Is Christmas Even Worth Celebrating?

This blogpost is part of our Christmas series this year.

When I was studying in Canada, Christmas was HUGEEEE! Everyone looked forward to it, they counted down the days to it even in October! Imagine also having a White Christmas with snow all around you, it was actually kinda magical in its own sense. However, as I got older and especially during this year, I had this question at the back of my head:

Is Christmas even worth celebrating?

If Christmas is about presents, then what about those who are poor? What if it is another marketing ploy and cash grab by corporations, just like Valentine’s Day?

If Christmas is about time with family and friends, then what about those who don’t have people to celebrate it with? What about the countless people across the world in quarantine due to COVID-19?

If Christmas is about feeling happy or joyful, then what about those who suffer from depression?

Is Christmas even worth celebrating?

I’m not sure if you share my sentiments but maybe you’ve felt the hollowness after Christmas on the day after or just thought “honestly it is just another day, Christmas is not for me”.

However, even with all those questions, I have to tell myself that Christmas is indeed worth celebrating! However, it is not for the reasons stated above but instead it is because Christmas is grounded in objective truth that goes beyond circumstance, beyond time, and beyond feelings. That means Christmas is to be celebrated even if there were no presents, even amidst Covid-19, even if we were alone, even if we don’t feel like celebrating.

Now why can I say that? What is this truth that makes Christmas worth celebrating?

Christmas is about the Son of God dwelling in the form of man to die for the sins of man.

Christmas is about God who has revealed His wrath against mankind (Rom 1:18, Rom 5:9) because they do not fear God (Rom 3:18) and are in fact enemies of God (Rom 5:10). Crazy to hear eh? We always hear that Christmas is about baby Jesus being born and He is a saviour but what is he saving us from? Well he is saving us from God’s wrath. This is necessary because you and I are by nature children of wrath (Eph 2:3), sinners deserving of God’s wrath.

Christmas is about human beings who are completely weak and are unable to save themselves (Rom 5:6) because they are dead in their sin (Eph 2:1). Humanity is so dead and helpless in their sin, that Jesus had to be born only to be destined to die, be tortured and crucified on a cross. You see Christmas is about the birth of a saviour, who will save through his death. Being a sinner is not merely doing bad things, but is in fact being in a state against God. The Bible says we are dead and what can a dead person do? Nothing! Absolutely nothing. We can’t do anything to save ourselves.

Christmas is about the Christ, Jesus Christ the Son of God. We do not celebrate a mere baby being born – this baby is our King, our Saviour. It is through Him that we receive the ultimate gift, salvation through Jesus’ death. All our other Christmas presents can’t compare to this gift. It is through Him being put forward as the propitiation for our sins that God’s wrath is satisfied (Rom 3:25). It is through Him that we are saved from God’s wrath. It is through His death and resurrection that Christians too have hope both in life and in death (1 Cor 15).

Christmas is about God showing His love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). In Christ we have been redeemed (Rom 3:24), in Christ we have now been reconciled (Rom 5:11), and in Christ we are now in God’s household (Rom 8:17). The only family you can truly celebrate Christmas with is God’s family. Christmas is for those in the past, in the future, in the West, in Malaysia, for me, and for you.

Christmas is about God’s glory! When Jesus was born, a whole host of angels cried out: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)

From what has been said so far, we know that this peace is between God and man; that this salvation came through God’s judgment on Jesus Christ. What joy! That wicked sinners such as ourselves who are against God, have now been reconciled and can now give glory to God.

Christmas is about God’s glory in salvation through judgment.

Christmas is not subjective, you don’t just feel like celebrating it one year and not the next, it is not just cause everyone else is doing it, or cause you’ve always done it. You celebrate it because of this truth. You should ask yourself, why are you celebrating or perhaps not celebrating Christmas?

Are you celebrating Christmas to have your wishlist of presents rather than for Christ?
Are you celebrating Christmas to be with family and friends rather than for Christ?
Are you celebrating Christmas just to be “merry” rather than for Christ?

Whether you are a Christian or a non-Christian, you need to reflect on this. If you are celebrating Christmas for any other reason for the praise of God, of Christ Himself, you need to repent!

Celebrate Christmas because God’s wrath was poured out onto Jesus although we were deserving of it. Celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born to be our king. Celebrate Christmas because it is through Jesus that we are now reconciled to God. Celebrate Christmas because it is about praising God, giving Him all glory and finding joy in that. Celebrate Christmas because of Christ. Without Christ, there is no reason for celebration. Merry Christmas.

Jeremy Wee
Jeremy is a member candidate of CERC who attends the Bandar Utama Growth Group. He graduated from Trinity Western University in Canada and currently works as a management consultant in a global professional services company. One of his favourite songs is Lecrae’s “Don’t Waste Your Life” because it has always reminded him of what it means to live a life fully devoted to God and God alone.