CHRISTMAS IS NOT BIBLICAL

There is no New Testament evidence that Christ was born on December

Indeed, winters in Israel can be very severe. So when Christ prophesied the Roman destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70), He urged the disciples to escape before winter (Matt. 24:20). Famous for their administrative efficiency, the Romans would not decree the 'taxing' or census (Lk. 2:1-3) at a time when travel might be difficult. It probably occurred after harvest time, before the onset of bad weather. Thus Christ was probably born in early autumn.

PAGAN ORIGINS OF CHRISTMAS

'Christmas Day' resulted from an attempt to 'Christianize' the pagan mid-winter festival. In honour of Sol, the sun god, all kinds of grotesque merriment were encouraged during the wild celebrations of the Roman Saturnalia. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, 'The well-known solar feast of Natalis Invicta celebrated on 25th December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our Christmas date.' Initiated by 'Pope' Julius I* (AD 337-52), 'Christmas' was the result of a growing tendency of the Roman Church to meet paganism half-way. This Christianized paganism brought its obvious problems. Many people identified Jesus with Sol! Augustine lamented the continuing confusion and 'Pope' Leo I* bitterly reproved it.

However, the unholy alliance between Christ's birth and pagan customs became entrenched. Christmas trees, mistletoe and yule logs all have pagan significance. They have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. By the late twentieth century, the real message of Christ has been suffocated by neo-pagan materialism. The mid-winter romp is making nonsense of the thin veneer of Christian symbolism.

BIBLICAL TEACHING

All this is in glaring contradiction to the Bible. While Old Testament Judaism was structured around a religious calendar, New Testament Christianity dispensed with it. The Apostle Paul specifically argues against the idea (see Gal. 4:10-11; Col. 2:16-17).

Furthermore, the observation of special days is a sign of spiritual immaturity (Rom.14:1-5). Significantly, Christ Himself only ever commanded the remembrance of His death in the Lord's Supper (Lk. 22:19).

CONSISTENT AND CHEERFUL CHRISTIANITY

Plainly, it is time to call it a day - an ordinary day! If Christmas is without a true Christian basis, it should be scrapped. However, some objections need to be met.

While Jehovah's Witnesses ban Christmas, they throw the baby out with the bath water by denying the deity of Christ. My arguments must not be confused with their anti-Christian heresy. For those who stress the value of the church calendar for balanced Christian teaching, the Apostles managed quite well without it. To argue that Christmas provides opportunity for preaching the gospel is to adopt a false agenda.

Should we use an unbiblical method to promote the Biblical gospel? We need no seasonal excuse to preach the gospel (2 Tim. 4:2). The abolition of Christmas does not imply a negative, cheerless or selfish life-style either (1 Tim. 6:17-18). Exchanging gifts (Lk. 11:13) and enjoying social occasions (Lk. 14:16) simply do not need requirements like Christmas to justify them. Indeed, the whole of life is meant to be a celebration of the gift of Christ to the world (Jn. 3:16). May we demonstrate this in the true liberty of the Gospel!

Dr Alan C. Clifford,
Pastor, Norwich Reformed Church

NB: the two popes mentioned* have their titles in quotation marks because the title only started 'properly' in 607 AD (Boniface III).