Many Christians are day in and day out being confused about the biblical basis for Christmas. Whilst some are encouraged others are discouraged from celebrating Christmas. Some Christian sects and other non Christian groups oppose the event of Christmas as heathen, pagan and demonic. Others also gladly and blissfully celebrate Christmas with enthusiasm and prayerfully. God desires that we know the truth. John 8:32 says ye shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. We also reiterate that 1 Corinthians 14:33 says for God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As we study the word of God regarding Christmas may we be reminded that Matthew 11: 15; 13: 9, 43; Mark 4: 9, 23; Luke 8:8; 14: 35 say let him who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Meaning of Christmas
The literal meaning of Christmas is Christ Mass, meaning the Mass for Christ. It was derived from the ecclesiastical Latin words for the dismissal of the congregation. It represents when God in his mercy, dismissed the sins and iniquities of man by forgiveness and discharged us as free people. So whenever Christmas is celebrated, it is a time of spiritual joy of remembrance of the beginning of our spiritual journey towards redemption in Christ Jesus. Christmas is therefore a day which Christians have set apart to celebrate when Christ Jesus came into the world to forgive us of our sins or to dismiss our sins. It is a day we joyfully show love, extend congratulations, felicitations and thankfulness. It is a day of sobriety devoid of immorality and excesses or nuisance but righteousness and purity.
It is a day to welcome Jesus Christ into our hearts to stay and through us, to execute his mission of redemption for mankind. Philippians 4:8 says finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things that are honest, whatsoever things that are just, whatsoever things that are pure, whatsoever things that are lovely, whatsoever things that are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. It is fitting and proper to acknowledge the presence of God with us through Christ Jesus whom we worship on a day like this and in the season.
The origin of Christmas
There are three claimed origins of Christmas. First, it is said that a Roman Christian Historian by name Sextus Julius Africanus believed in the theory that the world was created on March 25. In further research he concluded that the date of Jesus’ conception fell on the same date of March 25. Adding nine months during which Jesus was in his mother’s womb to March 25 therefore gave the birth date of Jesus Christ as December 25. It was therefore held that Jesus was born on December 25 and it was celebrated as such among his ardent followers of same belief.
The second theory is that Christmas was first introduced in Constantinople in 379 A.D. in Antioch by John Chrysostom in Antioch and towards the end of 388 A.D. in Alexandria. However, the first recorded Christmas celebration was in Rome on December 25, 336 A.D. under Emperor Constantine who then motivated to make Christianity an effective religion as a devout man, introduced Christmas as a formal Christian celebration of his empire in or about 336 A.D. As a devout Christian, he desired to weaken or obliterate the pagan worship and festival on the same date of December 25 at his time and during his reign. The celebration later spread to Europe and the Americas.
The third theory which connects the second is that December 25 was originally a date for Roman and Pagan worship and celebration to signify the birth of Mithra, their Sun god or god of light and god of loyalty. The Roman festival was called Saturnalia. It was on one of the darkest days in the year and the celebration which marked the return of longer days after winter solstice was celebrated with wild drunken parties. Emperor Constantine who was obsessed about Jesus Christ and Christianity committed to obliterate the key days of pagan worship on December 25 together with their converts to Christianity which he did by grace. The Apostle Peter also similarly did likewise in Acts 17: 23-30. Are we able and ready to stand up to paganism, occultism, spirit worship, and Satanism in these trying times with concerted efforts by satanic groups to obliterate Christianity and deny God and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord?
Symbols of lights at Christmas: December 25 is believed to be one of the darkest days in the year so the pagans of St. Nicholas’ time lit bonfires at night in order to drive away the darkness. In order to obliterate the pagan idea, Christians introduced lights in its stead to signify that Jesus Christ the light of the world has come to overshadow and to disperse the darkness. Jesus said in John 8:12 that I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have light of life. In our darkest day Jesus come forth as the greatest light from heaven to overcome the darkness which stood for evil.
Jesus said in John 9:5 that as long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. In John 12:46 Jesus said, I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. Upon these biblical facts, St. Nicholas and those of common faith signified Jesus Christ as lights into our homes at Christmas. John 1:4 says in him (Christ Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. Christ Jesus is our inextinguishable efficacious light. 1 John 1:7 says but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin. May we walk and dwell in the light of Christ Jesus this and every season.
Symbols of the Christmas tree: In the same pagan event, the pagans celebrated their festivals with greens in expectation of spring or new life or freshness of life. They used largely fir trees in their pagan temples. As a show of God’s omnipotence through Christ Jesus, and in order to obliterate the memories and practices of paganism, Christians introduced Christmas trees to signify that Jesus Christ is the giver and foundation of life or renewed life or freshness of life. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 says therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. The Christmas tree therefore stands for a new season of righteousness by grace or renewed birth in Christ Jesus. Have we renewed our covenant with Jesus Christ?
Acts 3: 19 says repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. May we seek the freshness of Christ Jesus as we mark Christmas in righteousness. Paul says in , Romans 12:2 that do not conform to this world but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds to prove the will of God, what is good and what is acceptable and perfect. Change and freshness in God comes with a change of heart through Jesus Christ. A positive change of heart in favour of Christ Jesus means we should focus on God. Colossians 3:2-3 say set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Are we down and broken, let us turn to Jesus Christ to rekindle our joy.
Symbol of Santa Claus: Santa Claus traces back to the Bishop St. Nicholas, an Italian born in Turkey around 280A.D. who was a selfless devoted man of love and great generosity to the poor, neglected and underprivileged in society just as Jesus was. He was persecuted and imprisoned for his faith. Predicated on his benevolence, love and generosity the gift of love was formally introduced into Christmas celebration to show that the foundation of Christianity is love as in Swiss and German cultures. Santa Claus comes from Sinter Klaas which was an abbreviated full name of St. Nicholas after his death. It was to show indiscriminate love to all. Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45 says Christ Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many. We cannot show love without forgiveness therefore at Christmas we must also show unlimited forgiveness. Romans 5: 8 says but God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Jesus Christ does not discriminate in extending his love to us.
Galatians 5:14 says for the whole law is fulfilled in one word, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. James 2:8 says if you really fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well. Jesus says in John 13:34 that a new commandment I give to you, love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. He said also in John 15:17 that, this I command you, love one another. Jesus said in Luke 10:27 that the greatest of the commandments is love. Christmas and boxing days are days to show love, give gifts and share the character of Jesus Christ with others. Whilst 1 Peter 5: 7 says cast all your burdens on Jesus, for he cares about you, we must also share the burdens of one another to show that we care. May the peace of Christ Jesus on this festive occasion be with us all now and forever, Amen!
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, we thank you most humbly for your word of clarity about Christmas. Just as your conquest of old for Israel when you took over the nations of the heathen for Israel’s possession, so have you enriched this season with your grace and love for the victory of Christianity over paganism to your glory and honour. As we celebrate your birth, remind us about your nature, love and forgiveness so they shall be our symbols for the season also. In the name of Christ Jesus we pray, Amen!!
