Is Christmas Scriptural? - What Does the Bible Say?

Other Issues - Article - M.0011

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1. In defending his family's right to engage in the pagan traditions of Christmas, one man (who had previously rejected Christmas himself for some of the same reasons presented on this website, but later acquiesced to family pressures and returned to those traditions) wrote to me saying, "Everybody knows that Jesus wasn't born on December 25th." If that is true, I would say, then why would they knowingly participate in a lie?

2. The bible precisely states the year, month, day, and even hour in which numerous - and seemingly insignificant - events occurred. If it was important that we know when Jesus was born, isn't it reasonable to believe that God would have been equally specific about that date too - especially for such a significant event? Further, if he wanted us to celebrate his birthday, isn't it reasonable to believe that he would have commanded it?

3. Because he didn't command us to celebrate his birthday, is it possible that Jesus has reasons for us NOT to celebrate it? (This article will address only a very few of those reasons).

4. How can we wish people a "Merry Christ-mass," knowing that those words mean "Merry-death-of-Christ"? What kind of person would say, "Ho Ho Ho, Merry death-of-Christ"??

5. Yes, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. But no, he was not born in December. Among other reasons, it is fairly well-known that Jesus was born sometime in the autumn, because the shepherds were still 'watching their flocks by night' - before the cold, rainy season had arrived when the flocks would no longer have been grazing in the fields.

6. Is the word of God our final authority in all matters of faith and practice? Shouldn't we simply keep the commandments of Jesus then?? Whenever people implemented their own forms of religious practice to worship God, they were strongly rebuked or put to death by God. Jesus didn't say that we could make up our own traditions in remembrance of him. And, in fact, the bible says that the day of death is better than the day of birth (Eccl 7:1), so - if anything - we should remember his death not his birth.

7. Christmas is indisputably a religious/worship practice. The question is: whom are we worshipping by practicing these traditions? Consider these verses in light of our well-entrenched Christmas traditions:

a. Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? (Matt 15:3)

b. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men (Mark 7:8)

c. Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. (Mark 7:9)

d. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition (Mark 7:13)

9. The bible and secular history both record that the early church did NOT celebrate Christmas.

10. In 1999, our family participated in our last full-fledged Christmas celebration, and by two years later had withdrawn ourselves from all such seasonal celebrations amongst family and friends. We realize that, to Christians especially, this may be surprising. However, after having studied the origins of Christmas, the meanings of virtually all of the Christmas traditions, and the scriptures that pertain to these traditions, we felt compelled to 'learn not the way of the heathen' and simply to follow HIS WORD. We have compiled approximately 200 reasons that lead us to this decision, and have documented several dozen (unanswered) questions that would prevent our return to such celebrations. As three examples:

a. Jeremiah chapter 10:1-5 is probably the best known scripture regarding the Christmas tree and God's command to "learn not the way of the heathen" in erecting one. The use of palm trees and every green trees was common in the worship of false gods.

b. "What basis do we have for using a Christmas tree anyway - to say nothing of the dozens of other rituals - in association with celebrating the birth of Christ?" There are no scriptural answers to support this tradition and many scriptural answers to oppose it. (But pagans have answers to support it, because the tradition is of pagan origin.), and

c. We are commanded to remember the Lord's death till he comes, not his birth. (For good reason - Eccl 7:1).

10. Here's another thought. Most people believe themselves to be immune from the power that television has to mesmerize and to brainwash them - those who, as an act of their own volition, submit their minds to its propaganda. Knowing this, God inspired King David to write in the Psalms, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes." (Ps 101:3) This should settle the matter for us.

11. The television has enormous power over one's mind to shape our thinking. Here are two questions to test the influence of it on you, the reader:

a. Is the grinch that stole Christmas a good guy, or a bad guy?

b. In Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", is Scrooge a good guy, or a bad guy?

12. OK, Scrooge was a "bad guy" until he was converted. Then he became a "good guy" - right? So, let's look at his conversion. The "spirit" of Christmas Past, the "spirit" of Christmas Present, and the "spirit" of Christmas Future visited Mr. Scrooge, complete with darkness, eerie groaning, chains of bondage, bony fingers, hooded robes, graveyards, fear and despair.

13. The word of God says in I John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: So my question is, "Were the spirits that visited Scrooge messengers of God?

14. Certainly not.

15. So, these fables (II Tim 4:4) tell us that a person who is opposed to Christmas is a "BAD guy", a grinch, or a scrooge. And, concurrently, they tell us that people who are visited by devils (who call themselves the 'spirits of Christmas'), but who catch the 'spirit' of Christmas, and who undergo a conversion, become the GOOD guys; right? Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil. (Is 5:20).

16. Remember, Christmas is indisputably a religious/worship practice. The world celebrates Christmas. How can Christians join with non-Christians in worship? What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? (II Cor 6:14)

17. Why are we so captivated by the nostalgia and traditions of Christmas, and why are we so driven to participate in them? (Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.) (I John 2:15)

18. The bible says that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4) It also says: Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition (Mark 7:13)

19. If we need every word of God to live, and we make that word of God of none effect by our traditions, then shouldn't the traditions of Christmas be something from which we flee?