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The muffled sounds from the TV were only a camouflage. Nathan’s mom and dad were busily putting toys together, wrapping presents and putting them under the tree, eating the cookies the kids had put out for Santa Claus, and sneaking a quick kiss under the mistletoe. They were as excited as the kids on this special night. They felt a warm glow as they carried on the traditions that had been so much fun for them when they were children.
At the other end of the house, Nathan was too excited to sleep. It was Christmas Eve and he couldn’t stop thinking, “What will Santa bring me?” Nathan had visited Santa at the mall earlier in December and told him what he wanted. On his list was the latest and greatest video game because his parents said they couldn’t afford it. He knew it was getting late, but he couldn’t resist one more peek to look for Santa in his bright red suit flying to his house. As he looked, he wondered how it was possible for Santa to get to all those houses in one night. Well, no matter, Mom and Dad said he could, so it must be true. He worried a little. He had been pretty mean to his little sister lately. But he always got presents anyway, so maybe that didn’t count to Santa. Presents! Yeah!
Grandma and Grandpa were coming too. More presents! Those would have to wait until after Grandma went to church, even though it wasn’t Sunday! Dad just said, “Grandma is old fashioned.” Grandma said, “Christmas is special because that was the day Christ was born.” “We don’t go to church on my birthday,” he thought. Anyway, the people at the store had told Dad, “Christmas is for the children. That’s what it’s all about.”
And so it goes. A similar scenario is played out in countless homes around the world with activities planned and anticipated throughout the year. Most often they are carried out without a thought given to the one whose life it claims to celebrate. Although children are interested in the activity and the presents, Christians who really study their Bible will have nagging questions: How do Christmas traditions really celebrate the birthday of Jesus? Where is the observance of Christ’s birth taught in the Bible? How did Santa Claus get involved with the birth of Christ? Where did we get Christmas trees, Yule logs, wreaths, and mistletoe? Jesus was born on December 25, wasn’t He? Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays, isn’t it?
We live in a world filled with customs that most people grow up practicing without question. The majority participates in the observance of Christmas, believing it to be one of the principal teachings of the New Testament. Since we look to Christ as the author of our salvation, maybe we should take a deeper look into the celebration of his birth. This booklet will answer those questions. We can know the origins of these customs, and just how these traditions became associated with Christmas.
The Bible Commands the Observance of Christmas — Doesn’t It?
The story of Christ’s miraculous birth is one of the most widely known and popularly embellished stories from the Bible. Few realize that “Christmas” is never mentioned in the Bible. How can it be determined whether or not the origins of Christmas are important to Christians? If we uncover evidence that proves Christmas is actually the unrighteous worship of Baal, or any false god, it is imperative that we withdraw from such abominable traditions. We would not want Christ to utter to us the words he spoke to the scribes and Pharisees, “Hypocrites! Isaiah has prophesied well concerning you, saying, ‘THESE PEOPLE HAVE DRAWN NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTHS, AND WITH THEIR LIPS THEY HONOR ME; BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT THEY WORSHIP ME IN VAIN, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINE THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN’ ” (Matthew 15:7-9). If we consider ourselves Christians, our worship must be to God the Father through Christ alone. (See I Kings 18:21) We cannot rely on our human intellect, feelings or emotions because as Proverbs 14:12, states, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death.” We must rely on the truth of God and His Word is accessible to us. We may have great peace of mind in knowing that God provides for us, in the Bible, the godly way to worship Him in a manner in which He approves and delights.
Finally, did you know there is not one word in the New Testament, nor for that matter, anywhere in the whole Bible telling us that we should observe Christmas? The Christians of the first century, under the inspired teachings of Paul and Peter and the other apostles, never observed it. Just what do we really know about Christmas? You will be surprised, maybe shocked! It just may be The Greatest Story Never Told!
