Stringer/Bunch Debate on Christmas

 
 
 Proposition: 
 It is sinful for the Christian to celebrate the holiday known as 
 Christmas, even if they attach no religious significance to it.
 
 Affirmed: Jason E. Stringer
 Denied:   Larry Bunch
 
 
 I appreciate this opportunity to present the reasons why you 
 won't see any lights, trees, or gift giving going on at my house 
 on December 25 of this year, or any December 25 in the coming 
 years.
 
 Some of my close friends describe me as "the Grinch" and 
 "Scrooge" because of what I believe about this day; however, I 
 believe it is an important subject, and one that we should study.
 
 For the purposes of this debate we will define the following 
 terms
 1. Sinful:  Transgression of God's law.  Missing the mark.  See 
 2 Jno. 9
 2. Christian:  One who is a member of the Lord's Church, a 
 baptized believer added to that church by the Lord who faithfully 
 practices all that the Lord expects in order to be pleasing to 
 Him.
 3. Celebrate:  Including but not limited to the festivities 
 regarding this holiday such as putting up trees, stringing 
 lights, singing carols, giving gifts etc.
 4. Christmas:  December 25 of each calendar year, designated by 
 the world as the birthday of Jesus Christ
 5. Religious:  Having to do with one's faith and practice 
 regarding worship to God
 6.  Significance:  Importance or meaning
 
 BODY OF FIRST AFFIRMATIVE:
 
 This debate is not about the "origin" of Christmas.  I will not 
 be arguing about the pagan aspects of this holiday.  My opponent 
 can put all of his material on that subject away at this time.  
 
 Also, this debate is not about whether the date December 25 is 
 the birth of Jesus Christ.  I believe that my opponent will grant 
 me that fact, and without argument we can move along from there.
 
 This debate is also not about observation of a national holiday 
 as my opponent would believe, this debate IS about what a 
 Christian may do in observance of a day that the rest of the 
 world views with high religious significance.
 
 1. December 25 is regarded by the world as the birthday of Jesus 
 Christ. Everywhere one goes on this particular day, or during the 
 season surrounding it, signs, banners and posters declare, "Jesus 
 is the reason for the season." Many in the religious world attach 
 this day to the birth of Jesus Christ.  However, this is a man-
 made date, and the Lord in the New Testament never authorized, by 
 command, example, or inference, those who would follow Him to 
 celebrate His birthday. Yea, the significance of His life is His 
 death, and we are told to remember that each first day of the 
 week (Acts 20:7).  Now here, I believe my opponent will argue 
 that the days of the week are named for Greek gods, therefore 
 when we observe "Thursday" in my way of thinking we are paying 
 homage to Thor, etc.  Larry knows I don't believe that, but let 
 me just kill that argument before it begins: Thursday is a day of 
 the week with NO religious significance to ANYONE any longer.  
 This day, that falls on December 25th that is called Christmas, 
 (or as my opponent will probably call it "Xmas" which is a non-
 argument, because the letter X is the Greek letter Chi, and it 
 means the same thing ever hear of a sorority called Alpha Chi 
 Omega, aka "Sisters for the Lord"), is observed by many as being 
 Christ's birthday.  Ask 100 people what significance "Thursday" 
 has in a religious sense.  Ask the same 100 people what 
 significance Christmas has in a religious sense. Your answer to 
 question one will most likely universally be NONE from your 
 sample; however, your answer to question two will be most likely, 
 that it is the Birth of Christ from at least 80 to 90 percent of 
 your sample.
 
 2. When the Christian partakes of the worldly aspects of this 
 holiday (see definition of celebrate) they destroy their 
 influence with those around about them.  Placing lights and trees 
 in the home, making a show to those around about you that you in 
 a sense agree with them.  The Christian is to lead a life of 
 example.  We are to  "Walk worthy" of our calling.  This means 
 that we do not give those who would doubt the opportunity to have 
 more doubt and to question our allegiance to the Lord. Ask 
 yourselves the question: When you see a home, or your non-
 Christian neighbors see a home, decorated with such ornamentation 
 what do they think is going on there?  The rest of the world 
 believes that this is the day of the birth of Christ, and they 
 think that you are celebrating it right along with them.  It is 
 part of keeping oneself "unspotted" from the world (Jas. 1:27). 
 As an example, I used to smoke.  In fact, I was what you would 
 call a "heavy" smoker, smoking at least a pack or more a day.  I 
 would argue that I saw nothing wrong with it (although I realize 
 now that there is a lot wrong with it), and since I saw nothing 
 wrong with it I could do it.  It didn't offend my conscience.  
 But, when I thought about it, I thought of the way that others 
 saw me, addicted to something that had control over me.  I 
 realized that my influence over others was compromised by my 
 habit.  Now, I suppose that I could wear a T-shirt that said, "As 
 A Christian I See Nothing Wrong With Smoking, Got a Light?" or I 
 could remove all doubts from people's minds and just not do it.  
 When one puts up their trees and ornaments, gives gifts, greets 
 with their Merry Christmas, and hands out their cards, do they 
 put a disclaimer that says "Celebrated only as a National 
 Holiday, Not as the Birth of Christ"?  If you put a plastic Santa 
 in your front yard, perhaps you should put a sign with those 
 words, or similar to it, right next to the "Jolly old Elf" so 
 that those who pass by will know what you believe!
 
 3. The Christian is not to engage in such activities.  "You 
 observe days. . . .I am afraid of you." (Gal. 4:10-11).  We put 
 ourselves into bondage of serving Satan by observing such things 
 that are not authorized.  
 
 Now, my opponent will appeal to Romans 14 on this point.  
 However, Romans 14 does not apply here.  The context of Romans 14 
 is dealing with the eating of meats offered to idols, and one of 
 the conditions is that if it is noted that the meat is offered to 
 an idol and the one making the offering or serving the meat says, 
 "This meat is offered to idols!" then the Christian is not to 
 partake.  Friends, the Holiday known as Christmas has been 
 designated by the world as a "meat offered to an idol".  We may 
 not partake of it, lest we offend some brother, or cause some 
 other soul to be lost.
 
 4. The world is attached to symbols.  When you see a man with a 
 ring or belt buckle (in Texas they wear belt buckles :-)) with a 
 compass and square on it, what do you think?  I own such a ring.  
 A friend gave it to me, and I keep it locked away, never wear it.  
 Why don't I wear it?  It's a pretty ring, I like the colors in 
 it.  The reason being is that I believe Masonry to be a false 
 religion.  If I believe Masonry to be a false religion, and I 
 know others who also believe it to be a religion, and I am 
 wearing such a display, do I not condone what they are 
 practicing? See Romans 1:31.
 
 We must not let our influence over others slip.  There is a song 
 that goes, "We are the only Bible the careless world will read."  
 People watch us as Christians each and every day, and each and 
 every day, we must not give them the opportunity to scoff at what 
 we believe, or believe us to be hypocritical.
 
 For the truth,
 
 Jason E. Stringer