Why Itโs Good to Celebrate Christ on Christmas
Ignore the Scrooges
Itโs mind-boggling that there are Christians out there who think we should abandon Christmas to the culture.
I recently posted the below note on Substack and the responses, while mostly positive, included a few unsavory ones:
One guy re-stacked it with a quote. He called me a clown for suggesting that even if Christmas was not originally a Christian holiday, it is now because it was taken captive for Christ and belonged to the church for well over a millennium.
He argued that if we are going to take things captive for Christ, then we need to take things like gayness and abortion and other sins like those for Christ (if youโre confused about that one, youโre not the only one).
That sparked a long conversation between us. He went much further, saying setting aside any specific day for Christ is a sin akin to the Israelites worshiping the golden calf at Sinai, misrepresenting Yahweh.
One key comment from him, though, betrayed everything wrong with his position. He said (paraphrase), โWho cares what the world does? Theyโre condemned. We shouldnโt do anything they approve of.โ
It seems this person has the misconception that associating with the flesh in any way is like practicing witchcraft or the occult or engaging in sinful acts. The only festivals he would accept were the ones prescribed in the Law of Moses, rituals Paul and the twelve disciples of Christ themselves eventually stopped practicing.
Now that Christmas 2025 has passed and weโve done multiple deep dives into the significance of the nativity stories from the gospels, I think it necessary to explain why it is good to celebrate Christ at Christmas, no matter what anyone says. Here are 3 reasons why you should never surrender to the naysayers.
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Dominion
A majority of those who disagree with Christmas are like the guy above, hyper-dualists. What this means is they see a complete separation between the human soul/spirit and the body. The body, pure flesh, is completely sinful and corrupt, total scum, that must be abandoned or destroyed.
Along these lines, anything material is essentially trash to be discarded because the spirit is all that matters. We are to focus only on the supernatural and not care about this universe.
Such claims are heavily gnostic. The ancient church battled Gnosticism for years because it took valid biblical teachings and twisted them to the extreme. Gnostics stated that Christ never died on the cross, since he is pure spirit, God, and the way to salvation is only if Christ reveals secret knowledge (gnosis) to you.
What was Christian became like Eastern mysticism in Gnosticism. Only a select few chosen ones will attain everlasting life, those who hate and shed everything flesh and learn the secret gnosis of Christ. Attain enlightenment, in other words. A gnosis not even revealed to Christโs closest circle of disciples.
Thatโs an affront to God.
While dualism was present in Christian churches, the consensus among the churches founded by the apostles was that humans are 100% human and 100% spirit, like Christ was 100% God and 100% man. The few dissenters, mostly gnostics, were later out-voted in councils in the 4th and 5th centuries.
We are a holistic composite of flesh and spirit. Two distinct forms made one. Mirroring the unity of the eternal Godhead.
And per the Bible, humanity is made in the image of God and was tasked to rule over/care for the creation. There is nothing elsewhere in the Bible that ever changes that mandate. Nothing.
And we, as Christians, adherents to the Word of God, have inherited said mandate to the fullest. Embedded in our mission to spread the gospel of Christ. His kingdom is both now and not yet. All dominion belongs to him.
Every Thought Captive
Paul himself commanded us to take every thought captive for Christ. That means spreading the good news wisely. Confront every bad and perverted idea, tear it down, and replace it with the best from and of Christ Jesus.
Fill the world with all things good and holy.
What the man earlier misunderstands is Christianity was never made for the sidelines. His presumption is we should avoid every evil at all costs, and in terms of personal salvation, thatโs true.
But in terms of communal operation, Jesus demanded we be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Face evil and make disciples of all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
What better way is there to accomplish that mission than to immerse society in the story of Christ?
Christianity must never be of the world but it must be in the world, and seen by the world. Otherwise, souls are guaranteed to be lost to hell forever.
Designated days and rhythms centered around Christ are how the church of the past achieved success in that regard. And their method still works.
When holy days get perverted, the answer isnโt to eliminate them entirely. Itโs to double down on the original message about Christ and never budge. To make no peace with evil.
Thus far, weโve done the opposite. We let the world take captive everything thought from Christ.
Christ isnโt the problem with Christmas. Failure to worship him and forsake all other gods is.
The Birth of Christ is Central
To both Christianity and history. Dating the past is literally divided based on the incarnation of God into this world.
Year zero is based on that event. 2,025 years ago.
Without that pivotal moment, there would be no cross, no resurrection, and no salvation. Arguably, nothing good, especially in the West, would exist.
Modern science, widespread writing, scholarship, equal rights, concern for the environmentโฆall wouldnโt be here without 500 people witnessing Christ risen from the grave, in the flesh. An event inspiring them to go to their deaths because it was so true and worth clinging to.
Idolatry is a problem. Sin is a problem. But to suggest celebrating Christ on Christmas, the day claimed to remember the birth of Christ, is sinful is not only wrong; itโs abhorrently so. And anyone who thinks that is instantly suspect.
BONUS: Even St. Nicholas is Christian
Santa Clause comes from St. Nicholas. And while the perversion of him in the modern age is evil, he was an honorable believer in Christ in the 4th century.
He gave up everything he owned. Gave it away as gifts to those in need. Went so far as to throw the gifts into windows to remain anonymous, because he wanted all credit for the generosity to go to Christ Jesus alone.
Nicholas became a monk, and later, against his will, a bishop, while Emperor Diocletian reigned and enacted a massive persecution against the church. He survived and continued as bishop when Constantine became emperor and made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
The most notorious moment of St. Nicholasโs vocation is when he slapped Arius at the Council of Nicaea for denying the divinity of Christ.
He was no magic fairy-like man from the North Pole who is omnipresent and all-knowing like God and rides a sleigh with reindeer all over the world in a single night. That crap is pagan corruption of his story.
The real St. Nicholas was a staunch, courageous, and devout follower of Christ. Who always gave God the glory. And he wasnโt originally central to Christmas. In fact, he wouldโve resented his elevation above the birth of his eternal Savior.
When you worship Christ on Christmas, you decrease yourself and make Christ increase, and you honor the true legacy of St. Nicholas. Of all the believers who would rather die than recant their faith in the living God.
Go And Do Likewise
So, hold dear the real Christmas in your hearts. That is, hold dear the Savior.
It is all about him. No amount of worshiping him on the day set aside to recall his birth is idolatrous, as long as Christ is front and center.
Where two or three are gathered in his name, there is he among them. You glorify him before all humanity when you publicly remember his entrance into our plight to overcome the sin and death that plague us.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. I hope you did too. And I hope you always do.