 SHOULD WE OBSERVE CHRISTMAS AS A HOLY DAY?
Dear Brother John:
We have been discussing the observance of Christmas. What does the Bible teach regarding this observance? Jamile Q.
Dear Jamile:
It is true that most, church people observe the Christmas Holy Day. The important question is, "Is this religious observance approved by God?" As we consider this, remember our commitment is to worship God exactly as did the first Christians.
Is December 25 Christ's birthday? Neither Scripture nor history offer a word to determine the date of his birth. "The day of Christ's birth cannot be ascertained from the New Testament, or indeed from any other source.
The fathers of the first three centuries do not speak of any special observance of the nativity..."McClintok and Strong, Cyclopedia, Vol. 3:p.276.. "Chrysostom in 386 A.D. states that the celebration of the birth of Christ according to the flesh ‘was not inaugurated in Antioch until ten years before that date'" (Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. 3, p.46).
December 25th was determined by the decree of Liberius, bishop of the church in Rome, in 354 A.D. The date was widely and hotly disputed by others. Days in nearly every month were set forth.
"The Western Church ordered the feast to be celebrated on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth of the sun (Americana). "The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence. The pagan festival with its riot and merrymaking was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit or in manner" (Schaff-Herzog, Vol 3, p. 48). The very name Christ's Mass reveals its origin.
Jesus tells us to "observe all things whatsoever (he) commanded" (Matthew 28:20). But he did not command a Christmas observance. Therefore we should not do this as an act of worship and devotion. Paul warns us "not to go beyond the things which are written" (I Corinthians. 4:6). But no new Testament writing tells us to observe a holy day for Christ's birth. To do so is to go beyond what is written. Such religious practices are vain worship, being the precepts of men (Matthew 15:9).
God gave his church only one special day, the first day of the week. This is the day of Christ's resurrection; the day of the church's beginning (Mark 16:1-2; Acts 2). It is presumptuous for man to add other items to God's divine plan. Had God wanted such an observance he would have told us. When Christians in Galatia took up the observance of "days, and month, and seasons and years," Paul wrote, "I am afraid for you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain" (Galatians 4:10-11).
Our society makes Dec. 25 a national holiday. We do not observe the religious observance of this day, but neither can we "go out of this world" (I Corinthians. 5:9-10). It is the author's view that we can observe the legal, civil, social holiday, just as we do Independence Day or Thanksgiving Day. We can take the day off from work with pay; accept a Christmas bonus; receive a Christmas gift; eat a Christmas feast; give presents to family and friends and; enjoy the holiday festivities without sin so long as we do not make it a religious observance.
John Waddey |
