Christmas Should Christians celebrate it or not?

 CHRISTMAS SHOULD CELEBERATE IT OR NOT?

  By Pastor (Dr) R.Oye.Taiwo

In the short recent past, a number of vocal critics have emerged—individuals I often call 'heresy hunters'—insisting that Christians should not celebrate Christmas. They denounce Christmas as idolatry and label anyone who participates as spiritually compromised. As Christmas 2025 approaches, it becomes necessary to address this debate with clarity, balance, and biblical insight.

As Christmas 2025 approaches, many believers are asking 

'Should Christians celebrate Christmas or not?'

Should a Christian celebrate Christmas?   YES, Christians may,  even, should, celebrate Christmas

As long as Christ  is at the center of the celebration.

    We celebrate not the date, but  the Saviour.

The first truth we must acknowledge is that the Bible nowhere commands believers to celebrate Christmas. At the same time, it nowhere forbids  Children  of God from commemorating the birth of the Lord Jesus  as a human being.

 Christmas, is therefore a spiritual tradition, not a divine ordinance. However, a tradition becomes dangerous only when it competes with or contradicts the Word of God. A tradition built to magnify Christ is not sin; It is a tradition that replaces Him  that is.

  The birth of Jesus Christ is not a minor detail in Scripture—it is at the heart of the redemption story. Heaven itself rejoiced at His coming. Angels announced His birth with glory. Shepherds hurried to see Him. Wise men travelled across deserts to honour Him. If heaven celebrated the birth of Christ, it cannot be wrong for the  the people of God to do celebrate the birth of Christ in

 reverence and thanksgiving.

 those who label Christmas as “idolatry” clearly misunderstand   

  'idolatry' itself. True idolatry is not the observance of a date; it is the misplacement of devotion.  Christian believers who gather on Christmas Day to remember the birth of the Saviour into the world as a human being  are not worshipping a decorated  tree, a date, a star, or tradition. They are worshipping Christ, the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

“The Bible clearly does not endorse  

   any form of Christmas celebration  especially the celebration that involves drunkenness,  alcohol-fueled  gatherings, reckless spending, or parties that plunge people into unnecessary debt.”

 CHRISTMAS is not idolatry unless the heart of some careless  people  turns it into  'idolatry'.

   Christmas—at its core—is the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and that is  all right.  Christmas is a season meant to draw the believer’s heart to awe, worship, thanksgiving, generosity, and reflection on God’s greatest gift  to humanity.

 But like every good and holy thing in Scripture, the heart of vain man can corrupt it. Idolatry begins not on the  'Christmas' tree… but in the heart.

It is not  'Christmas' tradition that

can become sinful but the disposition of the heart toward the 

tradition.   The true worship at Christmas  of the  unique  holy One   who came from heaven as a new baby  into the  the world for an unexampled, earthshaking purpose   is all acceptable,  and appropriate,

  it  is the attitude of the heart to Christmas tradition that  can become idolatry if care is not taken.

  Christmas becomes idolatry to a  Christian   whose  heart becomes more excited about christmas presents, and  Christmas celebration'  'Christmas' Blasts than the presence of Jesus in his life.

  When Christmas Traditions Replace Obedience to Scriptures it becomes idolatry.

Some people fear missing a Christmas service or Christmas ritual more than they fear disobeying God's word.  Some people elevate the Christmas morning service above the daily call to holiness.    A woman may lie, cheat, gossip, or live   unholily throughout the year—yet on Christmas Day she puts on, fine,

stylish, beautiful, sophisticated, fashionable   expensive dress, sings  carols with passion, and feels outwardly religious. In moments like this, Christmas tradition has quietly replaced true obedience to   God's words.   Here, the words of Christ in Mark 7:6

 become painfully evident:  " He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

"Christmas traditions can become idolatrous when the season's festivities overshadow the Savior. Some people get caught up in the 'Christmas atmosphere'—the  decorative lights,  Christmas melodious music,  seasonal  activities, delicious food, and reunions—but neglect the true meaning of Christ's birth. 

It is possible to spend hours on preparations for Christmas  celebration: cooking,   wrapping Christmas presents and gift-giving, yet fail to spend even a moment reflecting on Luke chapter 2 and God's incredible gift of Jesus.

  when  a Christian uses Christmas as permission to commit sin—drunkenness, immorality, wasteful spending—Christmas becomes a tool for idolatry. 

A youth says, “It is Christmas; let’s drink, party, and enjoy life.” the heart of people like this

 has made Christmas a license for fleshly pleasures, turning the occasion into an altar for self-worship which is idolatry. about  these people  the Bible says,

'Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  Phi. 3: 19. these types of people  don't give Christmas celebrations good names. But  no one is justified to  condemn apropriate Christmas celebrations, just because of slack 'Christians’  whose god is the belly, who exult in their shame, thinking about earthly things rather than  on the things of God, whose  destiny is destruction.

 It must be understood that Christians celebrating Christmas are not worshipping a  decorated tree or a season. They are remembering the incarnation 

Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Christmas tradition  become  idolatry to some people 

 when It becomes a competition - a season to display wealth, show off clothes, outdo neighbours, and prove status.

 Christmas become idolatry for some Christians when Christmas season turn into a battle of prestige.  For example a man borrows money to “outshine” others with costly decorations and  to hold expensive banquets  for, buddies,   club members and  associates. His goal is not to honor Christ but to be admired. Often these are people who live in sin 11 months of the year, they now feel holy in December 25 because they attended carols, 'Merry Craftsmas Party'  'Christmas cantata'

or prepare a sumptuous feast to celebrate Christmas . This is religious idolatry to be discouraged..

 Christmas  celebration is safe, holy, beautiful, and spiritually rewarding—when the heart is fixed on Christ.

But when the heart turns away from Him toward things, pleasure, pride, or tradition, even Christmas becomes a form of idolatry.

Christmas Offers Gospel Opportunities

Evangelism.  My fellow Christians  and I  preach, teach about Jesus, using Christmas as excuse in a world that pauses to mention the name of Jesus. I have shown   'Jesus' films  on   streets and areas crowded by people  who came to town for family reunion and for Christmas  celebration  can still remember Some of my crowded Christmas eve  converts who are now active ministers of God.

    

The apostle Paul’s counsel in Romans 14:5–6 is invaluable: “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day observes it unto the Lord…” Here Paul establishes an important principle: the observance of special days is a matter of Christian liberty. No Christian is permitted to condemn another whose conscience leads them to honour a day for the sake of Christ. Likewise, no believer must feel pressured to observe what their conscience does not approve.

Finally, Christmas provides a rare opportunity for the church: an open door to proclaim Christ to the world. At a time when society pauses—even briefly—to acknowledge His name, the church can shine the gospel light more brightly.

In  answer to the question, should true Christians celebrate Christmas? Yes, if their celebration is Christ-centered. 

As Christmas 2025 approaches, a number of questions are once again being raised by certain critics who insist that Christians should not celebrate Christmas. They accuse the season of being idolatrous and warn believers to avoid it completely. Because I am your shepherd, I feel compelled to speak clearly and scripturally.

First, Scripture does not command us to celebrate Christmas—but it also does not forbid us from remembering the birth of Jesus. The celebration itself is a tradition, and like all traditions, it is only harmful when it replaces the truth of God. But when a tradition helps us  to honour Christ, it becomes a blessing.

Second, the birth of Jesus Christ is a glorious part of our salvation story. Heaven celebrated His coming. Angels appeared; shepherds rejoiced; wise men brought gifts. If heaven rejoiced at His birth, why should the church be forbidden to do the same?

The charge of idolatry is misplaced. Idolatry is not found in a date or season; it is found in the heart. When we gather at Christmas, we are not bowing to trees or customs; we are bowing our hearts before the Saviour who came in the fullness of time.

The apostle Paul gives us wise counsel in Romans 14:5–6: the observance of special days is a matter of personal conviction before God. No Christian should despise another who celebrates Christmas unto the Lord, and no Christian should pressure another who chooses not to observe it.

Beloved, Christmas offers us a beautiful opportunity:

to proclaim Jesus to our neighbours,

to strengthen our families,

to worship together with joy,

and to remind a weary world that Emmanuel—God with us—has come.

As you celebrate this season, keep Christ at the center. Celebrate with reverence, thanksgiving, purity, and joy.

May the peace of Christ fill your home.

May His presence overshadow your life.

And may His salvation be made known to all through your testimony.

Happy  blessed Christmas in Jesus’ name.

Your pastor in Christ,

[Your Name]

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Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?

Romans 14:5–6; 

Luke 2:8–14;

14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 

 

 Admittedly Christmas  celebration Is not Commanded i n the Bible, but neither is it Forbidden

 There is no biblical command  to celebrate Christmas. But no biblical prohibition either

Christmas  celebration becomes sin only when it contradicts Scripture

. Addressing the Charge of Idolatry

 Christmas becomes idolatry only when Christ is removed  from Christmas celebration 

Believers celebrate the incarnation (John 1:14

Christians may celebrate Christmas if Christ is central Christmas celebration is All right if it is holy, joyful, and Christ-focused

 and  Christ magnifying 

Heaven Celebrated the Birth of Christ (Luke 2:8–14)

Yes. Christmas observance is acceptable in view of the 

Angelic announcement of Christ's birth, the heavenly choirs'  joy,  and the Shepherds’ joy. at the  birth of the   greatest, most wonderful Man who ever came into this  earth.

Objections are often raised by some of the  heresy hunters  we often have to  contend with  in the Christian world,  concerns December 25 as the supposed date of the birth of Jesus Christ.  These Critics cite historical uncertainties, calendrical debates, and even alleged pagan associations. While some of these arguments contain elements of historical discussion, they ultimately miss the heart of the Christian observance of Christmas.

  The Christian celebration of Christmas is not a veneration of a date, but a commemoration of an event—namely, the incarnation of the Son of God. 

Admittedly the Bible does not command believers to celebrate Christ’s birth on a specified day, nor does it prohibit the faithful remembrance of God’s  monumental acts  in history.

 What is celebrated is not when Christ was born, but that He was born. Into the earth for a momentous, earth-shaking  purpose.  At the core of Christmas stands the doctrine of the Incarnation: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). On a definite day in human history— a date known to God though not precisely recorded a day the eternal Creator entered His creation as a true human being. This was no ordinary birth. It was a monumental,  earth-shaking intervention of God into human affairs for the redemption of fallen humanity.

Heaven itself testified to the significance of this event. Angels announced the birth of Christ and praised God, declaring, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:13–14). If the hosts of heaven rejoiced at the incarnation, it is neither unscriptural nor irreverent for believers on earth to remember and rejoice in it as well.

Moreover, Scripture repeatedly affirms the legitimacy of remembering and proclaiming God’s saving acts. Israel was commanded to commemorate divine interventions through appointed feasts and memorials. In the New Testament, believers are exhorted to “remember Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:8) and to proclaim the great works of God. Christmas, rightly understood, is one such proclamation—a public confession that God became man to save sinners.

When stripped of excess, superstition, and commercial distortion, Christmas stands as a powerful theological testimony. It declares that salvation is not achieved by human effort but by divine condescension; that God did not shout redemption from heaven but stepped into history to accomplish it; and that hope entered the world not through power and politics, but through humility and grace.

Therefore, Christians who observe Christmas do so not in ignorance or idolatry, but in remembrance, gratitude, and worship. They celebrate not a date, but a divine invasion of history—when the Creator of heaven and earth became flesh for the salvation of humanity. If angels rejoiced at His coming, it is fitting that redeemed human beings should do no less.

Romans 14:5–6; 

Luke 2:8–14; Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) 

The celebration of Christmas is more about the significance of the Incarnation than the exact date. It's a time to reflect on the profound impact of God becoming human, bringing hope, redemption, and salvation to humanity.

Objections are often raised by certain group of people, including Some  'Christian' sects concerning December 25 as the supposed date of the birth of Jesus Christ.  These Critics cite historical uncertainties, calendrical debates, and even alleged pagan associations. 

    While some of these arguments contain elements of historical discussion, they ultimately miss the heart of the Christian observance of Christmas. The Christian

    While some of these arguments contain elements of historical discussion, they ultimately miss the heart of the Christian observance of Christmas. The Christian celebration of Christmas is not a veneration of a date, but a commemoration of an event—namely, the incarnation of the Son of God.  

 While the Bible does not command believers to remember Christ’s birth on a specified day, it  does not prohibit the faithful remembrance of  the birth of  Jesus, Emmanuel,  'Divinity encapsulated in human flesh,  God's abnormal, amazing, astonishing, awe-inspiring,  mighty acts in history. What is celebrated  on Christmas day   is not when Christ was born, but that  the One who was to called 'Wonderful' was born.

 At the core of Christmas stands the doctrine of the Incarnation: “The Word became  flesh (human being)

John 1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  The same was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men 14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

. celebration of Christmas is not a veneration of a date, but a commemoration of an event—namely, the incarnation of the Son of God. 

  "And so the Word became flesh and took a place among us for a time; and we saw his glory--such glory as is given to an only son by his father--saw it to be true and full of grace." (BBE  Bible in Basic  English).

 While  the Bible does not command believers to remember Christ’s birth on a specified day, it  does not prohibit the faithful remembrance of  the birth of  Jesus, Emmanuel,  'Divinity encapsulated in human flesh,  God's abnormal, amazing, astonishing, awe-inspiring, awesome, mighty acts in history. What is celebrated  on Christmas day   is not 'when' Jesus Christ was born, but 'that'  the One who was to called 'Wonderful ( 'pele') was born.

 At the core of Christmas stands the doctrine of the Incarnation: “The Word became

No blasphemous statements of  the ungodly,  wicked,  depraved, impious, profane,  people  can  negate the purpose of Christ's first advent to the world.

WHY JESUS CAME TO THE WORLD THE FIRST TIME 

Jesus came to the world to give man eternal life by making sacrifice for the sins  of man with his previous  blood and worthy life -     

     John 3: 16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:16; John 3:36.

When a person repents of his sins and accepts Jesus as his Lord and

Savior, his sins (inherited  from Adam and committed since birth ) He is reborn by the Holy Spirit.     

      Being reborn, he receives, as his birth right  the gift of eternal life,  

  (which is thenature of God).

Jesus came to the world to destroy the work of the devil : 1 John 3:8.

  

Jesus came to undo the damage caused by sin and Satan's influence. Jesus destroyed the devil's work by:

   Conquering sin and death through His crucifixion and resurrection. 

 The Great Saviour destroyed the devil's work by

   Conquering sin.  Breaking Satan's hold on humanity, offering freedom from bondage  to every human being who believes in  and accepts Him as Lord and Savior. 

   Jesus came to the world to destroy the devil's work by conquering  establishing God's kingdom, where love and righteousness reign, restoring man's broken relationship with God and redeeming man from the devil's grasp

   Jesus came to destroy the devil's work which is to destroy human soul and body - 1 Peter 5:8. Rev 9:11. One of the names of the devil in Hebrew is 'Abaddon',  meaning   

   'destruction'-John 8:44. Jesus

came to the world to destroy this work of the devil by

saving human soul and protecting human body from the

Evil One. Heb 2:14.

Jesus came to the world to destroy the work of the devil  of putting people in darkness. Satan covers the world in foul darkness, causing the people of the world to walk in

darkness. That is why the  devil 

is called the 'ruler of the    darkness of this world the 

   Jesus, the Light, came into the

world to deliver people from the darkness of the devil

and translates them from the region of darkness into the

kingdom of light - John 8:12; Col. 1:13.

Leading people away from God into eternal

suffering in hell John 12:40; 2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Cor.

11:3. The major work.of the devil is to lead people away

from God and eternal joy into eternal suffering and

torment. Jesus came to destroy this work of the devil by

-

leading people back to God - Rev. 5:9.

Jesus came to the world to save sinners - 1 Tim

1:15.

Jesus came to the world to save the sinners by calling

them unto repentance - Matt 9:13. By helping the lost

sinners to recognize themselves as sinners, to understand

the terrible reward of sin and to repent of their sins, He

saves the lost Matt 18:11.

. Jesus came to the world to save sinners by

washing them with His blood - Rev 1:5; 1 John 1:7.

When a sinner repents, the blood of Jesus cleanses him

from his sin.

redeeming them from sin and Satan - Titus 2:14;

Eph 1:7; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:12.

Jesus came to the world to save sinners by

- Col. 1:21-22; Rom 5:10:  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, 

Jesus came into the world so that human beings might

enjoy the unique experience of the baptism with the Holy

Spirit and have the Holy Spirit abiding in them.

Jesus came to the world so that 

Replacement human beings  might be able to sit on God's throne Rev 3:21. Who is man that he

might hope to be given the opportunity to come

anywhere near the throne of God. But because of the unspeakable love of God for us, Jesus came into the world to make  man  worthy to sit with Him on the glorious and dynamic throne of God   that is alive with the virtue  of the glory of 

God, the Almighty.

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