Setting Aside a Special Day to Remember Christ’s Birth.

Sad to say, every year around Christmas time (and Easter) it seems to be a time when a number of Christians break fellowship with one another over these issues, which ought not to be.  And to add to this, much misunderstanding, confusion, and hurt feelings often result when trying to explain to a family member, or even a Christian, that what they are doing dishonors God and is an abomination to Him.  There are many, if they celebrate Christmas, are accused of following the way of the heathens for Christmas is said to be a pagan holiday. 

All Christians know, I hope, that Christ had nothing to do with “christmas trees,” “decorations” or Santa Claus.  As for the christmas tree, people quote from Jer. 10:2 where it says, “Thus says the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen,” thus they say we should not celebrate Christmas.  And if one continues to read in the same chapter, they will say, “There! It is talking about the Christmas tree!”

Something known as a christmas tree did not exist in the time of Jeremiah. No one was worshiping a christmas tree, but yet many have been convinced this passage has to do with christmas trees and are now “convicted” not to have a tree in their home. 

Most people quote proof texts out of context. 

If one examines the context, it has to do with cutting down trees and carving them into idols, decking them with silver and gold and worshiping them. (See parallel places where this behavior is strongly ridiculed (Isa. 40:19 and Isa 44:9, etc.)

There are many holidays throughout the year that people observe.  The word “holiday,” was originally an abbreviation for the phrase “holy day.”  When I went to Scotland, my friend referred to my vacation as a “holiday.”  But originally a holiday, or rather holy day, was a day of the week set aside that has special religious significance.

When it comes to the Christmas holiday, or as many consider it a holy day, many Christians honor it as remembering the birth of Christ, and are not thinking of some pagan holiday that has to do with winter solstice and everything else we read that people want to draw our attention to, just as Easter is in reference to the resurrection of Jesus, which some Christians refer to as “Resurrection Day,” are not thinking about any pagan fertility rites, eggs, bunnies, or chocolate candy.

When it comes to the date of Christ’s birth, no one really knows.  Some have pinned it around September which would seem to be more accurate.  So if we set aside a special day in September to reflect on Christ’s birth, would it still be a sin? 

God doesn't tell us it is inherently wrong to set aside a special day of worship, and because there may be those who decide with tradition of keeping this special day on December 25^th  to remember the birth of Christ, scripture does not tell me this is wrong.  My motive is not to worship a tree or worship idols or getting caught up in the mass marketing and merchandising that is sadly associated with this time of year.  It would be wrong to accuse a believer, whose motive is pure, to say they are caught up in pagan religious practices.  For that matter, in our society today, there are many pagan practices.   The names of the days of the week have pagan meanings behind them which come from pagan idol worship.  They are:

Sunday: “sone day” meaning “day of the sun,” after sun worship.
Monday: “day of the moon,” honoring moon worship.
Tuesday: “Tiu’s day,” after the Germanic god of war.
Wednesday: “Woden’s day,” honoring Woden, the chief Anglo-Saxon god.
Thursday: “Thors day,” honoring the Norse god of thunder.
Friday: “Freya’s day,” honoring the Teutonic goddess of love, beauty and fecundity.
Saturday: “Saturns day,” in honor of Saturn the god who ruled the universe until dethroned by Zeus.

If there are those who don’t want to be associated with anything pagan, or "Learn not the way of the heathen," why not start a campaign to change the names of the days of the week because of its pagan origin? If that doesn't work, should we command and bind a law upon the Christian to refuse naming the days of the week?  Or consider the fact that many may like Chinese food and walk into a Chinese restaurant that has many pagan symbols and decorations.  Should we bind a law not to walk into a Chinese restaurant?

What most Christians miss is that the way modern church is conducted today, it too has its origins in paganism (steeples, pulpits, choirs, and even the “one man” pastor over a local church - 3 John 1:9-11; see also Luke 22:24-27).  What about wedding rings?  Do you wear one?  As with the word Christimas, where in scripture can you find any reference about a wedding ring and being a requirement?  The wedding ring has its roots in paganism.  It is said that there are magical properties of the ring. (Ever heard of “Lord of the Rings”?)  The wedding ring finger equals superstition of vein in that finger leading to the heart and would protect a person from evil spirits.  A bride carrying flowers equals bride carrying herbs to ward off evil spirits. Bridesmaids as well have its roots in pagan practice. In ancient times the bride had her attendants dress like her at her wedding to confuse the vengeful evil spirits and keep them from smiting her with bad luck. Throwing rice was for good luck.  The wedding veil is said to conceal the bride from demons.  Do you own wind chimes? Wind chimes were used to protect from evil spirits.  Celebrating birthdays? Birthday cakes were made as early as the times of the Artemis worshiping Greeks who shaped rounded cakes in honor of the moon goddess.

My point is, there are many things we participate in that have its roots in paganism. If we are going to choose one custom, then we must pick them all. Almost everything has its roots in paganism, but we know believers who have wind chimes don’t have them in their home to protect them from evil spirits or wear wedding rings to do the same.  This is not to mention that Christians who celebrate Christmas are not worshiping some idol, nor is one who celebrates someone's birthday giving honor to the mood goddess etc., etc..

All one has to do is look around and see that this world is greatly influenced because of paganism.  We know that the whole “world lies under the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19) yet, in the midst of it all, we can still bring glory and honor to God our Father and His Son.

Someone asked,

"I have asked for evidence in the Bible for the early church or Jesus or the apostles celebrating this Dec. 'birthday'.  It seems like it is so important to many people and only a few who do not see an urgency to stake so much on a religious holiday. If it's that important to do, where are God's instructions for us to follow?"

Answer? No, there is no record. Nor is they any record of conducting a funeral service as we have it today. There is no record concerning wedding anniversaries, and nothing about bridal or baby showers. There is no actual Church service that shows use of musical instruments, nothing about offering plates, or song books. There is no record of choirs, no prison ministries for sinners. There were no church buildings owned by Christians, no baptismal tanks for immersion of converts - that was done in streams, rivers, or natural ponds. We could go on and on and list the things not found in the practice of the apostles and use the absence of these to place bondage upon believers.

But we must have scripture for the sin or evil that is in a thing. What about remembering the birth of Jesus, is there evil in this event?

The Bible doesn't say anything against celebrating birthdays.
It does not say it is pagan to celebrate birthdays.
It does not say one will eternally perish for celebrating birthdays.

But most of all, in scripture people did count their birthdays otherwise they would have never known how old they were!

If God does not specifically condemn something, then we have no authority to create a law and bind it upon others.

I keep in mind Romans chapter 14 where it concerns a believer’s liberty in Christ.  A believer is at liberty to decide what days, if any, to set aside and “esteem to the Lord.”

“One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.” Romans 14:5-6 

In another passage we read,

 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  1Cor.10:31 

We can consider any day as special, but we also know it should be for the right reason and not with a wrong motive of the heart.   If someone wants to set aside a time to remember the birth of Christ, he or she has the liberty to do so and can decide to go along with December 25^th  as that day, or as some do on January 6^th.

Now, having said all this, the Christmas season is a great opportunity to tell the real story about Christ’s birth.

The Incarnation?

This may be the furthest point people will read because what the scriptures reveal to us is vital.  Our understanding and relationship with God and His Son is central in gaining salvation in the age to come.  In fact, scripture tells us that our very eternal life depends on us knowing who God is and who Jesus is.  Jesus said in prayer to his Father,

“And this is everlasting life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”  John 17: 3

About three to four hundred years after Christ was born, a three-in-one monster was developed.  It is known as the “Trinity.” This teaching brought with it another false teaching theologians call the “Incarnation.”   This teaching tells us that God had to become a man in order to understand us and die for us and a way for us to get to know Him.  Let me give you a few quotes:

“The entire reason for Christmas is the love of God. God loves you so much that he came to earth as a human so you could get to know him and learn to trust him and love him back. Theologians call this the Incarnation. God became one of us, a human being, so we could understand what he is really like.”  'The Purpose of Christmas' An excerpt on "A Time for Celebration." Rick Warren, Christianity Today posted 12/19/2008

“The essence of the Christmas story is not that Mary conceived as a virgin. Nor is the Christmas story a sentimental ode to motherhood. The essence of Christmas is that God’s Son came into the world in human form and dwelt among us. It is the “fact” of the incarnation that is the key to Christmas, not the “how” by which this was brought about…" (Jesus the Messiah: A Survey of the Life of Christ, Robert H. Stein, p. 79).

Even Edward Fudge, who did a fabulous and immense study at dissecting the issue of hell and eternal torment, cannot himself get past the unbiblical teaching of the trinity.  He states:

WHEN GOD BECAME MAN
The greater miracle, it has been said, is not the virgin birth of Jesus but the fact that in that wondrous conception the eternal God took on human nature and the Creator condescended to join his creation. Mary's son is none other than Immanuel -- "God with us" (Matt. 1:23). Like the Magi, we fall down and worship him. The Christmas carol has it right: "Hail, the incarnate deity!" He who existed in the form of God emptied himself and was made in the likeness of men (Phil. 2:6-7). It is part of the mystery of godliness that in Jesus of Nazareth God was "revealed in the flesh" (1 Tim. 3:16). He who was greater than any angel became one of us, and in so doing became for a little while lower than angels (Heb. 2:9). As marvelous as it is, compared to this truth the virginal conception is merely the mechanics.

In Jesus Christ, all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form (Col. 2:9). Here we see God in his entirety in human terms. "I'm afraid of God," the little child said while being tucked into bed. "Are you afraid of Jesus?" asked the parent. "No," replied the child. "I love Jesus and Jesus loves me." "Whenever you think about God," the parent said, "think about Jesus. Jesus is God -- and God is just like Jesus." Jesus would approve this conversation. "Whoever has seen me," he told his apostles, "has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

We may emphasize both sides of this equation. Unto us a child is born who is God himself; in this son given to us God truly becomes man. But we may say a word more. When God emptied himself to take on human flesh in Christ Jesus, he accomplished an eternal transformation. As man he lived and died. As man he rose from death and ascended into heaven. As man, he lives forever to intercede for us (1 Tim. 2:5). In Jesus, the dust of the earth sits on the throne of the universe. By the grace of God, he experienced our death to bring us to the glory for which we were created but which sin had robbed (Heb. 2:9-10). When he appears, we will be like him (1 John 3:2). When he is revealed, we will be revealed with him in glory (Col. 3:4).”  Edward Fudge

Now this may sound all “nice” and give us the “warm fuzzies,” but is it truth?  

·       “God took on human nature.”

·       “The Christmas carol has it right: ‘Hail, the incarnate deity!’”

·       “think about Jesus.  Jesus is God.”

·       “Unto us a child is born who is God himself.”

This teaching does not come from scripture, but from centuries of trying to conform philosophy into the scriptures.  One thing we do know is that Jesus never said he was God no matter how many times people try to twist his words and offer more proof texts out of context.  Nor does our truth come from cute little stories or Christmas carols.

There is an ancient saying attributed to St. Athanasius (and/or St. Irenaeus, depending on whom you ask) that: "God became man so that we might become God."   Notice that this is also the belief of Mormons.

God incarnate?  God did not come into this world having to wear diapers. Imagine the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe and of mankind, having to suck on the breast of a woman, who created the woman, to sustain His own life, and yet in the end 1/3 of Him was killed anyway?

   

Concerning the doctrine of the “incarnation,” the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church says,

The doctrine, which took classical shape under the influence of the controversies of the 4th-5th centuries, was formally defined at the Council of Chalcedon of 451. It was largely molded by the diversity of tradition in the schools of Antioch and Alexandria…further refinements were added in the later Patristic and Medieval periods.

Why did it take a few centuries for something so important to know? Because it does not have support from scripture.  Many people rely on the “church fathers” for most of their doctrines, most who were steeped in pagan philosophy and incorporated them into the scriptures. They have Christ pre-existing before his birth rather than an understanding of God’s plan and purpose.  That God Himself would live among us in the form of a man echoes pagan mythology.

The Wonderful Beginning of Jesus Who Was Sent to be the Savior of the World

Jesus the Messiah was not known, but was foreknown, not yet actually existing.  Jesus’ actual existence did not begin until God supernaturally created him in the womb of Mary (Luke 1:35).  Jesus the Messiah, was always in the plan of God and appeared at the appropriate time.   It was a biological miracle.  Mary was a descendant of David and God became the Father of a Son at the time of Mary’s conception.  Jesus did not pre-exist as some spirit being, nor was he an angel, nor the brother of Satan, nor the second member of the trinity. 

Jesus did not have his origin outside of Mary, nor was Mary a surrogate mother. Jesus was not some cosmic figure who entered the earth in Mary’s womb from outer space.  Jesus’ beginning (Matt. 1:1: genesis; 1:18: genesis; 1:20: begetting) was in Mary’s womb.  All of us were “begotten,” which means all us humans came into existence in our mother’s womb.  The same is said of Jesus the Messiah.  To be “begotten” means to come into existence.  As Anthony Buzzard has well stated,

You cannot logically preexist yourself.  The self who began in Mary is the true Son of God.  A previously existing Son of God would be a different person and thus a different Jesus.  If Jesus was alive before he began to exist, he did not really begin to exist.  He did not begin to be, if he was already existing before conception and begetting.  Thus a preexistence son actually rules out, cancels the actual Jesus who began “being” in his mother, as all human beings must.  Preexistence is a subtle way of introducing a person other than the historical person whose mother was Mary.  Mary of course conceived a real fetus who had to be, to qualify as Messiah, a blood relative via his mother of King David.  At the same time, Jesus was God’s own Son, since Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus.    

The notion that Jesus was really alive and conscious before his birth in Bethlehem is also a very unjewish idea. Human beings in Hebrew thought do not exist consciously before they are born. The preexistence of souls belongs to the world of Greek philosophy and was held by some church fathers (notably the philosophically- and mystically-minded Origen). But they did not derive this idea from the Bible.

One most important fact we need to know before we try to understand who Jesus was is this:

"When the Jew said something was ‘predestined,’ he thought of it as already ‘existing’ in a higher sphere of life. The world’s history is thus predestined because it is already, in a sense, preexisting and consequently fixed. This typically Jewish conception of predestination may be distinguished from the Greek idea of preexistence by the predominance of the thought of ‘preexistence’ in the Divine purpose." ¹

This type of Jewish thought is illustrated in 1 Peter, “the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.”  Just as the Messiah was foreknown and existed in God’s plan, so was the Church, but none of us existed before we were born.  Again, I would like to quote Anthony Buzzard,

According to Isaiah 44:24 God was unaccompanied at the original creation. Jesus in the Gospels attributes the creation to the Father (Mark 10:6; Matt. 6:30; Luke 12:28) and has no memory of being the agent in the Genesis creation. If Jesus had really been the creator of the Genesis heaven and earth, why does he have no memory of this? Why does he expressly say that God was the creator? The answer is that Jesus worked within the Jewish and biblical framework of the scriptural heritage he had received and which he "came not to destroy."

The spirit of God is available to believers. As they learn to think as God does, they will share the concept that "God speaks of things which do not exist as though they did" (Rom. 4:17). It is a mistake to confuse "existence" in the Plan of God with actual preexistence, thus creating a non-fully human Jesus. The Christ of biblical expectation is a human person, supernaturally conceived. The supreme glory of his achievement for us lies in the fact that he really was a human being. He was tempted. But God cannot be tempted (James 1:13).

The "Rock" Apostle whom Jesus appointed to "feed my sheep" has given us a marvelous lesson in how to understand the meaning of preexistence as foreknowledge and predestination. It was Peter whose recognition of Jesus as the Messiah was greeted by the excited approval of Jesus (Matt. 16:16-18). Peter and John understood that the glory which Jesus already "had" is the same glory believers subsequent to the time of Jesus (and therefore not yet born when Jesus spoke) also "had been given" (John 17:22). This means only that things which are fixed in God’s counsels "exist" in a sense other than actual existence. We must choose whether to understand the language of the New Testament as Americans or Europeans or as sympathetic to Jesus and his Jewish culture. A verse in Revelation speaks of things "being" before they were created. "They were and were created" (Rev. 4:11).  Their creation followed from God’s original Plan to bring them into being.

It is most significant that Paul often speaks of the gospel as having been hidden in the counsels of God from "ages past."   He also says that the Son of God "came into existence" from a woman and from the seed of David (Rom. 1:4; Gal. 4:4). It is unimaginable that Paul could have believed in the preexistence of the Son. It would be untrue to say that the Son came into existence at his birth, if in fact he had always existed. It is far more reasonable to suppose that Paul agreed with Peter that the Messiah was hidden in the divine counsels and then revealed in the fullness of time.  Paul believed that "all things have been created in Jesus" (Col. 1:15). He did not say they had been created "by him."

That intrusion of paganism resulted in some very strange language about Jesus. His "pre-human existence" signals the fact that he is really not a human being. He has existed as an angel before being born. This is close to the idea of "the gods coming down in the likeness of men." Such a Jesus sounds like a pagan savior figure. There were many such cosmic saviors in the Graeco-Roman world. But there was only one Messiah, whose identity was given long in advance of his birth. He was foreknown (1 Pet. 1:20) and would arise from the House of Israel as an Israelite of the tribe of Judah (Deut. 18:15-18; Acts 3:22; 7:37). That important text in Deuteronomy actually states that the promised agent of God would not be the Lord God, but His spokesman (Deut. 18:16, 17).

So as Christmas time approaches let us reflect, not as the world and most denominations do - thinking of a pre-existent God and incarnation, but reflect on the TRUE story surrounding the miracle of Christ’s conception and birth.

Birth of Jesus Foretold

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man who name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

“Greetings, highly favored one,” the angel said as he approached her.  The Lord is with you!”

But she was considerably disturbed by his words and wondered what this greeting could mean.  So the angel said to her, “Stop being afraid, Mary.  You have found favour with God!  Take note: you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be great, and will called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.  He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his Kingdom will never end.

“How will this be,” Mary said to the angel.  “I have not had sexual relations with a man?”

Holy spirit will come upon you,” the angel replied, “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  For this reason the child being brought into existence will be holy, he will be called the Son of God.  (Luke 1:26-36 KOG)
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For further study about the teaching of incarnation, here is an audio by Steve Katsaras:
click here

In the mean time I leave you with this video:




1. 6 E.C. Dewick, Primitive Christian Eschatology, The Hulsean Prize Essay for 1908, Cambridge University Press, 1912, pp. 253, 254.