Why do believers celebrate the New Year?

Many religions believe that true believers should not celebrate the new

year (Romans 14:1-5). They claim that the celebration of the new year is, like Christmas, rooted on paganistic practices (Jeremiah 10:2-4). But these religions are silent about the believers’ celebration of the rest of year’s holiday for taking a day’s off, and have time with families and friends. Celebrations like Valentine’s Day, where Christian couples can spend on lovely and romantic evening for each other in celebration of their physical, erotic, and romantic love for each other. It seems that other religions allow the believers to celebrate Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, Martin Luther King Day, Columbus Day, and in some states, groundhog day, Saint Patrick’s day, April fool’s Day, Earth’s Day, International Women’s Day, International Day for HIV, and even Cesar Chavez Day, among others, by taking a day’s off and drive out of town and enjoy the needed family time.

In terms of celebration, as of 2012, there are 11 federal holidays in the US, 10 annual holidays, and 1 quadrennial holiday. If these holidays are looked forward to every year, isn’t new year an anticipated celebration as well?

In all of these celebrations, there is a point of celebration. The Groundhog Day celebrated every February 2nd in PA, for example, is the day on which folklore states that the behavior of a groundhog emerging from its burrow is said to predict the onset of spring! The Groundhog Day celebration in North America has become the second largest groundhog celebration in the world.

Who does the world celebrate during New Year?

Who do the believers celebrate during the New Year?

Like little children growing beyond their Santa Claus and gift-receiving days, believers overgrow their childish and selfish practices of Christmas and focus more and more on the experience of Jesus Christ’s saving grace and bountiful mercies.  My experience of New Year was of a worldly celebration. Who would ever forget celebrating the New Year in the Philippines with bamboo cannons, fireworks, receiving money, feasting in relatives’ homes, seeing adults drunk and lose their minds. But with a deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ, I have devoted my life into worship and praise to God for a new calendar year granted to us (Romans 14:5).

How did the celebration of the New Year start?

In the early Roman calendar with only ten months, the year begins with March 1. As Greek prefixes denote some meaning in the English language, December was the 10^th month of the year, as it was named with a prefix deca-. Consequently, November was named the 9^th month of the year because of its prefix ennea-; October and September were named based on the prefixes octo- and septa-, respectively. Numa Pompiliius, the second king of Rome added January and February around 700 BCE, making a total of 12 months in a year. In 46 BC, the Roman emperor Julius Caesar established January 1 as the New Year’s Day. Caesar felt that the year should begin with the month dedicated to his favorite god Janus, the two-faced god of the Romans. In order to execute this decree, Caesar ordered the violent revolution in Galilee, followed by the drunken revelry of the victory against the Jewish traditions. New Year has become a Julian calendar event after this proclamation. 

The first and earliest recorded celebration of the new year dated back 4000 BC in Babylon, a city in Mesopotamia, which is now the present day Iraq. The new year celebration was held during the vernal equinox in mid-March, the spring season when the sun crosses the plane of the equator. Day and night during the vernal equinox is equal in length, and is the beginning of the new agricultural season. This celebration focused on giving thanks for another planting season, a paid tribute to the gods, and renewal of vow to the community.

The Egyptians, Phoenicians and Persians, on the other hand, began their new year with the fall equinox, in mid-August. The Greeks celebrated the new year on the winter solstice, beginning on December 21, when the Sun is in its south most position, thus, days are shorter compared to nights.

What made the new year celebration paganistic?

Ancient people celebrated new year by performing rituals, like putting out fires they were using and starting a new fire to meet the new year. The Celts, for example, celebrated new year on November 1. They built sacred bonfires to scare away evil spirits and honor their sun god.

Ancient Romans gave each other gifts of branches from their sacred trees (Jeremiah 10:2-5). In later years, the Romans gave gold-covered nuts of coins imprinted with Janus’ face.     

Greece started the tradition of using a baby to signify the new year. This was also done in celebration of Dionysus, their god of wine and fertility. Even in ancient Egypt, babies were used as a symbol for rebirth.  This practice has become widespread in modern times.

New Year’s resolution is not a modern day practice, as we might think it is. It dated back in early Babylon. During the new year, Babylonians would resolve to do certain things, most popularly, to return farm equipment that they borrowed from their neighbors. Today, people would resolve to do things during the new year, like pay off outstanding debts, or lose weight.

In Scotland, it is believed that the new year is a day the bad omens and evil spirits are released into the world. In order to scare off these evil spirits and ward off bad omens, the Scots made tremendous noises. This practice evolved into firing guns, to fireworks and noisemakers.

In the US, it has become a tradition to eat black-eyed peas and greens 

during the new year. Peas are considered good luck and represents prosperity. Greens, like cabbage, kale, collards, are eaten to represents dollars, luck and prosperity. Eating pork and rice in some countries are considered to bring good luck to the family. The Dutch believe that eating donut during the new year brings good fortune.

Do we remember our own new year’s traditions? I remember Filipino women would wear polka dot dressed to signify money, lots of money, to come in during the new year. It is a known family tradition to prepare 12 kinds of fruits on a basket. Children would be advised to cling to the ceiling bar at the strike of midnight in order to gain more height.

All over the world, the new year is celebrated with wine, women and song. Depending on one’s culture, the celebration may vary, but it is never complete without drunkenness and revelry, without carousing and worldly pleasures, just like the olden days. There will always be the guidance of San Miguel, as a victorious angel of beer, the “inumin ng tunay na lalaki” (the drink of a real man). There are always songs that come from the heart in merriment, the songs of deranged minds because of the influence of alcohol. And if there are men of valor and influence in the merriment of the celebration, there will always be women ready to please and to entertain.

So should believers celebrate the new year?

I believe it is up to the believers! Can believers celebrate the new year? By all means, if God provides the believers with the reasons to celebrate it (Colossians 2:16-17)!

How should believers view the celebration of the new year then?

New Year is a calendar event. It is not unlike March 1, as a calendar event that somebody’s birthday is celebrated. It is not unlike September 27 as a calendar event that a married couple celebrates. It is not unlike February 14 as a calendar event the lovers, married or otherwise, celebrate in hotels, in exotic islands, and in candlelight dinner. New Year is a calendar event that we find an opportunity to celebrate someone who deserves our praise, our thanksgiving, our devotion, and our worship. New Year is celebrated, just like any other day in the year in recognition of one’s Source of life and blessings.

Of course, you should not be Chinese or Jewish in order to celebrate the New Year on January 1st. Chinese new year is not of fixed date, but can be celebrated between January 21, to  February 20. Jewish new year is celebrated between September 5 to October 5 as Rosh Hashanah.

In whatever event in life, believers should celebrate Jesus Christ. In whatever situation believers are in, they should focus on Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:23-24). We do not celebrate our own strength or capability but we recognize God as our Lord, and Jesus Christ as our Savior. So when we focus on what God has done to our lives, and when we, with faith and hope, offer our lives to God in the anticipation of a new year, and when we entrust our lives into the hands of the Almighty God for another year, is a spiritual celebration, and never paganistic at all.

So what if the practice of celebrating new year has paganistic roots? We celebrate Jesus Christ’s plan in our lives, and paganistic rituals have nothing to do with our focus in Christ during the celebration (1 Corinthians 8:1-6). We have been bought by a price of the blood of Jesus Christ. Our lives are for Him, and not for any paganistic rituals. It is only through Jesus Christ that we live, and so what ever we do, the love of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit make our heart and mind at peace with Him. If the Holy Spirit prods you to give him praise and worship during the new year, then let His prodding be the reason for you to celebrate it. If the Holy Spirit prods you not to spend for the new year’s celebration, then let it be, as long as you do not forget to give to Him your tithes, because that is what belongs to Him.

If you know Jesus Christ, and follow Him, surely you will celebrate Him every day and all days of the year, and not just on the new year or the new year’s eve. There is more joy in Jesus in one day than there is in the world 365/24/7!

So how do true believers celebrate the New Year?

Do believers celebrate the new year by going through rituals around the bonfires with the purpose of scaring away the evil spirits? Or do believers celebrate the new year by renewing the flame of faith and service, of love and compassion, humbleness and forgiveness, that Jesus Christ created in the believers’ hearts when they first received Him as Savior and Lord (Galatians 5:22-25)? Or do believers celebrate the new year by asking the Holy Spirit’s fresh touch of fire once again, so that He can continue to empower believers in their desire for spiritual gifts and fruits of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:1)? If believers do, then they are not wrong in celebrating the new year because they have the right reasons for celebrating it.

Do you celebrate new year by giving each other gifts of branches from sacred trees? Do you celebrate the new year by giving and exchanging gold-covered nuts of coins with some idol’s imprint? Or do you celebrate the new year by giving the love or expressions of the love of Jesus Christ in your hearts (John 13:34-35)? If you focus on Jesus Christ’s model of sacrificial giving of self (Ephesians 5:2), then you are not wrong in celebrating the new year because you have the right reasons for celebrating it.

Do we focus our celebration of the new year on a baby who signifies a new or renewed life? Do we focus on this baby as a symbol of fresh beginning, a renewed page in life? Or do we focus on Jesus Christ as the very source of life (John 11:25-26)? Do we celebrate the new year for the god of wine and fertility, or do we celebrate the new year for the very Source of spiritual prosperity, happiness and blessings (1 Peter 1:8)? If we focus on Jesus Christ’s plan of joy unspeakable and full of glory, then we are right in celebrating the new year because we have the right reasons for celebrating it.

Do we focus on the new year’s resolution as a way of becoming better persons? Or do we focus on the saving grace of Jesus Christ to change our lives from a life of sin and unrighteousness to a life of godliness (1 Peter 2:9)? Or do we focus on the blood of Jesus Christ that never loses its power to save, to redeem and to preserve (Colossians 1:14)? If we focus on Jesus Christ’s invitation for a change of heart and mind, then we are not wrong in celebrating the new year because we have the right reasons for celebrating it.

Do we focus on the noisemakers and guns, and cannons and fireworks because we believe that these can drive away evil omens or bad luck while we celebrate the new year? Or do we focus on the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us away from temptations and protect us from the work of the enemy? Do we focus on God’s promise that He will never leave us or forsake us, and protect and preserve us from the attacks of the enemy? If we focus on the power of God upon our lives and not on the power of the enemy (Isaiah 41:10), then we are not wrong in celebrating the new year because we have the right reasons for celebrating it.

Do we focus on food and eating during the celebration of the new year? Do we lavish our tables with food for our family and guests, while we starve our souls of the Bread of Life (John 6:35)? Do we trust that God’s word in the Scripture brings us hope and the promise of eternal life in Heaven (Titus 1:2), or do we trust that green peas or rice, or green vegetables, or donuts, bring luck and prosperity instead? If we focus on the Bread of Life and the Living Water, then we are not wrong in celebrating the new year because we have the right reasons for celebrating it.

Do we celebrate the new year with outward manifestations of false hope of a better and more blessed life? Do we place our trust on polka dot dresses to bring us more money and financial stability? Or do we place our trust on 12 exotic fruits on our pantry to bring us prosperity throughout the year? Or should I cling to the ceiling bar at the strike of midnight in order to gain more height and gain more social adoration and acceptance? If we do, then we are entirely wrong in celebrating the new year because we have the wrong reasons for celebrating it.

Do we celebrate the new year with wine, women and song? Definitely, not. Believers are called in to the celebration a life set apart for the glory and for the service of God. Believers do not need wine in celebrating the new year, except the wine of the new covenant, which is the symbol of the precious blood of Jesus Christ (Luke 22:20). Believers do not need women in celebrating the new year, except to affirm our love to our mothers, sisters, and all other frail women who are in need of the strength and comfort of God (1 Timothy 5:1-2). Believers do not need to celebrate the new year with songs like “an auld lang syne”, or “a jolly good fellow”, but songs that give praise to the one who saved us from the miry clay and gave us the joy and the peace that the world can not give, and the power to say no to sin and unrighteousness.

New Year is a celebration of Jesus Christ.

            It is a celebration of everything He has done for our live, good or bad on our perspective, but perfect according to His plan. As we celebrate new year, we should remember that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He lives in our hearts. He sits in the throne of our heart. He is the Lord of our lives. Celebrating Jesus Christ then, is a 365/24/7 affair with the King of Kings and Lord of Lord.

May the new year provide us not only a short break from our busy lives, and hectic schedules. May the new year provide us a wonderful time to get together with family and friends in the real spirit of thanksgiving and worship. May the new year allow us to welcome in the coming year with the full hope and prayers for the continued and unconditional love, faithfulness, and presence of God in our lives. May the new year provide us once again with a great time to prayerfully set our goals for the year ahead.

If we start the year right with the Lord, He will make the right right according to His grand design, purpose and faithfulness (Colossians 3:17).

            The most important thing for the New Year is to keep ourselves from idols, love the Lord our God, be rich toward God, love one another, walk in truth, seek God first, and seek God’s face.

            Happy New Year!

Celebrating the Christ in Christmas

There has been a century-long debate about Christmas. Many religious groups, including the World Wide Church of God and the Assemblies of Yahweh, are opposed to the celebration. The popular claim of disapproval is because Christmas is said to be of paganistic origin. As such, the anti-Christmas religions claimed that in fact God clearly opposes Christmas.

I do not want to start a debate here, but I just want to share my own reasons for celebrating Christmas. It is true that there may be no verse in the Bible to support the celebration of Christmas, but the Bible clearly states that we have one reason to celebrate it. What is important in the lives of true believers is simply realizing that there is a “who” in Christmas, rather than a “what” in Christmas. 

The question that each and every true Christian believer should ask, therefore, is “Who do I celebrate this Christmas?”, rather than “What do I celebrate this Christmas?”, and much more, “How do I celebrate Christmas?” Personally, if we believers focus of the “what”, or the “how” of Christmas, then we may be wrong in celebrating it. If we focus on the questions “What can I get this Christmas?”, “How much bonus would I get this Christmas?”, “What shall I cook this Christmas?”, or “How much tip should I give this Christmas?”, then we are missing the point of celebrating it. If we focus on the material gifts and the worldly preparations of Christmas, then we are missing the very reason to celebrate it.

So who is the focus of Christmas and why do we celebrate this “who” of Christmas?  The “who” of Christmas is Jesus Christ, that is why, we have “Christ” in Christmas. Knowing the “who” in Christmas means that we are establishing a personal relationship with Him. As the word Christmas comes from the Old English words “Christes moesse”, which means the “mass or festival of Christ”, then the believers need to understand that only Jesus Christ is celebrated, venerated, and worshiped in Christmas. Celebrating Christmas is actually celebrating Christ!

Some people believe that although Christmas is the celebration of Christ, they claimed that the practices of Christmas are paganistic in nature. The Christmas tree is paganistic, the mistletoe, the ringing of bells, the merriment, and even Santa Claus are paganistic and non-scriptural! Everything in Christmas is considered paganistic because its celebration was not even commanded in the Bible in the first place. Because of this, they claim that Christians should never celebrate Christmas at all. Meaning to say, Christian homes should have no nativity scenes, no Christmas decors, no Christimas lights, no parol, nothing paganistic or idolatrous!

If decors or material things concerning Christmas displayed at Christian homes are considered paganistic, how do we consider our trophies won in basketball games, or medals garnered for winning the school debate, or even our college diploma? If the celebration of Christmas is indeed paganistic, and Christians should not celebrate its ornaments and symbols, how about our child’s kindergarten graduation, or our daughter’s debut celebration, or our birthday parties? Decors, trophies, plaques, and celebrations about ourselves, our children, our family, our accomplishments, etc., may not be paganistic, but I believe, they are narcissistic! Is God pleased then with the celebration of the self, or of the exaltation of the self? So it goes to say that believers can not celebrate Christmas because Jesus Christ was never born in December 25, but believers can celebrate themselves and their worldly triumphs with all pomp, jubilation and festivities.

Despite the frowning and disapproval, I continue to celebrate Christmas because I believe that Jesus Christ is the gift of God to mankind. The reason why I do so is plain and simple. Only Jesus Christ is the main focus of the celebration. Focusing Christ in Christmas is biblical after all (Colossians 1:9-14)!

Once believers understand that Christ is the celebration in Christmas, then having Christmas trees, no matter how tall, or grandiose and bright they are, is less important. Once we understand that Christ is the celebration in Christmas, then setting December 25th as a family gathering--- singing carols together and giving each other presents, is less important. What is more important is that we celebrate Christ by once again focusing on his purpose why He was born in the flesh and His total obedience to the will of God the Father. Even when we have Christmas trees, Christmas bells, stockings, boughs of mistletoe, among others, in Christmas, they are of far less importance than Jesus Christ Himself. When we celebrate Christmas, we worship and celebrate the spiritual Christ of Christmas, rather than its material symbols.

There is Christ in Christmas.

            Jesus Christ showed to the world that God, His Father, loves the world so much that He, being God’s only begotten Son, is a willing sacrifice for the atonement of the world’s sin (1 John 4:10). Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, sent by the Father, in order for us to enjoy

salvation and life eternal. If there is something wrong with Christmas, then it is the fact that the world does not know the Christ of Christmas, and does not realize that the birth of Christ after all, leads to the foot of the Cross and culminates in the throne in Heaven.

            Jesus Christ did not remain as the infant Jesus. Jesus Christ grew up as a teacher, a miracle worker, a forgiver of sins, a healer, and a willing sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world. Jesus Christ did not remain in the grave, but He was resurrected from death and now reigns in Heaven with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Not celebrating Christmas is a valid reason for people who do not know the Christ of Christmas. The person of the world does not recognize and accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness for that person, yet confusing to the person because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14:)

As the world does not know Jesus Christ personally and experientially, He is designated effortlessly and lazily as merely an “X”, an  unknown symbol in Algebra. Such designation is pulling Jesus Christ down to an unknown entity in Christmas. The abbreviation “Xmas”, thought as sacrilegious by some, is said to be entirely appropriate. The letter X, which is chi, is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, Χριστός. This may be etymologically accurate, but abbreviating Christ’s name, when it is the name above all names, is still a reflection of how irrelevant, unimportant and unknown He is to the world.

Consider this story of two women who were having lunch in an elegant hotel. They were approached by a mutual friend who asked the occasion for the meal. One lady replied that they were celebrating the birth of her baby boy. The friend was curious to find out where the baby boy, whose birthday they were celebrating, was. The mother nonchalantly replied, "Oh, you didn't think I would bring my baby boy, did you?"

Is it not sad to celebrate a birthday without the celebrant, is it? But this story paints a good picture of the way Christ is celebrated in Christmas. Without Christ in Christmas, then the believers should never celebrate Christmas at all!

Who is the Christ in Christmas?

            Jack Jayford in his book “Come and Behold Him” enumerated different reasons why believers should celebrate the Christ in Christmas. I picked five most pressing reasons, and added my thoughts into them.

We celebrate the Christ in Christmas because He is the Redeemer.

There is no other Savior the world can expect. Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer and

Savior of the world. The world owes Him the redemption from eternal condemnation through His blood shed on the Cross, even the undeserved forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:14). Without His coming to the world in flesh, as a baby born to an earthly mother, and to pay the sins of the world through His death in Calvary, then there is no salvation for mankind. There is no redemption from the darkness of sins and the penalty of eternal damnation.

The Daily Bread tells of a story by Paul Lee Tan, a fitting illustration of the meaning of redemption. It tells of an incident in the life of A.J. Gordon while he was pastor of a church in Boston. Pastor Gordon met a young boy in front of the church. The boy was carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. Pastor Gordon inquired from the boy where he got the birds. The boy claimed that he trapped them out in the field. When Pastor Gordon asked the boy what he intends to do with the birds, the boy told him he will play with them for a while, then will feed them to their old cat. When Pastor Gordon offered to buy the birds, the boy exclaimed, "Mister, you don't want them, they're just little old wild birds and can't sing very well." Gordon though, was still willing give the boy $2 for the cage and the birds. Finally, the boy agreed, intermittently assuring Gordon that he was making a bad bargain.  When the exchange was made and the boy went away whistling happily with his treasure, Gordon opened the door of the rusty cage, and let the struggling creatures soar into the blue. The next Sunday he took the empty cage into the pulpit and used it to illustrate his sermon about Christ's coming to seek and to save the lost -- especially paying for them with His own precious blood. Gordon ended his illustration by saying, "That boy told me the birds were not songsters, but when I released them and they winged their way heavenward, it seemed to me they were singing, 'Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!"

If we believers do not value our redemption in Jesus Christ, then we do not have the reason to celebrate Christmas at all! But because Jesus came into the world to be our redeemer, so we have all the reasons to celebrate the Christ in Christmas!

We celebrate the Christ in Christmas because He is the Revealer.

All the wonders and the mysteries of God are revealed through Jesus Christ, His Son, who is the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of every creature (Colossians 1:15). Jesus Christ disclosed the heart of God, the nature of God, the ways of God, the will of God, and the compassion of God through His life and actions.

Jesus Christ revealed the very image of God the Father, that we believers could ever want to understand. He made God the Father known to the world, and Scriptures support His very heart's desire to continually make the world know the Father (John 17:25-26).

Because Jesus Christ came into the world to reveal God’s character and plan, then we have all the other reasons to celebrate the Christ in Christmas!

We celebrate the Christ in Christmas because He is the Creator.

The world world was not only powerfully and divinely created through Jesus Christ (John 1:3), the world was also created by Him (Colossians 1:16). He created the heaven and the earth, the visible and the invisible, even the powers and institutions on earth, such that every single entity in heaven and on earth belongs to Him, including you and me.

How would the world believe that Jesus Christ created humans? Only Jesus Christ knows the heart of humans, the value of humans, and the destiny of humans. 

In “Bits and Pieces”, published in June 23, 1994, was described an incident in the life of Gutzin Borglum that we can learn a spiritual truth from. Aside from Mt. Rushmore as his magnum opus, Gutzin Borglum also has a head sculpture of Abraham Lincoln in the Capitol at Washington, D.C. One day, when the face of Lincoln was just becoming recognizable out of the stone, a young girl stepped into the studio with her parents. As she looked at the half-done face of Lincoln, her eyes registered an utmost wonder and confident astonishment. Having stared at the piece for a substantial moment, the girl ran to the sculptor and asked, "Is that Abraham Lincoln?" "Yes.", was the proud reply. Then with total innocence, the girl asked the sculptor, "Well, how in the world did you know he was inside the stone?"

Indeed, this is exactly how Jesus Christ created each one of us. He did not create us without knowing what is inside of us, even our frailties and our need for salvation. He did not create us without knowing what image we were created in, even our image is of God.  He created us in order for us to enjoy fellowship with Him in Heaven.

Knowing and believing that Jesus Christ created us in the image of the holy God and continually molds us into Christlikeness, is reason enough to celebrate Him in Christmas.

         We celebrate the Christ in Christmas because He is the Sustainer.

            Jesus Christ is not only a creator, He is also a sustainer. While He is before all things, in Him all things hold together as well (Colossians 1:17). He did not only create, He also keeps. Our lives therefore, are safe, secure, and not lacking in the hands of the Good Shepherd.

There is a story about a little boy who had a serious conversation with his mother after church. He asked his mother, “Is it true that God is everywhere? His mother replied, “That is right!”. Then the boy went on to ask, “Is God up in the sky?” His mom said, “Yes, I’m sure He is”. Then he asked furthermore, “Is God in my belly?” Now his mother was not quite sure where all these questions were leading to, nonetheless, not quite sure how to answer him. She finally said, “Well, I’m not sure, but I guess He is”. The boy thought for a moment, then lovingly said, “Mommy, God wants a cookie”.

This is may be a funny story, but the truth behind the story rings very loudly. God is taking care of all of us. Jesus Christ is our sustainer (1 Thessalonians 5:24). He is our good Shepherd (Psalm 23). Because Jesus came into the world to be our sustainer and good Shepherd, so we have all the reasons to celebrate Him in Christmas!

We celebrate the Christ in Christmas because He is the Reconciler.

            Jesus Christ is not only our Redeemer and Savior.  He is also the Way to the Father (John 14:6). As a personal Savior, Jesus Christ embraces the lives that are shattered by sin. He comforts the lives that are stunted by the darkness of circumstances. He reconciles our lives of sinfulness to a life of righteousness and holiness through His blood shed on the Cross (Colossians 1:20).

In “Today in the Word” dated July 5, 1993, runs a story about reconciliation. One New Year's Eve at London's Garrick Club, British dramatist Frederick Lonsdale was asked by his friend Symour Hicks to reconcile with a fellow member. Having quarreled in the long past, they never cared to restore their friendship. "You must reconcile with him," Lonsdale was prodded by Hicks. "It is very unkind to be unfriendly at such a time. Since this is an opportune time of the year, go over now and wish him a happy New Year." So Lonsdale crossed the room and spoke to his enemy friend. "I wish you a happy New Year," Lonsdale coldly extended, "but only one year!." 

The story shows how humans can not afford to forgive, can not yield to forget, and much more, can not offer reconciliation. 

Reconciliation begins with forgiveness. As Jesus Christ forgives us, He also reconciles us to the Father and restores our place in the family of God. Because Jesus came into the world to be the Reconciler of fallen humans and a holy God, so we have all the reasons to celebrate Him in Christmas!

Christmas is a celebration of Christ.  

If Christ is in your heart, the celebration is 24/7 (John 17:3). And as the believer's life of righteousness is not only seasonal, therefore, everyday is Christmas. Everyday, believers who are in Christ (John 15) willingly spread the gospel of peace, joyfully celebrate the unconditional love of Jesus Christ, and faithfully wish everyone the blessings of Christlikeness.

So is it wrong for me to gather with families in worship of Christ on December 25? Is it only right for us to gather together in worship to Christ any day other than December 25?

So is it wrong for me to decorate my home with Christmas tree? I believe it is, if and only if, I worship the tree rather than creator of the world (Jeremiah 10:1-5).

And is it wrong for me to give presents during Christmas? I believe it is, if and only if, love is not the only string attached to them.

Is it wrong to create Santa Claus in their lives of our children? Definitely yes, because Santa Claus is not Jesus Christ after all! He may be a real person or probably a myth, but I believe that the only best explanation about Santa Claus’s existence is when children witness their Moms unbashfully kiss Santa Claus!

            Finally, is it wrong for believers to celebrate Christmas? Definitely yes, if and only if, Jesus Christ is removed from the celebration.            

Donald Deffner wrote an article titled “Meaning of Christmas - Materialism” in Seasonal Illustrations in 1992. He wrote of a television correspondent who was walking the streets of Tokyo at Christmas time. The correspondent observed that Christmas shopping is a big commercial success in Japan, much as in America. When the correspondent asked one young woman on the sidewalk what is the meaning of Christmas for her, the lady nonchalantly responded that she does not know. Having  gathered her thoughts after a moment, she asked the correspondent, “Is that the day Jesus died?"

It is so sad to say, but there was some truth in the lady’s answer. It is because Jesus Christ died in Christmas, while He was buried underneath the mountains of materialism of the Christmas season.

The real meaning of Christmas

            Lastly, I wish us all to ponder upon this ancient story about the real meaning of Christmas.

Long ago, there ruled in Persia a wise and good king. He loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was their ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. He ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Then he left. Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, "I am your king!" The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favor, but he didn't. Instead he said, "You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!"

The King of glory, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave Himself to you and me. The Bible calls Him, "the unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)!"