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.

Nancy Cunningham - July 31, 2020

The Beauty of Submission -- Session 2

The Beauty of Submission -- 2020 Kansas Ladies Retreat

Submission is the Greek word hupotasso. It is a verb meaning to be arranged in proper rank ” as in a military sense." In a non military sense, Thayer’s definition is "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden.” The Word of God encourages all the above in a healthy spiritual life. We are told to encourage one another, bear one another’s burdens, live peaceably with one another, consider the other person’s needs above our own, and so forth.

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 11:3-15, Genesis 32:1-100, James 4:6-10

Conference Notes