[Steve Myers] If Christ is not in Christmas, where is He? There's a controversy that's come to light in Pittman, New Jersey. They have a sign that was hung up over their main street, over Broadway, and the sign says, "Keep Christ in Christmas." That brings up a controversy. Was Christ ever in Christmas? Should we keep Him in Christmas? Is this something that's appropriate? Not just hanging the sign and the differences between whether it's legal or not and all of those kind of political things, but get down to the really heart of the issue. Is Christ in Christmas? Is He there to keep?

[Darris McNeely] Well, I think, Steve, that regular viewers of Beyond Today and BT Daily know that we take the viewpoint that Christ is not in Christmas. He never was in Christmas. And I think for our viewers, you, you need to look at this controversy that comes up every year and the banners that come out and the controversies and the divisive aspects of this particular debate every year around December 25th and the Christmas celebrations. And really ask yourself what is the truth about Christmas. If Christ is not there, where is He? And how has Christmas become this monumental holiday in our culture today and still one that is divisive. It is built around the principles of peace on Earth, good will toward men.

[Steve Myers] That's a good thing.

[Darris McNeely] It is good.

[Steve Myers] But...

[Darris McNeely] But so often we don't see that.

[Steve Myers] Right. And I think the challenge is, is this how God wants us to be worshipped? Can we take Christ, force Him into a pagan day, is that possible? Or does God want to be worshipped the way He wants to be worshiped? Does God line out days and ways to worship Him? He says worship Me in spirit and truth. And so, is this truth? Is this how God wants to be worshiped?

[Darris McNeely] You mentioned Steve, that these are pagan, that this is a pagan day. So many people understand that truth today. You can look up in any article or any encyclopedia on the subject of Christmas. And you probably already know that it is a pagan day, but you may also be saying, "I don't care."

[Steve Myers] Yeah, "what difference does it make?"

[Darris McNeely] "It doesn't make any difference because of how I feel and what I put upon the date." Well, that doesn't really fly when it comes to God and what God's Word says about worship, worshipping Him in spirit and in truth.

[Steve Myers] Yeah, why did God say…Why does He record it in His Word not to add things to His way? (Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 12:32, Proverbs 30:6, Revelation 22:18-19) Not to add days of worship, but to worship Him the way that He wants to be. Why does He do that? It's a challenge for you to find out why is that and is that acceptable to God?

[Darris McNeely] Well, this public debate that comes up every year, again just gives us an opportunity to talk about it. And we have a couple of television programs on Beyond Today over the next couple of weeks that will be addressing Christmas from a perspective that you have not really considered before. And we'll be doing this again on BT Daily; we'll come back to this subject. But why not get to the bottom of the issue this year and determine in your mind to seek truth and to begin to live by truth.

[Steve Myers] Absolutely. Don't worship God in vain. That's a very clear passage that God says (Matthew 15:8-9). Why does He say that? Is there a way that we could worship Him in vain and it's useless?

[Darris McNeely] Find the true God and worship Him in spirit and in truth.

[Steve Myers] That's BT Daily and we'll see you tomorrow.