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 - June 9, 2012

Learn to Discern

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We need our spiritual senses exercisedto discern. It's important to grow up in our faith (Heb 5:14). Two different kind of wisdom: from above and below. How does evil get into the church? "But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works" (2Co 11:12-16). False teacher change themselves to have a mask. Evil presents itself as good (Luk 6:9-11). Religious leaders are more interested in their rules han the hears and souls of people. The more we resist the truth the more we embrace evil. The compassion of Jesus Christ is eternal (Joh 3:17). Early believers stated that in order to be saved it was necessary to get circumsized and keep the law (Act 15:1-5). Circumcision (beginning with Abraham) and the law were part of the covenant relationship with Israel but never saved anyone (Rom 8:3-4). Something good was made evil. We must live by faith in conscious dependence on God (Gal 5:16). Paul uses hypothetical regarding the preaching of a false gospel (Gal 1:6-9). Paul uses Titus, a Gentile, as example "of faith alone in Christ alone" and not needing circumcision (Gal 2:1-9). Peter came to Antioch and acted hypocritically when "men of circucision" came (Gal 2:9-13). Paul publicly rebuked Peter. Peter's temptation to evil might have been to say "Christ told me circumcision was to be implemented" (Gal 2:14-16). We make ourselves transgressors when we turn away from Christ and to justification by works (Gal 2:17-21). When we chose evil it'll ripple to other people. Galatians picked up on the evil (Gal 3:1-3). Works are a byproduct of faith. If we abide in the vine we'll bear the fruit. Christ set us free; standfast in that freedom! (Gal 5:1-2). Righteousness comes through faith, not the law; we are alienated from Christ if we lapse into law (Gal 5:3-6). The secret to stronger faith is stronger object of faith. The more you focus on the fruit the less you'll have. Focusing on Christ is the different.

Conference notes for this series can be found [HERE]

Scripture References: Galatians 5:1-2, Galatians 5:16, Galatians 3:1-3, Romans 8:3-4, Galatians 2:17-21, Acts 15:1-5, Galatians 2:14-16, John 3:17, Galatians 2:9-13, Luke 6:9-11, Galatians 2:1-9, Galatians 5:3-6, Hebrews 5:14, Galatians 1:6-9