paganisminchristianity
2007-12-05 04:08:14 UTC
The Top 10 Reasons Why I Don't Celebrate Christmas
By Scott Ashley GN 2006-12-02
The Top 10 Reasons Why I Don't Celebrate Christmas
It's that time of year again! You'll soon be barraged by
the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. Shoppers
will soon go into spending overdrive, and when the bills
arrive, some will wonder if it's really worth it. Here's a
perspective from one who kicked the Christmas habit.
Christmas is a hugely popular holiday celebrated by
some 2 billion people worldwide. It's become such an
ingrained part of modern culture that even people in
nations with little or no Christian history or tradition are
celebrating it in increasing numbers.
Christmas is so big that it plays a key role in the
economies of many nations. In the U.S. retail industry,
the day after the Thanksgiving holiday is commonly
known as "Black Friday"--not because it's bad, but
because this marks the beginning of the Christmas
shopping season and stores that have been "in the red"
--operating at a loss all year--suddenly see their sales
shoot up so fast that they are now operating in the
black (at a profit) the rest of the year. "Black Friday"
is the biggest shopping day of the year due to its
Christmas sales.
Christmas is big--very big. Schools and colleges
commonly take a week or longer break at this time,
some businesses shut down to give their employees
time off, many families plan trips and get-togethers,
and some people darken the door of a church for
perhaps the first time all year.
So it's not surprising that I get some pretty shocked
looks when I tell people I don't celebrate Christmas.
That's pretty unusual for anyone, much less someone
who's been an ordained minister for 15 years and
edits a Christian magazine.
So what's up with this? Why would anyone not want
to celebrate Christmas like nearly everybody else?
Are there valid reasons for not participating in all
the holiday hoopla?
American Late Show television program host David
Letterman is famous for his "top 10" lists in which
he offers pointed commentary about popular culture
and current events. So here I offer my top 10 reasons
for not celebrating Christmas!
1. CHRISTMAS IS DRIVEN BY COMMERCIALISM
It's not that difficult to recognize what really drives the
holiday in our age. Cal Thomas, an American
syndicated columnist who often writes from a Christian
perspective, acknowledged uncomfortable truths
about Christmas in a December 2003 column.
"I'm not sure it's worth keeping Christmas anymore,"
he began, lamenting that the holiday has become a
"road show of reindeer, winter scenes, elves and the
God substitute, Santa Claus, who serves as a front for
merchants seeking to play on the guilt some parents
bear for ignoring their kids the rest of the year."
He asks a great question: "Why participate any longer in
this charade where the focal point of worship has shifted
from a babe in a manger to a babe in the Victoria's
Secret window? . . . No room in the inn has been
replaced by no room in the mall parking lot."
But perhaps his most insightful statement is this:
"It's instructive how just one season away from lusting
after material things can break the habit. It's something
like liberation from an addiction or lifestyle choice.
Being away from it can cause one to realize the behavior
is neither missed nor needed for fulfillment and
enjoyment."
Having said good-bye to the Christmas habit several
decades ago, I couldn't have said it better myself!
2. CHRISTMAS IS NOWHERE MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE
This is rather obvious, but most people never give it
a second thought. The books of the New Testament
cover 30+ years of Jesus Christ's life, then another
30+ years of the early Church following His death and
resurrection, but nowhere do we find any hint of a
Christmas celebration or anything remotely like it.
Yes, the Bible does give us quite a few details of His
birth--the angelic appearance to Mary and then Joseph,
the conditions surrounding His birth in a stable in
Bethlehem, the heavenly choir's performance for the
shepherds in the fields outside the town. But nowhere
in the Bible is there any record of anyone observing
Christmas or any hint that God the Father or Jesus
Christ expects us to do so.
3. JESUS WASN'T BORN ON OR NEAR DECEMBER 25TH
Surprising but true! Remember those shepherds who
were "living out in the fields, keeping watch over their
flock by night"? (Luke 2:8). December weather around
Bethlehem is often miserably cold, wet and rainy.
No shepherd in his right mind would have kept his
flocks outside at night at that time of year!
The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary says this
passage argues "against the birth [of Christ] occurring
on Dec. 25 since the weather would not have permitted
" shepherds to be out in the fields with their flocks then.
And Celebrations: The Complete Book of American
Holidays tells us that Luke's account of Christ's birth
"suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer
or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea,
it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for
their flocks at night" (p. 309) rather than keeping them
outdoors.
Also, Luke 2:1-4 tells us that Jesus was born in
Bethlehem because his parents came to that town to
register in a Roman census. The Romans were well
known as highly efficient administrators. It would have
made no sense to have conducted a census in the
dead of winter, when temperatures often dropped
below freezing and traveling was difficult due to poor
road conditions. Taking a census under such
conditions would have been self-defeating!
4. THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IS LARGELY A RECYCLED
PAGAN CELEBRATION.
Again, surprising but true! Read it for yourself in just
about any encyclopedia.
Consider the customs associated with Christmas.
What do decorated evergreen trees, holly, mistletoe,
yule logs, a jolly plump man in a fur-lined red suit,
sleighs and flying reindeer have to do with the birth
of Jesus Christ?
None of these things have anything to do with Him,
but they have a lot to do with ancient pagan festivals.
And what about the date of Dec. 25? How did it come
to be assigned as the supposed date of Jesus Christ's
birth? Historians Gerard and Patricia Del Re explain:
"The tradition of celebrating December 25 as Christ's
birthday came to the Romans from Persia. Mithra, the
Persian god of light and sacred contracts, was born
out of a rock on December 25. Rome was famous for
its flirtations with strange gods and cults, and in the
third century the unchristian emperor Aurelian
established the festival of Dies Invicti Solis, the Day
of the Invincible Sun, on December 25.
"Mithra was an embodiment of the sun, so this period
of its rebirth was a major day in Mithraism, which had
become Rome's latest official religion . . . It is believed
that the emperor Constantine adhered to Mithraism
up to the time of his conversion to Christianity. He
was probably instrumental in seeing that the major
feast of his old religion was carried over to his new
faith" (The Christmas Almanac, 1979, p. 17).
It's difficult to determine the first time anyone
celebrated Dec. 25 as Christmas, but historians
generally agree that it was sometime during the
fourth century--some 300 years after Christ's death.
And then a contrived date was chosen because it was
already a popular pagan holiday celebrating the birth
of the sun god!
Similarly, virtually all of the customs associated with
Christmas are recycled from ancient pagan festivals
honoring other gods.
5. GOD CONDEMNS USING PAGAN CUSTOMS TO
WORHSIP HIM.
Since Christmas is supposedly a day to worship and
celebrate God the Father and Jesus Christ, wouldn't it
be a good idea to look into the Bible to see what it says
about how we should worship God?
The answer is quite clear. God gives specific instruction
about using pagan practices to worship Him--the exact
thing Christmas does! Notice what He says in
Deuteronomy 12:30-32: ". . . 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 . . . Whatever I command you, be
careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away
from it" (emphasis added throughout).
And lest some think this is simply an Old Testament
command that no longer applies, the apostle Paul
makes the same point in 2 Corinthians 6, where he
addresses whether unbiblical religious customs and
practices have any place in the worship of God's people:
"What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?
And what communion has light with darkness? And what
accord has Christ with Belial [the devil and/or demons]?
Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what
agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are
the temple of the living God . . .
"Therefore 'Come out from among them and be
separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean,
and I will receive you.' 'I will be a Father to you, and you
shall be My sons and daughters, says the
LORD Almighty.' Therefore, having these promises,
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
of God" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1).
Rather than relabeling pagan customs as Christian,
or allowing members of the Church to continue their
old pagan practices, the apostle Paul told them in no
uncertain terms to leave behind all these forms of
worship and worship God in true holiness as He
commands. Jesus likewise says His true followers
"must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24)--not
revel in recycled pagan customs and symbolism.
6. CHRISTMAS IS WORSHIPPING GOD IN VAIN.
Since Christmas is a jumble of ancient pagan customs
invented by men, and a holiday found nowhere in the
Bible, does God honor or accept such worship?
Jesus provides the answer in His stern rebuke of the
religious teachers of His day, men who had
substituted human traditions and teachings for God's
divine truths and commands: "Well did Isaiah prophesy
of you hypocrites . . . 'in vain they worship Me, teaching
as doctrines the commandments of men.' . . . All too
well you reject the commandment of God, that you
may keep your tradition" (Mark 7:6-9).
In the 17th century Christmas was actually outlawed in
England and some parts of the American colonies
because of its unbiblical and pagan origins. They knew
something most people today have forgotten or have
never known!
7.YOU CAN'T PUT CHRIST BACK IN SOMETHING HE
WAS NEVER IN.
Some people admit the many problems with Christmas.
But rather than face up to those problems, some
assert that we should "put Christ back in Christmas."
However, it's impossible to "put Christ back in
Christmas" since He never was in Christmas in the
first place! He never so much as heard the word
"Christmas" during His lifetime on earth, nor did His
apostles after Him. You can search the Bible cover to
cover but you won't find the words "Christmas,"
"Christmas tree," "mistletoe," "holly," "Santa Claus"
or "flying reindeer."
Putting Christ back in Christmas may sound like a
nice sentiment, but it's really only a misguided effort
to try to justify a long-standing human tradition rather
than what the Bible tells us we should do.
8. THE BIBLE NOWHERE TELLS US TO OBSERVE A
HOLIDAY CELBRATING JESUS CHRIST'S BIRTH--BUT IT
CLEARLY DOES TELL US TO COMMEMORATE HIS DEATH.
As noted earlier, the Bible nowhere mentions Christmas
or tells us to celebrate Christ's birth.
This is not to say that the Bible doesn't tell us to
commemorate a highly significant event in
Jesus Christ's life on earth. It does--but that event
is His death, not His birth.
Notice what the apostle Paul, conveying the instructions
of Jesus Himself, tells Christians: "For I received from
the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the
Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was
betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks,
He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which
is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'
"In the same manner He also took the cup after supper,
saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood.
This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes . . .
Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the
bread and drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:23-28).
And yes, many believers do what they consider a form
of this today in taking communion or "the Lord's supper."
They fail to realize, however, the full significance of
these acts, or that what Paul is actually describing
here is the Passover -- which is what Jesus Himself
called this observance
(Matthew 26:18-19; Mark 14:14-16; Luke 22:8-13, 15).
And many have no idea of the real date of Christ's
death and the annual Passover observance, but that's
an issue for another time. (Hint: It isn't "Good Friday"
prior to Easter as so many mistakenly believe. See
our booklet The point is: Jesus clearly expects His
true followers to commemorate His death--
not His birth--by observing the Passover.
9. CHRISTMAS OBSCURES GOD'S PLAN FOR MANKIND
Passover, mentioned above, has enormous
significance in God's plan for humanity. The Old
Testament Passover, described in Exodus 12, was
symbolic of Jesus Christ's future role and sacrifice.
As the blood of the slain Passover lambs on the
Israelites' houses spared them while the firstborn
of the Egyptians were slain, so does Jesus Christ's
sacrificial death on our behalf spare us from death
-- eternal death.
Paul alluded to this great truth when he wrote in
1 Corinthians 5:7 that "Christ, our Passover, was
sacrificed for us." Similarly John the Baptist,
speaking under divine inspiration, said of Jesus,
"Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin
of the world!" (John 1:29).
Peter wrote that we are redeemed "with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19)--a clear
reference to the Passover lambs (Exodus 12:5).
A central key to God's plan for humanity is
Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf. He
is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world" (Revelation 13:8)--meaning His death
for our sins was planned before the first human
beings were ever created (1 Peter 1:18-20).
Only through His death to pay the penalty for our
sins can human beings receive God's gift of
eternal life (John 3:14-17; Acts 4:12;
1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
Christmas, in contrast, teaches us none of this.
Regrettably, because it is a hodgepodge of unbiblical
customs and beliefs thrown together with a few
elements of biblical truth, it only obscures the
incredible purpose of Jesus Christ's coming--as well
as why He must return to earth a second time!
10. I'D RATHER CELEBRATE THE HOLY DAYS
JESUS CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES OBSERVED.
God in His Word sets out many choices for us.
Will we do things His way or our own? Will we
worship Him as He tells us to, or expect Him to
honor whatever religious practices we choose
regardless of what His Word says?
It's always good to ask the question, What
would Jesus do? The answer, from the Scriptures,
is quite clear as to what Jesus did. Jesus didn't
allow His followers the option of adopting pagan
practices in their worship. He and the apostles
plainly kept God's Holy Days and festivals that
we find recorded in Leviticus 23.
As noted above, they kept the Passover
(1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Scripture shows they
also observed the Days of Unleavened Bread
(Acts 20:6; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The New
Testament Church itself was founded on the
Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), another biblical
festival they clearly observed (Acts 20:16).
They likewise kept the Day of Atonement (called
"the Fast" in Acts 27:9) and the Feast of
Tabernacles (John 7:2, 10).
Christmas, meanwhile, is totally missing from
the biblical record.
Most people don't know that the Bible includes a
whole list of festivals that God commanded,
that Jesus Himself observed and that the apostles
and early Church were still keeping decades after
Christ's death and resurrection. And unlike
Christmas, these reveal a great deal about Jesus
Christ's role and mission.
Each one teaches us a vital lesson in what Jesus
has done, is doing and will yet do in carrying out
God's great plan for humankind. The differences
between these and the tired old paganism and
crass commercialism of Christmas is truly like
the difference between day and night. Why not
look into them for yourself?
I've given you my top 10 reasons for not
celebrating Christmas. What do you suppose God
thinks of your reasons for continuing to observe it?
By Scott Ashley GN 2006-12-0
By Scott Ashley GN 2006-12-02
The Top 10 Reasons Why I Don't Celebrate Christmas
It's that time of year again! You'll soon be barraged by
the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. Shoppers
will soon go into spending overdrive, and when the bills
arrive, some will wonder if it's really worth it. Here's a
perspective from one who kicked the Christmas habit.
Christmas is a hugely popular holiday celebrated by
some 2 billion people worldwide. It's become such an
ingrained part of modern culture that even people in
nations with little or no Christian history or tradition are
celebrating it in increasing numbers.
Christmas is so big that it plays a key role in the
economies of many nations. In the U.S. retail industry,
the day after the Thanksgiving holiday is commonly
known as "Black Friday"--not because it's bad, but
because this marks the beginning of the Christmas
shopping season and stores that have been "in the red"
--operating at a loss all year--suddenly see their sales
shoot up so fast that they are now operating in the
black (at a profit) the rest of the year. "Black Friday"
is the biggest shopping day of the year due to its
Christmas sales.
Christmas is big--very big. Schools and colleges
commonly take a week or longer break at this time,
some businesses shut down to give their employees
time off, many families plan trips and get-togethers,
and some people darken the door of a church for
perhaps the first time all year.
So it's not surprising that I get some pretty shocked
looks when I tell people I don't celebrate Christmas.
That's pretty unusual for anyone, much less someone
who's been an ordained minister for 15 years and
edits a Christian magazine.
So what's up with this? Why would anyone not want
to celebrate Christmas like nearly everybody else?
Are there valid reasons for not participating in all
the holiday hoopla?
American Late Show television program host David
Letterman is famous for his "top 10" lists in which
he offers pointed commentary about popular culture
and current events. So here I offer my top 10 reasons
for not celebrating Christmas!
1. CHRISTMAS IS DRIVEN BY COMMERCIALISM
It's not that difficult to recognize what really drives the
holiday in our age. Cal Thomas, an American
syndicated columnist who often writes from a Christian
perspective, acknowledged uncomfortable truths
about Christmas in a December 2003 column.
"I'm not sure it's worth keeping Christmas anymore,"
he began, lamenting that the holiday has become a
"road show of reindeer, winter scenes, elves and the
God substitute, Santa Claus, who serves as a front for
merchants seeking to play on the guilt some parents
bear for ignoring their kids the rest of the year."
He asks a great question: "Why participate any longer in
this charade where the focal point of worship has shifted
from a babe in a manger to a babe in the Victoria's
Secret window? . . . No room in the inn has been
replaced by no room in the mall parking lot."
But perhaps his most insightful statement is this:
"It's instructive how just one season away from lusting
after material things can break the habit. It's something
like liberation from an addiction or lifestyle choice.
Being away from it can cause one to realize the behavior
is neither missed nor needed for fulfillment and
enjoyment."
Having said good-bye to the Christmas habit several
decades ago, I couldn't have said it better myself!
2. CHRISTMAS IS NOWHERE MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE
This is rather obvious, but most people never give it
a second thought. The books of the New Testament
cover 30+ years of Jesus Christ's life, then another
30+ years of the early Church following His death and
resurrection, but nowhere do we find any hint of a
Christmas celebration or anything remotely like it.
Yes, the Bible does give us quite a few details of His
birth--the angelic appearance to Mary and then Joseph,
the conditions surrounding His birth in a stable in
Bethlehem, the heavenly choir's performance for the
shepherds in the fields outside the town. But nowhere
in the Bible is there any record of anyone observing
Christmas or any hint that God the Father or Jesus
Christ expects us to do so.
3. JESUS WASN'T BORN ON OR NEAR DECEMBER 25TH
Surprising but true! Remember those shepherds who
were "living out in the fields, keeping watch over their
flock by night"? (Luke 2:8). December weather around
Bethlehem is often miserably cold, wet and rainy.
No shepherd in his right mind would have kept his
flocks outside at night at that time of year!
The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary says this
passage argues "against the birth [of Christ] occurring
on Dec. 25 since the weather would not have permitted
" shepherds to be out in the fields with their flocks then.
And Celebrations: The Complete Book of American
Holidays tells us that Luke's account of Christ's birth
"suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer
or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea,
it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for
their flocks at night" (p. 309) rather than keeping them
outdoors.
Also, Luke 2:1-4 tells us that Jesus was born in
Bethlehem because his parents came to that town to
register in a Roman census. The Romans were well
known as highly efficient administrators. It would have
made no sense to have conducted a census in the
dead of winter, when temperatures often dropped
below freezing and traveling was difficult due to poor
road conditions. Taking a census under such
conditions would have been self-defeating!
4. THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IS LARGELY A RECYCLED
PAGAN CELEBRATION.
Again, surprising but true! Read it for yourself in just
about any encyclopedia.
Consider the customs associated with Christmas.
What do decorated evergreen trees, holly, mistletoe,
yule logs, a jolly plump man in a fur-lined red suit,
sleighs and flying reindeer have to do with the birth
of Jesus Christ?
None of these things have anything to do with Him,
but they have a lot to do with ancient pagan festivals.
And what about the date of Dec. 25? How did it come
to be assigned as the supposed date of Jesus Christ's
birth? Historians Gerard and Patricia Del Re explain:
"The tradition of celebrating December 25 as Christ's
birthday came to the Romans from Persia. Mithra, the
Persian god of light and sacred contracts, was born
out of a rock on December 25. Rome was famous for
its flirtations with strange gods and cults, and in the
third century the unchristian emperor Aurelian
established the festival of Dies Invicti Solis, the Day
of the Invincible Sun, on December 25.
"Mithra was an embodiment of the sun, so this period
of its rebirth was a major day in Mithraism, which had
become Rome's latest official religion . . . It is believed
that the emperor Constantine adhered to Mithraism
up to the time of his conversion to Christianity. He
was probably instrumental in seeing that the major
feast of his old religion was carried over to his new
faith" (The Christmas Almanac, 1979, p. 17).
It's difficult to determine the first time anyone
celebrated Dec. 25 as Christmas, but historians
generally agree that it was sometime during the
fourth century--some 300 years after Christ's death.
And then a contrived date was chosen because it was
already a popular pagan holiday celebrating the birth
of the sun god!
Similarly, virtually all of the customs associated with
Christmas are recycled from ancient pagan festivals
honoring other gods.
5. GOD CONDEMNS USING PAGAN CUSTOMS TO
WORHSIP HIM.
Since Christmas is supposedly a day to worship and
celebrate God the Father and Jesus Christ, wouldn't it
be a good idea to look into the Bible to see what it says
about how we should worship God?
The answer is quite clear. God gives specific instruction
about using pagan practices to worship Him--the exact
thing Christmas does! Notice what He says in
Deuteronomy 12:30-32: ". . . 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 . . . Whatever I command you, be
careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away
from it" (emphasis added throughout).
And lest some think this is simply an Old Testament
command that no longer applies, the apostle Paul
makes the same point in 2 Corinthians 6, where he
addresses whether unbiblical religious customs and
practices have any place in the worship of God's people:
"What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?
And what communion has light with darkness? And what
accord has Christ with Belial [the devil and/or demons]?
Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what
agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are
the temple of the living God . . .
"Therefore 'Come out from among them and be
separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean,
and I will receive you.' 'I will be a Father to you, and you
shall be My sons and daughters, says the
LORD Almighty.' Therefore, having these promises,
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
of God" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1).
Rather than relabeling pagan customs as Christian,
or allowing members of the Church to continue their
old pagan practices, the apostle Paul told them in no
uncertain terms to leave behind all these forms of
worship and worship God in true holiness as He
commands. Jesus likewise says His true followers
"must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24)--not
revel in recycled pagan customs and symbolism.
6. CHRISTMAS IS WORSHIPPING GOD IN VAIN.
Since Christmas is a jumble of ancient pagan customs
invented by men, and a holiday found nowhere in the
Bible, does God honor or accept such worship?
Jesus provides the answer in His stern rebuke of the
religious teachers of His day, men who had
substituted human traditions and teachings for God's
divine truths and commands: "Well did Isaiah prophesy
of you hypocrites . . . 'in vain they worship Me, teaching
as doctrines the commandments of men.' . . . All too
well you reject the commandment of God, that you
may keep your tradition" (Mark 7:6-9).
In the 17th century Christmas was actually outlawed in
England and some parts of the American colonies
because of its unbiblical and pagan origins. They knew
something most people today have forgotten or have
never known!
7.YOU CAN'T PUT CHRIST BACK IN SOMETHING HE
WAS NEVER IN.
Some people admit the many problems with Christmas.
But rather than face up to those problems, some
assert that we should "put Christ back in Christmas."
However, it's impossible to "put Christ back in
Christmas" since He never was in Christmas in the
first place! He never so much as heard the word
"Christmas" during His lifetime on earth, nor did His
apostles after Him. You can search the Bible cover to
cover but you won't find the words "Christmas,"
"Christmas tree," "mistletoe," "holly," "Santa Claus"
or "flying reindeer."
Putting Christ back in Christmas may sound like a
nice sentiment, but it's really only a misguided effort
to try to justify a long-standing human tradition rather
than what the Bible tells us we should do.
8. THE BIBLE NOWHERE TELLS US TO OBSERVE A
HOLIDAY CELBRATING JESUS CHRIST'S BIRTH--BUT IT
CLEARLY DOES TELL US TO COMMEMORATE HIS DEATH.
As noted earlier, the Bible nowhere mentions Christmas
or tells us to celebrate Christ's birth.
This is not to say that the Bible doesn't tell us to
commemorate a highly significant event in
Jesus Christ's life on earth. It does--but that event
is His death, not His birth.
Notice what the apostle Paul, conveying the instructions
of Jesus Himself, tells Christians: "For I received from
the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the
Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was
betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks,
He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which
is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'
"In the same manner He also took the cup after supper,
saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood.
This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes . . .
Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the
bread and drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:23-28).
And yes, many believers do what they consider a form
of this today in taking communion or "the Lord's supper."
They fail to realize, however, the full significance of
these acts, or that what Paul is actually describing
here is the Passover -- which is what Jesus Himself
called this observance
(Matthew 26:18-19; Mark 14:14-16; Luke 22:8-13, 15).
And many have no idea of the real date of Christ's
death and the annual Passover observance, but that's
an issue for another time. (Hint: It isn't "Good Friday"
prior to Easter as so many mistakenly believe. See
our booklet The point is: Jesus clearly expects His
true followers to commemorate His death--
not His birth--by observing the Passover.
9. CHRISTMAS OBSCURES GOD'S PLAN FOR MANKIND
Passover, mentioned above, has enormous
significance in God's plan for humanity. The Old
Testament Passover, described in Exodus 12, was
symbolic of Jesus Christ's future role and sacrifice.
As the blood of the slain Passover lambs on the
Israelites' houses spared them while the firstborn
of the Egyptians were slain, so does Jesus Christ's
sacrificial death on our behalf spare us from death
-- eternal death.
Paul alluded to this great truth when he wrote in
1 Corinthians 5:7 that "Christ, our Passover, was
sacrificed for us." Similarly John the Baptist,
speaking under divine inspiration, said of Jesus,
"Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin
of the world!" (John 1:29).
Peter wrote that we are redeemed "with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19)--a clear
reference to the Passover lambs (Exodus 12:5).
A central key to God's plan for humanity is
Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf. He
is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the
world" (Revelation 13:8)--meaning His death
for our sins was planned before the first human
beings were ever created (1 Peter 1:18-20).
Only through His death to pay the penalty for our
sins can human beings receive God's gift of
eternal life (John 3:14-17; Acts 4:12;
1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
Christmas, in contrast, teaches us none of this.
Regrettably, because it is a hodgepodge of unbiblical
customs and beliefs thrown together with a few
elements of biblical truth, it only obscures the
incredible purpose of Jesus Christ's coming--as well
as why He must return to earth a second time!
10. I'D RATHER CELEBRATE THE HOLY DAYS
JESUS CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES OBSERVED.
God in His Word sets out many choices for us.
Will we do things His way or our own? Will we
worship Him as He tells us to, or expect Him to
honor whatever religious practices we choose
regardless of what His Word says?
It's always good to ask the question, What
would Jesus do? The answer, from the Scriptures,
is quite clear as to what Jesus did. Jesus didn't
allow His followers the option of adopting pagan
practices in their worship. He and the apostles
plainly kept God's Holy Days and festivals that
we find recorded in Leviticus 23.
As noted above, they kept the Passover
(1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Scripture shows they
also observed the Days of Unleavened Bread
(Acts 20:6; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The New
Testament Church itself was founded on the
Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), another biblical
festival they clearly observed (Acts 20:16).
They likewise kept the Day of Atonement (called
"the Fast" in Acts 27:9) and the Feast of
Tabernacles (John 7:2, 10).
Christmas, meanwhile, is totally missing from
the biblical record.
Most people don't know that the Bible includes a
whole list of festivals that God commanded,
that Jesus Himself observed and that the apostles
and early Church were still keeping decades after
Christ's death and resurrection. And unlike
Christmas, these reveal a great deal about Jesus
Christ's role and mission.
Each one teaches us a vital lesson in what Jesus
has done, is doing and will yet do in carrying out
God's great plan for humankind. The differences
between these and the tired old paganism and
crass commercialism of Christmas is truly like
the difference between day and night. Why not
look into them for yourself?
I've given you my top 10 reasons for not
celebrating Christmas. What do you suppose God
thinks of your reasons for continuing to observe it?
By Scott Ashley GN 2006-12-0