A Biblical Defense of Christmas as a Holy Celebration unto the Lord - Pastor Joseph Clark
Reclaiming December 25 as a holy day of celebration for the birth of Jesus Christ is not rooted in claiming that this date is His literal birthday, but in acknowledging that every day on the calendar belongs to our Almighty God. Some claim that Christmas is inherently pagan because celebrations once occurred on that date within the Roman calendar. Yet Scripture reveals that pagan claims over days, seasons, or traditions have no spiritual weight, for pagan gods are false gods, and falsehood cannot own time, creation, or sacred observance. “For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens” (Psalm 96:5). The calendar, the earth, and the universe belong to the Lord, not to paganism and not to Satan. “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). Satan owns nothing. He possesses no realm of truth, no portion of creation, and no authority over time. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Because God reigns, His people may consecrate any moment unto Him, and that moment becomes holy—not by tradition or history, but by worship in spirit and truth.
Christians have never proclaimed December 25 as the literal day of Christ’s birth. Rather, it is the day set aside to commemorate and celebrate the incarnation—the moment when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Scripture reveals that not all biblical observances correspond directly to the exact date of the event they commemorate. God commanded Israel to hold feasts at appointed times (Leviticus 23:4), yet the feasts did not always reflect the literal historical anniversary of the event; they reflected a sacred remembrance within the calendar year. Even more remarkable is the example of Jesus Himself keeping a holiday that was not commanded in the Law—the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in John 10:22–23. This holiday arose after Israel reclaimed the Temple from pagan corruption and rededicated it unto the Lord. Jesus celebrated it, not because Moses commanded it, but because reclaiming what once belonged to darkness is a testimony of God’s victory. This is precisely what Christians have done with December 25.
Time does not become holy because of its origin; time becomes holy because of its dedication. When the Temple was built, the stones, gold, curtains, and vessels were common until God consecrated them. “I have consecrated this house… to put My name there forever” (1 Kings 9:3). The materials did not define sacredness—God did. Likewise, a day does not become sacred because of its ancient association; it becomes sacred because it is set apart unto the Lord. Paul writes concerning food once sacrificed to idols, “We know that an idol is nothing” (1 Corinthians 8:4). The same is true of dates. Paganism has no power to define them. “One person esteems one day above another, another esteems every day alike; let each be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). The enemy cannot maintain ownership of what has been surrendered to Jesus Christ.
Christ declared that worship does not require a location or temple, nor a specific day or hour. “The hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem worship the Father… true worshipers will worship… in spirit and truth” (John 4:21–24). Because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, every moment is sacred, and believers live within continual Sabbath. “There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9). Therefore, December 25 is holy not because of its past, but because of its present identity in Christ. When believers glorify God on a specific day, that day is redeemed by the blood of Jesus and reclaimed out of darkness.
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