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 - February 24, 2010

Beauty for Ashes #3

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We are priests. Priests have the privilege of representing men before God. We should be praying. Do we have the faith required? Abraham believed God would provide the sacrifice — Jehovah Jireh. Mary and Martha said that Lazarus would not had died if Jesus had been there (Joh 11:21-22). Jesus tells Martha that He is the resurrection "I am" (Joh 11:23-26). "Did I not tell you if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (Joh 11:40). Three words for "signs": 1) Supernatural event — miracle; 2) "Wonder" emphasizes the effect on the people; 3) "sign" miraculous event with spiritual meaning. Are we living or just existing? What's lacking? Faith (Heb 11:1, 1Jo 1:1). In the Gospel of John there are eight signs and eight "I am" statements.

in Rom 1:16-17 Paul says "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation, to everyone that believes, to the Jew first and also to the gentile. For in it is righteousness is revealed from faith to faith as it is written. The just shall live by faith". Are we moving from "faith to faith"? Are we living or just existing? What's missing? Faith. "IS faith" — Faith needs to have the emphatic position in our life (Heb 1:1). Habbakuk expressed faith through complaint (Hab 1:1-5, Hab 1:12-17). God responded by telling him he was to "live by faith" (Hab 2:4). "Faith is the substance (hupostasis — incarnation, foundation) of things hoped for" (Heb 11:1). How long has it been since you had a sense of the reality of the person of Jesus Christ? In Ephesians the key is Paul's prayers (Eph 3:14-21). Paul began singing the victory song before his deliverance. Faith is substance, but also conviction. The Lord is a Shield that surrounds us on every side. David described the Lord this way. The shield of faith "with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Eph 6:16). If Christ is our Shield why does so much come through? Only that which comes through glorifies or magnifies the Shield. God allows what is for His glory. We know the story ends well for Christ. How will our personal story end? If we follow we are assured the victory. Faith is required to follow Christ. God says "I AM" and "Faith IS". "He who comes to God must believe that He IS and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb 11:6). If we begin to live by faith, we have a foundation under our feet and conviction in our heart, but also receive a reward.

Conference notes for this series can be found [HERE]

Scripture References: Hebrews 11:1, Habakkuk 2:4, John 11:40, Habakkuk 1:12-17, John 11:23-26, Habakkuk 1:1-5, Hebrews 11:6, John 11:21-22, Hebrews 1:1, Ephesians 6:16, Romans 1:16-17, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 1:1, Hebrews 11:1