This time of year many Christians find themselves between the Cross and the Christmas tree. For those who don’t know, Christmas is NOT strictly a Christian celebration. I’ve spoken about this, but verify the facts for yourself. That’s why, those who have family members and friends who celebrate this pagan holiday are in a bit of a dilemma: “Do I please others and displease God or do I please God and displease others?

I stress, if you consider yourself in fact a Christian, celebrating Christmas out of your own incentive does not make any sense. Let’s say your whole family is Christian, but like the idea of having a Christmas tree, exchanging presents and observing other customs of the season. This is clearly contrary to your faith. It would be like the people of Israel on exiting Egypt going out and celebrating an Egyptian feast because “it’s cool.” So, if the choice is yours, the answer is simple: don’t participate.

But what if you’re in a family or social circle that expects you to participate? Your husband likes it, your boss invites you to the office Christmas party, your parents have that party at their house every year with the family… All of them expect you to attend, so what to do? Lock yourself in your room and fake depression? Say you’re going spend the day washing your hair? Or use the classic excuse: “my religion doesn’t allow it.”

Let’s use our intelligence.

This is where you should remember about balance between your duties and your Christian conscience. Let me explain using a story in the Bible as an example of a similar situation.

In 2 Kings 5 we read the story of Naaman, commander of the Syrian army who was healed in Israel after consulting the prophet Elisha. Extremely grateful for the healing, Naaman decides to stop serving the gods of his father to only serve the God of Israel who had healed him. But there was a problem, as you will read in an excerpt of a conversation between Naaman and Elisha.

for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord.

Yet in this thing may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord please pardon your servant in this thing.”

Then he said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a short distance. (v. 17-19)

Naaman’s profession required that he accompany his boss when he went to the temple of the god Rimon and help him when he went to incline and adore his god. Consequently, this service would require Naaman to bow before that god – but with one difference: now it wouldn’t be to worship but to give assistance to his boss.

This made him feel bad enough to ask God to forgive him (his conscience weighed on him,) but he had to fulfill his duty as a soldier.

Elisha blessed him and assured him that he could go in peace. He didn’t condemn his position before the problem. Surely, if there was something wrong, Elisha wouldn’t have blessed him. After all, there was nothing wrong in him assisting his boss. It would have been wrong for him to worship the false god.

In the same way, thinks about your function as a family member, whether that’s as wife, husband, son, or brother; and your professional function. Should you, because of the duties to your position, accompany, please or assist the other person that expects your participation in a Christmas celebration? So fulfill your duty towards that person. Do your part for them, not for the spirit or tradition of Christmas.

Doing so with balance and conscience, you can fulfill your role with God and the people who are not in the same faith.

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