There's a good reason why this time of year is considered the happiest of all: it's a time of celebration! Families gather around to exchange gifts, people go the extra mile to extend goodwill to one another, the weather is changing, and for some, it's a time to decorate with bright colors. But even though "It's the most wonderful time of the year" for many, Christmas has also become a season of sin for those who unknowingly violate God's will.

Celebrating The Birth Of Christ

Most fail to realize that God has said nothing about remembering the day Jesus was born. He never authorized it as a day of worship, nor has He called His people to emphasize it as a spiritual day. He hasn't even revealed what day Jesus was born! This should be a concern for all who strive to live by the word of God, neither adding to nor taking away from it (Rev. 22:18,19; 1 Cor. 4:6). If God wanted us to celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ, He would have regulated how and when to practice it, as He did the Lord's supper. He has told us to remember Jesus' death and resurrection on the first of every week through the fruit of the vine and unleavened bread (1 Cor. 11:23-30; Ac. 20:7). But since He has not done this with the Lord's birth, we add to the will of God by making it a religious event, which, of course, is sinful (Gal. 4:10,11).

"What could be wrong in remembering the blessings of Jesus' birth?" Nothing, as long as it doesn't add to God's pattern for worship. There was nothing wrong with the Jews washing their hands before they ate, but when they made it an act of worship they added to God's law of worship (Mk. 7:1-13). There was nothing wrong with practicing circumcision for medical or social reasons, but once the Jewish Christians made it an act of worship and salvation, they sinned (Gal. 5:2-4). We must worship God in His ways, according to what He has revealed (Jn. 4:24; Mt. 15:8,9).

It is helpful to remember that the celebration of Christ's birth originated with the traditions and beliefs of men, not God. The following quote is sufficient proof:

The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of New Testament origin. The day of Christ's birth cannot be ascertained from the New Testament, or, indeed, from any other source. The fathers of the first three centuries do not speak of any special observance of the nativity...It was not till the 6th century that the whole Christian world concurred in celebrating the nativity on the same day (Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature by McClintock & Strong).

Improper Judging

While it is possible for the world to use Christmas as a time to remember Christ's birth, many people (if not most) use it as a social event to remember one another. There are people who celebrate Christmas without attaching any religious significance to it whatsoever, as among Jews and atheists. These groups profess no allegiance to Jesus of Nazareth, yet many of them still pass out presents and decorate their trees during the holidays. To say there is not a social side to this and other religious holidays (i.e., Easter) is incorrect.

"How can you allow one and not the other?" some might ask. I would say the same way some Christians could eat meat sacrificed to idols without worshipping pagan gods (1 Cor. 8; 10:25-28). Some Christians didn't have a problem with it, while others did. The solution? Do whatever their conscience allowed without binding their views on one another or without pressuring each other to violate their own conscience (8:9-13).

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