, to give glory to God and to share with each other, then there’s nothing wrong with it.
I know that it’s difficult for a Christian who grew up in a Church where Christmas is a taboo topic and shouldn’t be celebrated to even believe that there are Christians on Earth who make Christmas to be about Jesus and who really celebrate Him in this season.
I also know that for someone who has been so used to seeing people around them use Christmas as an opportunity to sin through impure music, immoral feasts, orgies, drunkenness etc., for someone who sees Christmas through this lens, it’s difficult to believe that there are Christians who really make Christmas to be about Jesus Christ.
As such, someone who’s never seen anyone really celebrate Jesus Christ at Christmas may just think that it should be banned as a feast and it shouldn’t be celebrated.
I think it’s important to know that our relationship with God is individual, which means that whether you celebrate Christmas or not, it must be for God’s glory, and you should have Biblical reasons to back up what you are doing, not just doing it to follow others.
It’s an important thing right now to pause and to ask yourself “What does Christmas mean to me?” Because what Christmas means to you will clearly determine how you celebrate it.
I celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. I would like to say that Christmas exists in my heart every single day, because Jesus Christ came to save me from my sins, and from the 1st to the 25th of December I decide to reflect even more on this; salvation on Christ.
I know why I celebrate Christmas, and that’s why I wrote a song on this. I invite you to listen to it, to read the lyrics and to also make up your mind on the real reasons for which you may or may not celebrate Christmas.
What Christmas Means To Me – Victoria Eyog (Lyrics)
Verse 1
Jesus’ birth in my life
It’s Christmas time to share His light
Shining bright with hope and peace for everyone
The giver of eternal Life
The baby who is love Himself
His birth has set the ground for a new beginning
Chorus
It is life, abundant Life
It is joy, unfailing love
His presence does bring favour
Growth, grace, transformation,
Jesus is what Christmas means to me
Verse 2
It’s not about the Christmas gifts
The street lights nor the Christmas tree
It’s all about The King born in a manger
Forgiveness is what He came with
Salvation mercy for all who
Believe in God’s only begotten Son
Chorus
Jesus is what Christmas means,
What Christmas means to me
The birth of The King of kings
The humble Holy One
All the angels sing to praise The Lord of lords
Jesus is what Christmas means to, Christmas means to, Christmas means to me
Chorus
Jesus is what Christmas means to me
Conclusion
Whatever you do, do it for God’s glory. If you choose to celebrate Christmas let it be a day or a season where you really celebrate Jesus Christ, and if you choose not to, on that day you should still celebrate Jesus Christ. It’s all about Him, He created those days, and He is worthy to be worshipped and to be adored on all of them.
Prayer
Father Lord God Almighty, help me make Christmas and every other day of my life to be about Jesus Christ. May He always be at the center of my life through Your Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen
It’s Now Your Turn
Reflect on the implications of Jesus Christ’s birth for you.
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Thank you
Invitation
Click here if you’re looking for a church. I recommend Elevation Church to you. A wonderful Christ-centered Church in which you aren’t limited by your location and in which you can see what God can do through you.
God loves you so much
God bless you
Victoria Eyog
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