I suppose many preachers will be preaching on, and or writing about Christmas. Hey, I don’t want to be left out :-). So, here it goes: “The Christmas Article.”
For many, Christmas is a religious holiday in celebration of the birth of Jesus. For others, it’s the product of ancient mythology. To those in the marketing world, it’s an opportunity to make an insane amount of money. To most, it’s a time for family, friends, food, and festivities!
I suppose most of us have heard that the English, “Christmas,” is a Catholic tradition of the past wherein Catholic folks celebrated a special Mass at midnight on Christmas Eve, and that Christmas itself is a holiday instituted by the Catholic church. Where did the Christmas, December 25th date come from? Why was it chosen as the day of celebration? It was chosen to be the day for this holiday because per the Roman calendar, it
...marked the winter solstice when the world “hovering on the brink of darkness and desolation was saved by the resurgent sun.” Under Aurelian this time was called “the birthday of the Unconquered Sun.” Since the Christ was destined to replace this pagan line of thinking, the church (Catholic) came up with their own feast, which would be a celebration of the birth of the “Sun of Righteousness.”
Then there are some who say that the 25th is the day of the actual birth of Jesus himself. Someone said that
by fantastic calculations the world was supposed to have begun to be created on March 25, so Christ, the New Creation was conceived on March 25 and born December 25. [He then added] ...from the Gospel stories the conception of John the Baptist is placed in September and Christ in March and his birth, therefore, December 25.
Then, there’s the Christmas tree. The legend is that on the night Christ was born, all the trees in the forest, despite snow and ice, blossomed and bore fruit. What about the lights? Well, this custom seems to have come from the Roman Kalends who adorned “houses with tree and winter greenery” making it part of the nativity festival. The “domestic Christmas tree” that you and I are most familiar with has been ascribed to Martin Luther in the mid 1800’s. Then, there’s our favorite man dressed in red--Santa Clause. This likely comes from a Roman Catholic “saint” named Saint Nicholas. “Saint Nicholas was bishop of Myra, in Lycia (Asia Minor) who was honored by Greeks and Latins December 6.” This man was very wealthy, and gave his money in secret. "Since all gifts were ascribed to the saint, it became a custom for parents to tell their children that their presents came from him."
Okay, the day of celebration, the purpose of celebration, the decorations, and the like all have religious undertones. More than that, the day itself was marked a religious holy-day. Seems pretty clear then that it’s a day that New Testament Christians should shy away from celebrating all together, right? Let’s tread carefully here.
First, with respect to religious days, Paul an apostle of God warned against keeping such days not taught in God’s word (Gal. 4:10-11). So, we have to be cautious about going beyond God’s word. If Christmas is not a religious day ordained by God’s Word, then as Christians, should we make it into a holy-day?
Let’s be real careful that we don’t transgress divine limitations (Col. 3:17; 2 Jn. 9; 1 Jn. 3:4). Was Jesus conceived in March? I don’t know. The Bible doesn’t tell us. Then, was he born in December? I don’t know. The Bible doesn’t tell us.
The Bible nowhere teaches the day of his birth but does share with us the day of his resurrection. Further, the Bible teaches that this day is a day of weekly remembrance (Acts 20:28). I have to believe that if God wanted me to remember, celebrate, and honor the “Lord’s birth” He would have told me when and how to do it.
Okay then, so the big question! Can a Christian celebrate the Christmas holiday? I believe that he can, so long as he’s careful in the way that he presents his celebration of the Christmas holiday before his neighbors and friends (Mt. 5:14-16). For instance, I’d want to be careful with the cards I send or the decorations I put out.
Here’s the deal. Christmas has become so secularized through the years that it just doesn’t have the same religious significance that it once had. You know, there are a number of things that are right within themselves provided we do not attach the religious to them (Mk. 7:1-13)--a tree, a jolly man in red, gifts, etc..
“Yes, Neil, but what about the origin itself. Why, that alone means we must be celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday if we celebrate it at all. Right?” I don’t believe so. There are a number of things we use everyday that have a heathen and/or religious origin. The days of the week are named in honor of pagan gods. Many cities are of Catholic origin and honor things unique to Catholicism. We don’t have a problem separating these things from their religious background so that we might use them. I believe the same can be said for Christmas.
I realize some will say then, members of the church must not truly love Jesus since they don’t “celebrate his birth.” Nothing could be further from the truth. We just never stop loving and honoring Jesus--24/7 and 365 days a year.
Friends, let’s love Jesus all year long, and let’s not only love the cuddly baby Jesus, but the commanding adult Jesus as well.
some thoughts included from James Meadows.
For many, Christmas is a religious holiday in celebration of the birth of Jesus. For others, it’s the product of ancient mythology. To those in the marketing world, it’s an opportunity to make an insane amount of money. To most, it’s a time for family, friends, food, and festivities!
I suppose most of us have heard that the English, “Christmas,” is a Catholic tradition of the past wherein Catholic folks celebrated a special Mass at midnight on Christmas Eve, and that Christmas itself is a holiday instituted by the Catholic church. Where did the Christmas, December 25th date come from? Why was it chosen as the day of celebration? It was chosen to be the day for this holiday because per the Roman calendar, it
...marked the winter solstice when the world “hovering on the brink of darkness and desolation was saved by the resurgent sun.” Under Aurelian this time was called “the birthday of the Unconquered Sun.” Since the Christ was destined to replace this pagan line of thinking, the church (Catholic) came up with their own feast, which would be a celebration of the birth of the “Sun of Righteousness.”
Then there are some who say that the 25th is the day of the actual birth of Jesus himself. Someone said that
by fantastic calculations the world was supposed to have begun to be created on March 25, so Christ, the New Creation was conceived on March 25 and born December 25. [He then added] ...from the Gospel stories the conception of John the Baptist is placed in September and Christ in March and his birth, therefore, December 25.
Then, there’s the Christmas tree. The legend is that on the night Christ was born, all the trees in the forest, despite snow and ice, blossomed and bore fruit. What about the lights? Well, this custom seems to have come from the Roman Kalends who adorned “houses with tree and winter greenery” making it part of the nativity festival. The “domestic Christmas tree” that you and I are most familiar with has been ascribed to Martin Luther in the mid 1800’s. Then, there’s our favorite man dressed in red--Santa Clause. This likely comes from a Roman Catholic “saint” named Saint Nicholas. “Saint Nicholas was bishop of Myra, in Lycia (Asia Minor) who was honored by Greeks and Latins December 6.” This man was very wealthy, and gave his money in secret. "Since all gifts were ascribed to the saint, it became a custom for parents to tell their children that their presents came from him."
Okay, the day of celebration, the purpose of celebration, the decorations, and the like all have religious undertones. More than that, the day itself was marked a religious holy-day. Seems pretty clear then that it’s a day that New Testament Christians should shy away from celebrating all together, right? Let’s tread carefully here.
First, with respect to religious days, Paul an apostle of God warned against keeping such days not taught in God’s word (Gal. 4:10-11). So, we have to be cautious about going beyond God’s word. If Christmas is not a religious day ordained by God’s Word, then as Christians, should we make it into a holy-day?
Let’s be real careful that we don’t transgress divine limitations (Col. 3:17; 2 Jn. 9; 1 Jn. 3:4). Was Jesus conceived in March? I don’t know. The Bible doesn’t tell us. Then, was he born in December? I don’t know. The Bible doesn’t tell us.
The Bible nowhere teaches the day of his birth but does share with us the day of his resurrection. Further, the Bible teaches that this day is a day of weekly remembrance (Acts 20:28). I have to believe that if God wanted me to remember, celebrate, and honor the “Lord’s birth” He would have told me when and how to do it.
Okay then, so the big question! Can a Christian celebrate the Christmas holiday? I believe that he can, so long as he’s careful in the way that he presents his celebration of the Christmas holiday before his neighbors and friends (Mt. 5:14-16). For instance, I’d want to be careful with the cards I send or the decorations I put out.
Here’s the deal. Christmas has become so secularized through the years that it just doesn’t have the same religious significance that it once had. You know, there are a number of things that are right within themselves provided we do not attach the religious to them (Mk. 7:1-13)--a tree, a jolly man in red, gifts, etc..
“Yes, Neil, but what about the origin itself. Why, that alone means we must be celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday if we celebrate it at all. Right?” I don’t believe so. There are a number of things we use everyday that have a heathen and/or religious origin. The days of the week are named in honor of pagan gods. Many cities are of Catholic origin and honor things unique to Catholicism. We don’t have a problem separating these things from their religious background so that we might use them. I believe the same can be said for Christmas.
I realize some will say then, members of the church must not truly love Jesus since they don’t “celebrate his birth.” Nothing could be further from the truth. We just never stop loving and honoring Jesus--24/7 and 365 days a year.
Friends, let’s love Jesus all year long, and let’s not only love the cuddly baby Jesus, but the commanding adult Jesus as well.
some thoughts included from James Meadows.