What Do We Do About Christmas?

December 9, 2007

Introduction

 

            The time was the first of December 1963, or about 44 years ago.  Carolyn and I were moving to Dallas to begin working with the Elam Road Church of Christ in the south east corner of Dallas.  I had little more than arrived when the brethren told me that the congregation wanted to know what I had to say about Christmas and if their wives could have Christmas trees.

 

            More recently, I encountered Andy.  Not my son, Andy, but my internet Andy.  Among other things, Andy called me a pagan.  I challenged him on that, and he defended his statement by saying that since I “keep” Christmas as a holiday, that makes me a pagan because it came from pagans.

 

            What is the truth about Christmas?  Why are some very negative about Christmas?  This morning, we will look at some of the aspects of Christmas that make it controversial.

 

Body

 

I.        “Christmas” and the Bible.

 

A.     The word “Christmas” is not found in the Bible.

B.     The date of Christ’s birth is not found in the Bible, so there is no way to set a date.

C.     There is not special mention, or anything to suggest keeping His birthday as a special day or holiday.

 

1.      So nothing is said about gift exchanging except that of the wise men.

2.      There were gifts, but they were for Jesus, not for each other.

 

(Mat 2:11 KJV)  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

 

a.       It has been suggested that gold was a gift for a king.

b.      Frankincense reminds us of the frankincense that was used by the priests of the Old Testament.

c.       Myrrh is associated in some cases with what was used as a part of their burial process.

d.      So in these gifts, is reflected His kingly role, His role as priest, and that He had come to die, in this case as a sacrifice for us. 

 

II.     If “Christmas” is not in the Bible, where does it come from?

A.     What is the history of Christmas?

 

“In the Roman world, the Saturnalia (December 17) was a time of merrymaking and exchanging of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birthdate of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness. On the Roman New Year (January 1), houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. To these observances were added the German and Celtic Yule rites when the Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul, Britain and central Europe. Food and good fellowship, the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery and fir trees, gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season. Fires and lights, symbols of warmth and lasting life, have always been associated with the winter festival, both pagan and Christian” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., vol. II, p. 903).

 

In the year 274AD, solstice fell on 25th December. Roman Emperor Aurelian proclaimed the date as "Natalis Solis Invicti," the festival of the birth of the invincible sun. In 320 AD, Pope Julius I specified the 25th of December as the official date of the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

B.     The word Christmas comes from Christ mass.

 

1.      The “mass” is actually celebrating the death of Christ.

2.      Why that name was given to the supposed birth day of Christ, I do not know.

 

III.   So what do we do about Christmas?

 

A.     I believe there is some freedom in what we do about special days

 

(Rom 14:4-6 NKJV)  Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. {5} One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. {6} He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

 

B.     A further word of warning about what we do with our Christian liberty.

 

(Rom 14:15-16 NKJV)  Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. {16} Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;

 

1.      How can my good be evil spoken of?

2.      How will others perceive of my anti-Christmas stance if that is what I chose?

3.      What would be missing if we decided not to celebrate Christmas?

a.       There would be no family get togethers at Christmas.

b.      There would be no gifts from me.

c.       There would be no greeting cards.

d.      There would be no Christmas decorations.

e.       We would not be listening to any Christmas music.

f.        And why all of this? – Supposedly to get rid of the pagan influence.

 

C.     So now we must decide.

 

(Romans 14:5) One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

 

1.      I have been through these thoughts before.

2.      How does an uncelebrated Christmas affect my children?

3.      Will my stand – be evil spoken of because most do not understand?

 

D.     What will we do about the problems of the pagan background?

 

1.      I will teach about the background.

 

a.       I do not accept the pagan symbols as retaining their original meaning..

b.      I do not believe that Jesus was born on December 25^th.

c.       And many other concepts with which we disagree.

 

2.      I will use the day in what I believe are some good ways.

 

a.       The date is wrong, but it can remind us of Jesus coming to earth and the miracle of the virgin birth.

b.      It can be a time to talk of the great stories associated with His birth.

c.       It will be a time that we take off from work and get together with our family.

Conclusion

 

I.        At this time of the year, we are reminded of the birth of Christ which is very important.

 

II.     Without His death, His birth would have provided little more than the greatest prophet that ever visited the earth.

 

III.   We have a way given to remember His death.

 

1. We show His death by partaking of the Lord’s Supper each Sunday

2. We are baptized into Christ to show that we want to be united with Him.

 

(Rom 6:4-6)  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {5} For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, {6} knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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