The Holidays

For weeks after the Feast, the enthusiasm of God’s people remains high. Having just wrapped up the fall Holy Day season—filled with rich spiritual and physical food, abundant fellowship, and extra time experiencing God’s Creation—it is hard to feel any sense of gloom.

That is, until the arrival of the world’s holiday season.

What a difference one letter and a space can make! Yes, the holidays of men pale in comparison to the Holy Days of God, but try telling that to a family member or co-worker who does not know God’s truth. Those in the world are often just as excited about their observances as we are about ours and they are not shy about making it known!

Almost overnight, halls become “decked” with colorful lights, decorated trees, gift boxes, stockings and a Santa Claus—and that is just in the local grocery store! These and similar Christmas trappings soon fan out to neighborhoods, schools and businesses—both public and private. There is no escaping it.

Add to this the fact that every year the transformation seems to begin earlier and earlier. What used to start a few weeks out from December 25 has eventually crept back to Thanksgiving weekend. Some diehards even transition directly from Halloween decorations to those for Christmas.

Those who keep the holidays have a strong desire to share their “holiday spirit.” This starts with the Christmas season and is capped off by New Year’s celebrations.

For true Christians, these months can feel as though they drag on and on. God mercifully rescued many of us from this mindset as we came into the truth and learned to think differently. Yet since we remain in the minority—and vacating the planet for a couple of months is not an option!—our beliefs often cause us to stick out like sore thumbs.

Complicating our predicament is the fact Christmas and certain other holidays do have some elements that, on their face, do not seem that bad. Spending extra time with family, giving to others, sharing a meal with friends, and demonstrating a sense of togetherness are all on a list of admirable deeds. How do you easily explain that you avoid these things at certain times?

This is an even more confusing conversation when it involves Christmas, which seems to be related to Christ and the Bible.

We know, of course, that these otherwise harmless acts of kindness are wrapped in the pagan practices and traditions of men. Participation in observances such as Christmas, New Year’s, and birthdays is a clear violation and rejection of God’s commands (Mark 7:7, 9). With some good and lots of bad, these seemingly innocent holidays represent the “tree of knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:17) in the truest sense.

Whether you have known the truth for a few months or for decades, God wants us to be prepared when confronted with all the trappings of worldly holidays. If we are on guard and well-versed on how to respond, we can successfully navigate the holiday season.

Proper Mindset

When Jesus Christ walked the streets and villages in and around Jerusalem, He was very much a stranger in the land. Though He created the heavens and Earth, He was considered a foreigner throughout His ministry. Just before His death and eventual reunion with God the Father, Christ explained the motive for His actions. This established a pattern for His followers to copy today.

Notice: “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You [Holy Father]…I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth” (John 17:11, 14-17).

Jesus plainly tells us that we are to remain in the world. When we learn the truth, we cannot venture off into a monastery or cave in the wilderness to separate ourselves from society. As with Christ, we must remain visible in a foreign land yet not become part of it.

What sanctifies or separates us from those around us is not our location. It is our beliefs—the truth of God—that does. As “ambassadors for Christ” (II Cor. 5:20), we must maintain our allegiance to our “heavenly” country while operating in our current place of residence.

This is a valuable principle to remember when it comes to discussing worldly holidays. Keeping these days is often a sensitive subject for families, friends, co-workers and those we encounter daily. For them, holidays bring fond memories of their childhood and could be one of the few times all year that they feel a sense of joy and happiness. Though observing these days are against what God commands, this fact means little to nothing to someone who does not know any better.

While we should not invite unnecessary conflict regarding observing holidays, we also should not do a shameful shuffle or tiptoe around what God expects.

Since so many around us keep holidays, they can be one of the few times our beliefs will naturally come up in conversation. Our differences from others, even worldly Christians, are more visible on these occasions. How we handle them can go a long way to either “winning” them (Prov. 11:30) or needlessly offending them.

As with Christ and Paul, we must be willing to become “all things to all men”—without compromising our values and beliefs—“that we might by all means save some” (I Cor. 9:22).

Be Prepared

People generally accept certain beliefs without question. They almost never reflect deeply on why they believe what they believe or why they do what they do. Instead, they simply follow the masses.

Your response to a question about the holidays could be enough to make them pause and consider. While this is unlikely for most you encounter, you still must handle it properly because you never know with whom God could be working. He could be using your response to lay a foundation upon which He can later call the individual.

Former president of the United States John Adams famously wrote, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence…”

As much as people may want to ignore and downplay the origin of their customs, the facts cannot be denied. Most aspects of holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s are rooted in Babylonian, Roman or Germanic (Teutonic) customs and religions.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica, a trusted secular source for information, states this about Christmas: “In the Roman world the Saturnalia (December 17) was a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness. On the Roman New Year (January 1), houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. To these observances were added the German and Celtic Yule rites when the [pagan] Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul, Britain, and central Europe. Food and good fellowship, the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery and fir trees, gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season. Fires and lights, symbols of warmth and lasting life, have always been associated with the winter festival, both pagan and Christian.”

A quick search of the internet reveals much of the same information. The fact that most of these rituals did not originate with the Bible is no secret.

The best source of information on why we do not keep the vast majority of men’s holidays, however, is the Church’s literature. It not only offers many historical facts, but also includes God’s mind on the subject. The Church has booklets or articles on holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Halloween and birthdays.

These tools were not meant exclusively for those first coming into the Church. They were meant to be periodically reviewed and should serve as a reminder of why you should avoid holidays with pagan origins. They are also a way to arm yourself with necessary information to answer questions.

Beyond doing your part, ask God to fill you with the subject. Pray like King Solomon who said, “I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness…” (Ecc. 7:25).

The more knowledgeable you are about why you do not celebrate the holidays, the more confident you will be when asked a question, and the harder it will be for someone to catch you off guard.

A Word Fitly Spoken

Knowledge is power, but with this power comes responsibility. Having information on the origin of the holidays and why you do not observe them is not license to condemn or look down on someone who does.

Nor is it an invitation to try and convert them. Often when we first learn the truth about the holidays, we may sincerely but improperly demonstrate “a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (Rom. 10:2) and preach about our beliefs to those around us.

Unless you are directly asked or must bring it up as a matter of necessity, it is best to avoid the subject of holidays with friends, family and co-workers. In I Peter 3:15, it states, “…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

This shows that the other person should be the one to start a discussion on such matters—not us.

When someone does bring up the subject, though, we have an obligation to handle it with “meekness and fear.” In other words, we must approach it gently while showing the utmost respect to the person who asked.

Someone questioning us about our beliefs is not an invitation to preach a sermon. It is not the time to tell them everything we know. Doing so would be as if someone asked you for a drink of water and instead of handing them a glass of H2O, you pulled out a fire hose!

Sir Winston Churchill once stated, “Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all” (Man of the Century: Churchill). This bold and effective communicator knew that there was no need to complicate matters.

A brief response is often all you need in most situations. Proverbs 25:11 states, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Saying the right thing at the right time can make for a pleasant experience for you and the other person.

If directly asked about celebrating Christmas, you can pleasantly respond with some version of the following: “I actually do not keep Christmas.”

If they ask why, you might respond, “I don’t do so for religious reasons.” If they ask what religion you are, then you can say, “I am a Christian.” If they respond, “I thought Christians celebrated Christmas” or “I am a Christian too and I celebrate Christmas. Why don’t you?” you can say: “I realized that nowhere in the Bible does it say that a Christian should keep Christmas. There were no examples of Christians doing so in the New Testament.”

Notice that throughout the entire exchange you should never say more than what is necessary. This gives you enough time to establish a person’s motives. Just as important, you may find they do not inquire beyond your first or second response. In most instances, they will say “okay” or just change the subject because they do not really want to know.

If a person is persistent (he or she may counter that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and New Year’s is not religious), you can respond: “I know that many traditionally celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25, but the Bible does not say we should celebrate Jesus’ birth or New Year’s Eve. There are also indications that Jesus was actually born in the fall.”

You could add, “God states in the Bible not to participate in traditions that come from the worship of other gods. New Year’s has origins in these practices, so I do not keep it.”

If needed, you may add that God outlines His calendar in the Bible, beginning in the spring with His Holy Days, including when and how He wants them to be celebrated (Lev. 23). There is nothing in it about New Year’s Eve.

This is an example of your knowledge on the subject being valuable. Once a person can sense that you know what you are talking about, he will likely not persist.

Those who are genuinely interested may continue to ask questions. If someone sincerely wants to know more, you can say, “If you look up the term Saturnalia in an encyclopedia, you will learn Christmas is rooted in traditions that existed long before Jesus was born.”

You can also state: “While the word Christmas is not in the Bible, some of its traditions, such as the Christmas tree, are referenced in Jeremiah 10. God actually commands not to follow this custom.” (For a more detailed explanation of the Christmas tree referenced in Jeremiah 10, read our Q&A on the subject from rcg.org included with this article. The Church has scores of Q&As that bring simple yet helpful information to the many thousands who visit our websites. Do not forget to use this helpful tool!)

If a person’s curiosity persists, you can refer him to the Church’s literature online such as The True Origin of Christmas or The World to Come broadcast on the subject. Keep this overall approach in mind for other holidays as well.

Again, most will not take it this far. But if they do, by handling it properly, you can fulfill the rest of I Peter 3. It states in verse 16: “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation [or conduct] in Christ.”

If your response is pleasant, brief and to the point, you can in good conscience know you spoke the truth and be confident that those who still disagree with God’s Way will one day understand the truth.

Never Argue

Most important during this time of year is to be sure at all costs to avoid an argument or a debate on the subject. It is not our place to convince others to live God’s way of life. God is the one who calls people (John 6:44, 65), not us. Unless His Spirit is working with someone, our words will not get far.

Always remember: “A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Prov. 15:1). How we respond to questions can greatly affect how the other person responds.

For example, if someone playfully asks, “What did Santa get for you this year?” your answer should not be: “Santa Claus is MOLECH! Before Christmas was ‘Christianized,’ innocent babies were burned to him during ancient rites. That is why I hate Santa and everything about Christmas—and you should too!”

Explaining things in a haughty, self-righteous manner is offensive and may actually cause a person to defend his point of view. A callous or harsh response from us can become a “line in the sand” that invites a religious debate. It is also the quickest way to our own failure (Prov. 16:18).

Remember, for those who keep it, Christmas is a time of family togetherness, beautiful decorations, feasting on special foods, and singing carols throughout the neighborhood. From their perspective, you may seem like a religious oddball.

If someone turns hostile because of your beliefs, politely end the conversation. You will not get anywhere by trying to reason with him—his mind is probably already made up.

Saying something along the lines of, “I understand that you have your own point of view and I am not trying to convince you otherwise” or “I guess we will have to agree to disagree” may be all that is necessary to defuse the situation. Learn to apply Proverbs 26:4: “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like unto him.”

Yet avoid the other ditch of hastily dismissing them. Be patient and consider that we were in the category of not knowing the truth before God called us and may have reacted the same way. (Read Ephesians 5:8-10.) Remain prayerful and ask for God’s wisdom and guidance to respond correctly.

Balanced Approach

In the modern age, it is challenging to swim against the holiday current. Yet it presents a valuable opportunity to represent Jesus Christ and let your light shine.

A key, as is often the case with Christianity, is balance. God’s instruction in Jeremiah 10:2 is plain: “Learn not the way of the heathen.”

When it comes to the handful of worldly holiday observances, we should not do anything that would cause us to needlessly stand out during the other 360 or so days of the year. Stick to your beliefs but do so with grace and words “seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6), knowing that holiday observances represent only a very brief part of the year.

Remember, since we cannot escape society during the holiday season, the goal is to stay under the radar as much as possible without compromising our beliefs.

For instance, when in a retail store during the holidays and a cashier says “merry Christmas” or “happy Easter,” you can respond with a courteous “have a nice day” or “thank you.”

Avoid wishing them the same—such as replying with a “you too”—or ignoring them altogether. This can be even more awkward. Instead, keep your response pleasant and neutral. In most cases, he or she will not even notice that you did not say it back.

Also, when in a store during the holiday season, songs played may get stuck in your head. As annoying as this can be, it is not a sin! Realize that these songs were designed to be catchy and there is no need to beat yourself up over it. Creatively employ strategies such as singing another melody in your mind.

Over the years, some in the Church have wondered if it is okay to accept an invitation to a family dinner during the holiday season. This depends heavily on the purpose of the meal. If it is all about the holiday, then it is not ideal to attend. But if it is more about the family spending time with one another, then it may be acceptable. For some families, the holidays are the only time everyone gets together.

Realize that a dinner with family during the holidays is not automatically forbidden. As long as your family is aware of your beliefs and is willing to hold off on participating in the traditional holiday activities in your presence, then you may find your attendance is not an issue.

For instance, during a dinner held around Christmas time, you may enjoy the actual meal at your family members’ home but you will want to depart prior to gifts being handed out and opened. (For more specific instances, feel free to counsel with your minister.)

You Can Survive

Being ready to answer will prepare you for just about any situation. That said, know you will not always respond perfectly. If you do not get it exactly right the first time, there is no need to fret. Simply learn from it and strive to improve. When people understand you are sincerely trying to live God’s Word with integrity, they will generally respect you for it, even if they do not always express it or fully comprehend your reasons.

Though persecution is sometimes unavoidable, we must be careful not to provoke it through anything we do or say. We have a tremendous responsibility as God’s representatives on Earth. For many, our lives may be the only Bible they ever “read.” Remember, “If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18).

Be sure not to lose sight of how privileged you are to know this precious truth now, and that someday—very soon—everyone, including all your friends and family, will understand it as well. When that time comes, they will completely understand why you lived your life the way you did—including why you did not join them in their holiday celebrations.

In the meantime, remain firm in your beliefs and mindful in your approach. By doing so, you will be able to successfully navigate the holidays!