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 - May 23, 2003

Profiles in Providence #1

Philippians - Profiles in Providence - Florida 2008

Listen

Phi 2:5-11 is a central passage in Philippians -- evidence of the Providence of God. Abraham's faith was tested when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac; he responded without hesitation. The mighty hand of God working in the lives of men. Providence of God works out His glory and our blessing in our circumstances: examples are the lives of Joseph, Ester, Daniel (Gen 50:20, Est 9:1, Dan 4;32). God cares about the details of circumstances (Mat 10:29, Luk 12:6, Mat 10:30, Rom 8:28-29, Eph 1:11-12).

Conference notes for this series can be found [HERE]

Scripture References: Matthew 10:30, Luke 12:6, Matthew 10:29, Daniel 4:32, Esther 9:1, Ephesians 1:11-12, Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28-29, Philippians 2:5-11