Is it wrong to celebrate Christmas?

Question

I am of the Pentecostal/Holiness faith and I am trying to figure ouit is it wrong to celebrate Chrsitmas. My boyfriend wants to make sure that it won't be a problem when we are married. Because his family has church, dinner, and prayer. (No Santa Claus, no lying to children) so is there anything wrong with going with him? I want us to be together, but I don't want to do it if it's wrong.
Pentecostal/ Holiness even Baptist answers welcomed!

I want to thank everyone who has had a positive response so far. Please people don't chew me out, I am trying to get an understanding on the matter.

Answer 1

I don't see why it would be wrong as long as you stay true to yourself (don't do anything that would make you uncomfortable). I do not belong to any religious denomination and I have gone with many of my friends to their religious celebrations. I just always made sure to be respectful of their faith because I was there as a visitor. So just remember to be respectful of your boyfriend's faith and his church.

I also think it's important to remember that Christmas has also become important to people culturally, not just religiously. It's a time to give back to your community in any way that you can, to help others who are in need.

Answer 2

Baptist here....and I think it is RIGHT to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Why would it be wrong? Regarding Santa Claus (and lying to children) it is only a childhood fantasy to make it fun for kids, and I see nothing wrong with that either. They don't believe in Santa Claus after they are about 7 years old anyway.

There is not enough joy in this world, and I think anything that brings families together to celebrate Jesus' birth, where we can exchange gifts with the ones we love and spend time together is a good thing. You just can't go wrong with love, friendship and family.

Answer 3

I studied the Pentecostal faith. Celebrating Christmas is absolutely normal.
Making it "no santa", in my opinion ensures that you are keeping to the religious significance of the holiday and not just partying and giving gifts on a day that is important to all Christian religions.
As I hear many people say this time of year "Jesus is the reason for the season". So long as you are sticking to this motto, then I'd say you have absolutely no conflicts whatsoever.
Church, family dinner, and prayers should in no way conflict with your beliefs.

Answer 4

Look Christmas, Santa Claus and all that is all just fun stuff.
If we want to get technical about Jesus and religion. Christmas day is not even close to when scholars and historians believe Christ was born. I think they determine the time to be about september, if you want to be accurate about it.
The celebration of christmas on december the 25th was a pagan celebration. In pre christian days, the pagans had a big feast to celebrate winter, the middle of winter and the forth coming spring. It was a feast, decorations were hung and people celebrated.
The early christians when trying to convert these pagans to christianity, saw they were not going to give up their big midwinter celebrations so they decided to convert it to a christian celebration. Thus lying to many of us. So many people actually believe that Jesus was born on December the 25th.
Look celebrate Christmas in your own way. Dont change your life or your beliefs for your boyfriends family. You have to be yourself, and do what is right for you. You dont have to give up santa and presents and stuff.
Remember Jesus on this day if you wish. But I dont think Jesus would be angry at you for celebrating and making the day a special one for children, having santa and such.
Christmas is all about love and family and spending time with one another and to me that is much more christian than sitting in a stuffy church and being dictated to by some over the top minister over what is right and wrong.
God is everywhere, not just in a church. A church is just a man made establishment claiming the right to god. With man made traditions....God is everywhere and god is love and how can sharing love with your family possibly ever be wrong in Gods eyes?

Answer 5

I grew up Pentecostal and always celebrated Christmas without the Santa Clause or the lying to children. To me that is the mos offensive part of the holiday. All of the Baptists and Pentecostals that I know do celebrate Christmas. The people that I know who or opposed to it are so because of the holidays pagan roots. I do not personally believe that there is anythign wrong with celebrating the holiday as long as you do it with a heart towards God.

Answer 6

I am none of those religions but I will give you a common sense answer. Whether or not you celebrate Christmas is your decision and yours alone to make no matter what religion you are. Unless you are some holy roller bible thumping lunatic you have the right to do and celebrate whatever your heart deisres. A religion should not prevent you from doing something that makes you happy!. I wonder how many people have ever thought of that as they are preaching "the good word" or "the gosepel". You think more people would have common sense but then again if religion is based on anything it certainly is not common sense.

Answer 7

This is my opinion on the whole religion thing, I am a baptist and go through this crap constantly too.
The point of religion is to worship God, or whomever you worship, and get to know Jim and build a relationship with Him. A lot of times, people focus on the details and don't pay attention to the big picture.
Honestly, do you think would rather you build a relationship with Him and get to know Him and all that or debate whether or not you should go to a Christmas party? Go to it, enjoy it for what it is, just a chirstmas party. I don't believe in worshipping angels or any of that crap, but as far as parties and things like that, then I think its fine. That's my opinion!!

Answer 8

I am tempted to say something rude, but I will refrain because I understand you are entitled to your way of thinking. If you are so strongly entrenched in your faith, you should know that answer and you also should not be marrying someone of another faith. Since you're old enough to have a BF, I imagine you already know what your religions has to say about celebrating Christmas.

Giving children some lighthearted fantasy like Santa isn't lying. Just so you know, I find your post horrifying, at best.

Answer 9

Well, I was raised a Jehovah's Witness and they don't celebrate any holidays but I am not one. My fiance is Catholic and he loves Chrsitmas. We try to respect eachother's beliefs, he puts up the tree at our house and I go to the Christmas parties with him but he tries to leave the religious parts out of it. He goes to the Kingdom Hall with my family when we go. We try to leave room for both of our religions and have discussions whenever they conflict. It has worked out well for us.

Answer 10

No Its not wrong to celebrate Christmas! More people should do it! People are forgetting why we actually celebrate it but its a wonderful thing :) Dont change your faith for any one!