Is Celebrating Christmas Wrong?
Is It a Sin?
Site iconKevinCarson.com
Is Celebrating Christmas Wrong? Is It a Sin?
Kevin Kevin
2 years ago
An Ask Pastor Kevin Response
Is Celebrating Christmas Wrong? Is It a Sin?
Q: Is it wrong or a sin to celebrate Christmas? Does the Bible teach it is wrong, specifically in Jeremiah?
This is a question that I have received recently again; however, I am asked this question at least annually. I appreciate the heart of the question. In an effort to love Christ well and follow God's direction in their lives, some choose not to celebrate Christmas as a matter of conscience. Typically these brothers and sisters-in-Christ have either read a specific passage or have been taught by others that the Bible teaches not to celebrate pagan holidays or cut down trees.
Why Would One Believe Celebrating Christmas Is Wrong?
Potentially, a Christian through reading the Bible comes upon a verse that seems to make celebrating Christmas wrong.
Most Christians with this question though of whether or not they should celebrate Christmas have been taught by a well-meaning Christian that it is wrong. Here is a sample of such teachings:
A Man-Made Holy Day
It is absolutely unscriptural for the church to observe such things, in any way other than to offer the Biblical truth regarding the birth of Christ, or what the Bible teaches about evil spirits and life after death. Just as it was apostasy for the northern kingdom of Israel to establish its own "holy days" (1 Kings 12:32-33), it would be apostasy for the church to observe man-made holy days under Christ.
A Pagan Holiday
In fact, the Bible PROHIBITS this practice. The Bible expressly forbids celebrating holidays that are or were held by pagans. In other words, the BIBLE says we can NOT "Christianize" the pagan holidays. It is addressed in Deuteronomy 12:29-31.
The Roots Are in a Pagan Holiday
Many millions keep these days without knowing why—or where they originated. Most suppose that they are "found in the Bible" because they see millions of professing Christians observing them. Surely hundreds of millions of people cannot be wrong.
Or can they?
Here is what Christ said about the popular customs and traditions of this world: "IN VAIN do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men…full well you REJECT THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, that you may keep your own tradition" (Mark 7:7, 9).
Pagan Customs Condemned
In fact, the pagan customs associated with Christmas are clearly condemned in the scriptures. Here is one of them: Jeremiah 10:1-4.