Posted on 12/04/2005 7:27:20 AM PST by DouglasKC
One day, years ago, someone asked me why I kept Christmas. "The Bible says to keep it," I responded. "Somewhere in the Gospel of Luke, it speaks of the nativity scene. An angel told some shepherds that were keeping their sheep in the fields at night that the baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem. I think they went to see Jesus at that time.
"That was the first Christmas! And that's why I keep Christmas, because the Bible supports Christmas, the birthday of Jesus Christ."
"That's not true and here's why," my friend replied.
I soon learned that the Bible didn't teach Christmas. I also found that its origins have nothing to do with the Bible. It was an important lesson about things I'd long assumed to be true.
Just because some 2 billion people—roughly 1 billion Catholics and another billion in Protestant faiths—observe Christmas, does that make it right? Does it really matter one way or the other?
Why do so many people observe it?
If you were asked, "Why do you celebrate Christmas?" how would you respond? Many would say Christmas honors the birthday of Jesus. Others feel that Christmas is a good Christian family get-together. Many do it simply because they've always done it.
Christmas can appear tantalizing to the eye and ear. People appear happy, generous, full of good cheer. Twinkling lights decorate many houses. Santa Claus and his reindeer are pictured as poised to lift off from snow-covered front yards or rooftops, although in the southern hemisphere and tropics there is no December snow. The colorful, peaceful-appearing Christmas scene can be intoxicating, addicting.
Shoppers pack stores, browsing for gifts they hope to buy at bargain-basement prices. Soaring strains of "White Christmas," "Silent Night" or "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" resonate everywhere.
The December weather of the northern hemisphere might be frightful outside, but the feeling and warmth inside is delightful. Christmas trees with twinkling lights and bright, sparkling ornaments create a mystical and glowing environment. Entire families want to experience the special mystery that only comes with the Christmas season. There is no religious holiday quite like it for the millions everywhere who observe it.
Was Jesus really born on Dec. 25?
But stop and ask yourself: Was Christ really born on Christmas Day? After all, the Bible nowhere tells us the day of His birth.
In fact, most credible secular historical writings tell us that Christmas, more than 200 years after Jesus' death, was considered sinful: "As late as A.D. 245 [the early Catholic theologian] Origen . . . repudiates as sinful the very idea of keeping the birthday of Christ" (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition, 1910, Vol. 6, p. 293, "Christmas").
In A.D. 354, a Latin chronographer mentioned Christmas, but even then he did not write about it as an observed festival (ibid.).
There is no biblical evidence that Dec. 25 was Jesus' birth date. In fact, the Bible record strongly shows that Jesus couldn't have been born then.
For example, Luke tells us that the shepherds were keeping their sheep in the fields at night when Jesus was born. "And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:7-8, emphasis added throughout).
But late December is Judea's cold and rainy season. Would shepherds actually keep their fragile flocks out in the open fields on a cold late-December night near Bethlehem?
No responsible shepherd would subject his sheep to the elements at that time of year when cold rains, and occasional snow, are common in that region.
"The climate of Palestine is not so severe as the climate of this country [England]; but even there, though the heat of the day be considerable, the cold of the night, from December to February, is very piercing, and it was not the custom for the shepherds of Judea to watch their flocks in the open fields later than about the end of October" (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, 1959, p. 91).
Luke also tells us that Jesus was born at the time of a census ordered by the Roman emperor (Luke 2:1-3). The Romans were brilliant administrators; they certainly would not have ordered people to journey to be registered at a time of year when roads would have been wet and muddy and traveling conditions miserable. Such a move would have been self-defeating on its face.
The belief that Jesus was born on or around Dec. 25 simply has no basis in fact, even if 2 billion people have accepted it without question. As the famous playwright George Bernard Shaw said, "If 50 million people believe a foolish thing, it's still a foolish thing."
Does Christmas really honor Christ?
If the Christmas holiday is an important celebration to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, why is it nowhere mentioned in the Bible? Why didn't Christ instruct His closest followers, His 12 chosen apostles, to keep Christmas? Why didn't they institute or teach it to the early Church?
Before you answer, consider that Jesus gave great authority to His 12 apostles, assuring them that they will hold positions of great importance and responsibility in His Kingdom (Matthew 18:18; 19:28; Luke 22:29-30). But since Jesus never taught His apostles to keep Christmas, nor did they ever teach it to the Church though they had years of opportunity to do so, shouldn't that make us question whether Christmas is something Jesus really wants or appreciates?
So how did Christmas become such a widespread practice if the Bible doesn't sanction it, if Christ didn't observe it and if He never taught His disciples and the early Church to celebrate it?
True origins of Christmas
Most people never stop to ask themselves what the major symbols of Christmas—Santa Claus, reindeer, decorated trees, holly, mistletoe and the like—have to do with the birth of the Savior of mankind. In
the southern hemisphere summer climate of December, few people question why they observe a Christmas with northern hemisphere winter scenery!
The fact is, and you can verify this in any number of books and encyclopedias, that all these trappings came from ancient pagan festivals.
Even the date, Dec. 25, came from a festival celebrating the birthday of the ancient sun god Mithras. (If you'd like to learn more about the origins of the many customs and symbols associated with Christmas, request our free booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep?)
Jesus never told His followers to celebrate Christmas, but He did warn us not to adhere to false, man-made religious doctrines: "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:7). The truth is, Christmas and other non-biblical religious holidays constitute vain or empty worship of Christ.
The Catholic Encyclopedia indicates that the Christmas season came from an ancient midwinter festival that occurred at the time of the winter solstice. Interestingly, the previously noted Origen, despite the early period in which he lived (ca. 182-251), never even mentioned it (The New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967, Vol. 3, 1967, and "Christmas and Its Cycle," The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, Vol. 3, "Christmas").
Tertullian, another Catholic theologian who lived at about the same time (ca. 155-230), referred to compromising Christians then beginning to join in the pagan midwinter festival celebrated in the Roman Empire, which eventually evolved into what is now Christmas:
"The Saturnalia, the feasts of January, the Brumalia, and Matronalia are now frequented; gifts are carried to and fro, new year's day presents are made with din, and banquets are celebrated with uproar; oh, how much more faithful are the heathen to their religion, who take special care to adopt no solemnity from the Christians" (Tertullian in De Idolatria, quoted by Hislop, p. 93).
In time Catholic religious leaders added solemnity to this pre-Christian holiday by adding to it the Mass of Christ, from which it eventually came to be known by its common name of "Christmas."
A matter of whether, not what
The purpose of The Good News magazine is to share with you the living truth of Jesus Christ. A true Christian cannot decide what he will obey, only whether he will obey God's truth.
We strive to publish God's pristine truth; people who read that truth have to decide what to do about it and whether they will honor it. Our commission from Jesus Christ is to teach the truth of God and to welcome as disciples and fellow workers those few who hear and obey the truth. We hope the truth about Christmas starts you on the road to true happiness and God's purpose for you.
History shows that Christmas does not represent Christ. It misrepresents sound biblical teaching and is in opposition to God's truth. God wants us to worship Him in truth (John 4:23-24), not fable.
In Deuteronomy 12:28-32, God told His people to worship only in the ways He commanded, telling them "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." He explicitly ordered them not to copy or adopt the religious practices of the pagans, calling such practices "abomination[s] . . . which He hates."
Yet hundreds of millions of men, women and children unwittingly observe Christmas, not knowing or caring from where it came. They assume that 2 billion Christians can't be wrong or that it doesn't matter how we worship God so long as our intentions are good. But why should we think we honor God or please Him when we worship contrary to His commands?
Crucial questions only you can answer
The crucial question is, do we worry more about what others think or about what God requires? Also, can other human beings give us salvation? If honoring God's truth determines our salvation, then why honor men over God?
Jesus Christ said to those who appeared religious but denied the power of His true teaching, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46; compare Matthew 7:21). Since Christ is opposed to Christmas, why would any thoughtful Christian observe it?
Walking in Jesus' footsteps in a world that doesn't is never easy. But it is much better and eminently more rewarding than following the empty ways of the world.
God tells us in 1 John 2:15-17: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." GN
"D, your understanding of the nature of the Trinity is fully and completely heretical and if not pure modalism, it is a variant of it. In reading a bit to frame this response, I was astonished at the level to which this old heresy and its variants have infected groups professing to be Christian. In reading some of the sites and the proof texting used to support this heresy, I was amazed at the arrogance, and total lack of understanding of what has been the Faith of the Church for 2100 years displayed by these groups."
Oh well, if they still had any illusions that you guys were just proddies with the smells and bells, you've probably just shattered them! ;)
Why did the letter from the Council at Jerusalem to the Gentiles not mention the dietary customs, the feasts, or the Holy days as things to be observed by them. A letter authored by James with the approval of Peter and Paul.
It doesn't mention that they shouldn't murder, rob, steal or worship false idols or a myriad of other sins so it's clearly not an all inclusive list of the *only* things gentiles had to do.
Jesus and/or the Apostles address such issues in their New Testament teaching.
No New Testament writer teaches any requirement for keeping the Jewish feast days.
In fact, as JohnnyM has suggested, ... the Jerusalem Council appears to downplay the importance of Gentile converts keeping such traditions , ... while they, instead, focus on a few 'essentials' from Jewish tradition.
The answer is in the verse everyone likes to leave out:Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.In other words, these gentiles who just came out of pagan practices should stop immediately doing the pagan practices listed because after all they are taught and will be taught everything else every sabbath day. It's like a new person coming into church. You don't expect them to know everything, but they'll learn because they go and are taught every week. The holy days would be taught to them ... they'll learn.
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Yes ... the Gentiles will learn of the Jewish feast days ... but there is no requirement that the Gentiles keep these days.
My Baptist congregation has studied the Jewish feast days, ... and there is something of the nature of God and His dealings with His people to gained by understanding the celebration of these days.
But there is a difference between knowing of the days, ... or even choosing to participate in the celebration of these days, ... and being required to do so.
Like the Jews, ... Christians have particular events which are very special to us ... Jesus' birth, His death and resurrection, etc.
And I believe that New Testament teaching gives us the freedom to celebrate what God has done for us ... on these days or any other.Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
***The Nicene Creed says nothing of the sort. You are making things up.***
Go back and re-read the post. All I said was, "Filioque anyone?"
The rest is a quote from another post, not mine.
Don't take this wrong because I appreciate your taking the time to post this. But this is exactly why I rejected traditional Christianity. There is a huge explanation refuting the notion that the holy spirit cannot originate from both the father and the son and it's done without once referring to scripture!
The bible says:
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Now the bible apparently uses the terms "Spirit of Christ" and "Spirit of God" interchangebly. It must be the same spirit since there's only one spirit:
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
The same spirit comes "of" Christ and "of" the father. What makes this scripture, or my understanding of this scripture, incorrect?
Then point out, if you don't mind, which posts - preferrably with a non-arcane method such as the post number - you specifically have in mind.
I have done this with my assertion. Post 127 *directly* contradicts your own autobiographical account as noted on the link I gave in post 256 of this thread. In the latter, you claimed to be a former Catholic-from-birth, just so you could give false testimony to your alleged lack of spiritual nourishment as a Catholic. I'm calling you on this, and expect an answer, because I I am convinced you have given false witness regarding your alleged personal connection with Catholicicm. You post 127 today desn't help dissuade me that I am wrong.
Inquiring minds want to know...
I think the apostles spoke clearly on circumcision actually.
Yes, I know. My question to you was, is circumcision included in the laws and customs of your belief system? Seems as the Apostles were at variance here.
Okay, so I think we've established that there are certain behaviors that they expected from "saved" gentiles. This list wasn't all of the behaviors, but only some of them. I think that sabbath worship and holy day observance were givens not even worthy of discussion.
Secondly, the letter was sent out in regards to individuals who were laying on them as Peter says in v.10, "a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear". Circumcision was not a yoke the fathers could not bear as ALL of them at the Council, including Peter, were jews and were circumcised. Peter was speaking of the Law.
I believe the yoke is sin. Getting circumcised physically doesn't take the yoke off. We still bear it until we are saved by the sacrifice of Christ. There were plenty of people who were able to bear the law...look at Moses.
Thirdly, if circumcision was the only thing that was being discussed, then why no mention of it in the letter, and instead focus on other things completely separate from circumcision.
Maybe these were basic guarantees so that the newly converted gentiles weren't so offensive to converted Jews. Maybe it was consulalation prize to the Pharisees.
Thanks for the info. I'm aware of the danger of using "The Message" as the only study tool for scripture. The particular issue was how Acts 15:5 could be correctly interpreted.
Thanks.
I've been great. Nice to hear from you again. :-)
We do not celebrate a "religious" Christmas in our home, although we decorate, exchange gifts, bake cookies, etc. We celebrate belonging to Christ and the fact that he was born to die for us everyday of the year. I've never really been a big fan of setting apart one day a year to celebrate something about my Lord and savior.
That's pretty much how I use to celebrate Christmas...only minus the Christ part because I wasn't a believer most of my life.
Are you a part of the World Wide church of God?
No, I attend services with United Church of God , which was formed mostly by former members of the Worldwide Church of God in 1995.
I don't know if I recall asking this before, but what denomination do you call home?
You will, however, find condemnation of "groves" and people "decorating trees"... Wreaths and holly and especially mistletoe have nothing to do with Our Lord...
And how would gentiles have learned anything about Jesus?
No New Testament writer teaches any requirement for keeping the Jewish feast days.
Christ, a major figure throughout the bible, taught that the followers of God should observe his holy days. He never said to do otherwise.
Yes ... the Gentiles will learn of the Jewish feast days ... but there is no requirement that the Gentiles keep these days.
You're right. We have free will. God doesn't require us to do anything. However there's something to be said for obeying what God commands. Not because it will get us anything, but because we are grateful for the gift of life that God has given us.
Deu 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; Deu 30:16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
Very disturbing beliefs? The vile, money-grubbing nonsense about "purgatory?" That's exactly where in the catholic "bible"?
Forgive me for butting in....but I believe this is a major understatement.
At the Council of Jerusalem, [Acts 15] this was the topic, the only topic. As you read in verse 1, [Some men came down from Judea (read Jerusalem) to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: Unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.] The rest of the chapter then goes on to relate the outcome of the council convened because of the circumcision question.
Paul is speaking of the same incident in Galatians 2 verse 3-4. [Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus.]
Continuing in verse 11, [When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was in the wrong. Before certain men came from James , he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived , he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those of the circumcision group.
Now just who was James and what was the circumcision group? This James is the James spoken of in Galatians 1:19 where Paul says he went to Jerusalem and saw Peter and stayed 15 days. He also saw "James" the Lord's brother. This was not the Apostle James as he was killed earlier in Acts 12:2 by King Herod. The James in chapter 12 is the brother of John.....the James of Galatians chapters 1 and 2 is James the brother of the Lord. He is not an Apostle.....and was not made an Apostle to replace Judas, but as you can see in Acts 15 he is now in charge.
Now bear in mind at the time of the Council of Jerusalem Paul had not yet written the Book of Galatians but he calls the circumcision party....sent from James...."false brothers" in the 4th verse of chapter 2 of Galatians.
In Acts 15 the council is convened and after much discussion Peter gets up and addresses the council telling them about God making no distinction about giving the Holy Spirit to both "Circumcised and Gentile". Then Paul and Barnabas speak of the wonderful things God has done among the Gentiles. The last one to speak is James and he says in verse 19...."it is my judgement, therefore.....He is the one who decides, a non Apostle, head of the circumcision group and the one of whom Peter is afraid.
This is the James who goes on to write the Book of James.
Talk about varience!
It sounds to me like whatever CTID sent you was richly deserved.
My apologies.
Jesus and/or the Apostles address such issues in their New Testament teaching.
And how would gentiles have learned anything about Jesus?
From the Apostles and their followers.
No New Testament writer teaches any requirement for keeping the Jewish feast days.
Christ, a major figure throughout the bible, taught that the followers of God should observe his holy days. He never said to do otherwise.
Christ taught that He was the fullfillment of the Old Testament laws and traditions.
When we celebrate Christ, ... as we do at Christmas, ... we also celebrate all those shadows of Him which came before.
Your verses say nothing about the "origination" of the Holy Ghost WITHIN the Blessed Trinity. As I said before, it would be better to think of the Creed as saying "FROM the Father, THROUGH the Son". As the Orthodox correctly point out, the current term "AND" in the Western version of the Nicean Creed CAN imply (but was not meant to) that there are two principles within the Divinity. This cannot be so. This implies two dieties, correct? We don't have to go far to disprove that within the Scriptures.
Since the Spirit proceeds from the Father ONLY and THROUGH the Son, Scripture CAN say that the Spirit is "Christ's" Spirit. For it is the love of the Father for His Son, and vice versus, that brings about a fruitfulness within the Divinity - the Holy Ghost. The Father's Love for His Perfect Image, the Logos, eternally spirates the Spirit.
Traditional Christianity did not take these formulas very lightly. And rest assured, the Church Fathers of those days KNEW the Scripture. They quoted from it from memory in many cases...Frankly, we should be thankful for their work and effort - the Trinity is key to ALL of our beliefs. Proper understanding of WHO God is, that "knowledge" of God helps us to know our final end, our purpose. It is not esoteric theology that serves no purpose today in our walk with God.
Regards
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