Struggling with Christmas this Year

I'm almost afraid to write this post for fear of backlash.  Even without fully praying through everything, I know the opinions of others are strong.

A few years ago my husband and I stopped celebrating Halloween with our children.  The pagan roots and the blatant demonic celebration that surrounds the day became a conviction for us.  Even if my husband and I placed rules such as "No evil or violent costumes" and "No decorating the house", We still felt we should not take part in trick or treating or the area celebrations.  I personally even had a difficult time this year when our church held a harvest fest as a community outreach on Halloween night, but I left the decision up to my husband since we are the children's directors at our church.

Now I'm struggling with Christmas.  A Christian friend pointed out on her blog at Halloween time that Christmas and Easter have just as deep a history of pagan roots as Halloween.
Always before I could argue the points that at least these holidays are Christ-centered.  Christmas honors the birth of Jesus. Easter honors His death and resurrection.  Doesn't seem to conflict with my beliefs. In fact, it enhances my faith.  And it's an outreach of sorts since  more unsaved people come to church on those two holidays than any time of the year. 

Last year our church did a Christmas musical.  The local Christian radio station is playing Christmas carols. Nativity statues are going up in front of churches. 

A couple years ago I bought a t-shirt that stated, "Jesus is the reason for the season"!

This year feels different.  I'm trying not to base my reactions on feelings of despair I'm having right now due to  tough circumstances. I'm trying to pray and seek God's direction. 

I decided to look into my friend's statement about the pagan roots.  Santa Claus, I knew, was not part of the Bible story, but the rest seems Christ honoring.  We put a star on the top of the Christmas tree to signify the Star of Bethlehem. We exchange gifts to replicate the Wise Men giving gifts to Baby Jesus.  We sing carols about the wondrous birth of our King.

I only had to do one Google search to find lots of people believe that everything from Christmas to The decorated trees, Mistletoe, holly, ivy, and wreaths all can be connected to pagan rituals. I have read an article or two stating that most of the "symbols" representing Christmas had died out generations earlier; and it was Queen Victoria and her husband that made Christmas popular in England. Apparently the Victorians are credited with creating the Christmas holiday and many of its traditions. The date, December 25th, may have been chosen because of a miscalculation of scholars trying to guess Jesus' birthday, and not chosen as a Christian holiday to replace the winter solstice celebrations in the Gentile world.
And yet, I'm still bothered.

I don't have a problem celebrating a holiday that isn't commanded in the Bible. I celebrate Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. I don't want to participate in paganistic idol worship.  I want to honor and worship Christ.  I'm sure pagan traditions might have influenced Christmas over the years, but I'm not completely sure most of them weren't man-made.

When I get right down to it, I have too admit the most compelling reasons Christmas is bothering me.  Try as I might, I can't get past the blatant materialism portrayed by so many, even Christians, at Christmas.  Black Friday shopping where people get violent  trying to buy stuff for themselves and others; lying to our children about a man in a red suit that brings them gifts; the intense pressure to give our kids an amazing Christmas with lots of presents under the tree; the debt that often accumulates buying stuff because we feel we need to outdo last year or others... This honors Christ?!

As you can tell, I'm bothered. 

A few years ago I was watching the TV show, Seventh Heaven.  On the show the family only exchanged hand-made gifts.  That eliminated much of the materialism.  They also volunteered every year at a homeless shelter serving food.  That eliminated the selfishness.   They gave of themselves and tried to honor Christ.  It made an impression on me. 

There are lots of viewpoints about Christmas.  For me, I have the urge to do many things differently.  I'm still praying and working it all out in my head and heart.  All I do know is that Christ placed the struggle in my heart, and only He can reveal His intentions to me.