My social media feed this year is full of people debating back and forth about whether Christians should celebrate Christmas. The arguments run along a couple of tracks. First, the Bible never instructs us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Two, the day we chose to celebrate it appears to have pagan origins. Thus, if you were a true believer, then you would reject this pagan holiday and act like nothing is happening this time of year.

My response to this comes from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in the city of Rome. After all the theological teachings in the first eleven chapters, he gives very practical information about life for believers. Part of his instruction focuses on special days and food sacrificed to idols. There, he writes, “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. (6) Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. (Romans 14:5-6)”

Paul gives Christians a simple rule to live by, “Do everything for the Lord.” This will be spelled out in several ways in the verses that follow, but for this post, I want to focus on these words alone. If you set aside a day as special, do it for the glory of God. If you don’t celebrate a day as special, do it for the glory of God. Neither position is more spiritual nor defines a true believer.

This week is Christmas, and I will be celebrating the arrival of Jesus and the work he came to do. I don’t care about pagan backgrounds or traditions. I care solely about Jesus as Immanuel. I am convinced in my own mind that this day is special for the Lord. And as long as he gets the glory, that is a victory for all believers.

Merry Christmas to you.