Uncommon truth: Closer look at Christmas

Written by: ‘Mathabo Ndumo

In many parts of the world, the Christians and non-Christians celebrate “Christmas” usually on the 25^th December every year. It is a worldwide celebration which some people believe is the birth date of Jesus Christ. While some Christians will acknowledge that the birth date of Jesus is not recorded in the bible, yet they will go ahead and celebrate it anyway, explaining that it is not about tracing the birth of Jesus to any date but rather appreciating that He was born. What does the bible say? Should Christians celebrate Christmas? I pray and hope that the Lord will help us understand as we study together.

Caution: Study prayerfully as we seek to find answers to some of the pressing questions regarding this matter.

• What is Christmas?

It is a special day set aside like most legal holidays. Usually observed on the 25th December, this date marks one of the celebratory movements across the globe. It is a day on which people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

“An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings, and hospitality.” – Christmas, Webster Dictionary (http://www.webster-dictionary.net/definition/Christmas)

There are many rituals that follow thereof, for instance, the giving of presents, decorating with the Christmas tree and partying. With the inclusion of themes such as that of “Santa Claus” this has left many Christians in turmoil of confusion as things like this have no clear association of Jesus Christ. The word “Christmas” comes from the Catholic’s “Mass of Christ” which was the mass to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth.

“The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131” – Christmas, Catholic Encyclopedia(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm)

• When is the actual date for Christmas?

While most countries consent that the birth date of Jesus is on the 25^th December on the Gregorian calendar, it is not so with the Armenian Church who argue that the date of Jesus’ birth was changed in the fourth century, therefore in keeping to the “original” this particular group of people insist on celebrating Christmas on the 6^th January which they say was the “original” date on the Julian calendar.

“by the end of the third century Christmas in Rome was held on December 25, which coincided with a major pagan feast, while in the Eastern churches it was observed on January 6. The Armenian Church has maintained that ancient tradition to this day, whereas the Greek speaking Christian world switched to the Latin tradition at the end of the fourth century.” – Christmas, The Armenian Church (http://www.armenianchurch.net/worship/christmas/index.html)

With proposal of two dates this poses a problem. Perhaps one of them could be correct! The bible however, makes no mention of either of these two dates, and scholars argue that the birth of Jesus would not have been on any of these two dates therefore rendering it very questionable.

“Inexplicable though it seems, the date of the [Messiah’s] birth is not known. The Gospels indicate neither the day nor the month,” – The New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 3, p. 656.

“It is important to note that the date of December 25 is totally devoid of Biblical meaning and is grossly inaccurate as far as the actual time of Christ’s birth.”- The Meaning, Celebration and Date of Christmas, by Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi, p.15

Christmas celebration can be traced as early as the 300’s, earlier than this; the apostolic church paid no homage to the celebration of Christmas.

A closer look at 25^th December

This date was the feast of the birthday of the Sun God, Mithras. It used to be celebrated just after the winter solstice; on the 25^th December. Some other gods who are associated with the celebration of this day are Attis, Sol and Tammuz (the sun god).

The most important question we should be asking ourselves is but why? Why On this day? Well, in trying to accommodate the pagans who joined the church, this day was set aside since the pagans were already celebrating it as a festival, the intention was to “Christianise” this practice, perhaps then rendering it harmless.

But what fellowship hath darkness with light?

A closer look at the 6^th January

This date is associated with the pagan festival for the god of time; Aeon. It was believed that on this day that “time” was being “re-birthed.”

• Christmas practices

On Christmas day today, people decorate with Christmas trees, there is Santa Claus and giving of gifts, etc. While with some of these practices there is no clear association with the birth of Jesus, with gift giving, there has been a justification that is used, based on Matthew chapter 2.

• Christmas tree(s)

Notice how these are actually put up before Christmas. Here is the reason why. Before Christmas, the pagans would decorate their homes with trees in honour of the agriculture god. To the early Romans, this meant that after the solstice, their fields and orchards would soon be green. Therefore to herald this event, their homes and temples would be decorated with what today is recognized as “Christmas trees”. Remember that the feast of the sun was celebrated just after the solstice. So for those Romans the sequence made sense.

• Gift giving

Oh wait! What evil is there in giving gifts? Did not the wise men give gifts to Jesus? But even outside of this, there is no harm in giving people gifts now, is there?

One of the practices that stemmed from the feast of the sun was that of giving gift- Saturnalia. Many arguments have been drawn which stem from the misinterpretation of the second chapter of Matthew.

There is nothing wrong with giving of gifts on any day just as there would not be on Christmas day. But perhaps the one question of consideration should be; “Why should you wait until Christmas day to give a gift to your loved one, or perhaps to do a charitable act?”

Up to this point, we have tried to identify the origin of Christmas and we have have seen that it has no scriptural basis. But yet it is one of the common practices of modern day Christianity. What does this mean for some of us who are Christians today? In the next segment, we are going to look at what the bible says and try to understand closely the seventy seventh chapter of the book; Adventist Home.

There is no counsel whatsoever, from the bible to neither observe nor celebrate the 25^th of December as the birthday of our Redeemer. I have heard many people say “but if we celebrate our birthdays as mere mortals, why not celebrate the birthday of our Lord and redeemer?”

As true bible Christians we should seek to do one important thing; to obey God.

“Therefore whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31. What glory is there in observing a day which the Word of God makes no mention of?

The issue of Christmas becomes of paramount importance as it shifts focus from God the creator as the rightful King worthy of worship.

But God has stated that;

“He [God] is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). Covering the pagan holiday under the Christian banner does not in effect “Christianize it” but rather dilutes and perverts it. We can look back in biblical history; remember the story of Cain and Abel? Celebration does not only shift focus from the Rightful Owner but also it perverts even the motives of engaging in such worship. We can safely say, there is no way we can “worship” God in truth when the very worship we engage in, is in its origin- untruthful.

“Christ should be the supreme object; but as Christmas has been observed, the glory is turned from Him to mortal man whose sinful

• The question on Christmas tree

“Shall We Have a Christmas Tree?”—God would be well pleased if on Christmas each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of worship. [ *Note: reference is made in this article to current building projects.* As the principles set forth in this connection are applicable today, these specific references are left in the article.] Letters of inquiry have come to us asking , Shall we have a Christmas tree? Will it not be like the world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen and placing it in our churches, but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree. AH 482.1

Letters of inquiry have come to us asking…

If these people who were asking had never asked, there would have never been a need to give such counsel. We have this counsel because some people asked. Thus, if some people think this question is pertinent, they have their answer. For those of us who don’t, why take the counsel when the context doesn’t apply to us?

Remember the warning which heralds this chapter;

“But what is Christmas, that it should demand so much attention? …” AH 477.1

“The twenty-fifth of December is supposed to be the day of the birth of Jesus Christ. But the silence of the Scriptures upon this point evidences to us that it is hidden from us for the wisest purposes.” AH 477.

So what are we saying then? Christmas is not evil as some may have pointed it out to be. In fact for the sake of our little ones, this day should not ignored lest we the youth get entangled in the snares of the evils of this day [25^th December].

What does it mean, to not ignore the day?

“The youth should be treated very carefully. They should not be left on Christmas to find their own amusement in vanity and pleasure seeking, in amusements which will be detrimental to their spirituality. “AH 478.2

While there is a need not ignore Christmas given the reasons in the 77^th chapter of Adventist Home, neither is there any need to get involved with the customs of Christmas – “Do not neglect it, but do not get involved either.”

“But it is our privilege to depart from the customs and practices of this degenerate age; and instead of expending means merely for the gratification of the appetite or for needless ornaments or articles of clothing, we may make the coming holidays an occasion in which to honour and glorify God.”AH 480.3

In the light of Daniel 7:25, most bible students have viewed the changing of times as pertaining to the spurious Sabbath, it does. But perhaps we should ask; is it the only issue? When truth was compromised in the fourth century when Constantine came into power, not only was the observance of true bible Sabbath done away with, but also many pagan practices were “Christianized”. This is why there is Christmas today. But while there is nothing evil about the 25^th or the 6^th as calendar days, but we need to be careful about the celebration that occurs on these days. It shifts worship from The King of the Universe, and if we reflect back, this is at the very heart of the great controversy. Let us not go into that. It is not within the scope of this paper/ discussion. But we do need to understand and maintain equilibrium between “not neglecting the Christmas day” and “finding excuses to celebrate it”.

References:

1. ChristmasTruth.info
2. Ellen G. White in Adventist Home; Christmas

 

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Author: ‘Mathabo L. Ndumo (Seventh Day Adventist)

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