“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23
“Christmas is here,” is the note that sounds throughout the world this month, from east to west and from north to south. Among the young, the middle-aged, and people of all ages, this is a season of great rejoicing and gladness, goodwill and cheer. But what is Christmas, that it should command so much attention year after year?
When you hear the words “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Holidays”, or “Seasons Greetings,” do you think of bad weather, stressful travel, the hustle bustle of shopping, and credit card debt? Or do you think of Jesus, of family and friends, of gift-giving, of gratitude, of sacred carols, and of tables full of delicious food?
The apostle Paul expressed the principle which applies to different holidays and festivals. If observing a certain holiday makes you believe that somehow you are being disloyal to Jesus, then, by all means, let it pass you by. But, if observing this particular holiday draws you closer to Christ and enhances your relationship with Him, then observe it with joy. The Bible tells us that, in consideration of all these things, every person should be fully persuaded in their own mind (Romans 14:5).
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:8-11
Most professed Christians recognize that Jesus was not born on December 25th. The true relevance of this time of year is, What does the season mean to you? Do you use this time to celebrate the incarnation of the Son of God? Do you reflect on the selflessness of Jesus and desire to emulate Him more fully? Do you recognize the humility of His birth and seek to live a meek and trusting life, a life of service and love toward others?
E. G. White was given a balanced, rational approach to holiday celebrations, and of the traditions that often accompany them. She warned of not allowing the values of the world to overtake us, and reminded us of the history of the day; but she also wrote:
“The holiday season is fast approaching with its interchange of gifts, and old and young are intently studying what they can bestow upon their friends as a token of affectionate remembrance. It is pleasant to receive a gift, however small, from those we love. It is an assurance that we are not forgotten, and seems to bind us to them a little closer… While urging upon all the duty of first bringing their offerings to God, I would not wholly condemn the practice of making Christmas and New Year’s gifts to our friends. It is right to bestow upon one another tokens of love and remembrance if we do not in this forget God, our best friend. We should make our gifts such as will prove a real benefit to the receiver. I would recommend such books as will be an aid in understanding the word of God or that will increase our love for its precepts. Provide something to be read during these long winter evenings… Let the presents you shall make be of that order which will shed beams of light upon the pathway to heaven.” The Adventist Home, pp. 478-479
We are encouraged here that “it is pleasant to receive a gift” and “it is right to bestow upon one another tokens of love,” as long as we do not “forget God, our best friend.” Doesn’t it thrill our souls that our carefully selected gifts can be “a real benefit to the receiver”, and can even “shed beams of light upon the pathway to heaven”? Have you ever given a gift like that? Have you ever received a gift like that?
Continuing, she penned this about the Christmas tree:
“God would be well pleased if on Christmas each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of worship. Letters of inquiry have come to us asking, Shall we have a Christmas tree? Will it not be like the world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen and placing it in our churches, but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree… The tree may be as tall and its branches as wide as shall best suit the occasion; but let its boughs be laden with the golden and silver fruit of your beneficence, and present this to Him as your Christmas gift. Let your donations be sanctified by prayer… Let not the parents take the position that an evergreen placed in the church for the amusement of the Sabbath school scholars is a sin, for it may be made a great blessing. Keep before their minds benevolent objects. In no case should mere amusement be the object of these gatherings. While there may be some who will turn these occasions into seasons of careless levity, and whose minds will not receive the divine impress, to other minds and characters these seasons will be highly beneficial.” The Adventist Home, p. 482
“God would be well pleased if on Christmas each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small” which have been “sanctified by prayer.” In this way, a holiday tree can be “a great blessing” to each of us, but especially to the young, as it encourages all to greater acts of charity and kindness.
What is our motive for setting up a festive tree or decorative display? Or for collecting gifts and donations for those less fortunate? Or for engaging in seasonal celebrations of music and reading? If our desire through it all is to lift up the Saviour, who left the glories of heaven, and came to this world for the purpose of redeeming mankind, if He is central to our thoughts, our songs, our gatherings, our offerings, and our worship, then we can be sure that God will be “well pleased” with our celebrations.
“Let us represent the Christian life as it really is; let us make the way cheerful, inviting, interesting. We can do this if we will. We may fill our own minds with vivid pictures of spiritual and eternal things, and in so doing help to make them a reality to other minds. Faith sees Jesus standing as our Mediator at the right hand of God. Faith beholds the mansions He has gone to prepare for those who love Him. Faith sees the robe and crown all prepared for the overcomer. Faith hears the songs of the redeemed, and brings eternal glories near. We must come close to Jesus in loving obedience if we would see the King in His beauty.” Review and Herald, January 29, 1884.
This season just now, may we be encouraged to keep Jesus and the salvation He died to offer us at the center of our holiday experience. May our faith and our joy increase and abound, especially as His coming is nearer than when we first believed. And may each of us be the glad recipients of God’s richest blessings now and into the new year ahead.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
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Richard Cecere and his lovely wife, Leslie, volunteer at Uchee Pines Institute in Seale, Alabama. He enjoys reading, teaching, and being married, not necessarily in that order.
[Editorial insertion. EGW did suggest (as stated above) that a tree could be used in certain churches to redirect the flow of spending around Christmas to help reduce the debts of the churches in Battle Creek and Oakland etc (Review and Herald, December 11, 1879). She did not specifically speak to the idea of placing a Christmas tree in homes. On at least one occasion she forbade people from buying her gifts for Christmas, instructing them instead to place those funds in the Lord’s treasury (AH 474.1) The goal is balance and wisdom. Christmas is not "Christian" in the way that baptism is Christian, and December 25 is just a made-up day. But have a happy one, and enjoy the opportunity to bask in the warmth of fellowship with family and friends. Let us be grateful for the blessed Advent of our Lord while we wait for His Second Advent.]