CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
Today is a day that much of the world takes time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ some 2000+ years ago. Many are observing this day with special services, plays, nativity scenes, and other activities to commemorate this important event. Buildings are decorated for the season and special songs are sung. We hear frequent cries from religious leaders who are expressing concerns to “keep Christ in Christmas.” And this year, the rhetoric and concerns have been expressed louder than normal as many retailers have chosen to not even mention “Christmas” and replace it with the generic, “Happy Holidays” lest they offend some non-Christian somewhere who doesn’t want to be reminded in any way that there is a God whom he will have to answer to one day. But ironically, because Christmas is on a Sunday this year, some churches have cancelled their regular worship services so that families can celebrate together without the distraction of having to attend their regular church services. That any group of professed believers would do this disturbs me greatly, especially when we consider what God’s word actually has to say about Christmas.
If you have ever attended here before you will notice that what we are doing today is no different than any other Sunday. One might ask why this is the case. In this article we want to examine what God’s word has to say about Christmas and note some of the reasons why we are not celebrating it.
What the Bible says about Christmas can be summed up in one word – NOTHING! Both scripture and history point to the fact that it was not observed during New Testament times and as such we have no authority for it.
The Bible does mention the birth of Christ and it was a spectacular event. Luke 2, records with grand detail the events surrounding His birth. Angels appeared to shepherds singing praises to God in the highest (2:8-14). The shepherds came with haste and found the Babe lying in a manger. They left rejoicing (2:15-18). We also read of prophets rejoicing as He was presented at the temple as the days of Mary’s purification came to an end (2:21-38). Matthew 2:1-12 speaks of wise men from the east coming to His home with gifts and worshipping Him. So the birth of Jesus is a notable event. But in spite of all these events surrounding His birth NOT ONCE do we read of it being celebrated by the church. I believe that if God wanted us to set aside a special day to commemorate His birth, He would have left us some instructions as to how it was to be observed, just as we have examples and instructions for the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-29, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Acts 20:7, etc.) and assembling on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
The history of Christmas traces its first observance to the 4th century. Worldbook Encyclopedia reports its first observance as 336 A.D. December 25 was adopted as the day in A.D. 354 by Liberius, Bishop of Rome. He was reported as saying, “We have a Mass for every saint, but there is no mass for Christ.” (Encyclopedia Britanica) It was instituted by the “Christian church” of that day to offset various pagan feasts associated with that season. The name “Christmas” literally means, “the Mass of Christ.” In Catholicism, a “mass” is an observance in which communion is offered. During this ceremony the bread and wine literally (and miraculously) turn into the body and blood of Jesus. This concept is not found in the Bible either. Many of the festivities and traditions associated with the holiday were added many years and sometimes centuries later (E.g. Santa Claus – from St. Nicholas of the 4th century; the manger scene in A.D. 1224 introduced by St. Francis; the tree was introduced in the 16th century, etc.). Many of these elements have lost their religious significance and have become mere tradition (Ask someone about the origin of Santa Claus or what the tree represents. Also ask them when Jesus was born – almost universally you will hear, December 25, 00 A.D.) Because this religious observance is not authorized in God’s word, we have no business endorsing and participating in such festivities as the Lord’s church.
Galatians 1:6-9 warns us against leaving the gospel of Christ for “a different gospel which is not another.” Instead of tolerating or endorsing such we are to let those who teach such be cut off. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Paul warned the Corinthians, “Now these things I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written…” 1 Corinthians 4:6. To celebrate Christmas as the Birth of Christ is to violate each of these passages that call for us to respect the boundaries of God’s word.
Please do not misunderstand us. We are not discounting the importance of the birth of Christ. It demonstrated that God came to this earth and dwelt among us. It set the stage to fulfill God’s eternal plans and to provide the only acceptable sacrifice for OUR sins. We occasionally preach on and study what God’s word says about His birth with great joy and hope. But does that authorize us to set up a special holiday and adopt traditions in the name of religion to commemorate that day? We are warned against making the traditions of man into God’s laws (See Mark 7:6-9; Colossians 2:8; Galatians 4:10-11, etc.) When we set up such traditions, who are we trying to please? God or man?
It is because of these reasons and others that we do not celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ. And that is why we are not doing anything different today. It is not our goal to be difficult and act as we do simply to stand out (though such is often the consequence). Our goal is simply to please God and the ONLY way we can be sure of that is by following the pattern He established for us in God’s word.
What about you? Are you observing this day as the birth of Christ? Are you sure that God is pleased with what you are doing? If not, let me urge you to not risk your eternal soul on that which you are not sure about. Study God’s word with the simple intent to obey it (Matthew 28:20). Nothing more and nothing less. To act while in doubt is sin (Romans 14:22-23). Think about it.