Christmas Really Isn't about Christ - Why I'm not Celebrating Christmas Even Though I'm a Christian

Kirchhoff's Law ^ | 12-14-2013 | Mary C. Kirchhoff

[InHisService]

All right, before you get your freckles in an uproar by reading that title and making a quick, errant assumption about me, let me clarify a few things.

I’m a bible believing, spirit filled Christian. I am not an atheist sympathizer. I do not doubt my faith, nor do I have any doubts about the deity of Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and Savior, and I believe the world is lost without Him.

For years I celebrated Christmas. But last year, I decided to stop celebrating it. Something awoke in me, and I just felt turned off by the whole thing.

As a kid, I was coddled just like most children. Every Christmas my brother and I unwrapped numerous presents, and always got what we wanted.

I remember a new bike one year, and an awesome stereo another. I never gave a thought about how hard my parents had to work to pay for the stuff, and I’m sure children these days don’t, either.

And, we did go to church. If fact, we weren’t the proverbial “once a year’ers;” we went weekly. But being a kid, naturally Christmas was all about the presents.

Raising my daughter, though I was a single mom, my daughter was never deprived at Christmas. And I enjoyed giving to her. She was not a spoiled child as she didn’t get much all year long, so Christmas was the time to indulge her.

Anyway, I’ve wanted to write this article for a while. It’s been niggling at me for quite some time. But I put it off because I didn’t want to appear as a snarky Grinch during the Christmas season. My position is a very unpopular one among Christians.

I believe the Holy Spirit has gotten a hold of me, and after seeing a video discussing a particular billboard American Atheists erected this season, I was compelled to write about my position.

One of the billboards, in New York City’s Times Square, reads, “Who Needs Christ During Christmas? Nobody.” The name of Christ is crossed out.

David Muscato, Public Relations Director at American Atheists had this to say about the billboard and about Christmas:

“Most people don’t care about any religious ties to the season because church and religion are not what Americans care about during this time of year—they care about family and friends and giving presents and food and having fun.”

And right he is. Christians can pretend they are honoring Christ this time of year, but they really aren’t. People are consumed with the retail aspect of it: spending.

Muscato goes on to say, “Many so-called ‘Christmas’ traditions celebrated by Americans have nothing to do with Christianity. For example, the North Pole and Santa traditions come from Nordic and Germanic pagan traditions, and caroling, Yule logs, mistletoe, holly wreaths all pre-date Christianity.”

He is absolutely correct in that statement. In fact, every single Christmas tradition we have was started by, and stolen, from the pagans.

That’s right, everything from the tree, to mistletoe to holly to gifts were all pagan traditions. (I’ve done a lot of research into the origins of Christmas; however, this article is not going to elaborate on it as it is very lengthy. An online search of “Pagan origins of Christmas” will yield a million and a half results. An excellent article on the topic can be seen here, True Origins of Christmas: http://rcg.org/books/ttooc.html )

Said David Silverman, President of American Atheists, “We all love this time of year.

“Christianity has been trying to claim ownership of the season for hundreds of years. But the winter solstice came first and so did its traditions. The season belongs to everybody.”

Right again. How can Christian’s claim Christmas belongs to them when we stole it from non-believers? Additionally, there is nothing in the bible about celebrating Christmas. The fact that atheists celebrate what is supposed to be a Christian holy day is alarming. But celebrate it they do, minus anything Christ.

Not only that, Jesus could not have been, and was not born, on December 25th. Most biblical scholars believe he was born in the fall and the biblical account of his birth testifies to that. The date was selected because it coincided with the idolatrous pagan festival Saturnalia. So the date of Christmas was chosen as a sort of in-your-face way of saying, “We as Christians are stealing your date for ourselves! Take that.” Nice gesture on behalf of God, but it hasn’t turned out well. No wonder why.

Now, I don’t like the group American Atheists. In fact, I despise them. I can’t stand David Silverman, who regularly appears on Fox News and elsewhere to tout his anti-God beliefs. To me, they are bullying militant atheists bent on wiping out God and particularly Jesus Christ from the public square. And they have been very successful in a lot of ways.

So, I’m not agreeing with them for any other reason in this area, but they are right on.

(I have written about some of the atheist lawsuits and their attack on Christianity in an article last year on this blog, “It’s not just a War on Christmas, It’s a War on Christianity,” which can be seen here: http://www.maryckirchhoff.com/2012/12/its-not-just-war-on-christmas-its-war.html )

Christmas has become completely distorted and perverted and what is supposed to be a day to honor Jesus has become a two-month long season of out-of-control shopping and spending, overindulgence of food and drink, massive debt and spoiled children.

Christmas, without a doubt, belongs to retailers, not to Jesus. The season begins around late October, and is in full swing right before Thanksgiving, and goes on til New Years.

So let’s be honest here: during this extended period we call Christmastime or the more politically correct Holiday Season, are we talking about Jesus and his birth? Are we marveling that God sent His Son to Earth to save man from his sins? Are we on our knees praying and thanking God for his provision in our life?

More than likely, if we are a believer we are praying that God will provide the finances to overindulge our children so they can open numerous gifts on that “magical” morning.

What really gets me is many of us in this country can’t afford to purchase unnecessary and over-the-top gifts for our kids. Millions of people either get heavily into debt or skip paying necessary bills so they can impress and coddle their kids. Not giving gifts is simply unheard of.

Kids must go to school upon the return of the break and brag about what they got. And what, pray tell, does this have to do with the birth of Jesus Christ? Absolutely nothing.

The wise men gave gifts to Jesus, you say? That happened when He was a toddler, not at His birth. Saint Nick? Another misconception about giving at Christmas.

While parties and gift giving and receiving is fun, for the majority of people, financial stress is increased at this time of year. Holiday parties (oops, can’t call them Christmas parties anymore) require bringing dishes or purchasing elaborate foods. The shopping, the parties, the drinking, the get-togethers, they are all supposed to be part of the merrymaking. Again, where is Christ in this? Decidedly MIA for most people.

When’s the last time you went to a (I’ll be a rebel here) Christmas party and people were excitedly talking about God? Were they marveling about Jesus being born 2,000 years ago, talking about what a gift it was for God to send His Son?

The only gift I’ll guarantee they were speaking of was most likely their Black Friday conquest where they acquired the latest and greatest gadgetry for their kids that they couldn’t afford and will be paying off for months to come.

Is this what God wants for us at Christmas? Or are we deluding ourselves saying “Keep Christ in Christmas.”? I believe so.

The truth is, Christmas is a great lie. Satan is laughing; being the great deceiver, he has really gotten away with a whopper here. Christ never was in Christmas. The entire Christmas season has millions of Christians deceived. It has been bought lock, stock and barrel by believers. The fact that atheists celebrate it should be a giant clue that it has nothing to do with Christ.

Sure, we can sing beautiful Christmas themed hymns, set up a manger and go to church. That will satisfy the God requirement of the holiday, will it not?

Church on Christmas Eve or Day is about the only time you’ll get an hour or so of pure God. A sermon, some singing, some well-wishing among peers. A couple hours of God stuff for over two months of the so-called “Christmas Season.”

I’m not a math person, but that amounts to a microscopic amount of time dedicated to the Birth of Jesus.

Frankly, Christmas is farce, and I’m betting the whole thing makes God very angry.

Below, the link for the aforementioned Atheist Billboard Targeting Christians:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2933104645001/atheist-billboard-targeting-christians/?playlist_id=930909812001

[HarleyD]

I'm not impugning anyone's motives anymore than anyone else is. Just to keep everyone straight:

The author's argument is: Frankly, Christmas is farce, and I’m betting the whole thing makes God very angry.

So God is very angry at us having Christmas and it's a farce.

Your position is:Christianizing distinctively pagan holydays, and basically making observing the yearly observance of Rome mandatory.

So Christmas is a pagan ritual and you're doing your part to support Christianity.

My position is: Bring on the eggnog. God is most please when we are celebrating Him.

Three different views. But people would do well to check their bibles on how many times God talks about feasts and celebrations.

[CynicalBear]

>> But it’s God that ordained it.<<

Could you show the scripture that says that?

[Alberta's Child]

Thanks for the thought-provoking article. Keep the faith!

[CynicalBear]

>>Speaking of meat sacrificed to idols, Paul said it was fine for believers to eat it<<

Um, did I miss something?

1 Corinthians 10:28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

He said there NOT to eat both as an example and testimony to the person who served meat offered to idols and for his own conscience sake.

[CynicalBear]

It’s pretty sad really. It seems many just decide for themselves what God likes and wants rather than “search the scriptures daily to see if these things be true”.

[Conservative4Ever]

One point on the Christmas story...when the heavenly host come to the shepherds...one of the misquoted verses...peace on earth good will toward me...the full quote is a command and resulting blessing...Glory to God in the highest..and on earth peace good will toward men. Just my simple observation.

[CatherineofAragon]

Take that in context with 1 Corinthians 8.

“Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.”

In 1 Corinthians 10:29-30, Paul says, “I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?”

The issue is not whether a pagan idol can corrupt meat-—it can’t. Just as it can’t corrupt a Christmas tree. The issue is not causing a brother or sister to sin.

In other words, the meat is fine to eat unless you are of a mind that it isn’t. One shouldn’t violate one’s conscience to do something he believes is wrong, nor should he encourage a fellow Christian to do so.

[daniel1212]

I enjoyed your post and thought it was dead on concerning how Christianity have imposed worship days despite the belief that they were done away with. However a careful reading of scripture will show that the Holy Days of the Lord Jesus Christ were not done away with in scripture. There is an obligation and benefit that comes from observing them. These holy days are listed in detail in Leviticus 23.

I disagree, as they are still contrary to the basis for true worship under the New Cov,, which was the issue behind the censure of Gal. 4:10, and which is not the lunar calendar as under the Law or whatever worldly means pagans based it on, but the basis is being led by the Spirit, whom the Galatians had. (Gal. 4:6)

But if you want to honor the Lord by observing them as part of Christian liberty, it should not be a big issue, but if you contend that is ordained obedience then i totally reject it as such.

The notion that Galatian 4:10 "did away" with these flies in the face of future prophecies of people keeping these feasts of Christ as well as the early church's observance of them in the books of the new testament

By that rational you would have to support a distinctive sacredotal priesthood, and temple sacrifices for today as they also are what future prophecies tell of for God's people, but which refers to the dispensation of the millennial kingdom.

And nowhere, despite assertions otherwise, is the NT church shown specifically observing the 7th day. The souls in Acts 14:44ff were not part of a NT church, nor were those in Acts 21. Instead,

On the first day of the week (usually considered the day of Firstfruits), after Jesus has been raised from the dead (Mk. 16:9), he appears to Mary Magdalene, Peter, Cleopas, and others. "On the evening of that first day of the week" (Roman time), or the evening beginning the second day (Hebrew time), the resurrected Jesus appears at a meeting of ten apostles and other disciples (Jn. 20:19). The same time of the week "a week later" (NIV) or, more literally, "after eight days again" inclusive (KJV), Jesus appears to the eleven apostles and others (Jn. 20:26). After Jesus ascends (Ac. 1:9), on the feast of Pentecost or Shavuot (the 50th day from Firstfruits and thus usually calculated as the first day of the week), the Spirit of God is given to the disciples, who baptize 3,000 people into the apostolic fellowship. Later, on one occasion in Troas, the early Christians meet on the first day (Hebrew) to break bread and to listen to Christian preaching (Ac. 20:7). Paul also states that the churches of Corinth and Galatia should set aside donations on the first day for collection (1 Cor. 16:2). -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabbath_in_Christianity#Biblical_tradition

In addition there are specific greek words used to denote Gods' feast in new testament scripture and these words are not used in Galatians 4:10.

That also is not a valid argument. A rose by any other name. "You drive cars" does not have to name them. The issue is not which feasts they were observing, but that they were bound to ritually observe a liturgical calendar determined by "the elements of [belonging to] the world," (Gn. 4:3) not led by the Spirit.

In other words, and this is hard for most to hear, the traditional church today was founded by those who abandoned the ways of God when it comes to worship because they couldn't stand the heat. The day of worship was changed from the sabbath to Sunday

That is ignoring the manifest distinctions btwn " Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt," (Heb. 8:9) and the New Cov. in which the ceremonial laws are abrogated, that of "meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation," (Hebrews 9:10) "or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath," (Col 2:16), while upholding the moral law in looking to Christ as the standard. Thus all 9 of the 10 commandments are reiterated in the NT with the conspicuous exception of the command to keep holy the Sabbath. Nor is failure to keep the Sabbath day condemned as sin.

Likewise there is no mention of the NT church as a NT church worshiping on the 7th day, but the only specific day mentioned is the 1st day.

Paul met on the Sabbath, and did other things in seeking to become all things to all, but never taught the church sabbath-keeping, and in fact his only mentions or the sabbath or one day being above all are in regards to its observance as being part of Christian liberty. (Col. 2:16; Rm. 14:6) Christians are not commanded to keep the 1st day either, but we do have solid precedent for so doing.

And if we must keep the 7th day, it must be kept from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32) and with no burden being to be carried (Jer. 17:21), and no fire kindled (Ex. 35:3).

The real story of why Christianity doesn't observe them is simple: Traditional Christianity "evolved" away from them mainly due to Antisemitism.

That is false because it is actually the NT church that provides no example of it keeping the 7th day, or command to do so, or censure for not doing so. And besides Scripture, historical testimony is provided which teaches the early church met on the 1st day.

But this can go on extensively, as it has already here in the past, and i am not going use more energy doing so again.

[daniel1212]

The god-like stature of Smith in Mormonism is quite and sadly apparent. And RCs think we look to Luther as a pope!

[CynicalBear]

>>nor should he encourage a fellow Christian to do so.<<

And yet hear you are.

11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

[Arlis]

No, I’d never say they are committing sin. If they do it to the Lord, it’s fine. Romans 14 is clear, different believers have different practices, positions on days, eating, etc. and should not judge one another. Rom 14:1 - 19 addresses this very issue.

I’m dealing only with the actual origins of many Christian practices, not those who practice them. I leave them to God.

I used to be a fervent, passionate celebrator of Christmas, then went on a mission to “put Christ back in Christmas”. But the more I researched, eventually I came to personally believe that He was never in Christmas in the first place. I don’t lay that on others. But I do want to declare the truth. All such practices came in years after the first century and only as the church became less spiritual and more worldly, adopting, accepting, including, and then attempting to spiritualize non-Christian practices.

God bless, and if you celebrate, have a great Christmas!

PS: wondering where the Fiji part came from.....??????

[Just mythoughts]

Have you never read Luke? Zacharias, of the course of Abia: gives the reader a time of the year... 6 months later was the conception of Christ. Since you and your cohorts have need to be snarly without having read I am not going to do your homework.

And as I already informed your cohort, my screen name came from when Bobby Woodward was reading the mind of Condi Rice, nothing more or nothing less.

[CityCenter]

I take no issue with those who choose not to celebrate. It certainly isn’t a salvation issue. However I have noticed there is a certain amount of zealous self-righteousness that seems to come from those who view Christmas negatively. In some cases reminds me of how Atheists behave this time of year. Would be nice if those who choose not to celebrate wouldn’t try so hard to be spoilers for those of us who do.

[CodeToad]

“Most children waking up on Christmas morning have no idea who Jesus is.”

You’ve done a survey of some sort? I’ve never met a child that didn’t know.

[daniel1212]

I'm not impugning anyone's motives anymore than anyone else is. Just to keep everyone straight:

The issue is not motive, it is method.

So God is very angry at us having Christmas and it's a farce.

I would not say that is true of those all who celebrate it outof right motive but in ignorance, nor who support Joel Osteen out of sincere motive, and thus need more light, but i believe God is opposed to the annual celebration of Christmas, due the reasons i stated, and is not happy with Christians who demean those who sincerely oppose it in sincere desire to please God according to Scripture.

And i find it especially incongruous for Reformed believers to submit to a annual tradition of a Christianized pagan feast that is not seen in Scripture, and contrary in principle to it, but it is product of RC syncretism, and is treated as obligatory, so that those who dissent based on Scripture are marginalized or even attacked. This is the reality which testifies to this essentially being that of teaching for doctrines the traditions of men.

So Christmas is a pagan ritual and you're doing your part to support Christianity.

A Christianized pagan festival that is a product of attempting to reform paganism, not worship as new creations in Christ.

Three different views. But people would do well to check their bibles on how many times God talks about feasts and celebrations.

Indeed. And see where the NT church was taught to engage in the annual celebrations of days, months times and years, outside of the 1st day having a precedent as a specific day of meeting.

[narses]

In the Bloggers & Personal forum, on a thread titled Christmas Really Isn't about Christ - Why I'm not Celebrating Christmas Even Though I'm a Christian, daniel1212 wrote:

And i find it especially incongruous for Reformed believers to submit to a annual tradition of a Christianized pagan feast that is not seen in Scripture, and contrary in principle to it, but it is product of RC syncretism, and is treated as obligatory, so that those who dissent based on Scripture are marginalized or even attacked. This is the reality which testifies to this essentially being that of teaching for doctrines the traditions of men.

[CatherineofAragon]

"And yet hear you are."

Oh, please.

I would be doing that if I were trying to convince InHisService she should go against her own conscience and put up a Christmas tree. Instead, I've mentioned my OWN tree.

[CynicalBear]

OF course! Everyone in the world has scenes depicting the conception of Christ set up all over. They sing songs about the conception of Jesus. That’s what everyone celebrates this time of year right? Oi Vey.

That was the most feeble attempt to try to justify Christmas I have ever seen.

[CynicalBear]

Deuteronomy 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God

[trisham]

Merry Christmas!

Christmas (Old English: Crīstesmæsse, meaning "Christ's Mass") is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by millions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide, which ends after the twelfth night. Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations, is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season. While the birth year of Jesus is estimated among modern historians to have been between 7 and 2 BC, the exact month and day of his birth are unknown. His birth is mentioned in two of the four canonical gospels. By the early-to-mid 4th century, the Western Christian Church had placed Christmas on December 25, a date later adopted in the East. The date of Christmas may have initially been chosen to correspond with the day exactly nine months after early Christians believed Jesus to have been conceived, or with one or more ancient polytheistic festivals that occurred near southern solstice (i.e., the Roman winter solstice); a further solar connection has been suggested because of a biblical verse[a] identifying Jesus as the "Sun of righteousness".
Source: Wikipedia