The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Should Christmas be consider a pagan holiday?

What are your thoughts on Christmas? Should Christians abstain from celebrating it?


Thoughts? 'Pinions? Idears?

Should Christians celebrate Christmas? multiple choice
	Yes
	No
Votes accepted starting: Tue Dec 23, 2025 6:13 AM
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The question is a little confusing. I did answer yes, as I do believe that Christians should give glory to God for providing a Savior for His people. We just had a discussion about that yesterday as there are some who act so self righteous about how "in their household, they do not acknowledge, no less celebrate, Christmas" as they associate it with a pagan holiday. It is, for the Christian, an opportunity to reflect and meditate on the very event that the ancients looked forward to for centuries, the coming of the Messiah. I have known some who are quite pharisaical about how they do not have anything to do with Christmas and I think what they are doing in effect is sinful. They are proud of themselves and condemn those who do celebrate or in some way, acknowledge that this event is one to be thankful for and that we should in fact rejoice in it.

I too voted yes. Whatever trees and lights and choirs and gift-giving used to mean to pagans centuries ago, it means eternity (evergreen) with the Father of lights because of His Gift that choirs in heaven celebrated now.

This time of year, the whole world is openly singing about God becoming a Man to save His people from sin. It's being broadcast on secular as well as religious TV and radio. I see no reason not to exploit this season to make opportunity for evangelism, public worship, and disciple-making.

Thought this from George Whitefield was appropriate:

Shall we yearly celebrate the birth of our temporal king, and shall that of the King of kings be quite forgotten? Shall that only, which ought to be had chiefly in remembrance, be quite forgotten? God forbid! No, my dear brethren, let us celebrate and keep this festival of our church, with joy in our hearts: let the birth of a Redeemer, which redeemed us from sin, from wrath, from death, from hell, be always remembered; may this Savior's love never be forgotten! But may we sing forth all his love and glory as long as life shall last here, and through an endless eternity in the world above! May we chant forth the wonders of redeeming love, and the riches of free grace, amidst angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, without intermission, for ever and ever! And as, my brethren, the time for keeping this festival is approaching, let us consider our duty in the true observation thereof, of the right way for the glory of God, and the good of immortal souls, to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; an event which ought to be had in eternal remembrance.

~ George Whitefield

Its only as pagan as you allow it to become

I get it…we can make an idol out of anything. However, if churches cancel when Christmas falls on a Sunday, then there’s definitely a problem. That’s my biggest worry. Do ppl really celebrate the birth of our Savior, or is it really about Santa, Frosty, Rudolph, the gifts, &c.?

And that’s worrisome, imo.

The "Church" should never incorporate anything "worldly" into its worship. The issue for me is to ask the question, "Do inanimate objects, e.g., trees, lights, candles, etc. have an inherent moral, ethical or spiritual essence?" Put another way, does a fir tree by its very nature, thus its very definition, belong to the Roman Catholic tradition of some sort? OR, is a tree something which God created so that all men may know that God IS, namely His eternal deity and Godhead? And thus, should be worshipped in Spirit and truth! (Rom 1) Too many who oppose the celebration of Christmas automatically claim that it is either a pagan ritual/holiday or an invention of the Roman State Church and thus it should be summarily rejected by any who claim to be Christian. Keep Santa Claus, reindeer, gift giving, 'christmas trees'; any and all things of this pagan world out of the place of worship and especially in the worship of Almighty God. He has revealed and commanded that man should worship Him according to His revealed inspired and infallible Word. Christmas is a time that the incarnation of the Son of the Living God is to be remembered and the great work of redemption which He accomplished for all whom the Father gave Him. The Roman State Church nor the world at large has no authority to claim this miraculous gift nor its celebration for itself and thus fabricate anything it deems suitable for themselves. Nativity Scenes are infamously displayed and are direct violations of the 2nd Commandment, which many of the Puritans and Reformers strongly condemned as well. My opinion, for what it is worth, is if a Christian wants to celebrate the coming of the Messiah God, on December 25th, March 13th, September 5th, or any day, it is a good thing and one which should never be forgotten and with thanksgiving to the God of all Mercy and Grace.

I think Christmas is also a time of sober reflection of where our priorities are - and thus the priorities of all men… I don’t think the masses view it in such a way. But I recall, even as a young Roman Catholic boy, that the baby in the manger was everything and that santa was something else entirely, so what do I know (except what I’ve been given).


* I do agree that images of Jesus are a violation now that I’m grown and embraced Reformed Protestant doctrine & biblical understanding of Christian faith.

Whoops, I meant to vote ‘Yes’… minus all the Santa-related commercial distractions. Even Charlie Brown knows better.