24/12/2023
why the church members of Christ do not celebrate Christmas.
The Catholic Church and Protestants celebrate Christmas every December 25 of each year, which they consider to be the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. In this regard, they engage in many activities and participate in many of them. So there are those who criticize the unity of the Church of Christ in their celebration. Others say that it is still a good day for the birth of church members to celebrate. Some hold that the Church of Christ has little regard for the Lord Jesus Christ. If they only knew that it was not really Christ's birthday that they celebrated on December 25, but that was a pagan festival "Christian-born," they probably wouldn't be allowed to take part in that celebration.
A Catholic book about Christmas celebrated by Catholics and Protestants reads:
“It has sometimes been said that the Nativity [Christmas] is only a Christianized pagan festival.” [Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, page 61]
In Filipino:
"It has been said on several occasions that Nativism [Christmas] is but a Christian pagan festival."
This book confirms that the Nativity or Christmas celebrated by Catholics and Protestants is only a "Christian" pagan festival.
What does the word PAGAN or “pagan” mean?
“NOT, n. a Gentile; an idolater; one who worships false gods. This word was originally applied to the inhabitants of the country, who on the first propagation of the Christian religion adhered to the worship of false gods, or refused to receive Christianity, after it had been received by the inhabitants of the cities. ”[Webster's 1828 Dictionary]
In Filipino:
“OK, n. a Gentile; a worshiper of an idol; worshiping false gods. The term was first used by the first citizens of a village, who at the beginning of the spread of the Christian religion were worshipers of false gods, or those who refused to accept Christianity, after which it was accepted by the living in cities. ”
The Dictionary clearly states that a Pagan is a person who does not worship the true God because they are the idolaters, in our day they were Hindus, Buddhists, or any religion that knelt down and serve statues or images, which reject the doctrine of Christianity. To say that Christmas is simply christened as the Pagan Feast, it means that it was only copied in celebration of non-Christian people who worship idols.
The December 25 Election
The election of December 25, supposedly the date of Christ's birth, is only from the influence of the Roman Pagans:
“… The choice of December 25 was influenced by the fact that the Romans, from the time of Emperor Aurelian (275), had celebrated the feat of the sun god (Sol Invictus: The Unconquered Sun) on that day. December 25 was called the 'Birthday of the Sun.' and great pagan religious celebrations of the Mithras cult were held all through the empire. ”[Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, page 61]
In Filipino:
“… The election on the 25th of December was influenced by the Roman event, from the time of Emperor Aureliano (275), the feast of the sun god (Sol Invictus: the Invincible Day) was celebrated that day. December 25th is called 'Birth Day', and the great pagan religious celebrations of the Meccan cult are held throughout the empire. ”
Clearly December 25 is not the specific date of Christ's birth [We don't really read the Bible when he was born]. It is the Date of a feast of the pagans, whose celebration is their God Day Sol Invictus or the Invincible Day. ”On this date is held a great religious pagan festival. And they clearly admit that this is the basis for their choice of December 25, which is the birth of Jesus Christ.
Also from Pagan
Not only was the date taken or copied to the pagans but also the activities of Christmas day such as lighting candles and placing Christmas trees.
The candles, in some parts of England, lighted on Christmas eve, and used so long as the festive season lasts, were equally lighted by the pagans on the eve of the festival of the Babylonian god, to do honour to him; for it was one of the distinguishing peculiarities of his worship to have lighted wax candles on his altars. The Christmas Tree, now so common among us, was equally common in Pagan rome and Pagan Egypt.” [The Two Babylons Or the Papal Worship, p. 97]
In Filipino:
"The candles, in some parts of England, which are lit on Christmas eve, and used throughout the festival, are equally lit by the heathen on the eve of the feast of the Babylonian deity, in honor of him: for one of the the distinguishing feature of his worship is to have lit candles on his altars. The Christmas Tree, which is now very common to us, is also very common in Roman Pagan and Pagan Egypt. ”
The heathen lit a candle on the eve of Babylon's feast day to honor her. The Cristmas Tree in turn is very common in pagan Rome and pagan Egypt.
Even those who surveyed the Christmas Tree say that this is a remnant of pagan worship in the tree:
“Some authorities consider the Christmas tree a survival of pagan tree worship and trace it to ancient Rome and Egypt…” [Collier’s Encyclopedia, vol 6, p.404]
In Filipino:
"Some authorities consider the Christmas tree to be a permanent remnant of pagan worship and can be traced back to ancient Rome and Egypt."
Thus the Churches of Christ did not participate in the celebration of Christmas because it came from pagans, not only the date, but also the various activities performed by Catholics and Protestants on the occasion.
Mislead the Truth
It is a fact that the Passover celebrated by Catholics and Protestants was invented or fabricated. It is not God's command but man's command. The law of man, when founded upon the service of God, misleads the truth:
Titus 1:14 "And that they might take away the tradition of the Jews, and of the law of men, that they might be led astray from the truth." (Word of Life)
Those who join in the celebration of Christmas do not realize that they are being misled by the fact of salvation, for in doing so they are obeying human laws and pagan practices. What should be the basis for man's service to God and our Lord Jesus Christ is not the commandments of men but the wills of God that are written in the Scriptures.
2 Timothy 3: 15-17 “From childhood you have known that the Scriptures teach the way of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God, and is used in teaching the truth, in correcting false doctrines, in correcting wrongdoing and in training for righteous living, so that the servant of God
will be worthy and ready for all good works. ”[The New Good News, Bible]
Any teaching that is unscriptural and contrary to what the Bible teaches cannot be saved but will surely be condemned on Judgment Day:
2 Thessalonians 2: 11-12 "Because they received not the truth, God suffered them that they should be deceived in the spirit of error and believe in falsehood, that they might condemn all who chose evil instead of accepting the truth" (Good News , Bible)
This is one reason the Church of Christ does not celebrate the "Christmas" of Catholics and Protestants. What would one day be a happy celebration, if it were to lead to the destruction of our souls forever?
Reference
Collier’s Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan Educational Company. 1964.
Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs. Francis X. Weiser. New York: Hartcourt, Brace & World, Inc., n. d.
The Two Babylons Or the Papal Worship. Rev. Alexander Hislop. Neptune, New Jersey: Loizcaux Brothers, Inc., 1943.
(ctto)
