Christmas, What Does the Bible Say About It?

What does the Bible say about a day that all across the land will have people shopping, putting decorations outside (lights, signs, inflatatibles)?  A day that will have people getting in debt charging Christmas gifts?  A day in which some teach children that santa goes all around the world in one night (?) and brings gifts to kids?  A day that will have parents taking their children to take pictures with santa?  A day that will have people flying all around the US an the world to visit relatives an friends?  A day that will have employees and employers trying to figure out work schedules as employees want to take off to 'celebrate christmas'?  Even as I am typing this, spell checks wants me to capitalize santa and christmas??  A day that will have some churches having christmas contatas, christmas plays, special services?  A day that churches that say they believe in Jesus Christ will do things that are not of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Trees will be put up in sanctuaries all over.  There will be christmas meals and sing-a-longs.  Messages will be preached about Jesus being born in a manger as there was no room at the Inn.  Choirs will sing christmas caroles.  The colors green, red and white will be worn everywhere.  Radio stations will begin playing christmas music until the first of the. year.  All regular programming will be put on hold.  A day that even those that do not believe in Jesus Christ will participate in some activity that is related to christmas. 

But what does the Bible say about christmas?  What does it say?  The Bible does say that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4).  Did God ever mention christmas?  Ever?  What book of the Bible? What chapter of that book?  What verse of the chapter?  There is no where in scriptures where there is even a 'hint' or spirit of the word that would say Jesus wants His people to celebrate christmas.  No where.

The Bible teaches to study to shew thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).  The question is also asked in the scriptures, 'what is truth' (John 18:38)?  To which the answer is "thy word is truth"-(John 17:17).  Sanctification comes from the truth.

Does 'the truth'; the word, mention christmas anywhere?  The answer is no. But the Bible does say this, "For the customs of the people are vain; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax.  They deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.-Jeremy 10:3,4.  Jeremiah chapter 2 verse 2a says, "Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen,"- Jeremiah 10:2.

Some will say "well that's your conviction, not mine".  To which I would answer, "but what does the word of God teach?  God gave man free will.  Mankind can do as he or she pleases.  However, in the judgment, all will be judged based on how he or she obeyed the word of God (Revelation 20:12 and Revelation 20:13). No exceptions.  So if the word of God does not teach christmas, what will the judgment be for those that 'added to the word of God'??  Something God said not to do (Revelation 22:18,19).

The Bible also speaks to the traditions of men.  Mark 7:8 says, "For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do".  Or Colossians 2:8 which says, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ".  Both of these scriptures from the Bible teach against the traditions of men, which is what christmas is.

If one would take the time and search, he or she would find that it came from man, not God.  With all the Bible Scholars with all these degrees, not one of them has studied this out and written about it?  Especially those with large audiences.  And when someone uses the salutation, 'merry christmas', what are they actually saying?  What does merry christmas mean?  Have a happy pagan holiday?

Testimony- I use to celebrate christmas. I was taught to. I would go all out especially after my children were born.  It is expensive to celebrate christmas!! I even wrote a play about christmas.  It was so good, that the pastor agreed for this play to be presented to the church!!!??? This was before salvation.  We would bake, make decorations, go to other christmas events, drive through neighbors to see lights, wait for santa to ride through the neighborhood on the fire engine handling out bags with apples, oranges and ribbon christmas candy.  I did all that.  But, oh when salvation came!  Thank you Jesus for the truth!!  Thank you Jesus!!!

The one thing I will always praise God for is being taught to study the scriptures for myself, have a pray life and go to a church that teaches the truth according to the Bible.  As I studied, I found that christmas was not in the Bible. Christmas is not of God!!  I looked.  I bought Bible dictionaries, Bible concordances, etc.  I could not find christmas in them.  As a matter of fact, Jesus never said to celebrate Him.  He said to obey.  

One day I went into the garage of my home to take the trash out.  I passed by the box with the christmas tree in it.  As I passed by the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "this is not of me; I'm not in that."  That's all it took.  I drug that christmas tree box across the garage floor and put it in the garbage!!  From that day till now, I know of a surety that christmas is not of God. I am not confused or misled.  I do not argue about it with people.  My job is to teach and preach the truth.  Ephesians 4:21 says, "If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus".  And Jesus did not teach christmas.

So anyone that is brave enough to go against the word of God and obey the traditions of men is free to do so.  Anyone that reads this lesson will not be able to stand before God in judgement and say "I did not know, God. No one told me."  Now you know.

Eternity is a long time.  Where will you spend it?

Pastor Webb
Steadfast Apostolic Church