Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
True Jesus Church does not believe in this holiday celebration, contrary to many Christian denominations. What is the truth about Christmas? Does this celebration align with Biblical teachings? Find out more:
And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ (Mtt 15:9)
• December 25 was the birthday of the sun god, worshipped by ancient pagans. Being farmers, these pagans worshipped the sun because it made their crops grow and provided warmth and light. During the winter solstice, it appeared to these pagans that their god was in demise. However on December 25, the sun begins its ascent at noontime, which the pagans interpreted as the rebirth of the sun god. The day was one of celebration for sun-worshippers all over the northern hemisphere.
• The Romans celebrated the winter festival, Saturnalia, from December 17–24 (or as some sources suggest, December 17–23). It was dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, and to the renewed power of the sun. December 25 was the “Day of the Invincible Sun” (Dies Invicti Solis), possibly introduced by Emperor Aurelian in 274 A.D.
• Since Christmas is an adaptation of pagan festivals, many of its customs are also associated with pagan legends. Take the Christmas tree as an example. Legend has linked this tree to Nimrod (Gen 10:8) of ancient Babylon. After his death, a full-grown evergreen tree sprang out of the roots of a dead tree stump, symbolizing new life for him; legend also relates how Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts under it on the anniversary of his birth (on the winter solstice). The Roman version of this myth tells of the mother of Adonis, the sun god, who mystically changed into a tree and, in that state, brought forth her divine son.
The Druids decorated oak trees with fruits and candles in honor of their god of harvest during the winter solstice. The Vikings regarded evergreen coniferous trees as symbolic of the end of the darkness of winter and the return of the light of spring.
Who Established Christmas?
• Neither the apostles nor the early church celebrated the birthday of Christ.
• There is no mention of such a practice in the writings of second century Christian leaders such as Irenaeus (c.130-200 A.D.). However, in this era, there was evidence that segments of the church were flirting with the assimilation of pagan practices into Christianity, setting auspicious dates for the birth and death of Christ. However, nobody had yet put forward December 25 as the date of Christ’s birth.
• For Christians living in the Roman Empire, some were either influenced to join in the celebrations of Saturnalia, or failed to abstain from the festivities after conversion. But the church stalwarts were still strongly opposed to the assimilation of paganism.
• In the fourth century, things changed and the Roman Catholic Church adopted Saturnalia and Dies Invicti Solis in order to conciliate the heathen populace, and assigned Christian meanings to these festivals. It became Christmas, the birthday of Christ.
Why We Should Not Observe Christmas
• Despite the Christian masquerade and appellations, Christmas is essentially a pagan festival. Christians should have nothing to do with it. To claim that the birthday of the pagan sun god is a day for remembering the birth of Jesus is an untruth that is not pleasing to God.
• Neither the Bible nor historical documents record the precise date of Christ’s birth. Whichever day it was, it could not be December 25. In Judea (present day Israel), there are two important seasons of rain: the autumnal rain and the spring rain (also called the early rain and the latter rain). The autumnal rain starts in November and continues till January. The combination of the incessant downpour and the chilly winter winds makes the cold of the night piercing. Shepherds could hardly be watching their flocks by night in the plains (Lk 2:8–11). The celebration of Christmas perpetuates the lie that Christ was born on December 25.
• The commemoration of the birthday of Jesus demeans Him because it is tantamount to treating Him, who is God having no “beginning of days” (Heb 7:3), as a mere mortal born at a certain point in time.
• There is no record of the celebration of Jesus’ birthday in the Bible. Whatever is not instructed in the Bible, we shall not add. Whoever adds to or subtracts from the words of God shall be punished (Rev 22:18–19).
The custom of setting and decorating the Christmas tree was condemned by God in Jeremiah 10:2–4: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple.’"
Some have argued that, while Christmas and Easter have pagan origins, the festivals have evolved into Christian festivals. Therefore, as long as Christians worship the Lord Jesus sincerely, there is nothing wrong observing them.
However, the Bible is clear that God does not only forbid the worship of false gods, but He also detests any attempt on the part of believers to worship Him after the forms and manners of the pagans. Hence, He gave detailed instructions to Moses on the manner He wanted His children to worship Him. Copying pagan forms and manners is abhorrent to Him:
“Observe and obey all these words which I command you … When … you … dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them … and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods … Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” (Deut 12:28-32)
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