Here is an interesting exercise, list all the rules Jesus gave his followers. You’ll find very few. I am sure you can agree Jesus gave no instruction for exploring space, none for heart surgery and never told anyone how to build a church building (architecture), neither did he say “don’t do those things”.
Jesus never said “don’t celebrate my birth” and he never said “do”. No where in the collective works found in the modern bible does it say “don’t” or “do”. If another religion celebrates an event on one day must I celebrate on another? What would happen if the pagans celebrate on all days, where would be a time for celebrating something else?
The argument “because it was pagan” is weak. Much of our culture, language and behaviors can be traced back to “pagans” and “barbarians” yet we don’t throw them out. We use pagan months in our calendar, the stars are named after pagan gods. So If I don’t worship the stars or the months or the gods of old or celebrate who the pagans did – how is it I am celebrating a pagan holiday?
Trappings is also a weak argument, it shows me that those who thought of it are put off by comparisons. Yup, there are lots of celebrations in historic and modern religions of renewal and rebirth, the birth of a special god and the creation recycled but that does not mean Jesus was not born, and it does not mean we should not celebrate his birth; it only means there are lots of other uses for December 25th. What would happen if I told your boss at work, you practice pagan rituals in your office during work hours? Oh yes “tapping”, “chanting”, “reciting the names of the gods”; yet you don’t do this as a pagan celebration, you call it typing, memorizing things, and reading a calendar.
Okay I admit, Jesus was likely NOT born on December 25th, the biographers of the day record “shepherds being in the field” and December is too cold for that, so since we celebrate “as often as we do theses things” atonement / Eucharist / communion, which proves you can celebrate something; why cant we celebrate anything we want, whenever we want – make up celebrations we feel good about and worship God with freedom and freedom of criticism and condemnation? Did not the Father celebrate the return of his lost son? The widow the lost coin? Luke 15.
Jesus used these words: “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the Son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34-36)
It is not harder then that unless one makes it so.
I will celebrate Jesus birth, I love the idea, and the season. Thank God for it.
Writer, thanks for you expressions. However, your analogies and comparisons show that you don’t realize a fundamental fact: When an act or a custom involves or claims to involve worship of the true God (as does the celebrating of christmas), this puts it under far greater scrutiny on the basis of God’s word,(for the Bible clearly defines what true worship should and should not contain) than if that act is merely a mundane or secular act such as typing, using the names of days or months and other things you erroneously compared christmas to.
Hence for christmas, easter, and other customs that clearly involves worship, all these following factors come into play to determine whether or not those acts or customs should be done by people hoping to please Jehovah God and Christ Jesus:its origin, its ingredients, its truthfulness,its effect on people, whether God requires it or not, whether Christ commanded it or did it, and whether it was done by the true christians in the first century, (many of whom were contemporaries of Jesus when he was on earth). If you carefully research both in the Bible and secular reference books, you will see clearly that christmas FAILS on every factor here mentioned.
Anything done to please God or Christ his son must be done on their terms, not our own, nor on the basis on popular custom.
John. 4:23,24,-“…MUST worship God with spirit and TRUTH.” EPH. 5:10-“keep on making sure of what is acceptable TO THE LORD.”
celebrate christmas?
most places in D/a dfont have decorations or a tree, some people dont want any.
I live in a so called “Vibrant community”, have we heard one Christmas song since the 20th Dec? NO. A barrage of noise, usually the same 5 songs over and over again which leads one to question the cranial capacity of the bar owners.
WCK at high enough volume to rattle windows at 2am. If they ever did a christmas compilation, they don’t know it.
Anyway, the only difference between Independence and Christmas morning was the better clothing on those passed out in the street. The noise continued from Christmas eve morning till 2am Boxing day, when I had enough, and the authorities were called. I shall continue to call them too, after all, there is a law about noise pollution, and no one in this vibrant community has a license to play music all night.
If the bar owners have no clients, they routinely turn the music up loud, shut the bar and go home.
Christmas spirit Bah humbug. I work, I need sleep.
Why try to condemn the celebration of Christmas, stating that it’s paganism? People are more than ready to celebrate halloween, carnival etc but tend to find a reason not to celebrate Christmas. Some say that it’s celebration started by pagans, worshiping of the devil etc. If we have to look closely at everything we celebrate and do must have started somewhere ….by pagans I guess but yet not considered a form or pagan rituals. Isn’t that hypocrisy on it’s part? There are lots of pagan rituals going on around us every day but we tend to cast a blind eye on those things but is Christmas they want to attack. JUST LEAVE CHRISTMAS eh and go celebrate whatever you all want. Let God be the judge of what everyone does. God gave us three gifts …and the greatest is LOVE.
IDOLATRY “thou shall have no other gods before me.” Exo. 20vses 3-5
Nothing wrong in celebrating Winter Solstice. It is a good holiday, to break the darkness of winter, but it is not the birth of Christ. Time to take the Christ out of mass and call it by its true and authentic name winter solstice,not known in hot climates an invention of the cold north imported to the warm climates.
We should not call it the birth of Christ, if Christ wanted his birth celebrated he would have set the example.
He is setting the example but humans are the ones who ignore it. I hate when people try quoting the bible. Satan can quote the entire bible
Do some research on christmas hun before you comment. This conversation is also happening in the US where I live. Christmas or Christ mass started from witchcraft then the roman catholics adopted it and called it Christmas and the christians copy cat. It was all a plan of the devil a long time ago. It is time for us to know the truth and to separate ourselves from worldly traditions.
If I did not do my research I’d not be here responding, would I? Only when people leave the catholic church and go elsewhere they tend to quote the bible and tell others what to and not to do. The world is sad enough so cheer up …it’s christmas time , let’s be happy and give to the poor,homeless etc. That’s what Christmas is about. JESUS LOVES THAT
We major too much on minors and minor on majors….we are too selective in what we choose to judge and condemn others about. we are too selctive in which commands of Jesus we choose to obey or disobey. Celebrating Christmas will not cause anyone to see God’s face or not…salvation through His Son is what will determine this…
how about we stop celebrating christmas because the bible and the mythical birth of jesus is something created to control black people and strip them of their power. we must get back to our own spiritual belief system not that of the white man if we are to be prosperous
am with you a 150%on that.
What is our spiritual belief?
John 4:24 (New American Standard Bible)
24 God is [a]spirit, and those who worship Him must worship (A)in spirit and truth.”
There is not bible account where Christ celebrted his birth. Santa clause is a not real and parents should not teach their children to lie by telling them about santa something that is not in harmony with the bible. We should worship the father in spirit and truth and telling a lie about his son is not worshiping him in spirit and truth
Justice, I totally agree with you. If we scramble the word Santa we will get Satan. Is this the type of thing that we want teach our children about? certainly not. People get drunk and disorderly on christmas day. The god we serve is a very clean god and would not get involved in that type of practice. Moreover, many are just interested in receiving personal gifts and that is not fair at all if it is about christ then we should not try to gain material wealth. It is not your birthday so why should you be expecting a gift from as many people as possible. It would be best to use that time, energy and money to give a meal to the hungry who are less fortunate. Then again December is a very cold month how could shepherds be out in the field watching over their flock at that time? I am sure it was much too cold for that and they would be in doors hiding from that cold. He had to be born at a time when it was much warmer.
ECCLEASTICS 7:1 said ”
New International Version (©1984)
A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth ”
Christ did not celebrate his birthday but he celebrated his death
Not only on santa clause we must not lie nah. We should not lie at all and commit all other sins. No matter what I celebrating Christmas because it’s the time we humans set aside to celebrate Jesus’ birth since we don’t know when he was born and he greatly appreciates it. Wouldn’t you like someone to celebrate your birthday if the person did not know when you were born?
Meaning of Christmas Tree
Understanding the meaning of the Christmas tree and the decorations stringed onto it, will help us understand the reason behind these age-old traditions. Let’s find out why we have been doing what we have been doing for generations together.
Lovely, decorative Christmas trees have adorned multitudinous houses, for centuries together. As the Christmas season draws nearer, artificial or real, evergreen coniferous Christmas trees are placed in houses and decorated with all kinds of Christmas tree ornaments and lights!
We’ve all spent years decorating trees, however, do we know what is the meaning of a Christmas tree? If there is no mention of a Christmas tree in the Bible, how has the setting up of a tree for Christmas, become such an ingrained tradition? So what’s the meaning behind putting up the all-popular Christmas tree? Let’s have a look at how this particular custom came about.
Meaning of Christmas Tree
There is a lot of controversy regarding Christmas celebrations and whether putting up Christmas trees is pagan or not? As Christians, when there is a debate, we turn to the Bible for clarification and confirmation. So what does the Bible say regarding Christmas and Christmas trees?
Well, there is no mention of celebrating Christmas in the Bible. Not once does the Bible mention that the disciples and early church celebrated Christmas after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Same goes for Easter! So we see that Christmas itself is not biblical. Moreover, several evidences point to the fact that Christ was not born in December, let alone December 25th. However, several people are of the school of thought that they need a day to celebrate Christ’s birthday and if it’s the 25th of December, then so be it.
Moreover, they also believe, it’s a good way not only to remember that Christ came into the world to save, but also to evangelize. Christmastime is a time when the focus of non-Christians turns to Christians. They are inquisitive about the festival, the preparations and the meaning behind the festival. So, it’s a good time to share what Christianity is all about and share the gospel to those around using nativity plays, carols, Christmas programs, distribute tracts, bibles, etc. When else would people so willingly listen to what you have to say?
Now, for the significance and meaning of Christmas trees in Christmas.
If we trace back, trees were used by Egyptians and Romans in ancient times for tree worship. But, just because the pagans worshiped trees, do we have to feel guilty when placing Christmas trees in our houses? Are we acting like pagans by putting up Christmas trees in our houses? Are we not rooted in Christ if we put up Christmas trees?
Over the centuries people have idolized almost everything. People have worshiped money, career, jobs, status, fame, beauty, houses, cars, jewelry, cell phones, electronic gadgets, family, spouse, church and the list goes on and on. Just because some people idolized money, do believers not have anything to do with money at all? No, we all know we have to work hard and earn money for a living, because to buy food, clothing and shelter we need cash. Just because people idolize and worship houses, cars, good jobs, do we keep ourselves from buying a house, purchasing a car or doing well at our workplaces. No! Absolutely not!
Some again argue that they purchase simpler houses, cars, etc. to prove they are not acting lustfully. However, what may seem a simple lifestyle to you, may be a luxurious one as compared to somebody who is of a lower financial background. So who is right and who is wrong? Do you purchase a small place deliberately, because you want to prove you are not attached to material things. Some folks abstain from wearing jewelry or watching movies, etc. just to prove they are not interested in what the world has to offer. But their behavior and actions talk otherwise and do not showcase Christ in any manner. So even if you physically abstain from something, your heart can be still dark.
It is the attitude of the heart that matters. You’ve purchased a new car – It’s good to be happy about what you’ve bought. God wants you to be comfortable and happy. However, are you idolizing it? Has it become more important to you than Jesus? Sometimes we think, “Oh I don’t own a Mercedes, so I am not lusting after a car”. However, so many of us can even idolize a small car. One can even idolize something as small as a pen. Check your own heart to understand where you stand.
When I come across such situations I remember what Jesus said in Mathew 15:11, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” From this one can incur that what lies within the heart is more important than following or not following traditions. Your doing or not doing something to show others you are holy and superior is only a hypocritical attitude. If we extend this to our Christmas tree scenario, it is more important to double check your attitude and motive. Does Christmas only mean trees, decorations, feast, new clothes, gifts, etc?
Your heart and mind should be Christ-centered all throughout the year, let alone Christmastime. Moreover, at Christmas we must not allow Christmas trees and the other festivities to rob us of our focus. The pagans worshiped the tree, however, we don’t worship the tree
Well written – not a word need be added, you have said it all. If this is like the last article on Christmas no doubt we will read more than a few poorly throughout essays written principally from ignorance or superstition, but it matters not. Merry Christmas to all and a happy and healthy new year
This is always the day that the Lord hath made.. Let us celebrate him in it – every day if the spirit moves us.
We live in the world, but we are not of the world. Whenever the world is celebrating something, christians should take two steps back and ask God what is really going on. There is mention of the christmas tree and lights in the WORD. The pagans used it as a form of worship to their gods, so why are christians lighting up trees in their homes? God has given us the knowledge that this season is not of Him yet we won’t listen. We are sitting here inviting spirits into our homes and wasting our money. When we go broke then we crying out “Jehovah my provider.” You thanking Jesus for Christmas, well the devil created it. Thank you Holy Spirit for opening my eyes.
Amen, Amen to that brother
Amen to that. Tell them again. Just jumplng. Like blind bats
Admin, you posted my comment in the wrong place. It was meant for the article. I love Christmas time. Hallelujah!!! give him praise. Who don’t want to celebrate christmas that’s on their own account. It’s the heart that matters.
If u say u believe in the true and living GOD of creation,why celebrate anything especially a lie?U could be really celebrting the devil.Remember the commandment,thou shall not lie,the devil is the father of lies.
utter nonsense…whether it was a cold night or a warm one, whether in summer or winter. our Saviour was born. This is what we are celebrating. Not a date, not a moment but an event that speaks to the heart of Christians. We remember, we believe and we are grateful. You all have no problem celebrating a birthday of a loved one, an anniversary but yet you still come up with some stupid argument about the date. Get over it. If it is not important to you, then do not celebrate it.
Amen!