A Study of Christmas:
O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL?
Introduction
1. Even before Halloween was over, evidence of Christmas could
be seen. Now that Thanksgiving is past, the season is in full swing.
2. This holiday will be celebrated as the birth of Christ. Yet......
a. During this season, there will be more domestic
violence, more alcohol-related injuries & death, more debt incurred, & more
marital infidelity than at any other time of the year!
b. Office parties soon become drinking parties,
reveling, etc.
c. And this is how men should remember the birth of
Jesus?
3. Men are far more interested in observing their religious days
(Christmas, Easter) than they are in observing the Lord's Day (Heb. 10:25).
a. Human memorials of Christ's birth vs. Lord's memorial
of His death (1 Cor. 11:23-26).
b. Christ will only accept honor given Him in God's way
- Jno. 4:23-24.
4. We should be concerned w/ Christian's involvement in the activities
of Christmas:
a. Is the religious observance of Christ's birth
authorized by God?
b. What is the history of this religious holiday?
c. What is the Christian to do at this time of year?
d. What are we teaching our children about Christmas?
5. We want to be "the faithful" who come before God as He commands!
I. THE BASIS FOR THE RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE OF CHRIST'S BIRTH: MAN OR
GOD?
A. The Bible Does Not Reveal The Date Of Christ's Birth.
1. Matt. 2:1; Lk. 2:1 - Days of Herod the
Great (37-4 BC) & Caesar Augustus (27 BC-14 AD).
2. Lk. 2:8 - Shepherds in fields watching
flocks:
a. Summer months.
b. S of S 2:11 - Winter marked
by cold & rain.
c. December is not "the
time of Christ's birth!"
3. Human speculation over date:
a. Clement of Alexandria - Nov.
18, 3 BC. / May 20.
b. Hippolytus - Jan. 2, March 25
or April 2, finally Dec. 25.
c. Others - January 6; March 28;
April 18 or 19; Every month!
d. "No sufficient data,
however, exists for the determination of the month or day of the event" - The New
Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia Of Religious Knowledge, Reprint 1977, III:47.
4. God would have told us if He had wanted
us to know! (Deut. 29:29)
B. There Is No Biblical Authorization For The
Celebration Of Christ's Birth.
1. Historical record does not authorize
celebration of the event!
a. Baptism of Jesus;
Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension......
b. Silence of Bible must be respected
by men!
C. The Religious Celebration Of Christ's Birth Is Based
Upon Human Authority, Not Divine Authority - Matt. 21:23; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Col. 3:17; 2
Jno. 9-11; Gal. 1:8-9.
II. THE ORIGIN OF CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
A. Definition Of "Christmas" - "Mass Of
Christ."
1. Catholicism - Celebration of the birth of
Christ by a special mass.
2. This festival created to counter pagan
festivals:
a. Roman Saturnalia (Dec. 17-24)
- Honored Saturnus, a pagan god. A time of gluttony and licentiousness.
b. Roman feast of Mithrand, the Sun
god (Dec. 25).
B. Clearly, The Festival Of The Birth Of Christ Began In
Post-Apostolic Times.
1. Encyclopedia Of Religion & Ethics,
III:601 - "There is no evidence of the existence of a Feast of the Nativity
before the 4th century."
2. Shaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, III:47 -
"There is no historical evidence that our Lord's birthday was celebrated during the
apostolic or early post-apostolic times."
3. How December 25 was selected for celebrating
Christ's birth:
a. Liberius, Bishop of Rome, declared
Dec. 25 celebrated as Christ's birthday in 354 AD.
b. "There can be little doubt
that the Church was anxious to distract the attention of Christians from the old heathen
feast days by celebrating Christian festivals on the same days (Encyclopedia of
Religion & Ethics, III:607).
c. "The indications are, that
the Church in this way grasped the opportunity to turn the people away from a purely pagan
observance of the winter solstice to a day of adoration of Christ the Lord" - Collier's
Encyclopedia.
4. The observance of Christ's birth began in
Catholicism & paganism, not Christianity!
5. "Human in its origin, arbitrary and
irrelevant in its time, and Pagan in its ceremonies, it clearly has no claims whatever
upon the true Christian." (W.K. Pendleton, Millennial Harbinger, 1848, p.22).
III. WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN TO DO?
A. He Cannot Participate In The Religious Additions Of
Men - 2 Jno. 9-11.
1. 2 Jno. 9-11 - Breaks fellowship w/ God;
Fellowships errors of men.
2. Gal. 4:8-11 - Religious days of OT wrong
to observe...What of those started by men in 4th century?!
3. 2 Cor. 6:14 - Don't be forced into adding to
God's will for your life!
B. Use The Opportunities Of The Season To Explain Why
You Do Not Celebrate Christmas As The Birthday Of Christ - Matt. 5:13-16 (v. 11-12).
1. Cf. School activities, work events, neighbors.
2. People are surprised, but generally respectful
of your convictions. But, you must live by your convictions regardless of how others
react.......do not compromise your faith!
C. A Christian Can Observe Portions Of The Christmas
Holiday Non-Religiously.
1. Many things which may carry religious meaning
can be practiced non-religiously:
a. Circumcision - Acts 16:1-3.
b. Washing hands; Eating meats
sacrificed to idols, etc.
2. Rom. 14:5, 23 - Without violating God's
authority or one's conscience!
a. Festive, joyous season of
goodwill, exchanging gifts, visits, helping the needy, many seasonal traditions which have
no inherent religious significance.
b. Gal. 6:10 - Of course, these
should be everyday attitudes & actions!
3. Christmas can be observed non-religiously,
even though some will be observing it religiously!
Conclusion
1. The basis for observing Christmas as the birth of Christ is
man's religious authority (Catholicism & paganism). It started centuries after the
time of Christ. It is not commanded in anyway in the New Testament.
2. While we fully believe in the virgin birth of Christ &
thank God for it, God has not authorized us to celebrate the birth of Jesus, & to do
so is a violation of His holy will!
3. Let us truly be faithful to Christ this holiday season, and
every day of the year!