There are a few people who like to condemn celebrating Christmas and will sometimes make comments such as "You're a heathen if you celebrate Christmas" or "Learn not the ways of the heathen!" 

The following is a list of activities that I do at the Christmas season and there is nothing evil or heretical about any of these activities. I'm sure that if you showed this list to any person who says "Christmas is a heathen practice", that they would be equally guilty of practicing the following and therefore they must call themselves heathen as well. The Bible tells us to be careful about how we judge others, "For, in the same way, you judge others you will be judged" (Matt. 7:2)

Please show this simple list to those who want to judge you and call you a heathen simply because you wish to celebrate Christmas in a holy way. Ask them if they have ever practiced any of the following and if they have, then they too must stop the harsh hypocrisy and humble themselves and call themselves a heathen as well.....

1.  Is it a "heathen practice" to have a family dinner?  Do "you" ever have a family dinner?  Do you consider "your" family dinners to be a heathen practice? 

2.  Is it a "heathen practice" to exchange a few practical gifts?  Have "you" ever given anyone a gift?  Are "you" a heathen for giving a gift?  Didn't the wise men give Jesus gifts?  Were the wise men heathens for doing this?

3.  Is it a "heathen practice" to choose a day to celebrate the Lord's birth?  Didn't Joseph, Mary, the angels, and shepherds all celebrate the wondrous day of Jesus' birth?  Without Jesus coming into the world, there would be no hope for salvation for any one of us - so were Joseph, Mary, and the shepherds heathens for celebrating Jesus' birth?  No one knows the exact day of Jesus' birth so it does not matter what day you choose to celebrate it; it can be on December 25th like most people do, or it can be on January 18th, or June 9th or whichever day you might choose.

4.  Is it a "heathen practice" to put up some decorations this time of year?  Do "you" have any decorations in your home such as pictures, knick-knacks, candles, plants etc?  Are "you" a heathen for having decorations in your home? 

My friend Kevin Kelley explained that to the pure in heart, Christmas decorations all contain beautiful spiritual meanings. Kevin states:  "Here's something to think about for all who despise Christmas and accuse those who celebrate it as being 'unclean':  

Titus 1:15  'Unto the pure all things are pure: (including but not limited to Christmas Trees that Point to the Tree of Life, decorations pointing to its different kinds of fruit, wreaths in a circle pointing to eternal life, etc.) but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.'

That verse tells me that if all you can see is uncleanness in other people with pure hearts, it's highly doubtful that you yourself are clean. True Christians view Christmas decorations with purity, and see the beauty of the Lord's creation in the greenery He created etc. 'Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil' (Hab. 1:13), 'I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes' (Psa. 101:3), 'Finally brethren whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise think on these things.' (Phil. 4:8)"

5.  Is it a "heathen practice" to sing songs that rejoice in the fact that Jesus came into the world?  Do "you" sing songs that rejoice in the Lord such as 'Joy to the World?'  If not....why?

6.  Is it a "heathen practice" to send out cards and maybe tracts with these cards that share the true Gospel message?  Do "you" ever send out cards?  Are "you" a heathen because you mail out cards?

7.  Yes, we as Christians all know that we should not participate in any sin related practices at Christmas or at any other time of the year. We know that it is wrong to lie about Santa or make Santa into some sort of an idol for we love the Lord. We as Christians also know that we should not let our hearts be ruled by greed at this time of the year, but that we should instead be reaching out to others with a giving heart, not only at Christmas but all year long.  We as Christians also know that we should definitely not be partaking in any holiday parties or activities where there is drunkenness or any other type of sinful activity present. We as Christians know that the Lord commands us to keep all our celebrations of a pure and holy nature and we would want it to be no other way for we live to please the Lord with all our hearts. 

8.  I can see nothing heathen about Christmas, and if a person claims that there is, then they too are equally guilty of being a heathen if they have ever:

-- Celebrated a birthday, because birthdays are known for 'pagan customs' too such as 'moon cakes' etc.

-- Celebrated an anniversary or wedding since these are known for 'pagan customs' too such as the rings.

-- Had a family dinner

-- given a gift

-- rejoiced in Jesus' birth

-- have any decorations of any type in their homes

-- sang songs about the Lord

--mailed out a greeting card

--participated in a festive yet holy celebration

9.  Here are some wise, scriptural, and common sense words from a lady friend of mine, that explain what God sees as true heathen practices:

"Learn not the ways of the heathen? Guess what people, God told us what those heathen practices were that He wanted His people to abstain from. He was so emphatic about it, that He commanded they be written down for our reference.  Here is a partial list:

Incest, homosexuality, sodomy, bestiality, worshipping false gods to serve them, cutting oneself, tattooing, drinking blood, being unequally yoked, seeking after astrologers and familiar spirits (the occult and its practices etc.), sacrificing their children to a false god, seeking another's nakedness and other vile ways.  To understand more, one must read Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

Here is how God begins in Leviticus 18:  "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall you not do; and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall you not do: neither shall you walk in their ordinances. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. Ye shall, therefore, keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD." The Lord then begins to say what HE FORBIDS (see the list boldened above for a partial listing).

Now the Law has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ, but the Moral Law does follow into the New Testament, being the Law of Christ. Jesus did not come to destroy the Law or Prophets, but to fulfill. So, if we do not read what we think is 'the way of the heathen' within the Law, where it is written, then to God, it is NOT a sin. I've heard all of the arguments against Celebrating Christmas and other holidays. Christians need to get themselves in the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit teach."

10.  I believe that if it bothers a person's conscience to celebrate Christmas for some certain reason then they should definitely not celebrate it, and I fully understand and would never want to see them go against their conscience.  

I would never want to pressure a person to celebrate this holiday for the reasons that they have chosen. But I'm also very concerned about all the religious hypocrisy going on and if we ever hope to be the unified body of Christ that the Lord has called us to be, then we need to stop tearing each other apart over nonsense and start building each other up in the Lord.  There are true sins that need to be seriously rebuked, but if a person chooses to celebrate Christmas in a  pure and holy way in remembrance of Christ's birth and life, then this is not a sin, and this is not a heathen practice. 

Let us remember the wise words of Romans 14:4-10 which gives us wise advice on issues such as this:

"Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master, he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end, Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."

God bless you all!

Article by F. A. Butler