...He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord...

The Church in ancient Rome seems to have had some of the same issues and controversies as we do today. The following passage refers to the observance of holidays (Rom 14:6) and participation in feasting and other activities, hence the mention of eating and drinking. Most authorities agree that the holidays in question had their origin in pagan celebrations or in the holidays of ancient Israel. The mention of eating meat comes because, in many ancient cultures, meat was only eaten in feasts associated with ritual sacrifice of animals. (If you don't have a refrigerator, it is a good idea to invite all your friends over before you kill the fatted calf !)

Then, as now, some Christians celebrated when the other people around them were celebrating. Some did so by simply falling back into old pagan habits. Some re-created the holiday by claiming it for Christ and celebrating him to praise God and share their faith with others.

In this passage written to the Roman Church, Paul explains several concepts. Some of the ones germane to our current debate on the celebration of holidays such as Christmas and Easter are summarized here:

1. It is acceptable to celebrate holidays or to choose not to. It is a matter of individual conscience.

2. It is wrong for a Christian to celebrate a holiday if it is not celebrated in a way that glorifies God or in a way that draws a weak Christian back into ungodliness.

3. A Christian is prohibited from forcing others to follow his own choice or to condemn (judge) a fellow Christian who does not agree with him.

Rom. 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.
2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.
3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 ¶ One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.
7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10 ¶ But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
11 For it is written, "\ As \I\ live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God. \"
12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 ¶ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.
14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.
21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.
2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.
3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "\ The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me. \"
4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 ¶ Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Many in the Church have denied the validity of Christmas, (and Easter and other holidays) because they are not expressly authorized by the Scriptures. Any kind of celebration at or sanctioned by the local churches has been widely discouraged for generations.

History is clear that both Christmas and Easter trace roots back to pagan celebrations. The Church intentionally took over the celebrations and assigned spiritual significance to them. They did so to prevent Christians being drawn into pagan worship.

While good Christians have officially left the celebration of the holiday to the World, the World and its Ruler have been having a field day.

He has been having a field day because Christians celebrate the holiday in worldly rather than spiritual ways. They take time off from work, take trips, organize gatherings, hold feasts, tell stories about myths, exchange gifts, and generally participate in what has become the most pagan and un-holy celebration anyone could imagine. Our churches are filled with people who have learned conditional love, guilt , belief in supernatural beings, and expectation of material blessings as a reward for righteousness from the Santa myth. Dana Carvey's character "The Church Lady" aptly pointed out that SANTA is SATAN with one letter moved.

The whole point of what Paul told the Romans was that we should look for a way to glorify God and share the blessings of Christ in everything we do. If our actions don't pass that test, we should change them. Any celebration a Christian participates in MUST BE a "Christian Celebration"

Rom. 14:6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God, and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

So don't be surprised if you find some of us celebrating our Lord whenever and however the opportunity presents itself. Holidays like Christmas and Easter are our best chance to stay in contact with some lost souls. We may cement the accounts of events found in Scripture in our children's minds by letting them act the events out. And, we may welcome their relatives who come to watch. We might even find a way to for the most devoted Christians to solemnize and celebrate the blessings given us.

This does not mean that our congregation has or is moving to replace the worship service with entertainment oriented activities. How we take advantage of holidays will vary. But you will find us glorifying God whatever we do.

You don't have to come and join in with us. We have no right to condemn you if you choose not to. The question is - How will you glorify God by what you do choose to do?

Written by:
Ron Burk