Lots of other bloggers are posting things in this vein, and maybe someone out there is wondering what I'm going to say on the topic, although it's more likely that no one gives a plug nickel what I think.  It may be hard to explain.

The church to which I have been added does not celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ.  There are some members who do not celebrate anything at all on December 25 because they believe it sets a bad example.

We are not directed to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and we are not given the information as to the exact date of his birth.  So we don't celebrate December 25 as such.

Many of us do still have a day of fellowship with our scattered families, and that fellowship and goodwill includes the exchange of gifts and the sharing of food.

However, if people out there want to remember the birth of Christ on this day, I will not try to convince them that it's wrong or bad or anything.  I think any occasion that can turn one's thoughts to such a thing is good.

I once explained it like this:

When I was in college choir, did I refuse to sing carols at Christmastime that had religious subjects simply because I do not believe that December 25 is the actual birthday of Jesus?  No, of course not.  For he once said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."  So if some carolers are gathered together singing "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Joy to the World," or "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," who am I to say that he is not there in their midst?

So celebrate whatever meaning you want.

I may have said it before, but I'll say it again.  Iona does a version of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" that is just awesome.  The words are traditional, but they've composed their own music.

It's on the album Journey Into the Morn from 1995.

Christian readers of this blog might want to check them out.  Especially if you're like me and can't stomach Jesus-pop, or contemporary Christian, or whatever it's called.