CHRISTMAS IN THE BIBLE.
We are in that period once again, the period of festivities, the time when people from all walks of life are preparing for the Christmas celebrations.
While we do so, many are the questions that arise during this time, one of the most asked questions is;
“Where is Christmas in the Bible?”
In answering this question, people do use different verses that seem to suite them and favor their argument either for or against Christmas! Let us keep in mind the admonition of Apostle Paul to Timothy;
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
In keeping in mind that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: we must remember that since the scriptures are given by inspiration, they can not be interpreted for any private interpretation. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20).
It is not once I have heard those who don’t celebrate Christmas struggling to prove how it is not good to celebrate it. Some even have gone to the extent of quoting Jeremiah;
“And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,…” Jeremiah 52:31
Then after quoting the verse, they claim that Jehoiachin was released from prison on 25th December and thus the celebration that are done on that day, are done in commemoration of the day Jehoiachin was released from prison and have nothing to do with the birth of Jesus!
Still others quote Luke;
“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.….” Luke 1:26.
They claim that angel Gabriel was sent to Mary on sixth month i.e June and if Mary became pregnant in June and Jesus was supposed to be born like any other baby i.e nine months in pregnancy and thus conclude that by December, Mary’s pregnancy was only six months old!
I do understand the urge that anti Christmas believers have to prove from the Bible that it’s not supposed to be celebrated. But we will be making a serious mistake if we interpret the Scriptures in a cunning way to suit our arguments.
We all know that the twelfth month that is being referred in the book of Jeremiah is not December, as the way the months were named then is quite different from the way we name them now. Thus date twenty fifth of the twelfth month of Jeremiah 52 can not be 25th December!!
As regards the book of Luke, what is being referred here is not the sixth month of the calendar year, but the sixth month of Elisabeth pregnancy!
“And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.” Luke 1:36.
When the angel was sent to Mary, Elisabeth her cousin and wife to Zacharias was six month pregnant. This is as simple as that and thus can not be a pointer for us to comfortably say that Jesus was born somewhere in March!!
Those who celebrate Christmas have been heard time and again saying that it doesn’t matter whether Christ was born on that day or not. That what matters is that He was born!! Have it ever come to your mind that every word that we say here on earth we shall give an account of it on the judgment day? How will you account for 25th December celebrations?
“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecc.12:14.
We should heed to Apostle Paul’s admonition to rightly divide the word of truth, we should never be swayed to the point of using the Scriptures in a way that will favor us but distort the good tidings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
DO IT CORRECTLY!
Now someone is wondering and even ready to ask, “Now how will we convince people that Christmas is not Biblical?” That’s a genuine question as we have the Bible as our basis of all doctrine and nothing but the Bible.
Before even thinking hard on which verse to use to teach someone about Christmas, why can’t you give him/her that priviledge for him/her to give you a verse that supports Christmas?
In the whole Bible, we have no record where Christmas was celebrated! Leave alone Christmas, we have no record where God’s people celebrated their birthdays!! The only people that we have records that they celebrated their birthdays were gentiles, people who did not know God;
“And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.” Gen. 40:20.
“But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.” Mat. 14:6.
“And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee.” Mark 6:21.
Those are the only two occurrences in the whole Bible where we find people celebrating birthdays. Herod’s birthday has been mentioned twice in Matthew and Mark but it is the same day.
From the above mentioned occurrences, which of the two people mentioned feared God? None, both of them were gentiles who never feared God the Almighty! But worshipped idols. Apostle Paul tells us to follow them;
“Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.” 2 Thes. 3:9
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Cor. 11:1.
We should ask ourselves a simple question, if we are following Apostle Paul, did he ever celebrate Christmas? The answer definitely will be NO. Then if Paul never celebrated it, then why are we doing it? In His life in this world did Christ ever celebrated His birthday? The answer is NO, in the lives of other apostles did they ever celebrated Christ’s birthday? The answer is NO.
Then beloved, if we have no Biblical support of this celebration, why do you feel so comfortable to celebrate it and even pull Christ’s name into it? Aren’t you even afraid that it was said that whoever shall add anything to the written word, so shall the wrath of God be added upon him/her?
Martin Makokha.
© December 2011.
For Olivet Research Group Academic Resource BOX 1527-50100 Kakemga, Kenya.
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