By Robert A. Lewis
You may be surprised to learn that there is neither biblical command nor any scriptural example for Christians to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Neither is there one scriptural reference to a birthday celebration for or by Jesus Christ, and what’s more, scripture clearly indicates that His birth was no where near around the time of December 25th.
The Bible tells us that He was born at a time when there were “shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). Throughout the cold Judean winter months, shepherds always slept indoors and we are also told that while Zacharias was serving at the Temple in the division of Abijah, an angel appeared to him and announced that he would have a son – John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25, & 57-58).
The division of Abijah was the eighth to serve in the Temple each year and by simply calculating the dates forward we find that John the Baptist was born around Passover time, in the spring. Jesus was born six months later (Luke 1:24-26) which would place His actual birth in late September or early October… not on December 25th!
As Jesus Christ was not born on December 25th and scripture does not establish a celebration of His birthday, you might well ask how did the custom of a December 25th ‘Christmas’ come about? In ancient Rome, December 25th was the date of the Saturnalia and also a ‘holy day’ for the worshipers of Mithra and Invictus. As pagan ‘converts’ changed the original New Testament teachings of Christianity to fit in with their pagan traditional habits, they continued to observe their December 25th pagan holiday and merely changed their object of worship.
Many may think, even though there is no scriptural or logical reason to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, what is wrong with ‘Christianizing’ the heathen world’s custom of celebrating birthdays and pagan ‘holy days’ and applying them to our Saviour? But scripture clearly explains that we cannot worship the one true God by abandoning His ways in favour of customs used in the worship of false gods (Deuteronomy 12:30-32).
We are also warned “Learn not the way of the heathen and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples 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, KJV).
The Bible clearly tells us that God’s people should not adopt heathen customs such as cutting down a tree to decorate it in a celebration of worship, or observe their traditional pagan holidays; yet millions of adherents to the main-stream Christian churches in blissful ignorance, do exactly that each year, as a way of celebrating the birth of Christ. Yet scripture only reminds us to remember His death till He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).
Jesus Christ said “in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men… Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:7-9). In a world that is obsessed with keeping ‘holy day’ traditions created by man like Christmas festivities, in place of keeping God’s commanded true ‘Holy Days’, it may be tempting to go along with what outwardly may seem just an ‘innocent’ celebration, but Jesus asked of his followers “But why do you call Me ‘Lord Lord’, and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
True followers of Jesus Christ are required to forsake the traditions of men and follow Jesus’ example of observing the actual Holy Days that God gave his people and which portray His great plan of salvation for all humanity.
If you would like to learn of the Holy Days that God DOES actually require that you keep – the same days that Jesus Christ, the New Testament church and all true Christians still observe today – and which your Bible says will be still observed throughout the Millennium rule of Christ and His Church on Earth, you may like to read the free booklet:
‘Pagan Holidays, or God’s Holy Days… Which?’ Go to: https://gospeltruths.info/library/
Note: For a more in-depth study of the historical origins of evergreen trees as a feature of December 25 festivities and the worship of pagan gods, go to: https://armstronginstitute.org/302-christmas-trees-in-the-hebrew-bible
