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 - October 16, 2009

The Transforming Power of Grace 4

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The battle of the spiritual life is fought and decided by the will of the mind and choices of the heart. Today you make choices, but tomorrow your choices make you. A spiritual leader has a willingness to sacrifice, and isn't self-serving. The path of recovery is outlined by James (Jam 4:6-10). How do we become what God wants us to be (2Pe 1:3-11, Gal 4:19). The "nay-sayers" (Tit 1:9) are contradictory (Tit 1:10-11). Cretians were lazy and only satisfied their own desires; they needed to be to be rebuked sharply (Tit 1:13, Tit 2:1-2, Tit 2:7-8). "Sound" means healthy, wholesome. Spiritual health is "godliness" (Tit 2:11-12). The essence of godliness is the life of Jesus Christ (1Ti 3:16). Faith is the only means to lay hold of what God says; the result is godliness. (1) 1Ti 3:16 is the definition of godliness. (2) Godliness is not the work a moment, but pursuit of a lifetime (Rom 12:1-2). (3) The more we look into glory of Christ, the more we'll reflect it (2Co 3:18). If we are conscious of our godliness, it's probably fake. (4) The development of godliness goes from faith to faith and strength to strength (Rom 1:17, Psa 84:7). (5) The attainment of godliness with contentment is great gain (1Ti 6:6). (6) Paul exemplifies godliness in pursuit (Phi 3:7-14) and attainment (Gal 2:20).

Conference notes for this series can be found [HERE]

Scripture References: James 4:6-10, Titus 2:7-8, Galatians 2:20, Titus 2:1-2, Philippians 3:7-14, Titus 1:13, Psalms 84:7, Titus 1:10-11, Romans 1:17, Titus 1:9, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 4:19, Titus 2:11-12