This is my take on Christmas. I know MANY people do not agree or accept this, but it's my right to believe this and below are the reasons why. Pastor Baker has given me permission to post this here. If you would like to see more of his articles, you can go to http://www.calvarybaptistbeaufort.com
Why Some Christians Don't Celebrate Christmas
By Karl M. Baker
(Excerpt taken from
Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Americana, Alexander hislop's: The
Two Babylons and The King James Bible)
Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?
Having been a pastor for over 35 years, from year to year I am
confronted with the question of why are there Christians who do not
celebrate or partake of the festivities of Christmas. It seems
unimaginable that a professor in Jesus Christ could find fault with
Christmas: an apparent unique opportunity to present the coming of our
Lord into this world as it's Saviour. Why would anyone want to oppose
the undeniable recognition given to Him by the world that he came to
redeem? Could there be a negative aspect so strong as to override the
tradition that could stir up an animosity against its observance from a
true believer? To protest the commercialization or a worldly reveling
and such like seem understandable, but to totally reject any association
at all with the holiday seems to be unrealistic for any real
Christian. Yet, there are those who don't just let December 25th pass
in quiet protest of inobservance, but rather openly express an attitude
of intolerance as to write, preach and even suffer family disunity in
their opposition of it's observance. What is it about December 25th
that affects some Christians in this matter? Is it fanaticism? Is
there a reasonable cause behind their actions? Does the Word of God say
anything that would provoke this minority's views toward Christmas?
This pamphlet is intended to help answer these questions.
The
first thing to be considered is found within the title of this holiday
itself. Christmas is a compound word derived from two words: Christ and
Mass that reveal a religious association with the Roman Catholic
Church. The institution of Christmas, therefore, is associated with a
Roman Catholic Sacrament. It should not be strange then, that
Protestants or other Christians churches that do not believe in or
practice masses could not be offended with associating Christ with what
they consider unscriptual practices. Those who would be opposed to
Catholic doctrines, such as observing sacraments to obtain
righteousness, would naturallly be the ones, to some degreee, that would
be the most likely to disassociate themselves with this tradition.
Therefore, in most cases, although not all, those who have strong
feelings againset the Catholic Church and her doctrines will be the most
likely ones to oppose this tradition.
Another
very important point to consider in assessing this matter is the fact
that some Christians take the Bible literally when it comes to it's
revelation of what pleases God, and what doesn't please Him, concerning
how he is to be worshiped. They believe the Bible to be a true
revelation of the desires of a benevolent God that reveals, though His
word, His will. Tradition to them must have a sould, biblical reson for
it's acceptance. Areas where tradition would contradict the Word of
God would not be considered a light thing to these Christians. To
impose a method or time of observance to honor Him that He himself has
not requested or commanded is presumptuous. Did not Isreal, in Exodus 32:1-35,
sin in the same manner when they made the golden calf? Did not David,
in II Samuel 6:1-11, transgress in the same manner when he tried to
bring the ark up to Jerusalem? When David followed the manner of the
Philistines in his effort to honor God, rather than the due order
revealed in God's word, it caused death and confusion rather than joy
and fellowship with God (I Chronicles 15:1-29). Does not I Corinthians 10:1-14
warn us that we, in the same manner, can be displeasing unto God if we
are not careful in this manner? When Jesus said, "they that worship God
must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24), was that not a
revelation of His will? If Christmas is not the true birthday of His
Son, how can God be pleased with its observance? If Christmas is a day
of our making for our pleasure, yeah, even a day mixed with error and
things which He has revealed to be unpleasing to Him, why would any real
Christian think that it is pleasing God? Let me explain, according to
all reliable sources, if there's any day which we can reasonably be sure
that Christ was not born on, it would be December 25th.Without
question, the majority of all Bible scholars and historical writers
testify that the Western Church's (Roman Catholic) purpose of using
December 25th as the birthday of Jesus Christ was to facilitate the
converting of Pagans to Christianity beginning at the latter part of the
Fourth Century. There is no historical reference that the birth of
Jesus Christ was celebrated before this time by any professing
Christians. Furthermore, church history reveals that making December
25th the birthday of our Saviour was to assist the heathen's acceptance
of Jesus Christ as the "Sun of Righteousness," because of there
deification of the Sun, and its worship.
The Encyclopedia Americana states, the
reason for establishing December 25th as Christmas is somewhat
obscured, but it is usually held that the day was chosen to correspond
to pagan festivals that took place around the winter solstice, when the
days begin to lengthen, to celebrate the 'rebirth of the sun'. Northern
European tribes celebrated their chief festival of Yule at the winter
solstice to commemorate the rebirth of the sun as the giver of light and
warmth. The Roman Saturnalia (a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god
of agriculture, and to the renewed power of the sun), also took place at
this time, and some Christmas customs are thought to be rooted in this
ancient pagan celebration. It is held by some scholars that the birth of
Christ as the 'Light of the World' was made analogous to the 'rebirth
of the sun' in order to make Christianity more meaningful to pagan
converts." (Encyclopedia Americana)
The Encyclopedia Britannica, on page 528 states, "the
first mention of December 25th as the birth date of Jesus occurred in
A.D. 336 in an early Roman calendar. The celebration of this day as
Jesus' birth date was probably influenced by pagan (unchristian)
festivals held at that time. The ancient Romans held year-end
celebrations to honor Saturn, their harvest god; and Mithras, the god of
light. Various peoples in northern Europe held festivals in
mid-December to celebrate the end of the harvest season. As part of all
these celebrations, the people prepared special foods, decorated their
homes with greenery, and joined in singing and gift giving. These
customs gradually became part of the Christmas celebration."
Alexander Hislop, in his work, The Two Babylon's, states, "The
festivals of Rome are innumerable; but five of the most imprtant may be
singled out for elucidation-viz., christmas-day, Lady-day, Easter, the
Nativity of St. John, and the Feast of
the Assumption. Each and all of these can be proved to be Babylonian.
And first, as to the festival in honour of the birth of Christ, or
Christmas. How comes it that that festival was connected with the 25th
of December? There is not a word in the Scriptures about the precise day
of his birth, or the time of the year when He was born. What is
recorded there implies that at what time so ever his birth took place,
it could not have on the 25th of December. At the time that the angel
announced his birth to the shepherds of Bethlehem, they were feeding
their flocks by night in the open fields. Now, no doubt, the climate of
Palestine is not so severe as the climate of this country; but even
there, though the heat of the day be considerable, the cold of the
night, from December to February, is very piercing, and it was not the
custom for the shepherds of Judea to watch their flocks in the open
fields later that about the end of October. It is in the last degree
incredible, then, that the birth of Christ could have taken place at the
end of December. There is great unanimity among commentators on this
point. Besides Barnes, Doddridge, Lightfoot, Joseph Scaliger, and
Jennings, in his "Jewish Antiquities, "who are all of opinion that
December 25th could not be the right time of our Lord's nativity, the
celebrated Joseph Mede pronounced a very decisive opinion to the same
effect. After a long and careful disquisition on the subject, among
other arguments he adduces the following:- "At the birth of Christ every
woman and child was to go to be taxed at the city whereto they
belonged, whither some had long journeys; but the middle of winter was
not fitting for such a business,
especially for women with child, and children to travel in. Therefore,
Christ could not be born in the depth of winter. Again, at the time of
Christ's birth, the shepherds lay abroad watching with their flocks in
the night time; but this was not likely to be the middle of winter. And
if any shall think the winter wind was not so extreme in these parts,
let him remember the words of Christ in the gospel. 'Pray that your
flight be not in the winter.' If the winter was too bad a time to flee
in, it seems no fit time for shepherds to lie in the fields in, and
women and children to travel in." Indeed, it is admitted by the most
learned and candid writers of all parties that the day of our Lord's
birth cannot be determined, and that within the Christian Church no such
festival as Christmas was ever heard of till the third century, and
that not till the fourth century was far advanced did it gain much
observance. How, then, did the Romish Church fix on December 25th as
Christmas-day? Why, thus: Long before the fourth century, and long
before the Christian era itself, a festival was celebrated among the
heathen, at that precise time of the year, in honour 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 of Christianity, the same festival was adopted by the
Roman Church, giving it only the name of Christ. This tendency on the
part of Christians to meet Paganism half-way 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 to their own superstition. "By us, "says he, "who are strangers
to Sabbaths, and new moons, and festivals, once acceptable to God, the
Saturnalia, the feasts of January, the Brumalia, and Matronalia, are now
frequented; gifts are carried to and fro, new year's 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, till 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 the year, and the
ceremonies with which it is still celebrated, prove its origin." (The
two Babylon's, pages 91-93)
The Encyclopedia Americana says, under the title, "Development of Customs," "The
English adapted many older folk festivals to their Christmas. In the
middle ages, English Christmases were times of great hilarity and good
cheer, and vast banquets and pageantry celebrated the occasion. Burning the Yule log was adapted to English custom from the ancient
Scandinavian practice of kindling huge bonfires in honor of the winter
solstice. The idea of using evergreens at Christmas time also came to
England from pre-Christian northern European beliefs. Celtic and
Teutonic tribes honored these plants at their winter solstice festivals
as symbolic of eternal life, and the druids ascribed magical properties
to the mistletoe."
What about the story
of Christmas? When we read the scriptures we do not find "three" wise
men, although we do find three gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh,
which typify of Christ being Prophet, Priest, and King (Mathew 2:11). The wise men do not worship a babe in a manger but rather a young child who is residing in a house (Mathew 2:11-15). We know that Christ is approximately 2 years old at this time, because Herod diligently inquired of the young child's age in Mathew 2:7 and 8, and acted upon the time given by the wise men whom he had asked, (Mathew 2:16 )!!
We know the date of our Saviours death was on the 14th day of Niacin,
which coincides with our March/April. From knowing that the Lord's
ministry was for 42 months according to Daniel 9, it can be conceded
that six months preceding could not be the month of December, but
rather, September/October, which would coincide with the Jewish month of
the Feast of Tabernacles. The most logical conclusion that a Christian
could come to, if he was looking for the birth date of our Lord, would
not be December, but September/October. It should be a point of interest
that our bodies are referred to as tabernacles in II Corinthians 5:1-5.
Taking this to be so, it would complete the fulfillment of the Jewish
Feasts as such: Christ our Passover being sacrificed for us (I Corinthians 5:7) we are therefore now keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread (I Corinthians 5:8), waiting for the Feast of Trumpets which signifies the ingathering of the harvest (I Thessalonians 4:16), when Christ shall gather us unto Himself (I Corinthians 15:20-23).
Isn't it strange
that we have adopted the same methods of Christ worship in our day as
the Lord warned Israel not to adopt in their day? The only difference
being, Israel changing a tree into the image of God and we're changing
the image of God into a tree.
Jeremiah 10:1-5: Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, 0 house of Israel:
Thus saith the
Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs
of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
For the customs of
the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work
of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not
They are upright as
the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they
cannot go. Be not afraid of them,-for they cannot do evil, neither also
is it in them to do good.
As Israel
entered into a vain worship of God the Father, we have now entered into a
vain worship of the Son through like methods of tradition. Jesus
rebuked the religious leaders of his day, in Matthew 15:1-9
for making the word of God of none effect by their tradition, saying,
that with their mouths they honor God but their hearts were far from
him. Shall we not be just as guilty as them, if we adopt pagan customs
and transform them into Christian traditions, unconcerned about what
Paul has written to us in II Cor.6:14-7:1? Be ye not unequally yoked
together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hat/i light with darkness? And what
concord hat/i Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth
with an infidel? And what agreement hat/i the temple of God with idols?
for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, sail/i
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And
will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my Sons and daughters, sail/i
the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let
us cleanse ourselves from al/filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
What about the words of Corinthians 10:1-14?
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that
all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did
all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual
drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and
that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased:
for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our
examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they
also lasted Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is
written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell
in one day three and twenty thousand Neither let us tempt Christ, as
some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither
murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the
destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and
they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are
come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he
fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye
are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that
ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from
idolatiy.
Aren't we mixing
Christ with Belial when we knowingly mix him with pagan customs? Are we
not partaking of idolatry when we involve ourselves in the worldliness
and revelry of the world's celebration of a self appointed birthday of
Christ?
What is the answer
to these things? Historically Christians of every generation have tried
to oppose this marriage of Christianity with Paganism, but the weight of
the multitudes have prevailed to make the minority to look uncharitable
or fanatic to a degree of such proportions to judge them as unworthy of
notice or to downright rejection. It has not always been so. In the
past, many prominent Christians tried to stem the tide of this
transition from truth to traditional supremacy.
In the
Encyclopedia Britannica it states, "not until the late 300's did
Christianity become the official religion of the Roman Empire. Through
its expansion (Roman Catholic) by 1600 A.D. Christmas became the most
important religious festival in Europe. This popularity of Christmas
grew until the Reformation, a religious movement of the 1500's. This
movement gave birth to Protestantism. During the reformation, many
Christians began to consider Christmas a pagan celebration because it
included non religious customs During the sixteen hundreds, because of
these feelings Christmas was outlawed in England and in parts of the
English colonies in America. The old customs offeasting and decorating,
however, soon reappeared and blended with the more Christian aspects of
the celebration."
In the
Encyclopedia Americana it states, "Christmas was not celebrated by the
puritans or the Calvinist. When the puritans came to power in England
under Oliver Cromwell 'in 1642, Christmas celebrations were banded as
evidences of anti-religious, royalist, sentiment. Penalties were exacted
for celebrating Christmas and for staying home from work on Christmas
day. The Puritan tradition was brought to New England, where Christmas
did not become a legal holiday until 1856 In Europe, on the other hand,
Christmas was being traditionally accepted as the papacy grew in
influence. Even so, preachers of Leonia still preached against its
observance and effect upon the protestant body of believers."
Charles Haddon
Spurgeon of London, who preached to thousands each Sunday in the
Metropolitan Tabernacle, in his message on December 24, 1881, preached
against Christmas as, "a religious superstitious event that no
Christian should celebrate because it is of no divine origin or
commandment. That, no doubt all of its observance and inception is of
Pagan origin."
Considering the
facts shown, can a Christian, in good conscience allow themselves to
fellowship with such a worldly corruption or custom that perverts God's
person or violates scripture to this degree? Should we profane all that
is holy to the level of commercialization and worldly observance as
Christmas has done to the name of Jesus Christ? Hasn't Santa Claus taken
the place of God and corrupted his holy person to a level of blasphemy?
What do trees,
reindeer, and elves have to do with the coming of our Lord? No more than
Easter eggs and rabbits have to do with his resurrection! They are
nothing but tale-tale signs of the apostasy that Paul forewarned us
about that would precede the world's appointment of the man of sin, as
their God
(II Thessalonians 2:1-12).
Is there a day our Lord desires to remember him by? If not
his birthday, is he pleased to recognize him for any day? Yes, as a
matter of fact, there is a day our Lord told us to remember him by! As
his disciples, he has given us an ordinance of the day to remember him
on, and it is, his death till
he comes (I Corinthians 11:23-26). For I have received of the Lord that
which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in
which he was betrayed took bread: And
when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my
body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the
same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, is
the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in
remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this
cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Should we not keep his
commandment rather
than to enjoin ourselves to the tradition of men? Would it not please
our Lord better when we submit ourselves to his desires?
It is argued by
some, that Romans 14, and especially in reference to verse 5 justify
their celebration of Christmas as a Christian holiday, as long as they
are doing it, unto the Lord. But is this not perverting the word of God
to justify idolatry? Shall Romans 14:5 nullify II Cor.6:14-7 or Cor
10:1-11? Have they not taken a verse out of context because of a pre-text?
Romans 14:5 is not speaking of pagan practices in its worship of their
gods being accepted by God, Romans 14:5 is in the context of a converted
Jew who recognized the days and ceremonial laws of eating and drinking
as was given him under the law of God. The context is a Jewish believer
which was still weak in the faith (v.1) and was still having a problem
transitioning over to the new covenant as far as eating any meats or
drinking without guilt of conscience (v.14-23)! Peter had this problem
in Acts 10:9-16, when the Lord revealed it to him. The weak of Romans 14
is not a pagan worshipping God in idolatry! God commanded us to repent
of these vanities; Acts 14:8-18, Acts 17:22-3 1, I Cor. 10:1-14. Romans
14 therefore cannot be justifying Christmas anymore than I Timothy 5:23
justifies social drinking.
Christmas is a
deeply engrained tradition in the lives of so many and to cease from its
celebration no doubt will bring division and sometimes persecution from
family and friends. But, where shall we draw the line before the Lord
is no longer identifiable in the Word, much less the world. If tradition
is going to have such precedence that can override the truth, how long
will it be before we digress to the state of the Athenians, and our
devotions be steeped in superstition rather than truth (Acts 17:16-31).
How long before we who are supposed to be "children of light" are
transformed back to the image that we came from? Whereas, before we knew
we were living in darkness, now we are calling it light! We knew there
was a devil, but now have allowed him to transform himself into that
angel of light he desires to be (II Corinthians 11: 14)!
Isn't it strange
how some Christians are not offended that the world is corrupting the
things of God so bad for their covetous motives and yet, if a brother or
sister in Christ cease to partake of it, they are seen more evil than
them. Maybe it's about time to take warning of the words of our Lord in
Rev. 18 1-5?
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having
great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried
mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is
fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every
foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all
nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the
kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the
merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her
delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of
her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye
receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
This information is
for those who seek an answer to why some Christians have chosen to
cease from the celebration of Christmas, it no doubt, will be opposed,
rejected and in some cases abhorred. Yet, it is not intended to offend
anyone; it is intended to inform everyone who would desire a sincere
answer to a question of honest inquiry. Here it is, reject it if you
please, receive it if you will, but be assured of this one thing; every
one of us shall give account of himself unto God, to answer for the
things we have done in his flesh, whether it be good or bad (Romans
14:11-12 and II Cor.5:9-l0), saved or lost.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit.
Karl M. Baker, Pastor Calvary Baptist Church Beaufort, S. C.
