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, 2000

Life of Moses #14

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Wilderness experience written about the Children of Israel sets a pattern of the Christian experience. We can respond with doubt (Exo 5, 6), fear (Exo 14), complaining (Exo 15, 16), outright disobedience (Exo 16). The Jews did not benefit from the word because they didn't mix it with faith (Heb 4:2). Faith when tested brings glory to God (Jam 4:1, Rom 5:2-3, 1Pe 1:6-7). Complaining gives birth to slander (Exo 16:3). When we malign leadership we are maligning God. The divine response to their grumbling is mercy e.g. (Exo 16:4-8). Divine response: (1) Provision -- undeserved in Grace (2Ti 2:13); (2) Testing -- whether they will walk in His word (2Co 5:7, Eph 4:17, Eph 5:16, 1Ki 17:5); (3) Conditions for blessing -- they had to gather the amount they needed day by day; (4) Corrections -- (Exo 16:6-8, Jer 17:9); (6) Instruction -- (Exo 16:9-19) -- we can avail ourselves of it or not. Instruction includes the fact He's listening (Mat 12:36) but He also reveals their ignorance (Psa 106:15); the all-sufficiency of His grace (Exo 16:18); everyone gets enough to be able to pass it on (2Co 8:15); when we hoard God's blessings the supply will dry up (Exo 16:19-20). Disobedience is always visible (Heb 3:7, Heb 3:17). The test brings a response and motivates a memorial -- the sabbath rest (Exo 16:22-35). When there is no provision the purpose is to instruct, to humble, to test (Deu 8:1-4); what is going on in our lives "that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live". (Heb 3:7-11). We test God while He tests us (Heb 3:9) if we do not respond appropriately, namely that we are trained for our profit (Heb 12:10-11).

Scripture References: Hebrews 3:7, James 4:1, Hebrews 12:10-11, Exodus 16:6-8, Exodus 16:19-20, Hebrews 4:2, Hebrews 3:9, Ephesians 5:16, Exodus 16:18, Exodus 15:16, Hebrews 3:7-11, Ephesians 4:17, Psalms 106:15, Exodus 5:6, Deuteronomy 8:1-4, Exodus 16:4-8, Matthew 12:36, Exodus 16:22-35, Exodus 16:3, Exodus 16:9-19, Hebrews 3:17, Romans 5:2-3, Jeremiah 17:9