The Apostolic Voice

We celebrate Christmas at our house! It's a tradition that my family has always kept. Yes, I know it was most likely not the actual day that Jesus was born into this world. I also know that the origin of celebrating on that day quite possibly had pagan roots.

I also know that nowhere in the Bible did Jesus celebrate his birthday, nor did he command us to. I also know that the only two people mentioned in the Bible that celebrated their birthdays were Herod and Pharaoh.

If it was just me there would be no Christmas at my house. But I have a family of a wife and six daughters who enjoy the holiday. It's a time the family gathers together. It's a time of celebrating each other and a time of feasting. It's a wonderful family time at my house and because of the that I look forward to it every year. We put up a tree, we decorate, we exchange gifts, all because of a tradition.

We don't do it the celebrate the birth of Jesus, but if you do that's okay. We don't do it to keep some pagan holiday, whether or not someone else ever did. We're not into Santa, my children have always known that there is no such person. We're not into myths in this house.

There is nothing wrong with the keeping family traditions or the keeping of a family holiday. "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days" - Colossians 2:16

I have seen saints go to opposite extremes on this issue. For example we were invited to the home of a very well known Apostolic Pentecostal pastor. I was amazed at his larger-than-life figure of Santa Claus all lit up on his front lawn. I said not a word, even though that's not for me, I cannot judge him.

I have also been given lengthy studies that show how that Jesus could not have been born on Christmas day and how the tree and the holiday had pagan roots. This is all quite possible, but it does not matter to me. I don't celebrate the birth of Jesus on that day (but it would be okay if I did), nor the pagan holiday.

We don't go crazy with expense or decorations, but we do put up a few things in the house, have wonderful family Christmas get-together and dinner, then we enjoy exchanging gifts (my children's favorite part). If you don't want to celebrate Christmas or Thanksgiving or any other holiday, that's okay with me. As for me, I greatly enjoy these special days with my family.

Merry Christmas!