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

[melsec]

You have to make it about Jesus - When I was a teenager a lot of our friends used to come to late night church with us even though they weren’t Christians or they may have been lapsed. Either way it then became about them hearing the story of Our Lord’s birth. I will always remember how awesome those hot Aussie nights were with the Church packed to the rafters - everyone singing real Christmas songs to God. The Holy Spirit almost tangible in the place.

Mel

[Elsie]

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.

Actually; it doesn't.  It does NOT say whether it was the DAILY insense or the YEARLY insense.

 

 

 

 

5 

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

⁷ And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

⁸ And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

⁹ According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

 

---

The altar of incense was made of acacia wood with a veneer of gold. Acacia is a beautiful hardwood that is almost indestructible by insects. The altar was thirty-six inches high and eighteen inches in both length and breadth (Exodus 37:25ff). It served as a place for the daily burning of incense, both morning and evening.

The daily exercise consisted of a priest (selected by the casting of “lots”) taking burning coals from the brazen altar of sacrifice out in the temple court, taking the coals to the altar of incense, and depositing the incense upon coals (Exodus 30:7-8). This was a one-time event in the life of the priest who was selected.

  Incense was also utilized on the Day of Atonement     Lev 16:29 

And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

 

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.

Actually; it doesn't.  It does NOT say whether it was the DAILY insense or the YEARLY insense.

5 

[Elsie]

...daniel1212 wrote:

Yup; but are you going to COMMENT on it?

[Elsie]

Deuteronomy 12:30 - 31

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.  Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God

Deuteronomy 12:30 - 31

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.  Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God

[Elsie]

Ok; I give up.

December 25th is the WRONG day!

So let's each celebrate EVERY day but that one and proclaim Christ's birth.

SURELY we'll get it right THAT way at least ONCE a year.

GOD will SURELY then be pleased with us!

And about them pagan's... why everyone of their days will have then been usurped; leaving them with NO power at all!

[Elsie]

You can get one in a gift shop across the street from the Alamo, in San Antonio.

(Surely THAT has to be some kind of damned pagan thing to do; to plop the sacred Alamo right in the middle of a commercial district!)

[CynicalBear]

Yeah, He was saying that the way the pagans served their god was NOT how He wanted them to serve Him. He also said to observe the feasts and holy days HE set and not to add to them.

[Elsie]

This is becoming more and more ridiculous.

Is there NO way to prevent that meddlesome ELSIE from posting???

--Henry II

[Elsie]

He also said to the JEWS to observe the feasts and holy days HE set and not to add to them.

[CatherineofAragon]

"Is there NO way to prevent that meddlesome ELSIE from posting???"

--Henry II"

Yo, Henry...let's hope not!

[HarleyD]

Could you show the scripture that says that?

Joh_1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Can you show me where we make something up apart from God?

[Blackirish]

What about Festivis? Is that supposed to be canceled too?

[CynicalBear]

Surely that’s not the verse you use to show that God ordained Christmas. So would you also say that God made the gods the pagans served?

>> Can you show me where we make something up apart from God?<<

I think you need to re evaluate you concept of “made”.

[metmom]

Well, now, you know, if God is sovereign in the ultra Calvinist way, ........

[HarleyD]

I believe God is opposed to the annual celebration of Christmas...and is not happy with Christians who demean those who sincerely oppose it in sincere desire to please God according to Scripture.

While the author may believe that God "is very angry" and Christmas "is a farce", I don't happen to agree with her assessment. And it's very presumptuous for people to think they know what God is thinking. It was that type of attitude that caused problems for the Pharisees. One thing I have learned is that it is difficult to know what God is thinking.

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

I can't speak for other Reformed believers. I can only speak for myself. I just came back from a beautiful CHRISTMAS celebration of wonderful hymn singing. And, yes, we have a CHRISTMAS tree in the sanctuary. It only served to confirmed to me that Christmas is a celebration. It is a time when the angels herald the coming of Christ and shepherd rejoiced.

People can take and make anything they want out of Christmas. They can complain it's not scriptural, there's too much commercialization, it's too fattening, or a host of other things. The thing they can't get rid of is what Christmas is truly about. And I don't believe for one moment that God is offended by us giving gifts to each other in the name of a pretend Santa Claus, that He's angry at us for putting up a Christmas tree in our house, or that we might play cards on December 25th. God expects of us to rejoice in His salvation and I think He is most pleased when we find our pleasure in Him. Regardless of whether we have a Christmas tree or celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th.

No, Christmas isn't a farce. Christmas is alive and well.

[HarleyD]

Spurgeon on Christmas…“We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas: first, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be said or sung in Latin or in English; and, secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority.”

I'd suggest you read his entire sermon. This quote makes its round on the internet but is out of context.

We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas: first, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be said or sung in Latin or in English; and, secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority. Superstition has fixed most positively the day of our Saviour's birth, although there is no possibility of discovering when it occurred. Fabricius gives a catalogue of 136 different learned opinions upon the matter; and various divines invent weighty arguments for advocating a date in every month in the year. It was not till the middle of the third century that any part of the church celebrated the nativity of our Lord; and it was not till very long after the Western church had set the example, that the Eastern adopted it. Because the day is not known, therefore superstition has fixed it; while, since the day of the death of our Saviour might be determined with much certainty, therefore superstition shifts the date of its observance every year. Where is the method in the madness of the superstitious? Probably the fact is that the holy days were arranged to fit in with heathen festivals. We venture to assert, that if there be any day in the year, of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Saviour was born, it is the twenty-fifth of December. Nevertheless since, the current of men's thoughts is led this way just now, and I see no evil in the current itself, I shall launch the bark of our discourse upon that stream, and make use of the fact, which I shall neither justify nor condemn, by endeavoring to lead your thoughts in the same direction. Since it is lawful, and even laudable, to meditate upon the incarnation of the Lord upon any day in the year, it cannot be in the power of other men's superstitions to render such a meditation improper for to-day. Regarding not the day, let us, nevertheless, give God thanks for the gift of his dear son.

Joy Born at Bethlehem by Charles Spurgeon

[HarleyD]

So would you also say that God made the gods the pagans served?

Remember-you're talking to a Reformer. So, yes, God made the gods the pagans served. God gave them up to their lust...

There is nothing that was made that He did not make. That is what John states very clear. It is against God to think that we create things apart from Him and His inspiration.

[CynicalBear]

Can there be any doubt we are in the last days?

[CynicalBear]

With all due respect, that is just bizarre.

[Fiji Hill]

Fiji Hill towers over my alma mater Occidental College in Eagle Rock, Calif., which is part of the city of Los Angeles. It’s apparently named after the Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity, which once had a chapter on the campus.