1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Psalm 100 1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

The good and bad and the ugly of Christmas

This congregation maintains no official position as to it’s members observe this day, beyond living within the bounds of acceptable behavior as described in the New Testament

In a summary statement, Christmas is religious holiday to some of our brothers and sisters and/or a cultural, observation to others.

I cannot say with authority, but from my observation most members of churches of Christ in America observe the day in one form or another, there are very few who refuse association with the observance altogether

In recent years we have asked ourselves this question, if the choice is observing it as a secular day or a day to give glory to God for the sending His son into the world to save us from our sin, the latter seems the better choice.

Good and not so good There is good reason to remember that the day is not given to us as an official day of religious observation. Unbelieving secular historians have and do use the ignorance of Christians against them in an effort malign Christianity.

Why a problem? Churches (so called) across the years have used human authority over people to move days of immoral celebration to something thought to be more positive for society and the church.

It is a formal position: relax the moral and doctrinal standing of the institutional religious organization and embrace the a given social moor. With the passage of time reign in that same people tightening the moral and doctrinal standings. The secular world see this and views it as hypocrisy, and at times rightly so.

My thought… Acknowledge the secular/pagan root of the celebration, why? It is the way it is, the position represents truth.

And… Recognize that the scripture makes allowance for people to use their individual judgment and the individual has a right to exercise their own judgment in things that are a root, simply areas of human judgment.

Romans 14:5-8 “One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God;

Romans 14:5-8 and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

Do’s and don’ts Don’ts Don’t over party or use the day as an excuse to not act like a Christian Don’t worship the tree, the nativity, the lights, or any other thing other than God

Don’ts Don’t go into too much debt, do not overspend, the bill man cometh! Don’t draw unkind or negative conclusions about the ones who celebrate the day one way or the other or not at all. Romans 14

Do’s HAVE FUN! Think about how to make the time and day a positive experience for you and your family. In later years of your life family will come to your place if it was a place there was love and fun!

Do’s Develop traditions and observe your own family traditions. Keep the spirit of giving alive! We have so much, we are so rich.

Do’s Find things that are special, (that may not be handmade socks) Remember that God sent His son into this world and we give gift to one another in remembrance of the great gift He has given to us.

Do Worship on this day, as you do every other day, pray with thanksgiving in your heart. Be grateful, giving thank to the Lord through His son Jesus Christ

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Psalm 100 1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.