A Christian’s Perspective on Christmas

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Topic # 1818

Introduction:

A.     Mt. 1:18-25 – birth of Jesus.

B.     Lk. 2:1-40 – detail of 1st 8 days of Jesus’ life.

1.      v. 40 – the bridge between 8 days old & 12 years.

2.      2:41-52 – a glimpse of his life at age 12.

3.      v. 52 – a bridge between 12 years & 30.

4.      Mark & John do not record Jesus’ birth.

5.      Matthew & Luke give us simple facts on His birth & events surrounding it.

C.    We are fully into the seasonal observance of Christmas.

1.      Stores full of shoppers; kids anxiously counting days till they open presents.

2.      Excited to see family during this time of year.

3.      Many religious people are busy preparing Christmas programs and special religious services.

D.    It is usually this time of year that we need to be reminded about the need to have proper perspective on the celebration of Christmas.

E.     What are some things we need to remember as we reach the peak of this year’s Christmas season?

 

I.  An interesting fact:

A.     Bible mentions only two birthday celebrations.

1.      Gen. 40:20 – Pharaoh.

2.      Mt. 14:6 – Herod – celebrated his special day by beheading John the Baptist. Influenced by Herodias’ daughter’s illicit dancing.

B.     There is no record in gospels, or rest of NT about FC Christians having birthday celebrations for Jesus.

 

II. Men have always had a knack for creating holidays – then flavoring them with religion.

A.     Hanukkah started on 12/08/04.  Hanukkah also known as “festival of lights.” First celebrated in 165 BC.

1.      Palestine was in a vacuum after death of Alexander the Great.

a)     His political heirs were the Syrians and Egyptians. Judeans were divided into two strong political factions, both of which were hated by orthodox Jews.

b)     The Syrians eventually dominated and completely corrupted the priesthood & temple worship, which infuriated the Orthodox Jews even more.

c)      One day, a Syrian and a turncoat Jews came to the city of Modein to sacrifice on the royal altar.

2.      The men were killed and locals were whipped into a religious/political frenzy which led to what became known as the Maccabean revolt.

3.      This revolt led to the Syrians reinstating the Law of Moses. 

4.      One prominent Jew marched into Jerusalem and initiated a solemn cleansing of the temple.  The commemoration of this event became known as Hanukkah & lasts 8 days.

B.     Nothing new. Jews had done it before.

1.      Jerusalem destroyed by Babylonians in 597 BC.

2.      Jewish captives began observing a special feast in 5th & 7th months to remember/commemorate the event.

3.      70 years later – Jews returned to build the temple.

a)     Zech 7:3-6.

b)     7:3 – their question; 7:5-6 – God’s answer.

c)      God asking: did you really fast for me?

d)     God is asking: why are you asking me? Those fasts weren’t designed for me anyway.

4.      Jewish exiles had begun those as special observances as occasions to wallow in self pity for a national calamity.

5.      Nothing wrong with a national observance – but why turn it into a religious event?

C.    Now move to Christmas.

1.      Nothing wrong with a national holiday.

2.      Nothing wrong with gift giving; family togetherness.

3.      But..Why turn it into a religious sideshow?

4.      Remember God’s word through Zechariah?

a)     When people celebrate the birth of Jesus…is it really for God?

b)     When people use His birth as an occasion for partying…do they not party…for themselves?

 

III. A Brief History…

A.     Christmas begun by RCC in an effort to pacify Roman converts.

1.      For centuries, Romans celebrated Saturnalia – a festival each December in recognition of the winter solstice.

a)     Dec 25 was purported to be the birthday of the Roman sun god – Mithra, as well as a # of other gods.

2.      It is a documented fact as to why this pagan feast was Christianized:

a)     to discontinued the practice of honoring the Roman gods

b)     To give Catholic Church control of it.

3.      It was designed for the benefit of the people…not God.

B.     Christ cannot but put into Christmas….He never was in it to begin with.

1.      Collier’s encyclopedia: the celebration of Christmas “can scarcely date from the 3rd century for the early Christians did not keep birthdays.”

C.    Christmas is the composition of 2 words – “Christ” and “Mass.”

1.      While “Christ” is found in the bible…

2.      Word “mass” or the idea of “mass” are NOT biblical.

a)     Catholic Church is the sole authority for having a “mass” attached to it.

b)     When Catholics celebrate mass – they believe that Jesus goes through the ordeal of crucifixion, in an unbloody manner, every time they celebrate their mass…

c)      Heb 6:6…anyone?

D.    Many Christmas customs come from all kinds of cultures.

1.      Santa Claus from “Saint Niklaus”

a)     He was a Catholic Bishop from 4th century.

b)     Became “patron” saint of children who adopted Him as their “gift bringer.”

2.      In many respects…he is presented as all-knowing as God.

a)     It is claimed that boys/girls all over still pray to him.

b)     They believe he answers their prayers w/thousands of miracles/gifts.

3.      The manger scene – was first introduced by Catholics in 1224.

E.     Christmas is not the birthday of Jesus, and the religious observance is not biblical.

1.      Only day of celebration relating to Jesus is the Lord’s Supper.

2.      Acts 2:1-47 – Church founded on the first day of the week.

3.      On that day – disciples broke bread & observed the LS as a celebration of His victory over the grave.

4.      No other day is ever so elevated.

 

IV. Some very important considerations:

A.     Holidays need no religious overtone to justify their existence.

1.      We observe 7/4; 11/11; Memorial Day; Groundhog Day w/only incidental thought to religion.

2.      Want a holiday? We declare one. (ML King; Native American Day, etc.)

3.      USA has no organized state religion. Christians is a legal, secular holiday – despite the facts of its origin.

4.      Christians should feel no compunction in observing Christmas in a completely secular context – just like any other holiday.

B.     Christians must be careful to distinguish between secular and spiritual.

1.      Was Israel wrong to keep a national holiday to remember Jerusalem’s destruction?  Establish Hanukkah?

2.      Problem, however, when a commemoration instituted by men is allowed to take on a religious connotation & deemed a religious requirement.

3.      If I give presents, decorate a tree, send out season’s greetings, it does not automatically mean I’m celebrating the holiday religiously. (Wrong to stereotype..)

a)     Traditions of the time…just like fireworks on 07/04 or turkey on T’giving.

C.    Individual Christians have the liberty to set aside time to commemorate Jesus’ birth if they choose – just as individuals have right to dedicate themselves to prayer & fasting.

1.      But..It can’t be bound on other saints & it is certainly not a work of the church.

a)     As a work of the church, scripture is silent.

b)     If God has wanted the church universal to make a “holy day” some info would have been forthcoming.

c)      There is absolute silence on the church universal celebrating Christ’s birth – so we ought to be silent.

2.      But if individuals choose to select a day to read accounts of Jesus’ birth, sing songs about it, and offer prayers of thanksgiving…so be it.

3.      But remember…what God said to Jews of Zechariah’s day:

a)     You are doing it for yourself.

b)     It would be for your own edification & not considered any different from any other bible study people conduct.

 

Conclusion:

A.     Many struggle w/how to handle Christmas.

B.     Why not observe it for what it is – a national holiday that is fun for friends & family?

C.    I N V I T A T I O N