Bible verses

One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each
man be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it fo
r the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; a
nd he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God
Romans 14:5-6
This passage is speaking about Israel's feasts. If we take some liberty in our i
nterpretation and extend it to include Christmas, it becomes clear that each bel
iever may choose whether or not to celebrate Christmas. Those of us who choose n
ot to should not feel guilty; we should only be careful not to stand in judgment
of those Jewish and Gentile believers who do choose to honor the Lord on Decemb
er 25th. Paul affirms this principle again in writing to the believers in Coloss
ae:
Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect
to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day- things which are a mere shadow of
what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ
Colossians 2:16-17
In light of these passages, it is perfectly legitimate for a Jewish believer to
celebrate Christmas if he or she wants to; celebrating can be especially meaning
ful when Y'shua is the focus of worship and the Jewishness of his birth is empha
sized. But some of the mishpochah will never feel comfortable celebrating Christ
mas; the stigma of the holiday is simply too much to bear. They will choose to l
et December 25th pass quietly, and they have every right to do so. If you are su
ch a person, be sure to explain to your pastor how and why you feel the way you
do; you're likely to find a sympathetic ear. At the same time, try to understand
why your fellow congregants appreciate the holiday, and be happy for them.
Another way to cure the crisis of Christmas is by celebrating Hanukkah as well.
The Feast of Lights is a wonderful testimony of God's faithfulness to his people
. Why not invite some Gentile Christian friends over to sample your homemade lat
kes and watch you light Hanukkah candles? This will enrich their own holiday cel
ebrations. After all, Y'shua is the Light of the world!
You're not alone if you have experienced a bit of an identity crisis each Decemb
er. But this year can be different the Hanukkah/ Christmas season can become a spe
cial time of worship for you and your family. Just be honest with God, with your
fellow Jewish and Gentile believers, and most of all be honest with yourself as
to how you feel most comfortable in celebrating the December holidays even if it
means doing nothing at all! New life in Y'shua is more than holiday celebrations
. "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peac
e and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).