All These Winter Holidays - How Can a Christian Graciously Respond?

It used to be that people celebrated Christmas, and Christmas was it. These days, it seems like there's 101 winter holidays and everyone is expected to be tolerant and accepting of everyone else's beliefs (well, almost).

You may believe, as I do, that Jesus Christ came as a babe born in a manger in Bethlehem, to grow up as a man and die on a cross for our sins. However, we live in an increasingly pluralistic world. On the one hand we are charged with sharing this good news with our neighbor. On the other, we need to be led by the Holy Spirit in how, when, and where we do so. Sharing good news simply is not tolerated in our tolerant world, especially at times when the world is having fun with its own celebrations.

Here is a quick guide to non-Christian winter holidays and suggestions for how to lovingly respond.

You should decide beforehand, prayerfully, to what extent you'll acknowledge the holidays of non-believers. Some Christians feel that it's just fine to wish a Witch a Happy Yule and give a gift of a candle. Other believers are horrified at the thought, thinking this to further someone else's sin. Consider prayerfully what the Lord would have you do, both because your own personal response matters to Him, and because how you treat others matters to Him greatly. Other Christians, feeling they shouldn't acknowledge the holidays of non-believers, will respond to "Happy Hanukkah!" with "Merry Christmas!" If done with the right spirit, this need not offend, it is simply two people exchanging pleasantries. If you truly cannot respond likewise, it is always appropriate to simply say, "Thank you."

Evangelism can be difficult at any time of year - whether it's in the workplace or your neighborhood. However, Christmas is an excellent time to share the love of Christ with others, and the winter holidays of other faiths give wonderful openings. Be cautious, again, in when, where, and how you do so, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times.

The Jewish winter holiday is, of course, Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah), which is called the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication. Jesus Himself celebrated it (John 10:22,23). The holiday lasts for eight days, beginning at sundown the evening before what we'd call the first "day", and can begin anywhere between late November to late December. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple. Candles are lit in a menorah (the candlestick that most people recognize as being associated with this holiday) - one the first day, two the second, and so on - to celebrate the growing light. Gift-giving is not a traditional part of Hanukkah between adults, although many will exchange gifts from co-workers and neighbors at this time of year because it's socially acceptable to do. You must not assume that because someone is celebrating Hanukkah that they are non-Christian...many modern Christians and Messianic Jews celebrate it as well as Jews. Before you start witnessing to a person, ask some leading questions to see what they believe. If the Lord leads you to share Jesus with them, the symbolism of growing light is an excellent place to start, because Jesus is the light of the world.

The Muslim winter holidays, Hajj and Eid-al-Adha, fluctuate in date. Their focus is on a Muslim's annual pilgrimage to Mecca, followed by a celebration of sacrifice, which commemorates the story of Abraham (which most Christians are familiar with). Individuals slaughter an animal, and the meat is shared among relatives, friends, and the poor. This is often misunderstood by those outside of Islam to be a sacrifice for sin, but it is not - it is an act of giving willingly to others. If you are good friends with a Muslim co-worker, they may offer you meat. Muslims are also encouraged to invite people to join them at their services at this time of year. You should have a prayerful response ready for either situation. To share the gospel in this situation, talk about the symbolism of Abraham's sacrifice and what it really means.

Mormons celebrate Christmas in a manner very similar to the way evangelical Christians celebrate, even though their beliefs on who Jesus Christ is differ greatly. They are likely to decorate with a Christmas tree and lights and a nativity scene and exchange cards and gifts just like you do. In fact, you may not even realize that a co-worker is LDS unless they happen to mention that fact, or they do or say something that is a tell-tale sign. They are not likely to be offended by religiously-oriented cards unless they are decidedly evangelistic or anti-Mormon. They may give you Christmas cards too! Since Mormons believe that they are Christians and their beliefs are no different from yours, it is often helpful, over a cup of coffee or a meal, to simply ask questions - "What do you believe?" and "Who do you believe Jesus is?" and compare notes. Compare what the two of you say with the King James Version of the Bible (the only translation the LDS church deems acceptable), and then compare what the Word says with the Book of Mormon. Go slowly and don't tackle too much at a time, and if you get stumped, pray together and commit to research the question.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas in ANY way - no cards, no parties, no gift-giving, no nothing. Although the occasional Witness will break with tradition for the sake of a friendship, most people consider it inappropriate to give them gifts or cards, or to invite them to parties. However, if you didn't know and you give them a gift or card, don't worry - allow them to give it back with dignity and, if it's a gift, offer to donate it to charity instead. Remember that JW's do not have an orthodox view of the Trinity, reducing Jesus to a created being on the same level as satan. Sometimes it's easier to share Jesus with someone if you can find a point of agreement, even in a dark sea of disagreement. One place to start with a Witness may be disliking all the commercialism of Christmas taking the focus off Jesus. Another place to start might be their belief that Christmas has pagan roots. If you can gently point out that many other things in our daily lives also do - such as the days of the week and months of the year, wedding rings, etc. - they may be open to conversation.

Wiccans, Witches, Pagans, and some occultists celebrate Yule (also called Winter Solstice). This holiday precedes Christmas by several days. Although there are many different pagan traditions and many ways to celebrate this holiday, most focus in some way on the rebirth of the sun at the winter solstice. It is a joyous time of year for pagans. Many exchange gifts and Yule cards, decorate an evergreen tree, and cook a large meal. While a few pagans expect others to honor their celebrations but become offended about Christmas, many others are delighted to celebrate both! Some pagans are extremely anti-Christian and others are extremely willing to talk. If you're able to, a good point of discussion is the symbolism of growing light. They may counter with the fact that Yule is older than Christmas - which is true! You should be prepared to discuss why there are so many excellent counterfeits preceding the coming of Christ. If you can gently and lovingly communicate with them, rather than condemning them or labeling them a satanist, you will earn the right to speak into their lives.

Many people of African and African-American descent celebrate a holiday called Kwanzaa. This is a modern holiday, created in 1966 by Ron Karenga to celebrate African heritage. There are seven principles to Kwanzaa, corresponding with the seven days between December 26th through January 1. The principles are Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. The celebration includes traditional African dress, candles, libations, and food. Although this is an African holiday, in recent years, people of other ethnic descents have begun to celebrate it. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday per se - it is a cultural holiday, similar to Cinco de Mayo or the Chinese New Year. It is common to exchange hand-made gifts that reflect upon the recipient's achievements, as well as cards, during this season. A Christian should not assume that a Kwanzaa celebrant is a non-believer - in fact, many people roll Christmas and Kwanzaa into a month-long celebration honoring the Lord and their heritage! However, there are also many people of other faiths who celebrate this holiday as well. If the Lord leads you to share Jesus with them, any of the seven principles are great places to begin evangelism. You might also talk about the imact that evangelical Christianity is having in Africa right now (see, for example, the ministry of Reinhard Bonnke)

Even the Atheists must get an honorable mention in the winter holidays department, since the Free Thought Society in Philadelphia put up a "Tree of Knowledge" next to the creche and menorah and Christmas tree on town square. They decorated it with book covers by atheist authors, the Bible, and the Koran. Apparently they are celebrating, too! They're not likely to send you a Christmas card. However, a quick Google search turned up several outlets for atheistic winter cards (many of which would be patently offensive to Christians). Sharing Jesus with an agnostic or atheist can be difficult and really depends on the person, what they truly believe, and what they know or think they know about God already. Often they hold erroneous beliefs about who God is (which, sadly, they may have learned in a church as young children). Sometimes it helps to just let them talk it out and be willing to listen and pray. Most Christians are quick to sputter and condemn - a good listener is a rarity and may help you to be able to do some talking down the road.

Much more could be said about these holidays - this is just a rough overview! There are also likely other winter holidays. If you come across a holiday or custom you don't know about, there's no harm in asking! Most people are delighted to tell you about what they believe - which gives you an avenue to tell them what you believe, too! Have a Merry Christmas!