Consider Christmas

Have you ever wondered what a tree, or the hanging of bulbs and lights, has to do with the birth of Jesus? What about mistletoes, yule tides and the legend of Santa Claus, filling stockings with gifts by an improbable route, the chimney? Not to mention flying reindeers! Do all these customs surrounding Christmas really honor the birth of Jesus or do they actually stand for something else? Was Jesus really born on December 25th?  Stop!  The answer to these questions is as close as your nearest encyclopedia, under Christmas.

You might think that it doesn't matter where Christmas has it's origin and that the important thing is "the spirit it symbolizes." Well, it does matter and in this article we will show what Christmas truly symbolizes. Many will talk of the splendor and wonder of Christmas but Jesus himself warned us about doing wonderful works that are contrary to the will of God. On judgment day Jesus will cast away many people, who recite these wonderful works (Read Matthew 7:21-23). Consider this!

History tells us that no one knew the exact date of Jesus' birth. The Bible clarifies this because Herod (the King of Jerusalem at that time) didn't know when Jesus was born and therefore killed all the boys two years old and under, trying to kill Jesus (Read Matthew 2:13-16). None of the apostles of Jesus or his other followers attempted to celebrate his birth but instead kept his commandment in eating bread and drinking wine every Passover, in remembrance of his death. When and who started this celebration of December 25th as the birthday of Jesus? The New Standard Encyclopedia, Volume 2, states "The ADOPTION of December 25th was decreed by Bishop Liberius of Rome in 354." You mean to tell me this Bishop Liberius figured out the birth of Jesus over 300 years later, when Herod didn't know? Maybe this date was chosen for another reason. The New Standard continues, "This date was probably chosen because it coincided with the Pagan festival of the winter solstice" (Read you history book).

Many nations already had festivals (feasts) surrounding the winter solstice, which honors the sun. These customs were merely grafted into Christianity and called Christmas. The Romans honored Saturn, the Germans, Brumalia and the Norsemen held a Yule feast at this time every year, without a thought of Jesus. This is why they have twelve days of Christmas, to squeeze in the customs of all the different nations. Most of these customs started before Jesus was born. Again, I ask you what is a yule tide or yule log?

These customs are not honoring Jesus but instead honoring the SUN. The winter solstice represents the shortest day of the year, after which the days get longer and longer because the SUN stays up longer and longer. Yes, the SUN is born or reborn if you will. This was a joyous occasion because the pagans (nations) were afraid of the dark. Maybe now you can understand why houses and trees are draped with lights.

The Lord warned us about following the customs of the nations saying, "...Learn not the way of the heathen (nations), and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. FOR THE CUSTOMS OF THE PEOPLE ARE VAIN: FOR ONE CUTTETH A TREE OUT OF THE FOREST. the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. THEY DECK IT WITH SILVER AND WITH GOLD; THEY FASTEN IT WITH NAILS AND WITH HAMMERS, THAT IT MOVE NOT" (Jeremiah 10:2-4). Many people have not took heed to the Lord's warning and have learned this custom very well. Although this worshiping of trees is also a very old tradition it was not applied to Christmas until the sixteenth century, in Germany. Many will protest and say that they are not actually worshiping a tree but I ask you again, what does the decorating of a tree have to do with the birth of Jesus? Remember, God said, "Learn not the way of the heathen..." And again, "Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree" (Isaiah 44:19). OH CHRISTMAS TREE! Yes, they even sing songs to the tree.

Many should know that Santa Claus comes from "Saint Nicholas" the Roman patron saint of children. I still have not found where Jesus fits in any of this. Even the gift giving derived from the Romans worship of Saturnalia (Saturn) and not because the wise men brought Jesus gifts. Furthermore, the Bible never mentions three wise men, only wise men. Nevertheless, if Jesus wanted us to give gifts to each other commemorating his birthday, wouldn't he have told us? Remember, he told us how to commemorate his death (Read Luke 22:19-20).

This article is not intended to condemn anyone but only something to consider. We know that most people celebrate Christmas without giving a second thought to it's validity. It's a tradition passed down from our fathers, so we observe it instinctively, until the truth comes. The Pharisees (religious leaders) had many traditions during the time of Jesus and even questioned him for not observing them. Jesus replied, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your traditions?" (Matthew 15:3). As you have seen from this article Christmas is a tradition of man (Bishop Liberius) and not a commandment of God. "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9).

Many will still disagree and claim that Christmas is OK, especially, those who get richer and richer every year, selling everything from evergreen trees to toys and other gifts. The Apostle Paul faced similar opposition when he spoke out against pagan worship. In Acts 19:26, the beneficiaries of pagan worship spoke, saying, "moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no Gods, which are made with hands." These people were not concerned about serving God correctly but only their wealth. The same is true today because most merchants make 50% of their income at Christmas and mostly from people who can't afford it.

I too, grew up celebrating Christmas but when I learned the truth I turned from it, just as the people turned from pagan worship in Paul's day. If people would only consider and investigate Christmas they too would know the truth. Most people don't even know that CHRISTMAS means "MASS OF CHRIST." Now, I ask you, when did Jesus have a mass? NEVER! CONSIDER THIS!

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