With Christmas quickly approaching, we may feel some kind of pressure or guilt in how we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There are those who strive to change the meaning of Christmas into something worldly, having tried to remove Jesus from His birthday celebration, while others strive to have us remove our ways and convictions of honoring Him, for His birthday.
Now, in such a tedious and tense time, we know that our Lord was most likely born on a different day than which we celebrate (and such is noted for that reason), yet we may still celebrate His birthday on such a day, and do so in a way that is honoring of Him, by our freedom in Him.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. (Colossians 2:16 – 17 New King James Version)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 English Standard Version)
Freedom in Christ
With freedom in Christ, we may develop our convictions in Him, thank Him for different blessings, honor Him, and so on.
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do (1 Corinthians 8:4 – 8 English Standard Version)
For this reason, we know of those who ate foods that were once sacrificed to idols, glorified God, as they still gave evidence that God did not stop purifying and making things good for His glory, and for His children.
Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. (Romans 14:20 English Standard Version)
Likewise, the others who did not eat such food, equally glorified God, having showed that He will still provide for those who practiced their of abstaining, for Him. By both actions, we now have Scripture that is profitable for righteousness, and our righteousness directs toward God, as it comes from Him.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16 English Standard Version)
Understanding the sentiment of what we partake in, from which is not sinful, does not defile us, but rather what comes from our heart may do so.
There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” (Mark 7:15 English Standard Version)
Enlightening or Causing Grief?
Knowing the roots or possible danger of anything may be helpful, but the roots are merely so. Sometimes we can separate the origin of a subject and use it for good, and other times we may feel too convicted to do so. Nevertheless, if we choose to use anything for good, or abstain from something for the same reason, then both actions glorify God.
The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. (Romans 14:6 English Standard Version)
For this freedom is for our sake as well, being fallen and in need of so, for the development of our convictions and honor for God, as none can uphold the perfect honoring of Him, the law, having offended the entirety of it.
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. (James 2:10 English Standard Version)
Thankfully, we instead have the law fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who is the Word, and through Him, we too can walk in fulfillment of the law, in one word.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14 New King James Version)
So, as we love and use the freedom from Christ, for ourselves, may we not be too eager to share the roots of various subjects to other saints, lest we cause stumbling for them.
11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. (1 Corinthians 8:11 – 12 New King James Version)
For the one who celebrates Christmas traditionally in this age, and the other who does not, is neither weak or strong, as the stronger one is her who may handle the given information from the fellow saint, and behave accordingly in the Lord, without stumbling. Now, if we do not know if our opinion or information will cause stumbling, then it may be best to refrain, as there are more pressing subjects to give light.
22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:22 - 23 English Standard Version)
Thereby, might we keep to sharing and walking in God’s word instead, as it may be wiser to refrain from many opinions, and rather let another continue in the honoring from her faith, of which is not sinful.
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. (Proverbs 10:19 English Standard Version)
May a sister also develop her own Godly convictions, so that she might grow stronger in faith, instead of growing to be like an image of us, who are fallen. In like manner, we too desire to grow stronger in faith, so may we encourage and help another seek such of Him.
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. (1 Corinthians 14:20 English Standard Version)
Why, the sharing of and walking in the word of God, in great manner, instead of opinions, gives way for the convicting and changing of the heart which comes from Him. Additionally, we can walk in blamelessness. We are able use His word to encourage each other to be wise and not gullible, so that we are not deceived by the traditions that we use for God, in order to disregard or implement them against our Godly conscience, for man.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:8 – 10 New King James Version)
For if we are engaging and praising the Lord for food, decorations, and traditions that we have, not knowing that such was once perverted for evil, or knowing yet remaining unaffected, having an understanding of liberty, then why would we want to turn away? Well then, it is God who is now affected, as we would have decided to partake or abstain in a subject, not because of a conviction or choice in Him, but because of grief caused by man. Now, who then would have the glory?
For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. (Romans 14:15 English Standard Version)
Therefore, if a woman wants to honor God by decorating her home, which He had given her, with wreaths and the like, then peace be with her. Similarly, if another wants to honor God in a different manner, understanding that a connection may be found troubling for her, and she is convicted by the Lord (not grieved by man), then peace be with her as well. Still, may we walk in mindfulness when around one another.
5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we 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. (Romans 14:5 – 9 English Standard Version)
Likewise, may the one’s engaging in a traditional Christmas not a cause stumbling for those who are convicted by Christmas trees or the like, for if they are truly reminded of something evil, and are convicted by such, then it is good for them to abstain and show God that they will withhold from popular traditions, for His glory.
“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? (1 Corinthians 10:29 New King James Version)
For we too abstain from popular things, all for His glory, when we find ourselves convicted, as we have the same liberty from our Father.
I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean (Romans 14:14 English Standard Version)
Having shown such liberty and innumerable ways to honor God, we may draw others to Him, which is a greater goal.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 English Standard Version)
Conclusion
Now then, God will bless us accordingly as He knows our convictions. We know what we see when we use things to honor God, and we know what we can separate from evil to use for Him.
16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Romans 14:16 - 19 English Standard Version)
There is freedom in Him, and our variations glorify Him, as He can work and prevail through all.
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. (Titus 1:15 English Standard Version)
Therefore, may we continue on from an elementary debate of origins, as we may use many things to glorify Him, and as we may separate the previous, perverted use of so.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 English Standard Version)
Likewise, may praise be to Christ, as He is not confined by our convictions, and as He may be honored in an innumerable amount of ways.
Happy Christmas!
With love,
Claire
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