For a few years, I have been addressing the issue of Christmas celebrations. Many people believe that Christians should not celebrate Christmas because of its connection with pagan rituals and festivals. One such festival is the worship of the pagan god Saturnalia.
Saturnalia, the most popular holiday on the ancient Roman calendar, derived from older farming-related rituals of midwinter and the winter solstice, especially the practice of offering gifts or sacrifices to the gods during the winter sowing season.
The pagan celebration of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and time, began as a single day, but by the late Republic (133-31 B.C.) it had expanded to a weeklong festival beginning December 17. (On the Julian calendar, which the Romans used at the time, the winter solstice fell on December 25.)
Many truth-seeking Christians believe that Christmas is secretly the worship of Saturnalia. Thus, many do not celebrate Christmas for this reason.
Today, I discussed this in the context of eating meat sacrificed to idols. In Pauls’s summary about eating meat sacrificed to idols, Paul stated that God owns everything and we have freedom in Christ to eat such meat because idols are not real. I summarized that since the gods of Saturnalia are not real and the true meaning of Christmas is about our worship of Jesus, we could celebrate Christmas without fear of sinning.
I also emphasized the importance of love and humility in one’s relationship with God and with others pointing out that knowledge, or the pursuit of it, can sometimes lead to pride and a lack of humility, and that it is important to focus on loving others rather than trying to correct or condemn them. Also, I mentioned that some people may not have as much knowledge about the Bible or Christianity, but this does not mean they cannot show love and compassion toward others. The importance of love is emphasized as being more important than knowledge or understanding.
Pride can be a problem in the truth community, as it can lead to arrogance, self-importance, and a lack of humility. When a person is overly proud, they may think they are better than others and may not be open to learning from others or admitting their mistakes. Pride can also lead to a person being resistant to change and to criticism, which can have negative effects on their personal and professional relationships. In contrast, humility allows a person to be open to learning and growth, and can help them to have more positive relationships with others humility is important for spiritual growth and for living a fulfilled life.
Jesus often emphasized the importance of humility in his teachings. In the Bible, Jesus is described as being humble and selfless, and he encouraged his followers to adopt a humble and servant-like attitude. For example, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). The word “meek” in this passage can be translated as “humble” or “gentle,” and suggests that those who are humble and not seeking power or status will be rewarded in the end. Jesus also taught about the dangers of pride, stating that those who exalt themselves will be humbled (Matthew 23:12). In addition, Jesus set an example of humility through his own actions, such as washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17) and willingly accepting suffering and death on the cross (Mark 15:21-39).
This is why Jesus commanded his disciples to eat whatever is put before them. Although this would not be permitted by Jewish laws of teachings, because many of the surrounding village people did not follow a Jewish kosher diet, Jesus commanded that his disciples should eat in the houses of unbelievers in order to win them to repentance and salvation.
At the end of the day, we are not saved by being pious, but we are saved by the blood of Jesus. Christmas is a celebration of the savior of the world, who came to give his life to save humanity.
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