Did you know that Christmas is not even mentioned in the Bible?
Many Christians are shocked to know the truth about Christmas, but only a few take the truth seriously. Will you be one of them?
Many Christians would tell you that the Bible commands us to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and that it is a time to rejoice the coming of our Savior into the world.
If you look in the Bible, nowhere are we commanded to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Actually, what we are commanded to do is commemorate the death of Jesus.
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:19-20
Did you know that the traditions of Christmas actually come from pagan practices and rituals?
The origins of Christmas can be traced back to ancient Persian, Roman and Norse civilizations. In fact, December 25 was not even Jesus’ date of birth. The early Roman Catholic church appropriated what was originally a pagan holiday because it was convenient.
Many of the Christmas traditions we have today come from ancient pagan festivals. Examples include kissing under the mistletoe and decorating trees. Bells, candles, holly, yuletide decorations, etc. all have history in pagan worship.
What we need to ask ourselves is . . . does Christmas glorify God and fulfill his purpose in our lives?
Does the Bible teach us that December 25th is the day that Jesus was born? According to the Bible, no date was ever given for his birth. His birth came during the time of the Roman census, which would never have occurred in the dead of winter. (Luke 2:1) And shepherds would not be out in the fields with their flocks at night. They would have found shelter from the cold. (Luke 2:8)
So if it is not the birth of Jesus you are celebrating on December 25, whose birth is it?
According to history, it is the birth a Mithra, the Persian god of the sun. It was on December 25 that this pagan god was born out of a rock. The ancient world was celebrating long before the actual birth of Jesus.
On December 21, the ancient Greeks have their festivals held in the name of Bacchus, the god of wine. Later it was know as Bacchanalia. It was a festivity infamously known for nocturnal orgies, indecency, disorder and revelries.
In the people of ancient Rome celebrated the winter solstice with the festival of Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to the god of agriculture and time, Saturn. It was celebrated from the 17th to the 24th of December. Because of too many revelries during this time, it often ended in riots and disorder.
The Bible does warn of using paganism to worship God.
The Lord your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.”
You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it. Deuteronomy 12:29-32
Are we really honoring and worshiping God when we use pagan holidays, which God calls detestable? How does the God of the Bible want to be worshipped?
John 4:23-24 teaches us: Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
If we truly desire to love and serve the Lord, we can’t take pagan rituals and label them “Christian” simply because we love to celebrate Christmas. Shouldn’t we stand bold for the truth instead?
Are we not sinning when we lie to our children that Santa Claus is real? A man who breaks into your home to bring gifts while you sleep; who knows whether they’ve been naughty or nice?
Did you ever think when the child finds out the truth, they might think Jesus dying on the cross for their sins isn’t real either? Or how about believing true Bible stories like Noah and the Ark, David and Goliath, Daniel in the Lion’s Den. What message are we giving to our children? They are trusting you.
God’s Word teaches us in Proverbs 22:6: Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Be prayerful about this topic and seek God’s will.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
