“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:9-10)



“Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of … wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth” (1Cor. 5:



Imagine a calendar year without Christmas. No holiday; no fiesta; no gifts. Boring, you think? Nevertheless, undeniably the most popular religious festival, Christmas is fast turning into something else, hence, raising worries, fears and contentions in the hearts of concerned celebrators. And it seems the devil has not been silent about it at all. He has cunningly devised certain deceptions to mar the truth, peace, and joy of Christmas.



Primarily, we should reflect on the essence of Christmas, for the devil has made some to see it as unholy and hence they do not think of celebrating it at all. Moreover, chunks of such people who neglect its celebration go about criticizing and condemning those who celebrate it. Whereas some others who celebrate it do so for the wrong reasons and in wrong ways, for they have zeal but not according to knowledge. These things ought not to be so.



Although, unlike Easter that reminds of Christ’s death, nowhere in Scripture were Christians instructed or obliged to celebrate Christmas, the actual essence of the joyful celebration is to remind us of the birth of the Messiah and the blessing it brings. Such essence cannot be overemphasized or even relegated as to be counted unholy. The joy of that event was even heralded and celebrated by angels. See Luke 2:13-14.



Certain points of stumbling should therefore be addressed, while we seek to reconcile man to the original truth and joy of Christmas. Among the various reasons why many are discouraged from celebrating Christmas is the fault in the date attributed to the event. It has been long said – and perhaps truly so – that Jesus Christ could not have been born in December when the night is extremely cold, for then the Shepherds reported in Scriptures would not have watched their flocks by night. However, it must be restated that we are not celebrating the date of the Messiah’s birth, but the essence of it.



An uneducated old man in Africa might not know his birth date, but he still celebrates birthdays by choosing any date to do so. His date of birth could be termed an ‘assumed birthdate’. But it is not the date that matters to him; it is the essence of the celebration – he rejoices over the fact that he was born into the world. And generations after him might follow suit to celebrate such date in his favour. The error in the date notwithstanding, it is the essence of the celebration that matters to them. The date might be assumed, but the essence is certain. So also, the birthdate of Jesus the Messiah might be uncertain, but His hallowed birth being unique and special has a definite and original essence which we just cannot ignore in a hurry.



However, because many neither know nor understand this essence, they abuse it carelessly as they feast to satisfy their pleasures with wasteful spending rather than reciprocate God’s holy love to their neighbours. Many a man would commence Christmas celebration with a tear of joy had they truly known its essence.



But today, Christmas is seen as a mere funfair that it could almost be regarded as a pagan feast due to the profanities clogging it. It is now like Mammon and Eros rank high on the list of glorified gods during Christmas. And many do all sort of things – consciously and otherwise – that make for their worship; for materialism and sexual pleasure are the best flavours such people ever know to suit their own taste of the season.



In the first place, rather than being exclusive to the saints of the Church, it is now celebrated by the entire world. Some people even organize street jamz, wild parties and orgies to ‘celebrate Christmas’. In juvenile circles, you might hear a lady say that her virginity is her Christmas gift to her boyfriend. And it is no doubt that for some individuals more vanities and atrocities are committed during this season among other seasons on the calendar. Rather than leading people to Christ, many are led away from Him. O what a pitiable disaster! Little wonder the Puritan fathers detested the celebration of Christmas having labeled it ‘a feast of idolatry’.



Xmas has been used as an alternative word for Christmas, but such alternate is unnecessary since the number of syllables is unaffected. And should we consider it drudgery to spell out the grand title of our Saviour when writing? I think not. Yet the danger behind such substitution could be that we are losing the title of the ‘Christ’ who is the reason behind the season. Christ might be a title, but it is no ordinary one – and for no ordinary person. The title ‘Christ’ is sanctified, holy and blessed, reserved for the Son of God alone. Furthermore, the alphabet ‘X’ as a mark could mean ‘no’, hence, ‘No Christmas’. This denies not just the essence, but the event itself.



A final device of deception to be addressed here is the fact that the devil is fast replacing Jesus with Santa Claus as the eminent icon of Christmas. God is the Father of Christmas – not Santa Claus. It is God that gives us gifts for Christmas, not Santa Claus. And His greatest gift to us is Christ as the Author of our eternal salvation, not clothes or candies (Heb. 5:9).



My concern is not just for this generation, but for those unborn, since our toddlers and infants today are getting wrong – and terribly bad – impressions of Christmas. What shall be said of Christmas in generations to come? May there not arise a generation that new no Jesus, nor His works for us upon which Christmas is righteously premised (Judges 2:10).



Because it is nowhere written as an ordinance, a celebration of Christmas on the attributed date is optional for Christians, not a dogma or doctrine of classic theological standard. And celebration of Christmas does not qualify anyone for heaven. We do not judge anyone inrespect of an holyday (Col. 2:16).



But the essence of celebrating Christmas is honest, just … and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:. Hence, the Christian is encouraged to look upon the feast with admiration and partake in it with humility, grace and love.



When you think of Christmas, you should reflect soberly on John 3:16 and thank God for the event that marked the beginning of the fulfilment of the plan for our salvation. Then follow up with the practice of 1John 3:16which remarks “Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.” In fact, the true Christian should celebrate Christmas every day.



We are qualified to celebrate Christmas only when we have accepted John 3:16 and anchored our hope on it. Celebrating without this pre-requisite is not celebration at all; rather it is hypocrisy or mere mockery and sycophancy, and only leads to self damnation. However, if we have fulfilled the pre-requisite, the best way to respond to such love modelled by our heavenly Father is to replicate it to our fellow men as recommended by1John 3:16, beginning from the practice of meekness to other charitable deeds.



The text that follows the above Scripture goes thus:



“But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1John 3:17-18)



It is good consolation for us and indeed for heaven that though the devil has tried to hide the essence of Christmas and deface its beauties, some people still celebrate it well and God is glorified in their good works. Many a poor are relieved through the gifts of believers and Christian organizations: widows, orphans and destitute beggars of varying conditions benefit from such love packages and hope is restored thereby to the lost world of despairing people. Such physical gifts go a long way from bring many from their crisis to Christ their Saviour and Redeemer. Salvation encounters are still being recorded and spiritual blessings are procured.



But we must do more. Moreover, amidst the mixed multitudes who celebrate Christmas, we must continually distinguish ourselves from the world in our approach to the celebration. We must let our lights so shine that they impressively reflect to the world the goodness of our God – and that in greater intensity – until they are overwhelmed by it. We must deliberately seek out means to do this, and bring more souls to Christ since the essence of His coming was to seek and save them which are lost (Matt. 1:21; Luke 19:10).



What then is the conclusion of the whole matter? Celebrate Christmas; and do so for the right reason, and in the righteous ways, never losing your head nor defiling your heart in the ecstasy of celebration.



Consider what I say, and the Lord give you understanding in all things (2Tim. 2:7).
Your Brother,

John.

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