HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED? IS CHRISTMAS FOR CHRISTIANS? ~ ??????

[Bible Speaks]

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED? 
IS CHRISTMAS FOR CHRISTIANS? ~ 

??????

If you want to know the truth about Christmas, you need to read this. 
 Around the world, nearly two billion people celebrate Christmas each December 25, while at least 200 million others celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ on January 7

SHOULD A CHRISTIAN CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS? 

Christmas is not a bible teaching and true Christians are not to celebrate it.. To prove that let us examine some questions about Christmas.. 

(1)WAS JESUS BORN ON DECEMBER 25TH? 
ANSWER -NO

The bible does not give a specific date that Jesus was born, but it gave us an insight or a clue that shows  Jesus was not born in December or January.  It simply states: “There were also in that same country shepherds living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks. And suddenly Jehovah’s angel stood by them, and . . . the angel said to them: ‘. . . There was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”—Luke 2:8-11.

Facts point to Jesus’ birth at approximately the beginning of October when shepherds with their flocks would still spend the night in the fields. The countryside around Bethlehem experiences the coldest weather during the months of December and January. Hence, to keep them warm at night, flocks are kept indoors  into protective shelters.

(2)SINCE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE  THAT THE BIRTH  OF JESUS CHRIST OCCURRED ON  DECEMBER  25, WHY IS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATED ON THIS DATE?
ANSWER- The Encyclopædia Britannica says that church leaders  chose it “to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun,’” at the time of the winter solstice. According to The Encyclopedia Americana, many scholars believe that this was done “in order to make Christianity more meaningful to pagan converts.”In summary ,  Christmas has a pagan origin

(3)DID THE EARLY CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS? 
ANSWER-NO. 

There is no historical evidence that the early Christians celebrated the birth of the Christ. But they did memorialize his death. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) It was not until more than 300 years after Jesus’ birth that Christendom officially began to observe Christmas on December 25. Interestingly, in the mid-17th century, an act of parliament banned Christmas celebrations in England. In the United States, the Massachusetts General Court did the same. Why? The book The Battle for Christmas, says: “There is no biblical or historical reason to place the birth of Jesus on December 25.” It adds that to the Puritans, “Christmas was nothing but a pagan festival covered with a Christian veneer.”

(4)IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN SANTA CLAUS AND JESUS CHRIST BIRTH? 
ANSWERS-NO

The Santa Claus myth owes its origin to Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Asia Minor, now Turkey. “Virtually everything written about St. Nicholas is based on legends,” says The Christmas Encyclopedia. The designation “Santa Claus”  owe its origin to the word Sinterklaas, a corruption of the Dutch terms for “Saint Nicholas.” Historically and Biblically, Santa Claus has nothing in common with Jesus Christ.

(4)DID JESUS INSTRUCT US TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH? 
ANSWER-NO

There is no record in the bible that shows Jesus Christ instructing us to celebrate his birth.His father did not celebrate his birthday neither  did his disciples celebrate it. Infact,the only event Jesus specifically instructed his followers to commemorate was his death, not his birth, and this was to be done as a simple communion meal. (Luke 22:19, 20) Note, too, that the Gospels of Mark and John are silent about Jesus’ birth.

(6)AFTER KNOWING THAT CHRISTMAS IS NOT FOR CHRISTIANS, DOES IT STILL MATTER IF I CELEBRATE IT? 
ANSWER-YES

At John 15:14 Jesus said :"You are my friends if you do what I command". Doing what Jesus specifically commanded us to do will show our obedience to God's rulership and will bring blessings to us now and in the future.(Luke 11:28)

(5)CAN WE STILL HONOUR JESUS CHRIST IF WE DO NOT CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY? 
ANSWER-YES

HOW TO HONOUR  CHRIST
Some feel that regardless of what the actual date is, Christians should still commemorate Jesus’ birth. In their minds such a celebration, when observed in a dignified manner, is an appropriate way to honor Christ.This thinking is however  flawed. 

The birth of Jesus is indeed an important event in the Bible account. The Bible says that when Jesus was born, a multitude of angels appeared suddenly and erupted in joyful praise to God, saying: “Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of goodwill.” (Luke 2:13, 14)

However, it is noteworthy that nowhere in the Bible is there even a suggestion that JesusÂ’ birthday should be celebrated. In contrast, there is a specific command to commemorate his death, which JehovahÂ’s Witnesses do once a year. (Luke 22:19) That is one way to honor Jesus.

On the last night of his human life, Jesus said: “You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you.” (John 15:14) He also said: “If you love me, you will observe my commandments.” (John 14:15) Clearly, there is no better way to honor Jesus Christ than to learn and follow his teachings.

PLEASE NOTE
Although Jehovah witnesses choose not to celebrate Christmas,  we respect each person’s right to decide for himself in this matter. We do not interfere in the Christmas celebrations of others.

Please visit jw.org for more information

[Ann O'Maly]

For the sake of balance, here is a more scholarly examination of the festival's roots:

JETS 58/2 (2015) 299–324

Quote

 

THE ORIGINS OF CHRISTMAS AND THE DATE OF CHRIST’S BIRTH - Kurt M. Simmons

The origins of Christmas and the date of Christ’s birth are separate but related questions. However, Christmas is usually assumed to have no connection with the actual date of Christ’s birth. Discussions regarding the origins of Christmas typically omit reference to the birth of Christ, unless it is to affirm it is unlikely he was born December 25th. This is unfortunate because it has skewed discussion and taken it in directions which tend to impugn the legitimacy of Christmas itself. However, chronological evidence strongly favors December 25th being the actual date of the nativity, such that the assumption that Christmas is unconnected with the date of Christ’s birth is no longer academically defensible or sound. ...

 

Read the whole article HERE.