December 12, 1999 Humble Messenger
"Christmas...The holiday kept by Christians on December
25 to mark the birth of Jesus - For centuries, the holiday has combined secular and
religious traditions. The religious traditions include Nativity stories,
carols, midnight services on Christmas Eve, and decorating a crêche or Nativity scene.
The secular traditions include Santa Claus, giving gifts, feasting, and children's
stories, songs, and poems like 'The Night Before Christmas.'" Dictionary of
Cultural Literacy. (italics mine, srf)
Enjoying fireworks displays on July 4th in celebration of our country's independence is a secular
tradition many of us enjoy. Likewise, some of the secular traditions
associated with Christmas have come to be anticipated and enjoyed family traditions. No
problem with enjoying the secular traditions of either July 4th or the Christmas season as
long as these traditions are within the confines of God's moral code.
But, besides secular traditions, the Christmas season also brings with it several
religious traditions. Where did these originate? "The idea to celebrate the
Nativity on December 25 was first suggested early in the fourth century, the clever
conceit of church fathers wishing to eclipse the December 25 festivities of a rival
religion...Mithraism... On December 25, pagan Romans...celebrated Natalis Solis Invicti,
'Birthday of the Invincible Sun God,' Mithras...By A.D. 274, Mithraism was so popular with
the masses that Emperor Aurelian proclaimed it the official state religion...Thus, to
offer converts an occasion in which to be pridefully celebratory, the Church officially
recognized Christ's birth. And to offer head-on competition to the sun-worshippers' feast,
the Church located the Nativity on December 25. The mode of observance would be
characteristically prayerful: a mass; in fact, Christ's Mass." Charles Panati, Panati's
Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things (Harper & Row, 1989) pp. 67-68. Even The
New Catholic Encyclopedia, Vatican Edition, says of Christmas, "In the earliest
days of the Church there was no such feast...The Latin Church began c. 300 to
observe it on 25 Dec., though there is no certainty that Our Lord was born on that
day."
Jesus gave but two choices for the origin of religious practices: "The baptism of
John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?" (Mt. 21:25, NKJV). Clearly,
Christmas religious traditions are not "from heaven," but "from
men." When people rely on doctrines and "precepts of men" for their religious
traditions of worship, Jesus said it is "vain" (Mt. 15:1-9).
These practices, like ascetic gnosticism, may have "to be sure, the appearance
of wisdom in self-made religion" (Col. 2:23). But that's what it is, self-made
religion! Since "Christians" are those who are "holding fast to the
head" (Col. 2:19), and believe they are "complete" in Him, his rule,
and his covenant (Col. 1:28; 2:10; 3:17), they reject any religious traditions
He has not authorized.
Christmas traditions,some innocent and enjoyable; some to be avoided.
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real
knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in
order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ." Phil. 1:9-10. srf
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Dates for our next gospel meeting have been set: