The commemoration of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ is important to Christians. The unbelieving world also recognizes this event; but, just as it is with everything the ungodly does, he corrupts it, commemorating it only on one day of the year and then doing so with much carnality.

Since the Christian is called to glorify God in the real world in which he lives, a part of which is the Christmas season, the child of God must come to a position with respect to his attitude and his actions in the Christmas season. Some believers have tried to deny the existence of this season. But that is impossible. Whether we like it or not we are forced to reckon with the reality of the Christmas season.

To come to some clear biblical convictions in this area is difficult. First, there is tradition. Innocent tradition is hard to relinquish. Against bad tradition it is easy to react and to over-react. Secondly, there are sentimental attachments to ways of celebrating or not celebrating the holidays. And, thirdly, there is the pressure which comes from the world to conform to it. These forces create a fog which must be cleared away in order to come to clear, biblical convictions.

First, there is no biblical warrant for the remembrance of the day of Christ's birth as a day of special religious celebration, as there is for His death (Lord's Supper) and resurrection (the Lord's day). Whereas there is biblical warrant for the remembrance of Christ's birth, and for being constantly amazed at the wonder of the incarnation, there is none for remembering that day as a day of religious celebration. Those churches which hold worship services on Christmas Day do so for practical reasons. Without specific biblical command and example, the conscience of the Christian may not be bound by the ideas or traditions of man.

Secondly, the setting apart of December 25 as the date for the celebration of Christ's birth is rooted in pagan traditions. In A.D. 336 Emperor Constantine declared Christ's birthday on December 25 as an official Roman holiday. Tertullian, Chrysostom, and others objected that it was pagan in its origin and worldly in its practice, but they were overruled. One has good reason for being suspicious of the tradition behind the date of December 25.

Thirdly, the current celebration of Christmas is essentially pagan, humanistic, and ungodly. Its joy and peace is purely humanistic, beginning and ending in man. The spirit of covetousness and greed which pervades the season certainly is most ungodly. The believer must reject that which is humanistic and ungodly.

Some would want to take simplistic positions. Some say that Christians should have nothing to do with the day, and they do their best to see to it that no one else does. No gifts, no trees, no carols, nothing. These often condemn and judge all who give any hint of observing the season. Others believe that all Christians should capture Christmas for Christ. Every gift must speak of God's gift. The tree must remind us of the tree on which Christ hung. These Christians condemn all others who do not strive to capture Christmas for Christ as guilty of sinful retreat, because they give the day up to the devil.

Both of these responses to the Christmas season are simplistic, failing to take into account the whole picture. It is much worse if they make their personal conviction determinative for others.

What are some biblical principles that can be used for each of us to reach our own conclusions?

Romans 14 and I Corinthians 8 are passages which are vital for treating a subject of this nature. In these passages Paul is dealing with differing positions about whether a Christian must be a vegetarian, whether it is right to observe days on the Jewish calendar, and whether it is right to eat meat offered to idols (is there anything more pagan?). Paul shows that in each case it is possible for Christians to take a stand on either side of the issue and to do so to the glory of God (even eating meat offered to idols).

The first principle Paul establishes is that in these issues there is nothing which in itself is sinful. "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself"; and "all things indeed are pure" (Rom. 14:14, 21). Paul states this because there was the belief that there is evil in the things themselves. Apply this to Christmas and the question whether we shall or shall not celebrate Christmas, whether to have or not have a tree, etc. A tree is a creature of God, having no intrinsic evil. Is there anything intrinsically evil in a colored light, or in the giving of a gift? Each is a creature of God and can be sanctified by the Word of God. Any mentality which looks upon any creature of God as evil in itself is unbiblical. And the origin of a thing has nothing to do with whether something is evil or not evil, whether it is pagan or non-pagan. All are gifts of God.

The second principle is that we must come to individual conviction under the Lordship of Jesus Christ (Rom. 14:4-9): "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God." You and I must come to personal convictions under the Lordship of God. Notice the emphasis on the individuality of the convictions, "Let each man be fully persuaded in his own mind." You cannot rest on the convictions of another, nor can you blindly follow the example of another. Each of us must stand in our conscience before Christ. The result will be that there is not going to be perfect uniformity among the people of God in matters of things indifferent. Notice also that the sphere of these convictions must be, not in the context of carnal desire or the pressure of tradition, but the Lordship of Christ. So he that regardeth a day, regards it not unto his relatives, nor even unto his own desires, but unto the Lord. Each believer must be conscious that Jesus is the Lord of his life, the gracious Savior Whom he must please and to Whom he must one day give an account. The money used for Christmas decorations, gifts, and meals must be spent as unto the Lord.

A third principle taken from these passages is that we must not stand in judgment against those whose persuasion and activity differ from ours. While we must be fully persuaded in our own minds, we must not judge our brother who is equally persuaded but is persuaded differently. "Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth for God hath received him" (Rom. 14:3). Who are you to judge the servant of another? "Let us not therefore judge one another any more" (Rom. 14:13). Paul, knowing his and our human nature, knows that it is our inclination, upon reaching a conclusion under the Lordship of Christ, to see the matter so clearly that we conclude that it should be equally clear to everyone else. Stinking pride arises and claims greater spiritual sensitivity and greater spiritual comprehension. Then that pride demands that others must agree with us in our position and practices. The Bible is not clear about a Christmas tree, but it is very clear about judging our brother or sister.

A fourth principle is that we must be careful not to cause others to violate their conscience. "Judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way" (Rom. 14:13-23; 15:1-6). Note well that causing offense is not the doing of something which causes a brother to judge me, but doing something which causes my brother, following my example, to do something which is a sin to him. Then, for my brother's sake, I must forego my activity, lest I encourage my brother to sin. It would not be right to try to persuade a Christian who you knew felt very deeply that a Christmas tree was sin. "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations" (Rom. 14:1). If you know that your celebration of Christmas as a family tradition would be an offense to him, do not invite him over, lest you cause him to participate in practices which to him are sin. Instead of these differences being occasion for friction and mutual judging, they should become occasions for manifesting the selfless love of Christ. "We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification" (Rom. 15:1,2).

First, we must not let the world dictate to us our practice. We live in the midst of a dangerous and essentially pagan season. You are a servant of Christ and not of man (his tradition or sentiment). Be sure that everything you do is done unto Him. And be sure that whatever you cannot do is not done unto Him. Though this may mean a change in your practices, do not cease recognizing Christ's Lordship just because it is the Christmas season.

Secondly, do not judge one another. You have every right to be fully persuaded in your own mind. Give your brother the right to be just as fully persuaded in his own mind. See those who differ in matters about which the Bible does not speak as your brother in Christ and as under the Lordship of Christ. Before the Lord we each stand or fall.

Let us each wrestle with these biblical principles. And the answer we reach must be one for which we can give good account in that day when we stand before our Lord. May the Lord thus bring us through this season to His glory.

The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that he sunk himself unto our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.

Christmas Joy

by H. Hoeksema
From the December 15, 1929 issue of The Standard Bearer

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Joy to all the people!

Joy also for you? For me?

Does the brief gospel-announcement of the angel in the fields of Ephratah kindle within our hearts the response of grateful joy, because we know that unto us was born that night a Savior, Christ the Lord?

Oh, surely, He was born for all the people!

In distinction from the shepherds only, who were privileged to receive a personal and direct message from heaven about His coming into the world, He is a Savior for all Israel. But, it is for the Israel of God. And not all are Israel, that are of Israel. There are children of the promise. There are also children of the flesh. And this Savior, Who is born in the City of David, which is Christ, the Lord, will also be set to a falling, as well as to a rising again of many in Israel.

He is a Savior to all the people.

But He is also a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense!

And many will be dashed to pieces when they stumble over Him and because of His birth rush into deeper destruction!

A Savior to all the people is He.

But it is the elect people of God, the Israel of God of the old dispensation and God's chosen ones from all the nations and tongues and tribes of the earth in the new dispensation, unto whom in that night of nights a Savior is born, which is Christ, the Lord. Them God loved. Them He predestinated to glory. Them He will save from their sins. Them He gave to Christ, His Son. For them He sent Him into the world. In their behalf and in their stead He came under the law, though He is Lord of all. Their sins He presently bears on the accursed tree and drowns them forever in His precious blood. Them He delivers from the power of sin and death.

A Savior unto all the people!

For you and for me?

Oh, yes, we may know!

And in that knowledge the joy of Christmas maybe ours!

For whom He did foreknow, them He also did predestinate; and whom He did predestinate them He also called, called by the efficacious calling of His gracious Spirit.

Called according to His purpose!

And when He calls the glory of the Lord appears to our heart and shines round about us. And in this halo of brilliant glory we fear as we consider ourselves, miserable, corrupt, defiled with sin as we are by nature. When He calls we behold our guilt in the light of God's righteousness, our corruption in the light of His holiness, our lie in the light of His truth, our darkness in the glory of His light, our death in contrast to His life. And by His calling we learn to cry out: woe unto me, for I am undone! Unclean! God be merciful unto me, a sinner!

Called by the power of His irresistible grace!

And when He thus calls, He does not leave us in our death and misery, in our fear and condemnation.

For out of the halo of light, reflecting the glory of the Lord in our hearts, prostrating us because of our darkness and corruption, also sounds the Christmas gospel, the glad evangel of redemption and deliverance.

Unto you, lowly and contrite, that have become conscious by the power of His grace of the darkness of your nature and the horror of your sin and the misery of being bound in chains of death; unto you, who are filled with holy fear in the presence of the Lord and His glory; unto you, that are heavy laden and weary because of burdens of sin.

Unto you a Savior is born, which is Christ, the Lord!

Fear not!

Let not even the glory of the Lord fill your hearts with horror and fear of condemnation in judgment!

For I bring you glad tidings of great joy!

Go, then, to Bethlehem, the city of David, and see this wonder of God, that was first announced to a sinstricken world by angel's mouth. And seeing let us believe. And believing let us worship.

And give praise to the God of our salvation!

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The Nativity of Jesus Christ

by John Calvin
From Sermons on the Saving Work of Christ, pp. 35, 36

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We know that it is our good, our joy and rest to be united with the Son of God. As He is our Head, we are His body, so also from Him we hold our life and our salvation and all good. In fact, we see how miserable our condition would be unless we had our refuge in Him, to be maintained under His keeping. However, we could not reach so high (seeing that scarcely can we crawl upon the earth), unless from His side He approached us, and already He had approached in His birth, when He clothed Himself in our flesh and He made Himself our brother. We could not now have our refuge in our Lord Jesus Christ's being seated at the right hand of God His Father in heavenly glory, unless He were abased as far as being made mortal man and having a condition common with us. That is also why, when He is called "Mediator between God and men," this title "man" is especially attributed to Him. As also for the same reason He is called "Emmanuel," that is, "God with us."

Yet when we seek our Lord Jesus Christ to find in Him alleviation of all our miseries and a sure and infallible protection we must begin at His birth. Not only is it recited to us that He was made man like us, but that He so emptied Himself that scarcely was He reputed to be of the rank of men. He was, as it were, banished from every house and fellowship, There was nothing except a stable and a manger to receive Him.

Since it is so, then, we know here how God displayed the infinite treasures of His goodness when He willed that His Son might be thus humbled for our sakes. Let us recognize also how our Lord Jesus Christ from His birth so suffered for us that when we seek Him we need not make long circuits to find Him nor to be truly united to Him. For this cause He willed to be subject to every shame, in such a way that He was as it were, rejected by the rest of men. But let us also learn to be little to be received by Him. For it is reasonable at least that there be conformity between the Head and the members.

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Let Us Go To Bethlehem

The gospel came to Bethlehem! Listen: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord!"

We should all go to hell for ever and ever, and there in hell we should weep and gnash our teeth! We should be forsaken of the Fountain of happiness and blessedness for ever and ever! Because we have sinned, and are guilty before the Face of a just and glorious God!

The name "Christ" tells us that He will do all the work that is necessary before the Face of God in order to liberate us from the shackles of sin and of guilt and of death, so that He may usher us into the presence of a loving Father Who gave us this Savior. As Savior He would go to the cross and suffer, suffer eternally. Oh, I cannot fathom that cross! As Lord He will own me and work for me and reform me so that I will serve Him forever. What wondrous gospel we have to preach on Christmas day!

And He is born this day in Bethlehem! It is preached first to the shepherds in Bethlehem, and it has gone forth to all the earth. And again and again we have remembered this gospel, also its historical veracity: this day, in the city of David! All according to the divine plan.

Christ the Lord is born for and unto His people only. The angel of the Lord told Mary even before she conceived Him: ...for He shall save His people from their sins. The gospel is for the elect only.

But the gospel also did come to Bethlehem, there to be preached first. For Bethlehem is the focal point of the Universe. Really everything seems to have its representative there.

REFORMED WITNESS

Christmas and the Christian

Christmas Joy

The Nativity of Jesus Christ

Let Us Go To Bethlehem