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, 2003

Ephesians #37

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Sanctification (1Th 4:3) and filling of the Spirit (Eph 5:18) have the same means. Spiritual things of God demand the Spirit for understanding (1Co 2:9-16). Spiritual life is based on what God has done, not what we need to do. Spiritual life is a free gift (1Co 2:12), we receive as a blessing by supernatural power (1Co 2:14); it cannot be separated from the Word of God (1Co 2:13, 1Co 2:16). The Spirit is "like fire" - fire helps and is dangerous. Rom 8:1 "spirituality" sets us free. To be spiritual is to "set your mind on spiritual things" (Rom 8:5). Carnal mined is "living death" -- no abundant life (Rom 8:6). Spiritual life is submission to God (Rom 8:7). Being led by the Holy Spirit is an element of a spiritual life (Rom 8:14). Spirituality lessons in Jesus' changing water to wine: confession of need; submission to the Lord's authority; cleansing in view; obedience to His Word; radical transformation (Joh 2:1-10). John 13:1-17 is also a pattern of the spiritual life: Peter recognized his need, submits to Christ, gets cleansed. Prodigal son is also a pattern (Luk 15:11-24). When God restores the believer it is never partial: the robe signifies righteousness; the ring is the bank account; the sandals signify service; the feast signifies fellowship. Eph 5:18 is a comment on Paul's discussion on walking worthy. "And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit". Drunkenness occurs after reception, gradual surrender to the power of the drink, control is turned over, then there is a change of personality. Results are three-fold (Col 3:16); inner joy, love, peace (Gal 5:22, Eph 5:19-21). (1) daily confession, (2) conscious surrender, (3) hunger for Word of God, (4) rest in faith (5) walk in the Spirit.

Scripture References: Romans 8:6, Ephesians 5:18, Romans 8:5, Luke 15:11-24, Romans 8:1, John 13:1-17, Ephesians 5:18, John 2:1-10, Ephesians 5:19-21, Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:22, Romans 8:7, Colossians 3:16