Like a cage is full of birds (Jeremiah 5:27), so the
"Christian" community is full of deceit
(2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3), and the Christmas celebration is just
one small sampling of the deception of this age (2 Timothy 4:3).
I. Its History
According to history, the
Catholic church
in the 4th century adapted (Christianized) the evil idolatry of its
day. In the Encyclopedia Britannica (Macropaedia, 1978 edition, Vol. 15,
p.1062-1063) under Roman Religion, the following is written:
The survival of Roman religion. For a time, coins and other
monuments continued to link Christian doctrines with the worship of the
sun, to which Constantine had been addicted previously. But even when
this phase came to an end, Roman paganism continued to exert other,
permanent influences, . . . [then speaking of the ecclesiastical
calendar] notably Christmas, which blends elements including both the
feast of Saturnalia and the birthday of Mithra.
In
Christmas Traditions by William Muir Auld, he states:
This strange Eastern faith, whose god Mithra was identified with
the Unconquered Sun, long proved the most formidable rival of
Christianity. (p. 29)
The birthday of Mithra (the sun god) was December 25. Instead of
opposing this idolatry, the Catholic church literally made up the idea
that December 25 was Christ's birthday, and celebrated the pagan holiday
with a new name, "Christmas." In a children's book entitled
Christmas (by Jane Duden), the following is said:
At first, only a small number of people in the Roman Empire were
Christians. All the non-Christians were called pagans. The pagans had
festivals of their own on or near December 25. For example, Romans held
year-end celebrations to honor Mithra, their god of light.
One of the most popular pagan festivals was Saturnalia ....
People gave gifts to each other and prepared special foods. They
decorated their homes with green branches. Everywhere, people stopped
work to join in the celebration.
Christian leaders did not have an easy time converting
non-Christians (or pagans) to the Christian religion. Pagans liked their
harvest and winter festivities. They did not want to give them up. That
is why, over the years, popes (the spiritual rulers of the Roman
Catholic church) and church leaders allowed many favorite ancient
customs to become part of Christmas celebrations. (p. 8-9)
Furthermore, in
The Solstice Evergreen, The History, Folklore and Origins of the Christmas Tree, Sheryl Ann Karas notes:
Converting the Pagans. During its first 300 years, the church in
Rome maintained a staunch position against all pagan beliefs and
practices; however, many new and potential converts were reluctant to
give up their familiar celebrations. One of the most popular holidays in
the Roman year was the Saturnalia. It was a week-making, culminating in
a winter solstice feast on December 25, called Natilis Solis Invictior
the birthday of the Unconquerable Sun. The holiday honored the strength
of the sun and the fertility it would soon bring to the earth.
In 375 A.D., the [Catholic] Church announced that the birth date
of Christ had been discovered to be December 25, and allowed some of the
light-hearted customs of the older celebration, such as feasting,
dancing and the exchange of gifts, to be incorporated into the reverent
observance of Christmas. The use of greenery, however, popularly used to
decorate homes and holy places during Saturnalia, was still prohibited
as pagan idolatry. (p.88)
And,
Certain popular holidays, such as Yule, and customs such as
lighting candles and offering small sacrifices under certain holy trees
could not be easily suppressed, so they were given new meanings.
Yuletide rituals were incorporated into Christmas. The candles were lit
to remember Christ as light of the world. The holy offerings came to
symbolize the gifts the wise men brought. (p. 91)
She also most interestingly says:
Many people like to de-emphasize our pagan heritage. We have been
taught to associate paganism with violent practices and, therefore,
find it threatening to see pagan aspects in our modern 'civilized'
religions. Yet paganism is much more than human sacrifice. It is part of
our spiritual past. In the case of the Christmas Tree, this knowledge
can enrich the celebration of the ritual for even the most fundamental
Christian and revitalize the winter holidays for those who are not. (p.
5)
Additionally,
The Zondervan Pictoral Encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. A-C, p. 804) states:
Gradually a number of the prevailing practices of the nations
into which Christianity came were assimilated and were combined with the
religious ceremonies surrounding Christmas. The assimilation of such
practices generally represented efforts by Christians to transform or
absorb otherwise pagan practices.
In
The Glory and Pageantry of Christmas by the editors of Time-Life Books, the following is acknowledged:
Christians began absorbing these old customs and infusing them
with Christian meaning in order to help spread the faith. Many Church
fathers considered the method dangerous . . .
But most of the Christian missionaries who moved into Central and
Western Europe as the Roman Empire crumbled, followed the advice of
Gregory the Great. He wrote, in 597, that they should not try to put
down pagan customs "upon the sudden," but adapt them "to the praise of
God." (p. 114)
Was this godly advice? Not at all!
In Christmas Traditions by William Muir Auld, he states:
. . . St. Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople (398-403) . . .
makes reference to the heathen festival of the sun-god and says, "On
this day also the Birthday of Christ was lately fixed at Rome in order
that while the heathen were busy with their profane ceremonies the
Christians might perform their sacred rites undisturbed. They call this
(Dec.25, . . .), the Birthday of the Invincible One (Mithra); but who so
invincible as the Lord? They call it the Birthday of the Solar Disc;
but Christ is the Sun of Righteousness." (p. 31-32)
This is very deceptive, and is not what God has called saints to do (Romans 12:9, "
Abhor what is evil.").
During the Middle Ages, Christmas was linked up to something very wicked. Notice what Frank Muir says in his book
Christmas Customs and Traditions:
All Hallows Eve, 31 October, was traditionally the day on which
the Lord of Misrule was appointed for the Christmas to come. He would
then reign through till Candlemas, 2 February. Known by other names,
"The Master of Merry Disport", "The Abbot of Unreason", "Christmas
King", . . . The Lord of Misrule was the personification of the spirit
of disorder, fun and merrymaking which made the Christmas holidays
something to look forward to in the Middle Ages; (p. 13)
The Lord of Misrule was a principal ingredient in the medieval
celebration of Christmas. However, his revelries were far too pagan for
the Puritans of the seventeenth century who violently attacked him and
eventually banned his election altogether. (p. 14)
Was the Catholic Church right in assimilating (Christianizing) the
evil idol worship of their day? No way! In I Thessalonians 1:8-10, Paul
comments that they turned from idols, to the living God. In other
words, they turned away from idols. They had nothing to do with them
any more. See also 1 Thessalonians 5:22 where Paul exhorts them to "
abstain from every form of evil", or Acts 14:8-15 where Paul and Barnabas tell the men in Lystra, ". . .
you should turn from these useless things to the living God." Their message was not one of assimilation!
II. Christmas Today
Most of the meaning (at least understood by the masses) of the god
"Mithra" (idolatry), the festival of Saturn (idolatry), and the other
pagan practices are all but forgotten. Yet, at what point in time did
this paganism become holy? It never became holy.
Some look to Romans 14:5-6 in regards to Christmas. But, Romans 14
(notice verse one) speaks of doubtful things. As we will see, this is
not a doubtful thing. It is a matter of a false Christ and the worship
of God in falsehood, rather than in truth (John 4:24).
Christmas in America today is celebrated basically in four ways:
1. Celebration of the coming of Santa Claus
2. Celebration of the coming of Christ and the coming of Santa Claus
3. Celebration of a secular nature (no Christ, no Santa Claus)
4. Celebration of Christ's birth
How about those who celebrate the coming of Santa Claus? Santa
Claus: "He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He
knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake." These
words describe a god (only a god could do such things worldwide). Santa
Claus is a false god (an idol, 1 John 5:21). Even though it's all
"make-believe", it still is evil. He looks good and clean. 2 Corinthians
11:14 warns us of the schemes of the Devil and his crafty ways.
Satan
transforms himself into an angel of light. The whole Santa Claus concept
is evil to the core (a false god), yet sugar coated to deceive the
unsuspecting.
How about those who celebrate the coming of Christ and the coming
of Santa Claus? In our culture, it is not unlikely to see a nativity
scene along with Santa Claus and his reindeer (some even have Santa
Claus in the nativity scene). Is such a thing pleasing in the sight of
God, mixing a false god with Christ? No way (e.g. Zephaniah 1:4-5-)!
How about those who celebrate Xmas secularly (no Christ, no Santa
Claus)? These folks usually just have a feast, Christmas tree, exchange
gifts, etc.. Have you ever pondered the "ghost of Christmas past" in
the story of Ebenezer Scrooge? In this story there is no Santa Claus.
This "ghost of Christmas past" teaches Mr. Scrooge to "keep Christmas in
his heart." (p. 43 in Christmas, by Jane Duden).
From a Biblical
perspective, it's the demon of Christmas past. Knowing the whole world
lies in the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19), this is an interesting
well-known and common tale. The story may be fictional, but there is an
agenda nevertheless (1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9).
Something else that we should take note of is a comment made in the
Solstice Evergreen, by Sheryl Ann Karas. She was raised in a Jewish family and she says this about Christmas:
What I yearned for was the magic, the specialness of the day. And
the most magical thing of all for me was the Christmas Tree. (p. 3)
And,
Throughout the Christmas season celebrations include the tree as a
centerpiece. Carols are sung around it. Gifts are exchanged beneath it.
Christmas dinner guests take special care to compliment the hosts on
its beauty. Nobody claims to worship the tree, but if a visitor from
another planet interpreted these rituals in such a way it would hardly
be surprising.
And,
Why else would anyone do something so strange, so whimsical, and so special? (p. 8)
And,
The Christmas Tree is not just a pretty thing to look at. It has a
special place in the spiritual history of us all and, since its ancient
symbolism is embedded in our familiar modern religions, it still has
the power to stir us deep in our primal souls. (p. 106)
Granted, people don't claim to "worship" their Christmas tree.
But, are they? Remember the song, "Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree .
. ."? If you compare the Christmas tree with Jeremiah 10:1-4, there
are some striking similarities.
How about those who simply celebrate Xmas as a celebration of
Christ's birth? First of all, the Christ of "Christmas" is not the
Christ of the Bible. Here are three sound reasons why we should come to
such a conclusion:
I. It is not Biblical (i.e., not from Christ).
Nothing in Scripture directs us to celebrate the birth of Christ,
and none of the practices associated with Christmas are Biblical. This
alone should cause us to fear (John 4:24). Moreover, December 25, for a
date of the Lord's birth, is a one out of 365 chance to be true.
II. Christ is Holy (i.e., separate, Hebrews 7:26).
A. The term "Christmas" is blasphemous. Its etymology (word history) is from "Christ-mass", "mass" being the
Catholic
church's Communion (the Eucharist) where they claim the bread and juice
turn into the actual body and blood of Jesus (called
"transubstantiation"). Christ is sacrificed at each mass.
This goes
directly against Hebrews 9:27-28; 10:11-18.
B. Historically, from the first Christmas to the present day,
Christmas has always been associated with idolatry and wicked
superstitious customs (in the past, Mithra, the sun god; today, Santa
Claus, magic, sorcery, the god of materialism). The Holy Christ of the
Bible calls people to repent from their paganism (Acts 17:16-31), not to
"Christianize" it.
III. It's a false christ.
The world (overall, especially here in America) adores (loves,
worships) the Christ of Christmas. The world abhors (hates, rejects) the
true Christ (John l:ll; 7:7).
Mormons have their Christ.
Jehovah Witnesses have their Christ. Unitarians have their Christ.
Catholics have their Christ. Christmas has its Christ (which is basically a Catholic Christ).
When Jesus Christ returns, do you think He will return as the
Christ of Christmas (Revelation 19:11-16)? Certainly not! Even when He
came as a babe, this prophecy was made concerning Him, "...a sign which
will be spoken against..." (Luke 2:34). The world hates the true Christ.
Someone might say, "Well, when we celebrate Christmas, we are
celebrating the birth of the Christ of the Bible." That's a lie! The
Christ of Christmas is not the Christ of the Bible. The Israelites were
told the same kind of lie in Exodus 32:4-5 with the golden calf. They
were told,
This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!
And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord." (Hebrew "to Yahweh").
Jesus said in John 4:24,
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
What is to be our perspective towards evil and a false "Christ"? It is to be this:
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)
We are to flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14), "
Abhor what is evil." (Romans 12:9), "
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." (Ephesians 5:8-11).
We are to turn away from evil (1 Peter 3:11) and "
not imitate evil" (3 John 11).
When we think about worshiping Christ and celebrating His birth,
we should also consider what the Lord told the Israelites in Deuteronomy
12:30-32:
take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow
them, . . . and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, "How
did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise." You shall
not worship the Lord your God in that way. (i.e., in the same way or manner that the pagans worship their gods).
It is a serious error to worship God in the wrong way. Nadab and
Abihu, the sons of Aaron, found this out the hard way when they offered
up the wrong kind of incense to the Lord in Leviticus 10. The Lord
killed them with fire! Should we not take heed to the words of Moses as
he exhorted Aaron in regards to this event?
This is what the Lord spoke, saying, "By those who come near
Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be
glorified." (Leviticus 10:3)
John MacArthur wrote in his booklet,
Six Ways Satan Is Stealing Christmas,
If you've been missing the reality of Christmas in your life,
know that if you receive the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in His name,
Christmas will become real to you. (p. 20)
Is this what we want - Christmas to "become real" to people? A
true Christian would not want a false christ to "become real" to people.
Consider a few questions: What kind of message are we sending the
world in celebrating Christmas?
That God is ecumenical, or eclectic? Or,
that He is Holy? Is Christmas a clear picture of the gospel?
Hardly!
What is core to the gospel? Repentance! Repentance from what? All your
wicked ways (Isaiah 55:6-7). Christmas is a billboard of a blend of
wickedness and Christianity; thus not constituting a complete repentance
from all wickedness. What are we trying to avoid by "Christianizing"
Christmas? Persecution (being an outcast)! The fear of man brings a
snare (Proverbs 29:25). People resist this, because they have their
hearts (minds) on this world (earth), not on the things above
(Colossians 3:2).
What's the problem with celebrating Jesus' birth on December 25?
The problem is that it is a lie. It is not the birth of the true Christ
that is being celebrated. It is the birth of a false Christ - which is
idolatry - which is demonic (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:17; 2
Chronicles 11:15; Psalm 106:37; I Corinthians 10:20-21). The Christ of
Christmas, who is loved by the world, was never conceived in Mary's
womb. This false Christ is either a demon (or demons) or Satan himself,
and neither have been born into the human race for the propitiation of
the sins of mankind.
In and of themselves, there is nothing wrong with giving gifts or
having a feast, but when it is done in the name of a false christ
(idolatry), it is to be opposed (Romans 12:9). As the true Christ
condemned the "Christians" of Pergamos and Thyatira for eating things in
the name of an idol (Revelation 2:14, 20), so should we oppose that
which is done in the name of this modern, yet deceptive, practice of
idolatry called Christmas.
We should also note that Jesus refused to line Himself up with the
practices of the religion of His day (the "right one", Judaism and
their practices, and the Pharisees). How much more would He refuse to
line Himself up with Santa Claus and all the trappings of this
"Christ-mass"?
What has God called us to? A holy life!
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16; see also Hebrews 12:14)
The Psalmist calls out in Psalm 94:16,
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Believers are called to call the world to repentance. That's what
Jesus' message was (Matthew 4:17), not to make them feel good or
assimilate their ways into ours (when it is evil), or our ways into
theirs. As Romans 12:1 says, "
Do not be conformed to this world." [By the way, if family problems are encountered because of a refusal to celebrate Christmas, see Luke 12:49-53.]
John MacArthur wrote,
Christians today are generally not opposed to celebrating
Christmas. The holiday itself is nothing, and observing it is not a
question of right or wrong. (God With Us, copyright 1989, p. 25)
Is that our standard? If Christians today aren't opposed to it
then neither should we? Or, is it true that "the holiday itself is
nothing" (Santa Claus -- a make-believe false god, a false christ, and
the "spirit of Christmas" - a demon or demons, or Satan himself)? Let us
not be persuaded by what others are doing around us (Paul had Demas
leave him, 2 Timothy 4:10; and all forsook him, 2 Timothy 1:13-15), but
let us be persuaded by the Scriptures and apply them with zeal (Psalm
119:60).
When was the last time you heard someone preach on 1 Corinthians 16:22, "
If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed"?
Some things are not popular, thus you don't hear them very often (if
ever). Speaking against Christmas is certainly not popular, but let's
face the facts and ask God to deliver us from the brainwashing of the
society in which we live. May He grant to us lives that fully please Him
(holy, separate from all evil) and that are ever increasing in the
knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).
1. What's Wrong With Christmas (A synopsis of the Christmas issue)
2. A Letter To An Unbelieving Family
