A Biblical Approach to a Secular Christmas

There seems to be three primary reactions that Christians have to the secular extravaganza surrounding Christmas. In general, I can observe those who indulge, those who abstain, and those who ride the fence. Concerning that third group, I find its members largely marked by indecisiveness brought forth from the fear of being wrong, assumed practicality, and ambiguous gut feelings. I have been a member of the third group for several years now.

My goal this season was to remove myself from the third group and to find a home among either the indulgers or the abstainers. In doing so, I have come to the conclusion that it is not the third group I must reject, but rather, the indecisiveness that is so prevalent among them.

Christians should not indulge, abstain, or remain indecisive in the secular celebration of Christmas. Rather, we should apply here the same biblical teachings that we observe throughout the rest of the year. Scripture has made it abundantly clear that we are not to love the world or the things of the world (1 John). At the same time, however, it is taught that we should not remove ourselves completely from the culture in which God has placed us. In light of the fact that Scripture has required separation but not removal, and because Scripture does not directly command believers to remember the birth of Christ, I have come to the conclusion that a happy medium can be found outside of indecisiveness that has previously prevented me from committing to either of the extremes.

Christians should not indulge in the secular celebration
There are those Christians that give no thought to the secular celebration, the frame of mind that encourages it, or what their biblical response to that celebration might look like. Most of these Christians are not purposely neglecting their biblical response. Rather, they have allowed their lack of knowledge to entrap them in sin. The Bible condemns the total indulgence of secular or worldly affairs. As believers, our approach to the secular celebration of Christmas must be directed with the same wisdom and judgment that we approach our daily lives in a secular world. The extent to which we indulge in secular activities is directly related to our Christian obligations.

I find three problems with total indulgence. We neglect our obligation to be separated from the world. We neglect our obligation to have no gods before the Lord, and we neglect our obligation to be content in what we have been given. Possibly the greatest concern that Christians should have during the Christmas season should be the materialistic mindset that drives our culture. This mindset is what makes it inappropriate for a Christian to indulge completely in the secular celebrations surrounding Christmas. When we allow the pursuit of gifts and the joy of receiving to turn into a god, we instantly neglect our obligation to be separated from the world, to have no other god than our God, and to be content in all we have. One cannot be completely immersed in what Christmas has become to the secular world without at the same time chasing the materialistic dream.

Christians should not abstain from the secular celebration
It is true that Christians should not indulge in the secular celebration to the extent that we forsake our biblical obligations, but it is just as clear from Scripture that we are not to abstain completely from the culture in which God has placed us. There exists a large population of believers that would be pleased if Christians did not associate with anything secular at all. Following the model of Jesus, it is clear from scripture that we are intended to be actively involved in the culture around us. Furthermore, while the Christmas season, as celebrated by believers, is extremely beneficial to both believers and non-believers alike, it is not set aside in Scripture as an ordinance that must be practiced with specifications. On account of this, I have a hard time accepting arguments which deny the Christian any involvement in the secular celebration. If this were the case, would we not have to apply the same practices to birthdays, retirement parties, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and even the weekend sale at the mall? All of these are secular events. Some of them even carry very strong Christian values with them. I do not believe that I, as a Christian, have any more obligation to abstain from the secular celebration of Christmas than I do to abstain from the secular celebration of Mother's Day. Rather, as a believer, I must employ the wisdom and guidance that God has promised me through His gift of the Holy Spirit.

Christians should apply the same biblical standards to a secular Christmas that we apply to our lives the other 11 months of the year
The longer that I continued to think about this dilemma, the more I was convinced that it wasn't actually a dilemma at all. I had developed my bad theology because of my poor understanding of spiritual discipline and an incorrect understanding of my biblical obligations towards the Christmas story.

As to my poor understanding of spiritual discipline, it has become evident to me through the writing of this post that my lack of spiritual discipline is not a seasonal problem, but rather, a lifestyle problem. This is the indulger inside of me. Putting up a Christmas tree in my living room is not a sin in and of itself. It is only a sin when I value it above my relationship with God. I anticipate bringing it home more than I anticipate my Savior's return. I get frustrated trying to take it through the front door. I am given to pride when is finally standing tall and decorated in the corner. The Christmas tree is not the problem. The problem is my heart. Sin can manifest itself during the secular celebration of Christmas just as easily as it can manifest itself during the final exam season.

As to my incorrect understanding of my biblical obligations, I realized how shallow it is for me to think that God would place such a high importance on celebrating His Son's birth only once a year. The fact is that Scripture doesn't even ask me to celebrate Christ's birth during December. Rather, it requires that I continually look for my Savior's second advent. One of the ways in which I am able to do this is by recalling God's faithfulness to Adam and Eve, Abraham, David, and all of humanity to send our Redeemer in His first advent. With this truth in mind, I realize that what believers typically understand as the Christmas story should be celebrated year round with the anticipation of Christ's second advent.

Conclusion
So what will I be doing this Christmas season? I'll be spending time with my family opening presents in front of a Christmas tree because it's December in a secular world and talking about God's great gift in Jesus because that's what being a Christian is about... regardless of the month.

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This post is part of a synchroblog. The topic for December was "Redeeming the Season." You will find the other posts in this month's synchroblog below:

Remembering the Incarnation at The Assembling of the Church
Recapturing the Spirit of Christmas at Igneous Quill
Swords into Plowshares at Calacirian
Fanning the Flickering Flame of Advent at Out of the Cocoon
Lainie Petersen at Headspace
Sam Norton at Elizaphanian
Brian Riley at at Charis Shalom
Secularizing Christmas at JohnSmulo.com
There's Something About Mary at Hello Said Jenelle
Geocentric Versus Anthropocentric Holydays at No More
Celebrating Christmas in a Pluralistic Society at Journeys in Between
The Ghost of Christmas Past at Decompressing Faith
Redeeming the season -- season of redemption by Steve Hayes
What's So Bad About Christmas? at One Hand Clapping
The Obligation of Christmas at JonathanBrink.com
A Biblical Response to a Secular Christmas by Glenn Ansley