My Christianity And Christmas
By Michael Jeshurun
“Christmas is coming!” Quite so: but what is “Christmas?” Does not the very term itself denote it’s source – “Christ-MASS.” Thus it is of Roman origin, brought over from Paganism. But, says someone, Christmas is the time when we commemorate the Savior’s birth. It is? And WHO authorized such commemoration? Certainly God did not. The Redeemer bade His disciples “remember” Him in His death, but there is not a word in scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, which tells us to celebrate His birth. Moreover, who knows when, in what month, He was born? The Bible is silent thereon. It is without reason that the only “birthday” commemorations mentioned in God’s Word are Pharaoh’s (Gen. 40:20) and Herod’s (Matt. 14:6)? Is this recorded “for our learning?” If so, have we prayerfully taken it to heart?
And WHO is it that celebrates “Christmas?” The whole “civilized world.” Millions who make no profession of faith in the blood of the Lamb, who “despise and reject Him,” and millions more who while claiming to be His followers yet in works deny Him, join in merrymaking under the pretense of honoring the birth of the Lord Jesus. Putting it on it’s lowest ground, we would ask, is it fitting that His friends should unite with His enemies in a worldly round of fleshly gratification? Does any true born again soul really think that He whom the world cast out is either pleased or glorified by such participation in the world’s joys? Verily, the customs of the people are VAIN; and it is written, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Ex. 23:2).”
– A.W. Pink
So I claim to be the ‘elect’ of God for whom Christ died. I know enough theology to debate any Atheist or Evolutionist and prove him wrong. But could it be that I am just a spiritually dead Christian with a lots of doctrine in my head?
I have heard this for a long time now that Christmas is Pagan and an offence to the God I claim to love and obey, but I could care less. I don’t want to be that ‘oddball’ who shuns Christmas and preaches against it. I have no desire to go forth unto Him, outside the camp (of apostate christianity) bearing His reproach like all the Elect! [Heb. 13:12,13].
“It’s not a moral issue” I reason! And where does the Bible say ‘don’t celebrate Christmas’? Ha, spoken like a genuine purebred goat, you say! Maybe you’re right! Maybe I need to “examine myself whether I am in the Faith” [II Cor. 13:5]. The true saint of God they say does not abstain himself only from those things which are morally wrong, but hates “every false way” [Psa. 119:104].
Could it be true that many such dry, dead, graceless head-knowledge Christians are burning in Hell right now who professed to know God but denied Him in works! [Titus 1:16]
Could it be that “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing” is not just good advice but a command? Looks like my very affiliation and participation in the pagan festival of Christmas reveals my true identity. Maybe after all I am just a goat with a head full of theology, and the ‘root of the matter is not in me’! [Job 19:28].
Sometimes I wonder, “Why not go all the way and join the Pagans in celebrating all their other Babylonian festivals”?!
But wait a minute! Isn’t the Christmas season a great time to win the lost? At least they are more open to the Gospel! Doesn’t the end justifies the means. I would love to organize a Christmas program, a Rock or Rap concert, do anything as long as I can lead folks to Christ and get them to pray and ask Jesus into their hearts. After all what better day for lost souls to make a decision and open their heart to invite Jesus in than his Birthday?!
And surely I can’t deny my kiddies a good time by being such a nonconformist radical. Yes Moses took all the little ones with him out of Egypt (Ex 10:9,10). But times are different now! There are times when I have to follow the multitude to do evil and allow my children to mingle with the present day Egyptians in their “pleasures of sin for a season“? (Hebrews 11:25).
But seriously here is the truth: “In the sight of God the circus and the theater are far less obnoxious than the “Christmas celebration” of Romish and Protestant “churches.” Why? Because the latter are done under the cover of the holy name of Christ; the former are not”. [A.W. Pink]
The question is not whether I will lose my salvation if I join in this pagan abomination done in my Lord’s name, but whether I am saved to start with! I am smart enough to know who it is that celebrates “Christmas”! The whole “civilized world.” Millions who make no profession of faith in the blood of the Lamb, who “despise and reject Him,” and millions more who while claiming to be His followers yet in works deny Him, joining in the merrymaking under the pretense of honoring the birth of the Lord Jesus!
Putting it on its lowest ground, I must ask myself, “You claiming to be His friend, will you unite with His enemies in a worldly round of fleshly gratification?” Am I kidding myself that He whom the world cast out is either pleased or glorified by such participation in the world’s joys? Verily, “the customs of the people are vain“; and it is written, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2)
Without labouring the point, I as a true child of God should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather exposes them [Eph 5:11], not that I might be saved, but because I am! It cannot be overstressed that ‘Christmas’ is a worldly festival, and everything connected to it – (the Christmas Tree, Santa Claus, the Mistletoe, the elves all of them) has a Satanic significance. And God’s Word makes it plain that if I am a friend of the world then I am the enemy of God! [James 4:4]
If the Master walked into my house this month and saw my decorated Christmas tree [Jer 10:2-4], the Satanic Pentagram (Christmas Star), Santa Claus etc would he commend me with a “well done thou good and faithful servant’ or “depart from me I never knew you”?! Surely I ought to know the answer to that! If as I claim, Christ has set me free, then it was not that I might be delivered to do all these abominations! [see Jer 7:10]
And I think it is high time that I stopped justifying my celebration of this paganism by quoting other blind Christian leaders who are leading their blind congregations into the ditch!
So I think for a start I am going to ‘Test everything (even Christmas) and hold fast to that which is good and Scriptural’ [1Thes 5:21]
I think I am going to quit justifying myself and seriously “Examine myself, whether I am in the Faith!”! [2Cor 13:5]