And The Bible Says...
Anything About Christmas?
In the past few days, many of us enjoyed the holiday referred to as Christmas. This day is on all the calendars as a national holiday. Most enjoy the day off from work and the bustle of life. We enjoy the time with our family and close friends. It’s a day which kids of every age reflect on the concept of giving. And in our day and age, we need to be mindful of giving, instead of receiving. Many think of only themselves and not to others. I grew up enjoying all the movies: “A Wonderful Life,” “Rudolph the Red-noised Reindeer”, and many others. Even have some on while writing this article.
But over the last 15-20 years, I’ve heard many talk about putting Christ back into the day, to celebrate the birth of Christ. I find it interesting that the history of the day and its celebration has been celebrated on various dates, besides the 25th of December. In everyone’s lifetime today, it has always been on this date, December 25th. The origin of the concept is based on the Bible’s teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, and His birth. Hebrews 10 said God the Father prepared a body for His Son to be born as a man, to come to this world and live and teach man how to live and please Him, and then die as a sacrifice, offering forgiveness of sin to those who choose to hear His Word, believe it, repent in obedience to that teaching, and confess their faith in Christ as the Son of God, and then be baptized to accept that sacrificial blood of Christ’s death for that forgiveness to be applied to the person’s life. So His birth is very significant in fulfilling Old Testament promises in scripture. All Christians are very thankful for Christ’s birth, and the uniqueness of His birth, not being born of a man’s seed but of a woman who “knew” not man, and God’s Spirit. He was therefore God in the flesh, and dwelt among men. John 1: 1-3, 14 Even those who are not believers of these facts, can refer to secular historical data, of His birth and life. BUT, what does the Bible say about Christmas?
I’ve searched scripture, whether in the standard versions of the Bible, and the Greek texts, and there is absolutely “NOTHING” about men celebrating this birth by Him, His disciples, His family, or the 1st century church. Nothing at all! What I’m saying is that the manuscripts that Bibles are translated from give no evidence of man celebrating this birth after the wisemen at the time of the birth. BUT in contrast there is much evidence in scripture to celebrate His death. Scripture teach, Acts 20:7, that disciples remembered His death upon the first day of the week, therefore, every 7 days. They were taught how to celebrate it also, Matthew 26, following the Passover feast. They were told to partake of unleaven bread and “fruit of the vine”, the cup, remembering His death “until He come again”. So we celebrate that weekly, as the Jews had kept the Sabbath weekly under the Old Law. Yes, one might assume that to remember His death, we would realize He was born. But there is no commandment, or reference made to do so. So where did the concept of a “Holy Day” come from referring to His birth?
Might I suggest that it was from the same source that is saying “Put Christ back into Christmas”. If God didn’t’ suggest, request, or command such, and the disciples in that 1st Century church not do so, we must assume its origin came later, and was authorized by men. God had some concern with these feast days, etc. man had established in the Old Law, Hosea 2:11, Amos 5:21, and Paul warned of binding these days upon men, especially those of the church, Colossians 2:16. It was especially not a work of the Lord’s church as He guided the church through the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. I must wonder why some see that Christ isn’t in it, for the reason, it wasn’t from the beginning. But on the other hand, many don’t remember His death weekly on the first day, as Christ said for His church to do. So, in effect, we bind the birth and have loosed the death of Christ in so-called “Christianity”. And that which was originated by men, now has precedence of that which God originated, keeping His death in memory. Just some things we might consider friends.
Yes, I am very happy and thankful for His birth, and might remember He was born on that day, as on any other day. But I can’t say that was His birthday. It isn’t recorded. For those who are making judgment on this subject, please understand I’m not trying to offend you, but just give some consideration to what the Bible says on the subject. Some have asked me about this recently, so I am replying.
Anything About Christmas?
In the past few days, many of us enjoyed the holiday referred to as Christmas. This day is on all the calendars as a national holiday. Most enjoy the day off from work and the bustle of life. We enjoy the time with our family and close friends. It’s a day which kids of every age reflect on the concept of giving. And in our day and age, we need to be mindful of giving, instead of receiving. Many think of only themselves and not to others. I grew up enjoying all the movies: “A Wonderful Life,” “Rudolph the Red-noised Reindeer”, and many others. Even have some on while writing this article.
But over the last 15-20 years, I’ve heard many talk about putting Christ back into the day, to celebrate the birth of Christ. I find it interesting that the history of the day and its celebration has been celebrated on various dates, besides the 25th of December. In everyone’s lifetime today, it has always been on this date, December 25th. The origin of the concept is based on the Bible’s teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, and His birth. Hebrews 10 said God the Father prepared a body for His Son to be born as a man, to come to this world and live and teach man how to live and please Him, and then die as a sacrifice, offering forgiveness of sin to those who choose to hear His Word, believe it, repent in obedience to that teaching, and confess their faith in Christ as the Son of God, and then be baptized to accept that sacrificial blood of Christ’s death for that forgiveness to be applied to the person’s life. So His birth is very significant in fulfilling Old Testament promises in scripture. All Christians are very thankful for Christ’s birth, and the uniqueness of His birth, not being born of a man’s seed but of a woman who “knew” not man, and God’s Spirit. He was therefore God in the flesh, and dwelt among men. John 1: 1-3, 14 Even those who are not believers of these facts, can refer to secular historical data, of His birth and life. BUT, what does the Bible say about Christmas?
I’ve searched scripture, whether in the standard versions of the Bible, and the Greek texts, and there is absolutely “NOTHING” about men celebrating this birth by Him, His disciples, His family, or the 1st century church. Nothing at all! What I’m saying is that the manuscripts that Bibles are translated from give no evidence of man celebrating this birth after the wisemen at the time of the birth. BUT in contrast there is much evidence in scripture to celebrate His death. Scripture teach, Acts 20:7, that disciples remembered His death upon the first day of the week, therefore, every 7 days. They were taught how to celebrate it also, Matthew 26, following the Passover feast. They were told to partake of unleaven bread and “fruit of the vine”, the cup, remembering His death “until He come again”. So we celebrate that weekly, as the Jews had kept the Sabbath weekly under the Old Law. Yes, one might assume that to remember His death, we would realize He was born. But there is no commandment, or reference made to do so. So where did the concept of a “Holy Day” come from referring to His birth?
Might I suggest that it was from the same source that is saying “Put Christ back into Christmas”. If God didn’t’ suggest, request, or command such, and the disciples in that 1st Century church not do so, we must assume its origin came later, and was authorized by men. God had some concern with these feast days, etc. man had established in the Old Law, Hosea 2:11, Amos 5:21, and Paul warned of binding these days upon men, especially those of the church, Colossians 2:16. It was especially not a work of the Lord’s church as He guided the church through the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. I must wonder why some see that Christ isn’t in it, for the reason, it wasn’t from the beginning. But on the other hand, many don’t remember His death weekly on the first day, as Christ said for His church to do. So, in effect, we bind the birth and have loosed the death of Christ in so-called “Christianity”. And that which was originated by men, now has precedence of that which God originated, keeping His death in memory. Just some things we might consider friends.
Yes, I am very happy and thankful for His birth, and might remember He was born on that day, as on any other day. But I can’t say that was His birthday. It isn’t recorded. For those who are making judgment on this subject, please understand I’m not trying to offend you, but just give some consideration to what the Bible says on the subject. Some have asked me about this recently, so I am replying.
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