According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 4 percent of Americans attended or hosted social gatherings on a given weekend or holiday in 2024. Party City has gone out of business, champagne sales are plummeting, and The Washington Post ran an article earlier this year that asked “Are parties dying?” With the holidays quickly approaching, perhaps you’re debating whether to host a party this year or trying to decide if you’ll attend the ones you’re invited to. If you’re like the majority of Americans who sometimes feel too busy to enjoy life, it can be tempting to opt out. Parties tend to be costly in terms of time, energy, and money for the host and guests alike. Yet throughout human history and even in Scripture, parties held an important place in communal life. Before we RSVP “no” this holiday season, let’s consider the value of parties from a biblical perspective. Should we let parties die, or is the party worth saving? What Kind of Party? The answer to that question depends largely on what kind of party we’re talking about. The kinds of parties The Washington Post primarily engages in their reporting revolve around excessive drinking and clubbing. Scripture, too, includes negative examples of parties, some including heinous acts like beheading John the Baptist (Mark 6) and defiling golden vessels from the temple (Dan. 5). Viewed in this way, maybe the decline of parties signals a positive shift in American culture. But on the other hand, at the same time parties are declining, Americans report increasing isolation, binge watching TV, and pornography use. Ellen Cushing at The Atlantic writes, Many Americans are alone, friendless, isolated, undersexed, sick of online dating, glued to their couches, and transfixed by their phones. . . . The time we spend socializing in person has plummeted in the past decade, and anxiety and hopelessness have increased. Roughly one in eight Americans reports having no friends. Christians readily affirm that it isn’t good for us to be alone. In a perfect creation, God said it wasn’t good for Adam to be by himself (Gen. 2:18). But Scripture also seems to suggest we need more than one-on-one relationships. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture describes human flourishing in the context of a larger community with regular communal gatherings, celebrations, and parties. But it’s instructive to note that God-honoring feasts and parties in the Bible have a purpose. For example, in Leviticus 23, God commands his people to gather seven times a year to worship him through feasting, sacrifice, and worship. They’re to encourage one another and celebrate what God has done, and is doing, in their midst. Scripture describes human flourishing in the context of a larger community with regular communal gatherings, celebrations, and parties. In the New Testament, we see feasts and parties used as occasions for gospel advance. Jesus routinely engaged people in large gatherings and at dinner parties—even ones that weren’t tied to religious holidays—using these occasions purposefully to minister to others and “[manifest] his glory” (John 2:11). Peter preached the gospel during the feast of Pentecost, when Jews were gathered in Jerusalem from all over the Roman empire, and 3,000 people were saved (Acts 2). And of course, Revelation 19 tells of a massive party to come when the great multitude, the gathered Bride of Christ, will celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb and worship Christ, our Bridegroom. We don’t have to look hard in Scripture to see the potential value of parties. Accept or Decline? As you consider whether to accept or extend an invitation this holiday season (and all through the year), begin by asking yourself this question: Would attending or hosting this event bless you and others and bring glory to God? If the answer is clearly no, skip it. Otherwise, proceed to some additional considerations. As a guest, while parties are ideally occasions we’ll enjoy and look forward to, be open to accepting invitations that don’t necessarily line up with your idea of fun. If you don’t like decorating cookies, for example, could the group dynamic at the neighborhood cookie swap provide a springboard for deeper friendships or connections with your neighbors? Even if you’ll have to find a sitter and wear uncomfortable shoes, would attending the company Christmas party help you build rapport with your coworkers? Would your attendance at a particular event encourage and bless the host? When hosting a party, plan thoughtfully. What are you celebrating? What do you want your guests to take away from this party? Through your attitudes, posture, and preparation, how can you make this event a setting where people feel loved, welcomed, and desired? Can you be bold, as Peter was, to reserve a space to share the gospel (perhaps before a meal) or creatively facilitate fun and God-honoring activities? Particularly around Christmas and Easter, Christians have a ready opportunity to weave in worship with feasting. On the practical side, when we all have packed schedules, parties can actually be an efficient way to connect with others. Attending or hosting your neighborhood Christmas party might give you the chance to interact with five to ten households, rather than just one, within the same two-hour period. You can’t be a friend to everybody. But your party may bring two guests together and create a context for them to become friends. Break the Norm In a culture where parties are declining and loneliness is rising, Christians have a strategic opportunity to break the norm of isolation and foster community. Good parties will be marked by Christians who thoughtfully approach them—either as guest or host. Would attending or hosting this event bless you and others and bring glory to God? Last year, my parents hosted a fabulous Twelfth Night Party. It included a bonfire, cream puff swans, laughter, singing, and celebration of the incarnation. Most of the guests were already friends. But two brand-new couples at church didn’t know anyone yet. Within minutes, they had a hot beverage in hand and were folded into conversation and stories. The invites were intentional. My parents thought through who was on the outside that they could welcome in. They considered food and activities that would put guests at ease and foster relationships. But most meaningfully, they considered how to make the event a celebration of Christ through prayer, hymn singing, and creative retelling of the nativity story. The result was a beautiful party that left everyone refreshed and encouraged. Should the party be saved? It depends. But perhaps, with prayer and thoughtfulness, an ugly Christmas sweater party might give us a little taste of heaven. Maybe, just maybe, it could give a few of our non-Christian friends an appetite to know the real Lord of the Feast.