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 - September 20, 2003

Living by Faith Under Hostile Goverment #1

Daniel - Living by Faith under a Hostile Government - Florida 2009

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Our world is treacherous and like uncharted territory. As we go to the Word, we can find security, stability, a sense of humor and hope. Our future will be an incredible challenge, but God will use it to refine us. EPH 1:3 Everything we have can be taken from us and lost, but what we have in our soul, our riches in Christ, no one can take away.

We find ourselves living by faith in adverse circumstances, in persecution, when everything is ripped out of your hands. The four young men in Daniel had these happen to them, and they met their trials with faith and faithfulness.

Daniel watched his nation be destroyed from within and without, and saw everything he had destroyed. He was only left with the resources He had in his soul, and he had a choice what he was going to do. We can’t pass on what we haven’t already received ourselves.

8 reasons to study Daniel:

-Key to understanding all future prophecy

-Three of the four distinct histories in the Bible: history of angels, history of gentile nations, history of Israel. Only the history of the church is not mentioned (because it was a mystery until the time of the apostles)

-Historical section in chapters 1-6 are filled with object lessons we need for today

-prophetic section from chapters 7-12 helps us see where we are in history, and have the assurance in Christ that He has the final victory

-shines a great light on understanding/interpreting the book of Revelation

-Daniel and Revelation show Jesus is the center of History and the redemption of man, the key to our purpose

-we see the growing apostasy and revived nation of Israel, and pressure toward one world government. We are the last generation.

-Daniel’s and his friends’ dedication and steadfastness is an example to us of God’s purpose for our lives

1PE 1:1-9 ACT 8:1-3 ACT 8:4

A witness is not someone who wins souls but rather someone who points people to the answer: Jesus Christ.

We need to learn to fix our minds on these things in 1PE 1:1-9 instead of the circumstances of the world.

We see these four young men, taken to Babylon for the purpose of training and to give insight for controlling the kingdom. Daniel decided not to defile himself. DAN 1:8 When Daniel purposed in his heart, he became a lightning rod for persecution, and a magnet to those who were searching for the answer.

Scripture References: Acts 8:1-3, Ephesians 1:3, Daniel 1:8, Acts 8:4