If Christmas is pagan, should Christians be involved?

Should Christians get involved in supporting or celebrating Christmas? Have you ever heard that argument? Why in the world would Christians want to get involved in something that was really a “pagan holiday,” that we the Church co-opted? So for those critics, I have three points.
Number one: Do you give your kids birthday gifts? You celebrate your kids birthdays, why not celebrate the birth of the Savior? If we’re not going to do it now, when would you decide to do it? That would be a question.
Secondly, in 1st Corinthians 9:22, Paul says, “I became all things to all men, that by all means I may win some.” I can’t think of a time, and I doubt that you could think of a time in the year when there is more focus on the birth of Jesus Christ. Once a year, the world is confronted with the reality of His coming. And I think that’s great!
The third point is in Matthew 16:18,where Jesus said, “On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The idea is not that we are holding out against the world. The idea is that we are assaulting a world and they cannot overwhelm us. They cannot withstand the assault of the Church. The very fact that you and I are here, 2000 years after the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, is evidence of that. The world has done everything it can to squash the message, destroy the Word, and intimidate believers. Yet, all around the world today there are those who are singing praise, spreading the Word and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, if we co-opt or take over Christmas, that’s what we’re supposed to do. We’re supposed to seize the gates of the enemy. This is why we’re here and why this season is so important.

Gene Cunningham - May 23, 2000

Living Sacrifice 04

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Our goal is to prove the will of God in our life (Rom 12:1-2). In union with Christ 2Co 5:14-17 we are a new creature and are to live for Him. We are uniquely gifted. Every Christian has a ministry to fulfill His plan and purpose (1Co 12:5-7). Danger in planning our lives without taking into account the brevity of it and the plan of God (Jam 4:13-17). We must seek to do His will with a sense of urgency (Joh 7:17). We need to be daily seeking God's will by prayer and develop a sense of urgency (Joh 9:4). Believer dedicated to God's will (i.e., walking in the light) proves to himself, to the world, and to the fallen realm it is perfect (Joh 8:12, 1Jo 1:7). Man is by his nature after the fall arrogant (Jam 4:16). Biggest battle in history is the battle of wills starting with Satan (Isa 14:12-13). Arrogance is self-centered rather than Christ-centered, and disregards the will of God.

10 rules for time management: recognize and act on the knowledge that: (1) root cause of using time wisely is bad habit; (2) control your own time or someone else will; (3) you can only spend time, not save it; you can invest your time in eternity; (4) it necessary to learn to say "No" (Rom 12:2); (5) if you don't have time to plan you can't be efficient with time; you need to take God's will into account; (6) you must organize your time or lose it; (7) recognize the dollar value of time -- "lay up treasures in heaven"; (8) time is the greatest resource we have; (9) continual courage is needed to overcome time wasters -- to wring out the value of a day; (10) the key to successful management is to build good habits. The Ephesian Agora -- market -- was available to anyone. The wise person in the marketplace of life chooses to keep on purchasing, redeeming time (Eph 5:16 - exagoroazo - a habit which forms your character). We were once in darkness, but are now transferred into light (Eph 5:8-15, Col 1:13, 1Co 15:22). He has transferred us out of the realm of darkness into the light by faith. In Adam all die; in Christ all are made alive. Believers are "dead" if unfruitful (Eph 5:9-13). Jesus refused to cast His pearls before swine (Mat 7:6); He searched for good soil (Mar 1:35-38). The "sleeper" is the believer out of fellowship and "unfruitful" from eternal perspective (Eph 5:14). We need to be vigilant, and wise to redeem the time because the days are evil (Eph 5:15). We are "wise" and "acceptable" to the Lord if we redeem the time (Eph 5:16-18). (1) Believers are commanded to redeem time (Eph 5:16); (2) Redeeming time is necessary because days are evil (Eph 5:16) and time is short (1Co 7:29); and opportunity is passing (Col 4:5). (3) 7 ways to redeem time: by filling of the spirit (Eph 5:18); study God's word (Rom 12:2); applying the word of God (1Pe 2:15); endurance suffering through faith rest (Rom 8:18); prayer (Jam 5:15-18, Eph 6:18, Heb 13:15); submission to authority (Eph 6:1-2, 1Co 11:3); function your spiritual gift (1Ti 1:6, 1Ti 4:14). 5 reasons to have a sense of urgency: (1) time is short; (2) failure possibility is real; (3) loss is greatest in eternity; (4) loss at the judgement seat is shame; (5) redeemed time is all you can take with you.

Scripture References: Ephesians 5:16, Ephesians 5:14, John 7:17, Ephesians 5:18, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 6:1-2, Mark 1:35-38, James 4:13-17, Colossians 4:5, Isaiah 14:12-13, Hebrews 13:15, Matthew 7:6, Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 5:16, James 4:16, Ephesians 6:18, Ephesians 5:9-13, Ephesians 5:16, John 1:7, James 5:15-18, Colossians 1:13, Ephesians 5:16-18, John 8:12, Romans 8:18, Ephesians 5:8-15, Ephesians 5:15, John 9:4, Romans 12:2