Christmas
We celebrate Christmas at our home and we recognize the birth of Christ in this celebration. What you are describing is a teaching of the law. Can we keep the law? Or do we live in the spirit of the law? Will this separation from a holiday help your walk with the Lord? If we try to keep one letter of the law and we fall then we are guilty of the whole law. You say you are miserable, probably there are offenses given and anger along the way as you try to keep this law. I am sure you miss the love with family members as you share your lives with those you love.
1Co 10:23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.
1Co 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.
Love covers a multitude of sins. If you celebrate a holiday do you put the love of Christ in your life first? What does not celebrating the holiday do for you or those around you? Does this teach love or judgement? Just as Paul ate meat sacrificed to idols, was the meat contaminated? No we are free from these things and this way of thinking. There is only one God and we worship him.
1Co 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
1Co 8:7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
1Co 8:8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.
1Co 8:9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Co 8:10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
1Co 8:11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
1Co 8:12 And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
1Co 8:13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
Did Paul never eat meat again? I'm sure he did, but he was teaching them it is not the meat nor the holiday nor the occasion that brings about our destruction. For we are free. One must look at does this hurt my family, does this bring about the righteousness of God the way I am acting? Am I giving an offense where there should be none? Am I showing love to my neighbor? I am sure that you miss these celebrations with your family and friends. This is a time to share the love of Christ in your life. If love has left your household by living under this law, then pray that the Lord may open a door for other ways to share with friends and family in love.
1Pe 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
