''If a Christian wants to take a day to celebrate the birth of our Savior, let him and leave him alone. If he is esteeming it unto the Lord, the Lord said He would bless it. If you don't want to do Christmas, that is fine, too. But God is not impressed by your arrogance and pride.''
Dan White and other "Bible scholars" are a little too stuck on themselves and take their Ph.D.s a little too seriously. Who really cares when Jesus was born? My faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior does not depend on the precise day He was born. Nor does it depend on the precise day He died and arose from the grave.
The only important truth of all of it is that Jesus was born, as the Scriptures say. He died, as the Scriptures say. He arose on the third day, as the Scriptures say. And I believe the Scriptures, and called upon Him to save me from my sins. These events could have been at any time of year, and it would be irrelevant unless the Scriptures specifically stated the date.
If you want to consider me a weaker Christian because I enjoy celebrating Christmas, fine and dandy, but Romans 14:1 says, "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." That means, get off my back. I am no less a Christian than you.
Romans 14:5-6 goes on to say, "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks."
If a Christian wants to take a day to celebrate the birth of our Savior, let him and leave him alone. If he is esteeming it unto the Lord, the Lord said He would bless it. If you don't want to do Christmas, that is fine, too. But God is not impressed by your arrogance and pride.
I can understand dispelling the lies of Santa, but don't get wrapped around the axle over what day the Lord was born. It is just like trying to predict what day the Lord will return. We have no business making such predictions, and only fools do it. The only important thing to take away from that discussion is that the Lord will return, and it may be at any time. Are you prepared?
So take a little breather from your Ph.D. this Christmas season and just learn to enjoy the Lord and His people. Rather than chastising everyone who does not meet your definition of a "true believer," how about inviting someone over to the house for some egg nog and gingerbread. You don't have to exchange presents. You don't have to sing carols. But I'll bet if you pray and read the Bible together, the Lord will bless you.
Jeff Greeson