Why I Don’t Celebrate Christmas?

May I state my biblical convictions at the outset: 

I believe in the virgin birth of my Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 1:26-38). 

I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, though He was in the form of God, took the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:6-7). 

I believe that He came to save sinners from their sins (Matthew 1:21). 

I believe that He died for our sins and physically rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). 

I believe that there is salvation only in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). 

Because of these truths, I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for the physical birth, physical death, and physical resurrection of my Lord Jesus Christ. 

Having stated my beliefs, I must also confess that I don’t celebrate Christmas. I don’t greet anyone with “Happy Christmas.” As a family, we don’t buy new clothes, cut cakes, prepare special meals, or exchange gifts. I don’t even attend Christmas services on December 25 (pardon my unspirituality😊). 

Why is this so? 

Allow me to share two reasons why I don’t celebrate Christmas and what I actually celebrate instead.

 
Reason One: 

Either in the Gospels or in the Letters to the churches, there is no mention of the month, day, or time of Jesus’ birth. The Holy Scripture simply reveals the historical reality of the Lord Jesus Christ’s birth, without specifying its exact date.

According to sources like GotQuestions.org and Wikipedia, it was in the 3rd century that Hippolytus of Rome speculated that Jesus was born on December 25. What the apostles and the early church fathers of the first and second centuries did not mention, this third-century figure speculated about. Should we, then, believe him? 

Charles Spurgeon, the renowned Baptist preacher often referred to as the Prince of Preachers, remarked: "We find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority...We venture to assert, that if there be any day in the year, of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Saviour was born, it is the twenty-fifth of December."

Therefore, when there is no biblical record of the exact date of the birth of Christ Jesus, why should I celebrate December 25 as the day of my Lord’s birth? If Scripture, the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice, does not specify this date, it raises a significant question about the necessity of observing December 25 as Christ’s birth.

Reason Two: 

I observe that God specifically commanded the Israelites to observe certain festivals: Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Firstfruits, the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. These divinely instituted festivals served as reminders of God’s faithful work in the lives of His people.

Here is my point: If celebrations like Christmas, Good Friday, or Easter were essential for the church, God would have explicitly commanded them in the New Testament, just as He commanded Israel to observe certain festivals in the Old Testament.

The book of Acts, which provides a detailed record of early church life, makes no mention of believers celebrating Christmas on December 25—or any specific day as Christ’s birth. Additionally, there is no evidence of the early church fathers in the first and second centuries observing such a celebration. 

This absence raises an important question about the biblical basis for these traditions. Should we elevate them to a place of spiritual necessity when Scripture itself does not?

Some claim that they refrain from celebrating Christmas because it replaced a pagan festival. While this argument may have historical merit, I do not find it a strong enough reason to avoid celebrating Christmas. After all, there is nothing inherently wrong with something good replacing something evil. Transformation and redemption are consistent with God’s work in history.

However, my convictions for not celebrating Christmas are grounded in the two reasons I mentioned above: the absence of biblical evidence for December 25 as Christ’s birth date and the lack of a New Testament command or an example for such a celebration. These reasons, rooted in Scripture and early church practice, shape my perspective and guide my decision.

WHAT DO I CELEBRATE?

The only celebration explicitly instituted by the Lord Jesus in the New Testament and observed by the early church is the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26; Acts 2:42, 46).

The Lord’s Supper serves as a profound reminder and celebration of the central aspects of Christ’s work: His incarnation (Christmas), His sacrificial death (Good Friday), and His glorious resurrection (Easter). This practice was commanded by the Lord, modeled by the early church, and faithfully observed by churches throughout history.

For this reason, the only "festival" I celebrate is the Lord’s Supper, which I joyfully observe weekly with His community of believers.

Some may say, “I agree with your points, Stephen, but what’s wrong with celebrating Christmas on December 25?”

To that, I respond: I do not say it is wrong or sinful to celebrate Christmas. I simply consider it unnecessary. If anyone chooses to celebrate Christmas, I leave it to their personal conviction and do not think it right to condemn them. 

My only plea is this: do not give Christmas more priority or excitement than the Lord’s Supper.

I do not see celebrating Christmas on December 25 as a matter worth fighting against, even though the Puritans in the 16th and 17th centuries strongly opposed it. I believe it is a minor issue. For my part, I choose to prioritize the Lord’s Supper, following the example of the early church.

However, I must admit that I feel sadness over how Christmas is generally celebrated. To many, Christmas has become a carnal celebration, focused on carols, buying new clothes, cutting cakes, cooking special dishes, exchanging gifts, and indulging in worldly pleasures. 

What is missing in this kind of celebration is “Christ.” There is often no true devotion toward Him, but rather a celebration merely in His name. This disconnect reflects a focus on outward festivities rather than heartfelt worship and reverence for Christ.

That said, I recognize and commend the few devoted Christians who celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way. Among them, some seize the opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with unbelievers during this season. May God bless them!

May I also mention that the churches I have helped plant do celebrate Christmas. Even in my own church, if someone desires to celebrate Christmas, I have no objection and grant them complete freedom. This is my personal conviction, and I do not impose it on others.

Before I close, let me echo Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 8:8 concerning food: “Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.” 

Similarly, Christmas will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we celebrate it or do not celebrate it, nor are we any better off if we choose to do so or not. Let each one act according to their conscience, with a heart devoted to Christ.

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Recommended article: "A PURITAN CHRISTMAS" (https://www.biblicalfoundations.org/a-puritan-christmas/) by Dr. Andreas Köstenberger, Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology and Director of the Center for Biblical Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

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