𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐁𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 – 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

When Makayla Madison’s parents announced in December 2019 that their family would no longer be celebrating Christmas, she was heartbroken. Like many of us, Christmas had always carried feelings of joy, nostalgia, and warmth. It was a season filled with family traditions and faith. How could something so beautiful be wrong?

Determined to prove her parents mistaken, Makayla set out on her own research journey—one that would take her deep into Scripture and history. What began as a defense of Christmas soon became a humbling discovery that changed her perspective completely.

Through her study, she uncovered the ancient origins of December 25th—tracing it back to the days of Nimrod, Babylon, and the sun-god worship that spread through pagan cultures long before the Messiah’s birth. From Rome’s Saturnalia to the cult of Sol Invictus, she found a consistent theme: December 25th had long been a day of honoring false gods. Over time, the early church, especially under Roman influence, began blending these practices into the faith—rebranding pagan customs as Christian celebrations.

But what struck Makayla most was not just the history—it was what Scripture said about worship. Time and again, she saw that YHWH warned His people not to adopt the customs of other nations. From Deuteronomy 12 to 1 Samuel 15 and Exodus 32, the message was clear: obedience matters more than good intention. The Israelites’ desire to worship God “their own way” led to judgment, not blessing.

Makayla’s heart wrestled with this truth. She saw how often believers, even today, do what feels right or traditional without testing it against God’s Word. Her research turned into conviction: perhaps what honors YHWH is not found in blending what He once called abominable, but in returning to the holiness He calls His people to—being set apart.

“The standard of honoring God is not just good intention—but obedience.”

Her conclusion wasn’t one of condemnation, but of invitation. She encourages readers to ask hard questions—not out of rebellion, but out of love for truth. Questioning Christmas isn’t about losing joy; it’s about rediscovering the beauty of worship that is wholly devoted to YHWH, free from compromise.

Makayla’s journey reminds us that holiness isn’t about following tradition—it’s about following His voice, even when it means letting go of what’s familiar.