A Christian’s perspective on the true meaning of Christmas
When the seasons roll around and the months start ending in “ber,” my heart grows happier. My birthday….the holidays. The joy, coziness, and warmth that fills me leads to excitement and expectations at the end of every summer.
As a newish homeowner, I’ve been excited about preparing to decorate my home for the season. I’ve been looking up decor inspiration on TikTok and YouTube and ordering pieces to bring my vision to life.
However, I realized that I was getting caught up in the nostalgia of it all. I’m a person in whom everything I do has to have some meaning and logic. So what does Christmas mean to me and would the decor of my home reflect that?
My ideas started to change as I realized that some of the pieces I admired reflected the traditions of Christmas, but not the true meaning of the season for me as a Christian woman.
In essence, would someone walk into my home and ask about Jesus? Because if the rocks can cry out in worship of God, so will my home and the decor in it.
So this got me reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas hence the writing of this article.
What is the main message of Christmas?
Christmas is portrayed as the season of cheer and giving. Children are told to behave well unless a fictional character named Santa Claus will skip their homes on Christmas Eve without leaving them any gifts.
Then there are Christmas movies that send messages of kindness, love, and giving. These are all wonderful messages to share. I’m not trashing on Christmas as I look forward to watching them every year with my fuzzy socks and cozy blanket.
But these are all qualities that emulate our Heavenly Father and should point back to Him. It’s so easy in this world to get caught up in the trends and hype of everything. But Jesus truly is the reason for the season.
The true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the promised king who would set the world free of sin and death once and for all.
God loved humanity so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to be offered as a living sacrifice so that we could once and for all be reconciled with Him.
But the holiday has drawn some criticism and it has left many Christians asking themselves if they should celebrate Christmas. Here’s why.
The origin of Christmas as we know it.
Christmas didn’t become a federal holiday until June of 1870. Yet, it was and still is a controversial holiday for some. For one, Jesus wasn’t born in the winter.
No one knows the exact day that He was born as the Bible doesn’t exactly tell us. However, historians have speculated that it was likely Spring given that shepherds wouldn’t have been out with their flock during the winter to see the star.
So how did the tradition of celebrating the birth of Jesus during the winter come to be? It’s related to another criticism of the holiday…paganistic roots.
Historically, early Europeans would throw celebrations around the winter solstice as it was considered an opportune time with the majority of winter passing, there was plenty of fresh meat from cattle being slaughtered to preserve resources, and wine that had been fermenting all year was available.
Per History.com, Rome’s winter was milder. However, they’re tradition around the end of December was to celebrate a winter festival called Saturnalia. Saturnalia was in honor of their god of agriculture, Saturn. They also celebrated the birthday of Mithra, their god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25th.
It was during the 4th century when the church declared a holiday for Jesus’s birth. It’s thought that they chose December 25th as the date so that the holiday could be widely adopted and absorb the practices of the pagan holidays.
However, while the church established the holiday, it did not provide any guidance on how it should be celebrated. So, here we are.
Should Christians celebrate Christmas?
I would like to start by saying that I encourage you to take any matter (especially those that you’re undecided on) to the feet of Jesus and allow him to guide your heart. But, I’ll share with you what was put on mine.
Christians should absolutely celebrate Christmas and its true meaning. Though it may be tied to pagan roots, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and what this means for the world and our eternal futures is something to commemorate.
Although consumerism and materialism have injected themselves into the fabric of the holiday, it doesn’t have to be this way. When we adopt a kingdom perspective and honor God as intended on the holiday, we glorify Him and not the world.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
How to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas
Remember God
In many countries, Christmas has become a catalyst for consumerism. Here in the USA, people spend money on home decor as they get into the holiday spirit. Last year, I remember seeing “must-have” viral ornaments and Christmas trees that quickly sold out.
In addition, some people may be spending money they don’t have on gifts to say “I love you,” “I care about you,” or “I was thinking of you.” In fact, according to an article by Forbes, global sales this holiday season are expected to hit $1.19 trillion, with sales in the USA expected to reach $277 billion.
But do we really need to spend money on gifts to say these things?
No, but we’re bombarded with marketing and carefully crafted advertisements created to make us think that exchanging money for things that will soon be forgotten is the best way to do it.
This is very secular and not at all what Christmas is about. So my message to you this and every season is to remember God.
Remember his goodness that has brought you through your most difficult trials. Remember His word that acts as our moral compass helping us to distinguish right from wrong. Remember His love for you where He’d willingly sacrifice His all just for a relationship with you.
Talk to those around you about Jesus
As you remember God and all of who He is, share Him with others. I know this can be intimidating for many. Your head starts to swirl with questions that sound like:
At what point during the conversation do I bring Him up?
How do I not sound judgmental?
Will they reject my words?
I’ve learned to just ask the Holy Spirit. As the person is talking and I’m listening, I will ask God in my head to give me the words to say to this person or persons.
There is no need to beat people over the head with God’s word. This is not what Jesus did. He sat with them and listened to them. I’ve learned that when I do this, the words will naturally come as they’re being given to me by the spirit of God. I even find them ministering to my spirit.
Represent Jesus here on Earth
Not only do we share goodness and truth by word of mouth, but also in deeds. Give to causes that God has placed on your heart. You could also buy and donate toys to a kid’s toy drive.
Your time is also something that you could donate. Visiting some of your elderly neighbors or volunteering with your church are a few ideas.
As Christians, we represent Jesus wherever we go. Who knows who will meet Jesus through you.
Enjoy the blessings of God and your freedom from the slavery of sin
The Holidays can be a stressful, overstimulating, and busy time. Many are trying to manage home and gift buying and some are wrestling with the feelings of grief for those who have transitioned to be with Jesus.
Thus, it can often feel difficult to enjoy the season. But, we must remember Jesus’s sacrifice so that we can have life and life more abundantly. Our Savior was born, died on the cross, and rose again releasing us from the grips of this world.
So we can cling to God’s word…His promises trusting that He is a God that cannot lie and is faithful to said promises.
If this is you this season, here are a few scriptures (promises from God) that you can meditate on to help you heal and find comfort during the Christmas season.
For Grief during the Christmas season
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
For worry/anxiety during the Christmas season
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
For provision during the Christmas season
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Phlippians 4:19
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Matthew 6:25-27
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:10
These are a few examples. Whatever your emotional state, God’s word can offer comfort.
Continue to cultivate a heart of thankfulness
As we celebrate reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas, we must also remember to be thankful for the portion that our Father has bestowed on us.
A thankful heart is a great medicine for the soul as it has the ability to put things into a kingdom perspective. The enemy would love nothing more than to point out all of your life’s nuisances, flaws, and mishaps to take away from the beauty of all God is doing.
If you want to learn more about the importance of a thankful heart check out my article on it.
Spend time with family and friends
Having family and friends to share time and space with is a blessing from God. He created us to be in community with one another. Cherish the moments of laughter, fun, and fellowship with each other.
A biblical perspective on dealing with difficult family members during the Christmas season.
I felt led to add this little excerpt. Don’t worry, many of us have been here. Here’s some encouragement.
Though families do not always get along perfectly, try to find beauty and peace in all situations as Jesus would. I do know that some situations are very difficult and I encourage you to pray over those and place them in God’s hands. Set boundaries as led by God if you must.
However, I also encourage you to speak to the spirits in the heavenly places with the authority of Jesus. The Bible tells us that our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the dark spirits of the heavenly world. (Ephesians 6:12).
The enemy will come to steal your joy, destroy your peace, and kill your mood. It’s up to us not to let him and fight back with the Spirit of God.
Final thoughts on the true meaning of Christmas
So while I will be decorating a tree, baking cookies, and catching up on my favorite Christmas movies, I’ll do so with a heart filled with gratitude towards God. Our hearts can rest in the assurance that we have the great gift of eternal life and victory while still on this Earth. This is all because Jesus obediently left His throne in Heaven and was born on Earth with the sole purpose of saving us. What a privilege to be deeply loved and known by Him.
Merry CHRISTmas and Happy Holidays.
Until next time
-Dr. Jay
If you enjoyed this article on the meaning of Christmas, check out some of our others.
Medicine for the soul: A thankful heart
