How Christian Is Christmas?

Truthseeker - New Christmas Booklet just released!

Sunday, December 24, 2017 3:22 PM

From: "Truthseeker Ministries"

To: "Allen David" adventist@truthseeker.church

Just in time for those difficult gatherings among family.

Blessings,

David Allen

This book offer, “How Christian Is Christmas?”, came in my email this morning. Although I haven’t read more than a few pages, I’m sure that you will be greatly benefited if you get the book. Many wise, thought provoking illustrations fill the book. Here is an excerpt of the first few pages.

How Christian Is Christmas?

“WARNING! This booklet will turn Christmas upside down. It might hurt your feelings, but it just might save your soul.

As a child did your parents teach you a little white lie? Were you programmed that someone in the night was going to come to your house and leave you presents? Did you trust what your parents told you? Then you had no reason to doubt them. You were probably taught not to question Christmas or what God even says about it. Most never reflect on why they believe or to do what they do. We live in a world with customs where no one seems to question them or where they came from.

Let’s follow the roots of Christmas and see why people follow along in what seems to be innocent. Why is it kept on December 25th? The early New Testament church never kept it. The Apostles never kept it. Jesus didn’t remind us to remember it.

Why do people observe Christmas you might ask? It’s Easy to follow along without even thinking. It’s Fashionable. Its what everyone else does. It’s Tradition. It’s Fun. Everywhere we turn, work, TV, Radio, Church, there’s Christmas being thrown at you.

Most follow along as they have been taught, believing it is what is right and haven’t even given it a thought otherwise.

They take their beliefs for granted and never take time to question or prove them. This is true when we consider Easter, Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween.

Millions keep these without even knowing why or where they originated from. When it comes to Christmas, many think it is in the Bible, or that God backs them. But in order to get a new belief system, you need to develop something that impersonates God and challenges your belief system. And Christmas does that. Because for too long now, you will hear in church that Christmas is the time where we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Surely millions cannot be wrong when you’re in the majority. Author Mark Twain (1835-1910) said, ‘Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform.’

What does the Bible and history really teach? To find the truth of a biblical matter, you must be willing to open your Bible and honestly accept what it says. The majority of people stoutly defend what they have merely assumed is right or biblical. They read with prejudice anything that contradicts cherished beliefs. I am asking that you read thru this booklet without any bias.

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16, ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:’ The Bible is our reference and our measuring tool.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 – ‘Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.’

Ask God to guide you, to help you prove what He says in His Word. No matter how comfortable a lifelong practice may be, should you not base it on proof? Hard evidence on what God says, instead of assumptions?

Christmas is a worldwide tradition, thought to be a wonderful time focusing on family, giving, beautiful music and decorations. For some, special foods are to be made, singing traditional carols know as Christmas carols. And from the child side of things, it’s all about Santa, Reindeer and presents. For merchants it’s all about making money and turning losses into gains for the year.

All of this is supposedly centered on the worship of Jesus Christ, and His birth on December 25th. But where did Christmas come from? What is the origin of Santa Claus? The Mistletoe? Christmas trees? Holly wreaths? Yule logs? Exchanging gifts?

Did you realize that in the United States, it was illegal to practice or observe Christmas?

Shocking as it sounds, followers of Jesus Christ in both America and England helped pass laws making it illegal to observe Christmas, believing it was an insult to God to honor a day associated with ancient paganism,’ according to ‘Shocked by the Bible’ (Thomas Nelson Inc., 2008). ‘Most Americans today are unaware that Christmas was banned in Boston from 1659 to 1681.’

The Puritan-dominated Parliament of England banned all Christmas activities, including dancing, seasonal plays, and games, singing carols, cheerful celebration and especially drinking in 1644, with the Puritans of New England following suit. Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and the Plymouth colony made celebrating Christmas a criminal offense, according to ‘Once Upon a Gospel’ (Twenty-Third Publications, 2008).

The Pilgrims who came to America in 1620 were strict Puritans, with firm views on religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Scripture did not name any holiday except the Sabbath. Puritans were particularly contemptuous of Christmas, nicknaming it ‘Fools-tide’ and banning their flock from any celebration of it throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. On the first December 25th of their existence in America, they spent it working their fields just like any other day.

Christmas trees and decorations were considered to be unholy pagan rituals, and the Puritans also banned traditional Christmas foods such as mince pies and pudding. Puritan laws required that stores and businesses remain open all day on Christmas, and town criers walked through the streets on Christmas Eve calling out ‘No Christmas, no Christmas!’

In England, the ban on the holiday was lifted in 1660, when Charles II took over the throne. However, the Puritan presence remained in New England and Christmas did not become a legal holiday until President Ulysses S. Grant formally declared it a federal holiday in 1870. Schools continued to hold classes on December 25th up until this time.

Why didn’t Puritans like Christmas? They had several reasons, including the fact that it did not originate as a Christian holiday. The upper classes in ancient Rome celebrated December 25 as the birthday of the sun god Mithras. The date fell right in the middle of Saturnalia, a month long holiday dedicated to food, drink, and revelry (including orgies), and Pope Julius I is said to have chosen that day to celebrate Christ’s birth as a way of co-opting the pagan rituals. Beyond that, the Puritans considered it historically inaccurate to place the Messiah’s arrival on December 25. They thought Jesus had been born sometime in September. More on these Biblical hints later.

Although the change was gradual, people began to once again embrace the holiday until Christmas, as we know it today complete with mistletoe, eggnog and candy canes was celebrated throughout the American colonies.

Let’s look at some facts that are readily available if anyone wants to know….”