It’s that time of year again: the weather is getting cold, and in some places, snow is beginning to fall, and we are constantly bombarded by retail stores and their marketing blitzes. Christmastime is upon us yet again, and every year it seems more commercialized, more cutthroat, and less about family and togetherness. Many attempt to counteract this trend with banners proclaiming, “Put Christ back in Christmas!”. Such persons feel that the loss of the religious aspect of Christmas is a disturbing trend. Is it appropriate, however, to have “Christ” in “Christmas”? Since this is the time of year that many engage in “Christmas discussions,” it is appropriate for us to consider what we can learn from the Scriptures regarding Christians and Christmas. When we open the Scriptures, we find in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2 the description of the birth of Jesus the Christ according to the prophecies of the prophets of old. The shepherds and the manger are there, along with Joseph and Mary. There are “wise men” (Matthew 2:1), but surprisingly, their number is not mentioned. Most curious of all, however, is that no date or even time of year is mentioned; “December 25” or any ancient Roman or Hebrew equivalent is not present at all! The Scriptures report the fact that Jesus was born, demonstrate how His birth fulfilled prophecy, but remain absolutely silent about when the event took place. December 25th is the least likely day of the year for Christ to have been born. We read in Luke 2:8 of the angel of the Lord appearing to the “shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night”. Shepherds would not be keeping watch over their flocks in the fields at night in Palestine in December and January because it is usually cold and rainy. With the shepherds tending their flocks at night in the field indicates Jesus was born during the warmer seasons. If God wanted us to know the date of Christ’s birth, He would have told us in the Bible. God has not authorized us to celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. In the church We do rejoice that Christ was born of a virgin just as God promised in Isaiah 7:14. But we rejoice even more “that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The word Christmas” is not in the Bible. The Bible has absolutely nothing to say about December 25th as the birthday of Christ. For most of the religious world, Christmas has been set aside by man as a “holy day” to celebrate the birth of Christ. Theatrical and dramatic performances entertain large crowds of people attending Christmas church services, but they don’t come back any other time of the year. People want to celebrate Christmas as Christ being a babe in a manger and when Christmas is over, they want to put Him in a box until next year and live their lives the rest of the year as they please. Many people celebrate Christmas with covetousness, and drunken parties, Christmas is about pleasing men and not God. What do you think God thinks of all of this? In Galatians 4:10-11 Paul is condemning the Christians at Galatia for observing religious days without God’s authorization. “You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have labored for you in vain.” For man to set up and observe a religious holiday would be adding to the word of God. We are severely warned not to add to what God has said. “If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him, the plagues written in this book”, (Revelation 22:18). Man will lose his soul in Hell by adding to what God has said. We are commanded, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). To do something in the name of the Lord Jesus is to do it by His authority. Where in the Bible has the Lord authorized us to celebrate Christmas, December 25th or any other day as His birthday? Christmas, therefore, is not recognized as an observance found within the pages of the New Testament, representing a later tradition popularized and developed over time. Since this is the case, how should Christians approach Christmas? Should Christians observe it religiously? Should Christians take any note of the observance at all? The Scriptures do not speak specifically regarding Christmas, but Paul provides some assistance in Romans 14:5-6: One-man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. Paul establishes that the matter of observing days is a liberty, and that everyone should be “fully assured” or “fully convinced” in his own mind. If some Christians believe that Christmas should not be observed in any way, their views should be respected, and other Christians should not provoke them to violate their consciences (Romans 14:13-21). Those Christians who do not observe in any way, likewise, have no right to condemn those who observe the day as a way to associate with friends and family and to share gifts; they also are accepted by God (Romans 14:5-6). Christmastime represents a rare opportunity for many people to get away from work and spend time with extended family, and many enjoy giving gifts at this time of year to friends and family. Encouraging family relations is not a bad thing (Ephesians 6:1-4), and one can certainly take the opportunity that the holiday season affords to spend time with others. A Christian can celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday just as we celebrate Labor Day, Memorial Day, or Independence Day, but without any religious significance. We can give gifts, send holiday greetings, decorate, etc., but we have not been authorized to celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday.
