The celebration of Christmas, often referred to as the holiday season, has become for many a time of stress. Excessive commercialism, greed, compulsory gift giving, depression, suicide, domestic conflict, partying, and substance abuse are very common during this time of the year. Still for others, Christmas is a time to reflect on Christ’s birth, with fond memories of Christmas’ gone by and gatherings with family and friends.
The question might be asked, “Is there a darker side to the history of Christmas?” “What was the early church’s view of this celebration?” “How should a Christian in today’s world view the celebration of Christmas?”
The Time Of Christ’s Birth
Many people are unaware of the fact, that Jesus was not born on December 25th. Most historians and scholars now calculate the date of Jesus birth as being in the fall, sometime in late September or October. The scriptures tell us that Jesus was crucified in the early spring at the time of the Passover. Passover fell on Nisan 14th, according to the Jewish calendar. (See John 18:39) Holy Scripture tells us that Jesus’ ministry was three and a half years in length. (See Luke 3:23) If we count back six months from the spring Passover, when Jesus was crucified, this would place Jesus birth thirty three years earlier in the fall of the year.
There is no historical documentation as to the exact date of Christ’s birth. The date of the Messiah’s birth is not mentioned in the Bible, nor is there a commandment given that we as Christians should celebrate Christ’s birth.
The scriptures tell us that at the time of Christ’s birth, “there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” (Luke 2:8) Shepherds in Judea do not abide in the fields in the middle of winter! It is not uncommon for it to snow in that part of the world and for temperatures to drop below freezing.* Yet shepherds could have been out in the field with their flocks as late as October. This would once again point to the fall of the year, as the time of Jesus’ birth.
Another factor to consider is that at the time of Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem, Joseph’s place of birth, in order to be taxed. (See Luke 2:1-5) The middle of the winter would not have been a good time for taxation, especially with the population in transition. A more logical time of the year would have been in the fall at the end of the harvest. If this were the case, it would have been the season of the Feast of Tabernacles, which was in Jerusalem. Jerusalem would have been over crowded with people. This would also explain why in Bethlehem, located five miles from Jerusalem, “there was no room in the inn.” (See Luke 2:7)
The celebration of Christmas was not incorporated into the church until the mid fourth century. The Council of Nicea convened in the year 325 CE. It was at this council that an estimated 250-318 bishops, of the 1800 bishops that were initially invited throughout the empire, met with the pagan Roman Emperor, Constantine. Christmas was first observed in the year 336 CE. Prior to this event, there was no celebration of Christmas. Note what the following sources tell us concerning the Christmas celebration in the early church.
The History of Christmas & the Early Church
The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol III 1908 states: “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts. . .”
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, & Ecclesiastical Literature/ by John M’Clintock & James Strong, Vol II. states: “The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of New Testament origin. The day of Christ’s birth cannot be ascertained from the New Testament, or indeed from any other source. The fathers of the first three centuries do not speak of any special observance of the nativity. . . It is historically certain that the Christmas festival proper is of late institution.”
The Britannia Junior Encyclopedia, Volume V states: “Although Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, the actual date of Christ’s birth is not known. The earliest Christians did not even set aside a feast day for observing the nativity. . . in addition, they did not feel that it would be suitable for them to celebrate Christ’s birth in the worldly way that the Romans observed their emperor’s birthday. It was not until the 4th century, when worship of the emperor was no longer a problem for Christians, that the celebration of Christ’s birthday began.
By the year AD 336, however, the birth of Christ was being celebrated at Rome on December 25th. This was the day on which the pagans observed the festival of the ‘unconquered sun,’ their celebration of the winter solstice. The Romans also celebrated the Saturnalia, or feast of the mighty one Saturn, during the week before December 25th.”
Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend Vol I states: “There were within the church, criticisms of the observance on the grounds of its resembling pagan rites, of its being sun worship. . . and as late as 1644, during the Puritan ascendancy, the English Parliament forbade observance of the festival.”
The Catholic Encyclopedia 1908, Vol III states: “The well known solar feast, however, of Natalis Invicti, celebrated on 25 December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our December date.”
The Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, Ancient and Modern, Vol I states: “It is generally admitted that the designation of the 25th of December for the festival Christmas, was first made about the middle of the fourth century. . . The motives which led the western churches to place the festival of the nativity on the 25th of December, are not clearly ascertained. Some among the Catholics, and many among the Protestants, think that day was chosen, because it was the day on which the Romans celebrated their festival of natalis solis invicti, or of the suns passing the southern solstice and beginning to return northward. . . and because the establishment of a Christian festival of several days, at that season of the year, might supplant the Saturnalia and other corrupting festivals of the pagans. . . For from the days of Augustine and Chrysostom down to our own times, we find many devout heathens deprecating the heathenish manner in which the festival was kept, and laboring to give it a more Christian character. The Christmas holidays, which by a law of Theodosius the emperor (AD 383-395). . . have born so close a resemblance, wherever they have been observed, to the Roman Saturnalia. . . as to afford strong presumption of an unhappy alliance between them from the first.”
The Two Babylons by Alexander Hislop states: “How then, did the Romish Church fix on December the 25th as Christmas day? Long before the fourth century, and long before the Christian era itself, a festival was celebrated among the heathen, at that precise time of year, in honor of the birth of the son of the Babylonian queen of heaven; and it may fairly be presumed that, in order to conciliate the heathen, and to swell the number of the nominal adherents to Christianity, the same festival was adapted by the Roman Church, giving it only the name of Christ. This tendency on the part of Christians to meet Paganism halfway was very early developed; and we find Tertullian, even in his day, about the year 230, bitterly lamenting the inconsistency of the disciples of Christ in this respect, and contrasting it with the strict fidelity of the pagans in their own superstition.
Tertullian wrote: ‘By us, who are strangers to Sabbaths, and new moons, and festivals, once acceptable to God (under the Law of Moses), the Saturnalia, the feasts of January, the Brumalia, and Matronalia, are now frequented; gifts are carried to and fro, new years day presents are made with din, and sports and banquets are celebrated with uproar; oh, how much more faithful are the heathen to their religion, who take special care to adopt no solemnity from the Christians.’
Upright men strove to stem the tide, but in spite of all their efforts, the apostasy went on, til the Church, with the exception of a small remnant, was submerged under pagan superstition. That Christmas was originally a pagan festival, is beyond all doubt. The time of year, and the ceremonies with which it is still celebrated prove its origin. In Egypt, the son of Isis, the Egyptian title for the queen of heaven, was born at this very time, the time of the winter solstice. The very name by which Christmas is popularly known among ourselves -Yule Day- proves at once its Pagan and Babylonian origin. ‘Yule’ is the Chaldean name for an “infant or little child;” and as the 25th of December was called by our Pagan Anglo Saxon ancestors, ‘Yule-day’ or the ‘Child’s-day,’ and the night that proceeded it, ‘Mother’s Night,’ long before they came in contact with Christianity, that sufficiently proves its real character.
It was no mere astronomic festival, then, that the Pagans celebrated at the winter solstice. That festival at Rome was called the feast of Saturn, and the mode in which it was celebrated there, showed whence it had been derived. The feast as regulated by Caligula, lasted five days; loose reigns were given to drunkenness and revelry, slaves had a temporary emancipation, and used all manner of freedom with their masters. This was precisely the way in which. . . the festival of Bacchus, was celebrated in Babylon.”
Babylon Mystery Religion by Ralph Woodrow states:
“Since Christ was not born on December 25th, then how did this particular day come to be part of the church calendar? History has the answer. Instead of this day being the time of our Savior’s birth, it was the very day and season on which the pagans for centuries had celebrated the birth of the sun god! A study into this shows how far apostate church leaders went in their effort to merge Christianity and paganism into one apostate religion–even to placing the birth of Christ on a date to harmonize with the pagan birthday celebration of the sun god! It was in the fifth century that the Roman Catholic church commanded that the birth of Christ be observed forever on December 25th–the day of the old Roman feast of the birth of Sol-one of the names of the sun god.
In pagan days, the birth of the sun-god was especially popular among the branch of the “Mysteries” known as Mithraism. Concerning this we read: “The largest pagan religious cult which fostered the celebration of December 25th as a holiday throughout the Roman and Greek worlds was the pagan sun worship-Mithraism. . . This winter festival was called the ‘Nativity’- the ‘Nativity of the Sun’.” And not only was Mithra, the sun god of Mithraism, said to be born at this time of year, but Osiris, Horus, Hercules, Bacchus, Adonis, Jupiter, Tammuz, and other sun-gods were also supposedly born at what is today called the “Christmas” season-the winter solstice!
Says a noted writer: ‘The winter solstice was the time in which all the sun-gods from Osiris to Jupiter and Mithra had celebrated their birthdays, the celebration being adorned with the pine tree of Adonis, the holly of Saturn, and the mistletoe. . . tappers representing the kindling of the newborn sun-god’s fire. . .’
Now the fact that the various sun-gods that were worshiped in different countries were all believed to have been born at the same season (in the old fables), would seem to indicate that they were but different forms (under different names) of the original son of the sun-god, Tammuz, of Babylon, the land from which sun worship originally spread.
In Babylon, the birthday of Tammuz was celebrated at the time of the winter solstice with great feasts, revelry, and drunkenness–the same way many celebrate it today! The ancient celebration spread and became so much an established custom that in pagan Rome and Greece, in the days of the Teutonic barbarians, in the remote times of ancient Egyptian civilization, in the infancy of the race East and West and North and South, the period of the winter solstice was ever a period of rejoicing and festivity.
When this mid-winter festival came to Rome, it was known as the Saturnalia–Saturn being but another name of Nimrod or Tammuz as the “hidden god.” This feast was the most vile immoral feast that ever disgraced pagan Rome. It was a season of license, drunkenness, and debauchery, when all restraints of law were laid aside. And it was from this very feast at Rome that the merry-making of this season passed into the Roman Catholic Church and on down to our present civilization. ‘It is a matter of common knowledge,’ says one writer, ‘that much of our association with the Christmas season–the holidays, the giving of presents and the general feeling of geniality–is but the inheritance of the Roman winter festival of the Saturnalia. . . survivals of paganism.'”
From the above sources we can conclude that Christmas is not of divine origin, nor was it celebrated by the early Christians. The actual date of Christ’s birth is unknown. The date chosen for the birth of Christ (December 25th) was the birthday of the sun god (Saturn), not the birthday of the Son of God (Jesus Christ). Christmas, as a Christian holiday, was not celebrated in Rome until 336 AD. This was the day on which the pagans observed the festival of the “unconquered sun” or “Sol Invictus,” their celebration of the winter solstice. The Romans celebrated the Saturnalia or the feast of the mighty one, Saturn, during the week before December 25th.
During the period of 1644-1660, the English Parliament of the American colonies passed laws forbidding the observance of Christmas because it was a pagan festival. Did this early colonial parliament know something that we don’t? In England, Oliver Cromwell and his government canceled Christmas in 1645 to remove decadence. The festival was reinstated by Charles II when he took the throne, but the Puritans and Pilgrims had always looked down on the holiday. This was especially true of the Orthodox Pilgrims and Puritans, who emigrated to the United States in the early 17th century. Only in the 19th century did the Americans begin to embrace Christmas. In 1836, Alabama became the first state to make Christmas a state holiday, followed by Louisiana and Arkansas in 1838. Christmas did not become a federal holiday in America, until 1870.
The Pagan Customs of Christmas
The The Yule Log: The yule log was a representation of Nimrod, the mighty hunter in opposition to the LORD (Yahweh). (See Genesis 10:9) Nimrod was the founder of Babylon and built the tower of Babel. According to legend, after his death, Nimrod’s body was cut up into fourteen pieces and a part of Nimrod’s body was never found. The yule log became a phallic symbol, which represented the part of Nimrod’s body that was never recovered. Being a phallic symbol, the ashes of the yule log were alleged to have fertility powers. The yule log was also an offshoot of the dead tree that represented Nimrod. The death of their mighty one (Nimrod) and his reappearance each year marked the beginning of a new solar year. The ancients thought that by burning the yule log, they were getting rid of the old things that had taken place during the previous year, and that there would be a new beginning for all in the new year. The new year was then celebrated and symbolized by the evergreen, which pictured the resurrected Nimrod. The tree was then brought into the house and decorated.
The Christmas Tree: The tree that appears in the homes of people each year is a relic of tree worship. In ancient times, trees were alluring idols for the primitive mind to worship. The evergreen, in particular, seemed to defy death by remaining vibrantly green all throughout the winter. When Nimrod died, the ancient pagans represented him as a tree that had been cut down. A serpent encircled the trunk of the tree and on December 25th (Christmas day) the people were told that a new shoot had miraculously appeared out of the dead stump. This pictured Nimrod’s resurrection and his being deified as the sun god. Nimrod was known to the Babylonians as “Baal” and to the Romans as “Saturn.”* The people then engaged in a riotous celebration! The Christmas tree, which is now so common among us, was equally common in pagan Egypt and pagan Rome. In Egypt, the tree was the palm tree. In Rome, the tree was the fir or evergreen.
In colonial America, the Christmas tree was heavily condemned by clergymen and statesmen. English and American Puritans spoke explicitly against the practice, citing its pagan origins and deeming it a distraction from the worshiping of the Christ.
Note what the Bible confirms about tree worship in ancient times.
Jeremiah 10:1-5 states: “1 Hear the word which the LORD (Yahweh) speaks to you , O house of Israel. 2 Thus says the LORD: ‘Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed by the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, 3 for the customs of the people are false. A tree from the forest is cut down, and worked with an ax by the hands of a craftsman. 4 Men deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it cannot move. 5 Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried for they cannot walk. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.'”
The Holly, Ivy, & Mistletoe: To the ancients, winter was considered to be a dead time of year. Not much grew and the days were short and dark. Because of this, colorful plants like holly, ivy, and mistletoe were symbols of fertility. The mistletoe was viewed as an aphrodisiac. Why do you think people still kiss under the mistletoe?
The Christmas Wreath: The Christmas wreath was a symbol of the “Young Jupiter,” and its shape was a symbol of sun worship and eternal life.
The Madonna and Child: One of the most ancient and pagan symbols to attach itself to Christmas is the symbol of the “Mother and Child.” The pagan deities of ancient Egypt, “Horus” and “Isis,” were representations of Nimrod and his mother. These pagan deities became mother-child symbols during the Christmas season. Horus was the child deity or “Nimrod,” and Isis the mother deity or “Semiramis.”
Sir James Frazer in his book the The Golden Bough states: “The resemblance need not be purely accidental. Ancient Egypt may have contributed its share to the gorgeous symbolism of the Catholic church as well as the pale abstractions of her theology. Certainly in art, the figure of Isis suckling the infant Horus is so like that of the Madonna and Child, that it has sometimes received the adoration of ignorant Christians.”
Lights and Candles: Dr. Alexander Hislop in his book, The Two Babylons, notes that the practice of lighting candles at Christmas can be easily traced to the custom of pagans burning candles before their idols. The Pagans, on the eve of the festival of the Babylonian god, lighted wax candles on the altar to honor him.
Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas): Santa was first called Saint Nicholas. Purportedly, there was a man called Saint Nicholas who gave gifts, but the origin of St. Nick and Santa Claus goes back much further in history. The stag was a symbol in dim antiquity of Nimrod. Statues of Baal, found in Nineveh, show the pagan god Baal (the deified Nimrod) with a long beard and carrying a deer. The Baal statues had wings which gave the god the power of flying through the air. The Norse god. “Odin,” was pictured as riding across the sky on an eight legged horse. He was a magician who punished naughty children and rewarded good children with presents. The Norse god, “Thor,” was represented as an elderly man, jovial, with a heavy build and a long white beard. He entered homes through the chimney and into the fire, which was his element and his color red. He drove a chariot, drawn by two goats, Cracker and Nasher. He was known as the “yule god” and dwelt in a palace in the North land, with the ice and snow.
Interestingly, Saint Nicholas’ existence is not attested by any historical document, so nothing certain is known of his life except that he was probably bishop of Myra in the fourth century. The accounts of his life are confused and historically unconfirmed. In 1969 Pope Paul VI officially decreed the feast of Saint Nicholas be removed from the Roman calendar, because of doubt that he ever existed. Refer to: 1999 Encyclopedia Britannica, Microsoft Encarte Encyclopedia 1999, Christmas Almanac, Random House 2004.
“Old Nick” is also another name for Satan the devil. The name “Santa” (“saint” in Spanish) has at times been construed to mean, “Satan!” This mythical and mystical figure has all but stolen the focus away from Christ, during the Christmas season.
Gift Giving: The custom of exchanging gifts at Christmas is also of pagan origin. The Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology points to the fact that almost every authority that may be called forward as a record, declares that Christmas is a modern innovation of the Roman Saturnalia. The Encyclopedia Britannica (11th Edition) states that the Saturnalia festivals were accompanied by the exchanging of gifts, a favorite one being clay dolls. “These dolls were especially given to children, and the makers of them had a regular fair at this time. Varro (116-127 B C) thought these dolls originally represented sacrificed human beings to the infernal god.” Human sacrifices were part of the original pagan ritual.
From the above references, it is clear that there is an incredible legacy of paganism found in Christmas. The historic record speaks for itself.
The Biblical Account
It is true that at the time of Christ’s birth, the shepherds witnessed a heavenly host of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will!” (See Luke 2:14) This phrase has often been mistranslated as to say, “. . . and on earth good will towards men!” This is an incorrect rendering of this passage, as God only grants his peace to men of good will.*
Although the angels rejoiced at birth of the Savior, there is nothing in scripture that instructs us to celebrate Christ’s birth, nor is there anything in the Christian historical record that indicates that the early Christians did so. As we have already established, the date of Christ’s birth was unknown. Certainly if God had wanted us to celebrate Christ’s birth, He would have made known to us the day on which Christ was born.
Another common misconception is that the wise men or Magi were present at the birth of Christ. The scriptures tell us that only the shepherds were present to witness Christ’s birth. God chose the shepherds, the lowest caste of Jewish society, to be witnesses of His Son’s birth. (See Luke 2:15-20)
Luke 2:17-18 states: “17 When they (the shepherds) had seen Him (Christ), they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”
The Magi or wise men, who were astrologers from the East, did not appear until approximately two years after Christ’s birth. They first went to Jerusalem to inquire about the whereabouts of the child. They had seen His star in the East and had come to worship Him. King Herod was disturbed and troubled concerning the Magi’s quest for the young child and the whole city of Jerusalem with him. Herod then summoned the chief priests and scribes and inquired of them as to where the King of the Jews was to be born. The Magi were then summoned before King Herod, who made a careful inquiry as to when they first saw the star. Herod then commissioned the Magi to find the child and when they did, to return and bring word as to the child’s whereabouts, so that he might also worship Him. King Herod’s real intent was to kill the child.
The Gospel of Matthew tells us:
“1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men (astrologers) from the East came to Jerusalem asking. 2 ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East at its rising and have come to worship Him.’ 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed and troubled and the whole of Jerusalem with him. 4 So he called all the chief priests and learned men (scribes) of the people and anxiously asked where the Christ was to be born. 7 Then Herod sent for the wise men (astrologers) secretly, and accurately (carefully) to the last point ascertained from them the time of the appearing of the star (that is, how long had the star made itself visible since its rising in the East).* 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search for the Child carefully and diligently, and when you have found Him bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him.'” Matthew 2:1-4 & 7-8
The wise men, having followed the star, were led to the place where the young child was. When they saw the star, standing over the house where the young child was, they were thrilled with joy; and on going into the house they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. They then presented their gifts to the young child.
“9 When they had listened to the king they went their way, and behold, the star which had been seen in the East in its rising went before them until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were thrilled with ecstatic joy; 11 And on going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”* Matthew 2:7-10
Having been warned by God in a dream not to go back to Herod, the wise men or Magi departed to their own country by a different way. Then Herod, realizing that he had been outwitted and misled by the Magi, was enraged, and he sent and put to death all of the male children in Bethlehem and the surrounding territory who were two years old and under, reckoning according to the date he had carefully investigated and ascertained from the wise men.
“12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they (the Magi) departed to their own country by another way. 16 Then Herod, when he realized that he had been misled by the wise men, was furiously enraged, and he sent and put to death all of the male children in Bethlehem and in all that territory (the surrounding district) who were two years old and under, reckoning according to the date which he had investigated diligently and learned exactly from the wise men.” Matthew 2:12 & 16
Following the departure of the Magi, Joseph was warned by an angel in a dream that Herod was seeking the life of the child. Joseph then took his family (Mary and the child) and fled to Egypt.
Matthew 2:13-14 states: “13 Now when they (the Magi) had gone, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.’ 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.”
The account of Matthew’s gospel confirms how old Jesus would have been, about two years of age, after Herod had carefully ascertained from the Magi when they had first seen the star rising in the East. The Gospel of Matthew states that Jesus was a young child, living in a house. That is why, Herod, when he realized that he had been tricked by the wise men (the Magi), had all the baby boys two years and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding district killed.
Clearly, the Magi did not arrive until well after Christ’s birth, approximately two years. We know from the scriptural account at Luke 2:22-23, that Jesus’ parents had presented the baby Jesus to the LORD, at the temple in Jerusalem, when He was 40 days old. This confirms that they were still living in the vicinity of Jerusalem, not Egypt, during the time period immediately following Jesus’ birth. (See also Leviticus 12:2-8)
After reading the gospel accounts of Christ’s birth, it is evident from Holy Scripture that the nativity presented at Christmas time is a distorted narrative! God grants peace on earth among men of good will, not good will towards men. While the angels in heaven glorified God when Christ was born, there is no mention of the date of Christ’s birth, or that any of the early Christians ever celebrated Christ’s birth. The shepherds were the only witnesses present when Christ was born. The wise men or Magi didn’t arrive on the scene until two years later. This was the exact time allotment that King Herod had carefully ascertained from the Magi, as to when they first saw the star rising in the East. They then found Jesus, who was a young child living in a house, not a baby in a stable.
A Christian’s Stance On Christmas
It should not be incumbent on any Christian, that they celebrate Christmas. There is no commandment in Scripture to do so, nor is there anything found in the historic record that indicates that the early Christians did so. There is an overwhelming evidence of paganism found in Christmas, both in the date and the many customs connected with it. This fact has become widely publicized and is also known among atheists, agnostics, and secularists.
There is a proclamation among contemporary Christians stating that, “We need to get Christ back into Christmas!” The sad truth of the matter is that Christ was never in Christmas! This can been seen from the overwhelming scriptural and historical evidence already presented. The present day celebration of the holiday has become a commercial fiasco, having nothing to do with Jesus Christ. All aspects of the media: the commercial, the news, and the entertainment are focused on the secular, traditional, and pagan aspects of the celebration, with Santa Claus becoming the undisputed victor over Christ and central figure of the holiday.
It is just as the scripture states:
“That which is crooked cannot be made straight and that which is wanting (lacking) cannot be counted (numbered).” Ecclesiastes 1:15
“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” Matthew 7:18
The Christmas celebration has in many respects become a replica of the ancient Roman Saturnalia, New Year, and sporting event, all in one. Commencing in mid November and through Thanksgiving, into December and Christmas Day, it then spills over into January, and culminates with New Years Day and the Super Bowl. The Christmas celebration or season is often referred to as the “holidays!” It has become an international holiday, not only in the USA, but also in countries that are predominantly non Christian (Ex. Japan). It is virtually impossible, not to be directly or indirectly affected by this seasonal celebration.
Each Christian can make their own personal determination as to whether:
1. They retain the customs and traditions that are of pagan origin during this time of year.
2. They get caught up in the commercialism and greed that is so prevalent this time of year.
3. They tell their children about Santa Claus or allow this mythical figure to take their focus away from Christ.
4. They tell the true narrative of the nativity and that Christ was not born on December 25th.
5. They choose to give gifts at this time of year.
6. They attend certain social events or family gatherings.
7. They attend Christmas services or functions.
8. They even choose to celebrate Christmas.
An Early Christian Perspective
Early Christians were no part of this world.
James stated: “4 Adulteresses! (Unfaithful creatures!) Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
Jesus said: “16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth.” John 17:16-17
The Apostle Paul stated: “20 No, I imply that what the pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to become partners (partakers) with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?” 1 Corinthians 10:20-22
The Apostle John stated: “15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, (the) love for the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15-16
Early Christians spoke only truth to one another, just as Jesus had taught them to do.
The Apostle Paul stated: “9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices 10 and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:9-10
Jesus said: “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of all lies.” John 8:44
Jesus said: “. . . For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth (on the side of the truth) hears my voice.” John 18:37
Early Christians shunned man made doctrines and traditions in their worship, and relied only on God’s word as their source of doctrine.
Jesus said: “6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void (invalid) the word of God. 9 In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts (commandments) of men.” Matthew 15:6 & 9
Early Christians viewed the church as a chaste bride, betrothed to Christ, They were warned not to accept a false gospel, contrary to the original gospel they had received. Their worship and devotion was to be expressed in the simplicity and purity of Christ.
The Apostle Paul stated: “2 I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. 3 For I am afraid as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ (from the simplicity and purity of Christ). 4 For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough.” 2 Corinthians 11:2-4
I attended a Christmas Eve vigil many years ago that was observed in the simplicity and purity of Christ. The service opened with the singing of scriptural hymns, followed by the reading of the gospel accounts of the nativity. This was followed by prayer. The service ended with the singing of scriptural hymns. That was it! There was no Santa Claus, sleighs, reindeer, holly, mistletoe, lights, trees, ornaments, etc.
In the final analysis, it should not be obligatory that any Christian celebrate Christmas. The vast preponderance of historical and scriptural evidence indicates that Christmas was originally founded on a pagan holiday. It was based on a false narrative of Christ’s birth and the nativity. It was ushered into the fourth century church, as a way of merging paganism with Christianity. It was a radical departure from the original gospel and the early Christian church. It was originally a Catholic Mass (Christ-mass) that was established in the fourth century, three hundred years after Christ. If someone has personally resolved to continue celebrating Christmas and is insistent on doing so, it would certainly be advisable to do so in the simplicity and purity of Christ. Each person can make their own personal decision as to whether they chose to celebrate Christmas or have any connection with it, and how they establish personal boundaries with this celebration.
The True Celebration
The only celebration that the early Christians are documented to have celebrated was the Lord’s evening meal. Jesus told his followers to, “Do this in remembrance of me.” (See Luke 22:19) Ironically, the only celebration that Jesus told his followers to commemorate was His death, not his birth. In God’s eyes, the day of death is more important than the day of birth, as it is a consummation of all that one has done in their lifetime.
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death, than the day of birth.” Ecclesiastes 7:1-4
Jesus came to give His life or soul as a ransom, to buy back what Adam had lost.
“Even as the Son of Man came. . . to give His life (soul) as a ransom in behalf of many.” Matthew 20:28
Jesus, as the Lamb of God, sacrificed Himself to take away the sin of the world.
“See (Behold) the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
God’s way of viewing things is always higher than our way of viewing things.
“9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9
Babylon the Great
In the over all historical analysis, we as imperfect humans invented Christmas. It is therefore not surprising that human traditions, customs, paganism, and commercialism have come to be associated with this holiday. In this regard it is not unlike other celebrations, sanctioned in the name of Christ, that were never authorized by God or celebrated in the early Christian church. (See Easter Topic) Christians are commanded to come out of anything that teaches or promotes Babylonian traditions and customs. God’s own word tells us to come out of the religious harlot, known as “Babylon the Great.” (Rd Revelation: Ch 17, 18, & 19)
“Come out of her my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;” Revelation 18:4
Many theologians and Bible scholars identify the harlot, “Babylon the Great,” as being the apostate church. (See Bible Topic: Babylon the Great, the Religious Harlot)
“for her sins (iniquities, crimes, and transgressions) are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities (sins, wickedness, and crimes) and calls them up for settlement (to mind).” (See Revelation 18:5-8)
The merging of pagan Babylonian doctrines, customs, and traditions into the fourth century church is still evident today. Historically, all of this can be traced back to ancient Babylon. In this sense, the fourth century church was no longer a chaste virgin betrothed to Christ, but an apostate harlot in bed with the world. (See Revelation 17:1-6)
Transcending the Holidays
As was mentioned earlier, Christmas or the holiday season has spilled over into every area of our culture. This is apparent at the work place, in schools, at family gatherings, at office parties, on TV, on radio, etc. Each person’s individual conscience and circumstances may vary as to their establishing personal boundaries regarding Christmas, during the holiday season. (See Romans 14:1-12 & 2 Corinthians 5:9-10)
The Bible tells us to keep conquering the evil with good. (See Romans 12:21) This time of year is an incredible opportunity to tell the truth of the original gospel and to let your light shine! (See Matthew 5:12-16) You may be surprised to find that people are interested in the true narrative of Christ’s birth and that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th. A Christian might still choose to attend family or social gatherings and simply state that they are no longer involved with Christmas in the same manner as they once were. A believer might also state that they avoid or are no longer involved with the traditional, pagan, and commercial aspects of Christmas. Instead, they are focusing on Christ and the simplicity and purity of Christ as found in the original gospel. This is a tremendous opportunity to preach the true gospel to all who will listen. You might be amazed at the response you get!
*In prophesying the impending destruction of the city of Jerusalem, Jesus told His followers to pray that their flight from the city, not occur during winter. This statement that was made by Jesus, historically confirms that the winters in Judea were severe enough for people to avoid traveling. This would also give credibility to the fact that the shepherds would not have been tending their flocks in the field, during the winter season.
At Matthew 24:20 Jesus told His followers: “. . . Pray that your flight not be in winter or on a sabbath.”
*The King James translation inaccurately renders this passage: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Numbers 24:17 refers to a star coming forth out of Jacob: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh; a star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” This passage can only refer to the Christ, the bright & morning star, who receives the scepter & kingship from his God & Father. (See 2 Peter 1:16-19, Revelation 22:16, & Psalms 110:1-2)
*Although the magi gave Christ, the young child, three types of gifts (gold, frankincense, & myrrh), the scriptures never tell us how many wise men or astrologers there were. Historians have speculated that to make such a distant trip, safely and successfully, there would have been up to a dozen or more. Isaiah 60:6 may shed light on this: “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD (Yahweh).”
Research more historical information on Christmas online: “Christmas & paganism.”
*Red print is for variations of scriptural passages and/or for clarification.