I have heard many arguments claiming that Christmas is not a Christian practice. While some of these arguments focus on historical origins, I have come to a simple and liberating realisation: every day belongs to God. Regardless of how certain days or practices may have originated, it is our responsibility as Christians to redeem time, to seize every opportunity to glorify God and remind the world of Him.
I am encouraged that today, when people think of Christmas, they can hardly separate it from Jesus Christ. That alone is significant. Even in secular spaces, His name, His birth, and His story remain central to the season. I believe this principle can and should extend to other days and symbols as well. We are in the world, but we are not of the world. Rather than retreating from cultural symbols, Christians should reclaim them and redirect their meaning toward God.
For example, I would rather the rainbow immediately signify divine protection and covenant faithfulness, a reminder of God’s promise to Noah and a call to enter the ark before the coming judgment by fire, than have it default to other modern interpretations. Likewise, I would love to see Christians reclaim the Halloween season, not by celebrating darkness or fear, but by boldly celebrating victory over death. Scripture teaches that our mortal bodies will be transformed into glorious bodies at the resurrection and that we will live forever with God. Instead of filling homes with symbols of fear and death, why not dress in light, brightness, and joy, boldly declaring our hope in resurrection and eternal life? Wouldn’t that be a powerful witness?
I believe we have both the freedom and the responsibility to shape how we engage with the world. We can choose how we observe days, seasons, and events. Therefore, instead of telling people not to celebrate Christmas, I would rather encourage them to centre the celebration on Christ. While we may not know the exact date of Jesus’ birth, the practice of dedicating a day to remember His miraculous conception and incarnation has proven to be profoundly effective in spreading the knowledge of Christ as the Saviour of the world.
From my perspective, this is a great victory for the Gospel. Any tradition that consistently points people back to Jesus Christ should not be dismissed lightly but stewarded wisely and intentionally.
Praise God.
