The holiday season is an occasion that some use to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Many of those who pause to remember Christ's birth make no time during the rest of the year to pay homage to our risen Lord. At Christmas time, TV provides live coverage of the Catholic mass on Christmas Eve and features those who have made a pilgrimage to Bethlehem. We hear such phrases as "Remember the reason for the season" and "Let's keep Christ in Christmas." There are commentaries regarding the dangers of consumerism and the abuse of credit. We would expect such things from those who have never been taught the difference between revealed and unrevealed religion, but what can we expect from those in God's house?
In recent years, a significant change has occurred among our brethren. When I began preaching in 1966, brethren generally used the Christmas season as an occasion to distinguish between revealed and unrevealed religion. The sermons on the Sunday before Christmas were frequently used to differentiate between what the Bible teaches about Christ's birth and the religious trappings that have grown up around it. Church bulletins featured Christmas articles that taught why it was wrong to celebrate Christmas in a religious way. One of the most popular articles was one named, Christmas written by Ferrell Jenkins.
Brethren understood that they should not participate in the religious celebration of Christmas. Some discussed whether or not Christians could exchange gifts on December 25 or have Christmas trees. There were no special Christmas services or church-sponsored Christmas parties.
But things in God's house are changing with reference to the celebration of Christmas. Following are some of the changes we've observed:
- Some of our liberal brethren participate in the religious celebration of Christmas during their public worship. The Bering Drive church in Houston, Texas, a church on the vanguard of liberalism, announced in their bulletin (December 15, 1991) that the following Sunday would feature a Christmas celebration. The announcement said that they would have a choral presentation of special music; the sanctuary would be adorned with poinsettias; and the worship was planned to celebrate the birth of Christ. Their 1994 bulletin (December 18, 1994) said:
"Each year, on the second Sunday before Christmas and the last Sunday before Christmas, we celebrate together the birth of Jesus. This Sunday we will enjoy the special gift of the Bering Chorus.
For months they have prepared this music to lift our hearts in praise to God for the gift of Bethlehem. Bill will tell a Christmas story or two. We will sing Christmas carols together. After morning service we will find the Fellowship Hall decked out in beautiful Christmas décor, and a feast will be enjoyed by all.
There will be violin music with the dinner, and ___________________'s singing group will share their wonderful songs with us again this year."
The December 1994 issue of Love Lines, the bulletin of the Woodmont Church where Rubel Shelly preaches, lamented that Santa was getting top billing over Jesus during the Christmas season and urged their members to, "tell the real Christmas story at your house this year." I have no way to judge how widespread this is. - Many congregations seem to have become too sophisticated to preach against the religious celebration of Christmas. They justify not preaching on the subject on the basis that it offends visitors who might attend at that time of the year. They castigate those who preach against the religious celebration of Christmas for being abrasive and confrontational. In the meantime, the rearing of a generation that has never heard these sermons has created a group that is asking, "What is wrong with setting aside a special day to commemorate the birth of Christ?"
- A larger number of brethren are allowing their children to participate in the school choral presentations that feature songs teaching that Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth.
What Is Wrong With the Religious Celebration of Christmas?
There is only one thing wrong with it. No Bible authority exists for the religious celebration of Christmas. Scripture teaches that one must have Bible authority for whatever he practices. Following are some of the texts in which we find such teaching:
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Colossians 3:17)
"Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." (2 John 9-11)
"Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other." (1 Corinthians 4:6)
"For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18, 19)
"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11)
The same thing is wrong with the religious observance of Christmas as is wrong with sprinkling for baptism, infant baptism, using mechanical instruments of music in worship, observing the Lord's Supper on Thursday, etc.-there is no Bible authority for the practice. In the absence of Divine authority for the practice, one cannot walk by faith and observe Christmas religiously.
No man has a right to dictate to brethren what to preach on the Sunday before Christmas or any other time. No man has the right to demand that brethren publish articles in their local church bulletins on the subject. However, to have a generation grow up among us not knowing what is wrong with the religious observance of Christmas, Easter, and other unauthorized holy days would be tragic. How long has it been since you heard any teaching on the subject? {Guardian of Truth XXXIX, pg2, December 21, 1995)
Brother Willis's article is now almost 15 years old. In the religious world, and among many congregations of the Lord's church, the religious celebration of Christmas remains widespread. These celebrations involve religious plays, skits, holiday dinners, midnight services, children's programs depicting the birth of Jesus, bringing in choirs to sing Christmas carols during worship services, and delivering toys (paid for by the church) to needy children in hospitals and orphanages. Many churches have special candlelight services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. All of this, we are told, is part of the effort to put Christ back into Christmas. Frankly, I don't think Christ was ever in Christmas! In our country, it's the number-one time for retailers to sell their products to hungry shoppers.
How can we honor the Lord who died for us by observing a religious holiday He hasn't requested or commanded? Do you really believe that Christ receives glory, honor, and majesty when we have Christmas programs during the month of December? It's true that much of what is related can be found in the Bible. For example, He was born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, laid in a manger, and wrapped in swaddling clothes; a star did guide the wise men; there were shepherds in the field; the angels did announce His birth. But, we have no Biblical authority for observing these special events on what is known as a holy day. For that reason, we DON'T celebrate it as a holy day! (KMG)