Is It Biblically Wrong To Celebrate Christmas?

Many Christian Denominations Reject CHRISTMAS AS PAGANISM. They give various reasons why Christmas is idolatry and wrong to observe.

One Claim is that Jesus was not born in December, which is a cold month in Israel for shepherds to stay outside. But Jesus was born in June because ‘Mary conceived in September according to the scriptures’. For she conceived in sixth month (or the Jewish Elul) after Elizabeth. So nine months later was June.

Another Claim also is that It was Ancient Great Pagan kings and heroes such as the Pharaohs of Egypt and Herod the Governor of Judea that celebrated their Birthdays, Christ Jesus did not celebrate His Birthday.

Also, it was Roman Catholics who first observed it as a mass for Christ or Christ-mass.

Again, during Christmas accidents occur, so it is demons who celebrate during the occasion. And many more.

But if it is Paganism, is it wrong if Pagans celebrate Christ and give Him such a great publicity? Is Christ for Christians alone or is He also for Pagans?

A doctrinal exposition of the ‘Church of Christ’ and other Christian denominations explains why Christmas is unchristian. It explains that:

“The word ‘Christmas’ is formed out of ‘Christ’ plus the word ‘mass’ constituting “Christ-mass”. The Catholics call their worship acts as ‘mass’ and therefore views it as a religious service in commemoration of the birth of Christ. It is celebrated by Roman Catholics and Protestants alike on December 25th. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate it on January 6, whilst the Armenian Church celebrates on January 19 each year. What a contradiction even on the different days of its celebration by the ancient orthodox churches. Which date is that which the Lord God gave us to observe it if indeed we are to celebrate it? Those who have themselves accepted to celebrate it are divided on the date as stated above.

“Besides, the above, every festival in the Bible was commanded and given by God and this cannot be said about Christmas. Example, the Passover or Paschal was given by God and he instructed them as to how, when and where to observe it. See the following festivals in the Bible:-

1. The Feast of unleavened Bread. (Ex. 23:14-19; 34:23; Deut. 16:16, 17; Deut. 12:5-6; Nehemiah 10:35-39.

2. The Passover:- (Ex. 12:2; (2) Ex. 12:3-4 (3) Ex.12:6 (4) Ex. 12:7, 22 (5)Ex. 12:8-9 (6) Ex. 12:10 (7) Ex. 12:11-12 (8) Ex 12:14 (9) 12:44-48; (10) 12:46

3. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) (1) Ex. 23:14-19; (2) Lev. 23:15-21 (3) Numbers 28:26-30

4. The Feast of Tabernacles. (1) Date of observance (Tisri) the 7th Month of the ecclesiastical year and was continued for 7 days. (John 7:37) (1) Lev. 23:34-39; (2) Numbers 29:12-40

THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS was also given in details.
“It was celebrated in December 25 in the time of Constantine about AD 325 as the birthday of Christ. Pagan Rome was already celebrating Saturnalia on this date long before Christ even came into this world and was celebrated to commemorate the birthday of the invincible Sun god or Sol in December, 25. According to religious writers and historians, there was a superstitious panic among the Sol worshippers for fear that their Sun god was dying. So what they did was they lit bonfires (reminiscence of the wailing that goes on in the yuletide or 24th night). Incense and candles were also burnt to awake this dying god. On December was the main month of this pagan celebration. It was alleged that Sol began to regain his strength from December 21st to December, 25th.

“The word ‘CHRISTMAS’ conspicuously is missing from the Bible. It is believed that the bishop of Rome sanctified this pagan celebration and changed it to the birth of Christ. The idea was that each of the saints they have deified had a mass to their honor. But for Christ whom they had now come to believe, they had no mass to his honor hence “Christ-mass”. They began what they call Christ mass which was based on this pagan festival. Not what Tertullian said: “By us, who are strangers to Sabbaths, and new moons and festivals, once accepted to God, the Saturnalia (and other pagan festivals are not frequented. Gifts are carried to and fro….and sports and banquets are celebrated with uproars…”(Tertullian a historian and Christian apologist)

“According to Natural History magazine, Pope Gregory I approved of these pagan activities. “Instead of trying to obliterate peoples’ customs and beliefs, the pope’s instructions were ‘use them’. If a group of people worship a tree, instead of cutting it off and destroying it or cutting it down, he charged, “consecrate it to Christ and allow them to continue their worship”. The church accepted all these and changed a pagan feast in honor of Saturnalia into Christmas. Presentation of gifts during Christmas was a feature of Saturnalia. (What comes to mind on the 26th which is the boxing day….Boxing day is not the day of pugilisting, but a day set aside to box a gift or hampers for friends and loved ones.(Emphasis mine) It was done on the 26 as part of Saturnalia celebrations and activities held during the festivities in his honor.

“Christians are admonished to do good always…. (Acts. 10:38; Galatians 6:10) “one is expected at this festival to give some presents to friends. (Ancient Italy and Modern Religion)

“WHEN WAS CHRIST BORN?
“According to St. Luke the gospel writer, the angel Gabriel went to the house of the virgin Mary in the sixth month (Lk 1:26-38) Elul which the sixth month of the Jew is like September of our time (Nehemiah 6:15) Chisleu the ninth month is like December (Zech. 7:1). According to the Bible Mary conceived in that period which is the sixth month of the Jews (September). The Holy Spirit exclaimed this through Elizabeth (Lk. 1:39-45). Luke says: Time came for her to be delivered,” (Luke 2:1-7). Since nine months is the normal time of delivery, Christ would have been born between June and July, counting from the sixth month of the Jews which is Elul which is like our month September.

“Dr. Luke stated the there were shepherds out in the field the day Christ was born. (Lk. 2:8) According to the calendar of the Jews, the land of Palestine experiences the greatest heat with serene sky during June and July. (Cf Smith Bible Dictionary page 812). It was possible for shepherds to stay out in the field during June and July. From December to February the land of Palestine experiences the greatest amount of rain with thunder storms and occasional snow. (cf Smith’s Bible Dictionary p. 812). Due to the heavy rain that falls around this time of the year, it is obvious; shepherds could not be out there in that bad weather tending their sheep in December.

“DID OUR LORD CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH?
“Peter wrote that: For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His footsteps”. (1 Pt. 2:21 cf 1 Cor. 11:1)It is therefore wrong to promulgate a law that set a wrong day aside to commemorate the birth of Christ because Christ did not AUTHORIZE such nor His APOSTLES. Our Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper rather for his followers to remember his death, burial and resurrection in his remembrance. (Matt. 26:26-28; Lk 22:17-20) The apostles and the first century churches obeyed this commandment and took part in every first day of the week. (1 Cor. 11:23-26; Acts. 2:42; 20:7)

“Only idol worshippers celebrated their birthdays in the Bible. Pharaoh in the Old Testament hanged his chief baker on his birthday. (Gen. 40:22-22). In the New Testament too, Herod too killed John the Baptist on celebrating his birthday. (Matt. 14:6-11) It is on record that the celebration of Saturnalia which was the birthday of the Sun god or Sol was bloody. No wonder, blood is shed through many fatal accidents and incidences during and before Christmas. “Unless victims were sacrificed to the Sun god, all life-including that of the gods would die” (Natural History Magazine) Occultists and witches who worship Satan still regard 25th December as their day. The San Francisco Chronicle of 21st December, 1991 issue quoted a witch who is also a pagan writer as saying that “It is one of our more strenuous holidays we stay up all night”.

“Whenever Christmas is approaching, serious accidents are reported everywhere because it is satanic. Christ brought peace and life and that we should have life and have it more abundantly. (Isa. 9:6-7; Luke 2:13-14; John 14:27). He did not come to destroy; he said it is rather the thief who is Satan who came to steal, and to kill and to destroy. (He) Christ has come so that we can have life and have it more abundantly. (Jn. 10; 10) Why do many people die during Christmas through accidents? Christ will never introduce something that contradicts his words. Satan always opposes the word of God. A member of the group of the goddess said, “We do a ritual”…..Members of our clergy perform a mystery play about the birth of the solar child”.

“The apostle Paul told Christians not to observe days, months, seasons and years. (Galatians 4:8-11). He also did not commend the church at Corinth for changing the Lord’s Supper into feast. (1Cor. 10:20-23; 11:20-25) because only IDOL worshippers eat, drink and make merry and dance. (1 Cor. 10:6-7; Matt. 24:38).

“Simon Scama, Professor of History at Harvard University calls Saturnalia “the orgies of eating, drinking and other kinds of naughtiness”. All activities in the celebration of Christmas were in the celebration of Saturnalia. Our Lord said only vain worshippers obey commandments of men. (Matt. 15:7-9). Will our God accept these immoral practices? We are warned not to follow multitude to sin. (Ex. 23:1) Christians are admonished to love going to the house of mourning than to the house of merry making. (Eccl. 7:1-5). Christians are to imitate God and Christ not men. (Eph. 4:17-18; 5:6-11; 1 Cor. 11:1). “Therefore, my beloved brethren, free from idolatry which Christmas takes its root from. The Israelites were warned not to copy or learn the evil and idolatrous ways of the nations God drove away and gave their land to the children of Israel. (Read Deuteronomy 18:9-14)

“Christians therefore do not celebrate Christmas. In America, Christmas is no more a religious rite because America has turned a secular state and those who do not belong to “Christendom” find it bigotry or religious imposition to bring the name of Christ into a celebration which they themselves do not believe in Christ either. So in America, they took the matter to the Supreme Court and pushed for the name ‘Christ’ to be removed from the word and found it more comfortable to call it ‘happy holiday’ but not Christmas.

“So these days you will see people embossed on their car decorations the word ‘putting Christ back into Christmas’. But our argument is, Christ has never being in Christmas for us to put him back….because it has pagan roots. Visit the church of Christ nearest you!” This church teaches.

But Christ was not even given to Christians. The scriptures did not also teach that Christ was given to the Jews. Christ was given unto the world. The world are Pagans. The Lord Jesus Himself said that God so loved the world that He gave (Him) His only Begotten Son...

Christ is not a religious Man or a Christian, neither is He for any religious group nor Christian group, but for Pagans. In the epistle of Paul to the Galatians, he wrote in the third chapter the verses eight, thirteen and fourteen that Christ was given to justify the heathens (or Pagans) and cause them to receive the blessing of Abraham through Him Jesus Christ.

Why then should “Christians” criticize the way and manner ‘Pagans’ celebrate their Christ? Are “Christians” the ones to tell Pagans how they should honour and celebrate their Christ?

It is true that the Pagans celebrate the birthdays of their kings and heroes. Christ Jesus is the King and Hero of the Pagans, and they had chosen December 25 to celebrate their great King and Hero Jesus Christ. They no more celebrate sun god or sun-mass, but Christ Jesus or Christ-mass.

This is a great turnaround or Repentance. Christ has taken the centre stage of pagan celebrations. This is at least what repentance is all about. A great repentance unto Pagans. Isn’t it?

So, Please, “Christians”, if we would not join the Pagans to celebrate their Christ, let us allow them to celebrate Him in whatever day and way they choose.

Edward Bamfo-Darko