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 19

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"Deny yourself" (Luke 15:9) means that we should not trust ourselves, but entrust ourselves to Christ and the cross. When we follow the cross we become the channel of God's provisions to others: (1) every believer is a priest to God (2) we are an ambassador (3) we are a minister to other believers (4) we are a disciple (Mat 28:19-20). Function of the priesthood: there's a task, an offering to bring, and an office to fulfill. "Present yourself" (Rom 12:1) -- He wants us to be at His disposal -- available completely (Isa 6:8). Our weakness in the sin nature is both legalistic and lascivious (Rom 2:1-29). Salvation breaks the power of the sin nature. The body is now a temple (1Co 3:16, 1Co 6:19). Jesus took on a physical body in the incarnation -- He sanctified the body because He had no earthly father. This shows God's purpose for the body (Rom 5:12, Col 3:17-23). "living and holy sacrifice" (Rom 12:1) means abundant and spiritual life. In order to sacrifice an animal, you took its life. Likewise, we as a living sacrifice mreans we must lose our life -- we no longer own it. Jesus Christ owns us (Mat 10:39, 2Co 5:15). "Holy" involves salvation , the filling of the Spirit, and obedience (Eph 5:2). Priesthood (1Pe 2:5-9, Heb 5:1-10). Jesus had 3 titles to royalty (1) Divine title: as "Son of God, (2) Messianic "Son of David"; (3) Priestly title: "after the order of Melchizedek". As a priest we need to minister in things pertaining to God, and lead men to God (Mat 5:16, 1Pe 3:15). As God dealt with man through the Mercy Seat so He wants to minister to men through our bodies -- where the Spirit of God dwells.

Scripture References: Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 12:1, Luke 15:9, Colossians 3:17-23, Romans 5:12, Matthew 5:16, Romans 2:1-29, Hebrews 5:1-10, Isaiah 6:8, Ephesians 5:2, Romans 12:1, Matthew 10:39