Christmas question?

Question

Christmas what biblical evidence supports it SHOULD be celebrated in the name of Jesus Christ? Jesus only commanded his followers to observe the memorial of his sacrifice.

Cookie777, the wise men were sent by Herod to tell him of Jesus whereabouts to have him killed. The star of Bethlehem was made by Satan to guide the wise men to Jesus's location. Jesus was not even a baby then but a toddler. God in the dream that they should not report back to Herod. The wise men were called wise men because they scattered away heading God's threat.

That is why Herold wanted all children to be killed two years of age and under because that would of been Jesus's age.

School nativity plays do not tell the true events.

Read Matthew 2:1-23 for the biblical recorded event

TJGOLDSTEIN, you are honest with yourself.

Answer 1

To answer your question thoroughly; we have to go back when Christmas started.
How did Christmas get started?
{-DEUT.4:19,28-31; 11:26-28; 17:3 & JER.10 & GAL.4:8-10.}

CENTURIES BEFORE CHRIST, THE PAGAN ROMANS CELEBRATED FEBRUARY 15 & THE EVENING OF FEBRUARY 14 AS AN IDOLATROUS & SENSUOUS FESTIVAL IN HONOR OF LUPERCUS, THE "HUNTER OF WOLVES". THE ROMANS CALLED THE FESTIVAL "LUPERCALIA"; CUSTOM OF EXCHANGING VALENTINES & OTHER TRADITIONS TO HONOR LUPERCUS, THE "HUNTER OF WOLVES". THE ROMANS CALLED THE FESTIVAL "LUPERCALIA"; CUSTOM OF EXCHANGING VALENTINES AND OTHER TRADITIONS IN HONOR OF LUPERCUS (THE DEIFIED HERO-HUNTER OF ROME). IT WAS ALSO BONDED ANCIENTLY WITH THE PAGAN PRACTICE OF TEENAGERS "GOING STEADY" THAT USUALLY LED TO FORNICATION. TODAY, "GOING STEADY" IS A REBIRTH OF AN OLD CUSTOM THAT CAME FROM THE TOMAN FESTIVAL LUPERCALIA THAT WAS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY BY DRAWING YOUNG WOMEN'S NAMES OUT OF A BOX BY MEN AS CHANCE DIRECTED.-- ENCYCLOPEDIA AMERICANA, ARTICLE, "ST. VALENTINE'S DAY."

WHEN CONSTANTINE MADE CHRISTIANITY THE OFFICIAL RELIGION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE THERE WAS SOME TALK IN CHURCH CIRCLES OF DISGARDING THIS PAGAN FREE-FOR-ALL. BUT THE ROMAN CITIZENS WOULDN'T HEAR OF IT! SO IT WAS AGREED THAT THE HOLIDAY WOULD CONTINUE AS IT WAS, EXCEPT FOR THE MORE GROSLY SENSUAL OBSERVANCES. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE REIGN OF POPE GELASIUS THAT THE HOLIDAY BECAME A "CHRISTIAN CUSTOM." AS FAR BACK AS 496, POPE GELASIUS CHANGED LUPERCALIA ON FEBRUARY 15 TO ST. VALENTINE'S ON FEBRUARY 14."--("CUSTOMS AND HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD", PG.172 BY LAVINIA DOBLER)(BY HERMAN L. HOEH; THE PLAIN TRUTH;FEBRUARY 1966).

LUPERCUS BORNE THE NAME VALENTINE AMONG THE HEATHEN ROMANS. THE GREEKS CALLED HIM "PAN"; THE SEMITES "BAAL" ACCORDING TO THE CLASSICAL DICTIONARIES". IN THE BIBLE; "BAAL" IS MENTIONED OFTEN; ANOTHER NAME FOR HIM IS CALLED "NIMROD, "THE MIGHTY HUNTER" (GENESIS 10:9). ANOTHER NAME FOR NIMROD WAS "SANCTUS" OR "SANTA", MEANING "SAINT", COMMON TITLE FOR A HERO-GOD. NIMROD KNOWN AS BAAL OR sun god OF ANCIENT PAGANS WAS BORN AT THE WINTER SOLSTICE. IN ANCIENT TIMES THE SOLSTICE OCCURED ON JANUARY 6; THIS WAS HIS BIRTHDAY UNTIL THE SOLSTICE CHANGED & THEN IT WAS CELEBRATED ON DECEMBER 25. "IT WAS THE CUSTOM OF ANTIQUITY FOR THE MOTHER OF A MALE CHILD TO PRESENT HERSELF FOR PURIFICATION ON THE 14TH DAY AFTER THE DAY OF BIRTH. THE 14TH DAY AFTER JAN.6--NIMROD'S ORIGINAL BIRTHDATE---TAKES US TO FEB.15, THE CELEBRATION OF WHICH BEGAN ON THE EVENING OF FEB.14--THE LUPERCALIA OR ST. VALENTINE'S DAY." --(HERMAN L. HOEH) NIMROD'S OTHER NAME WAS "CUPID" WHICH MEANS "DESIRE"---ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA", ART., "CUPID".
http://family.webshots.com/photo/1272715597049373547QOChzt
http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/valentin.html
http://home.sprynet.com/~pabco/stvalen.htm
http://home.swbell.net/kelkay/valentines
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Christmas isn't Jesus's birthdate; it was the birthday of the sun god. Scripture doesn't mention Jesus's birthdate or any christians celebrating His Birthday. The only birthday mentioned besides Pharoah is the heathen king Herod. "Christmas" means "mass of Christ"; the celebration coexisted in Rome before there was any in Jerusalem. The early Roman Church however did establish a pagan festival that (Jer.10) coexisted with Jesus's Birth and that was the birthday of the sun god. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th ed., article: "Christmas"). The Catholic sources admit that Christmas didn't co-exist with the earliest festivals. Jesus wasn't born Christmas; even scripture makes this evident. "On the night of Jesus's birth, the shepherd's were still keeping watch over their flocks." (Luke 2:8). The rainy season in Ancient Israel began after the Feast of Tabernacles which generally is early October. In November, it would be cool and wet; the flocks from the pasture had already been brought and kept in winter quarters by the shepherds. This tells us the shepherds were no longer in the fields at night. Another peice of evidence is overlooked is in Luke 1:35-36; it tells us John the Baptist was born to Mary's cousin Elizabeth six months before Jesus. And as we look further in verse 5-17, we see Zacharias an elderly priest burning incense on the altar and then an angel appearing to him and telling him that he and his wife would have a son to prepare Christ's Way. We know however when this announcement was made by the angel because of Zacharias was "of the course of Abijah" Please look at 1Chron.24:1-19; it tells us that King David divided these priests into 24 "courses" that served in the temple by rotation. The Course of Abijah would be the 8th of the 24 courses which usually would occur around the end of May. Pentecost came the week after the 8th course served and he had to serve all 24 courses during the three festival seasons. So Zacharias came home approximately after the first week of June; in which John the Baptist was conceived around mid-June and 9 months later would be his birth. John Baptist's birth came around mid-March while Jesus's was around mid-September. Also notice every year people claim 3 wise men seen Jesus in a stable; is this really true? The Bible nowhere states "3 wise men" or "that the wise men visited Jesus in a stable". Read for yourself: (Matt.2:11); these Magi came from the east beyond the Euphrates River which in the 1st century was called the Parthian Empire (the eastern border of the Roman Empire). Several weeks after Jesus's birth, the Maji arrived in Jerusalem, the king's palace searching for Jesus. The "star" in the east led them to take their trip to Judea. After hearing about the timing of the "star's appearance" from the Magi; King Herod ordered the slaughter of all children two years and younger(Matt.2:16). When Jesus was 40 days old: His parents presented him in the temple
(Luke 2:22)(Lev.12:2-4). After the Magi came, the family fled to Egypt. {Jesus six weeks old.}
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When was Jesus's Birth?
http://family.webshots.com/photo/1342393463049373547FazWzQ
http://www.lcg.org/cgi-bin/tw/magazine/tw-mag.cgi?category=Magazine33&item=1104261794
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How does Jesus feel about this?
{-DEUT.4:19,28-31; 11:26-28; 17:3 & JER.10 & GAL.4:8-10.}
http://www.lcg.org/cgi-bin/tw/magazine/tw-mag.cgi?category=Magazine33&item=1104261794
I believe he feels that Christmas is brutish and foolish like Jer.10:8 says.
http://family.webshots.com/photo/1337450888047993148uFUzHy
It makes you go into sin; why do service unto other gods when the Bible says not to have other gods (Exod.20:3)? Isn't there only one God; this is what Jesus says in John 20:17.
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As to his memorial of his sacrifice; yes this{Passover} is commanded to be observed like the other feasts in the Bible.
http://www.lcg.org/cgi-bin/tw/booklets/tw-bk.cgi?category=Booklets1&item=1104358140
http://www.lcg.org/cgi-bin/tw/telecast/tw-telecast.cgi?category=Media1&item=1144911648

{So if you see Sabbath Feasts Calendar;
http://family.webshots.com/photo/1433216609049373547DnZhej
it will explain all of these. Now for example:}
Before the Passover; you have to get the leaven out of your dwelling.
Passover of 2007 is the evening of April 1. What you do is prepare--do blessing of passover--drink wine in a small glass followed by unleavened bread; you also do footwashing; this is all done in your house with believers of family or church members--Also you say sorry for your sins before you partake of the Lord's Supper. 1Cor.11:20-28.

Unleavened Bread--First and last day is Holy, so no work; you do worship that day!
No bread, dust, dirt or corn anywhere til Unleavened Bread has past.

Pentecost--receive God's Spirit. It is a holy day; you do worship that day.

Feast of Trumpets--Worship and Holy Day.

Day of Atonement(Yom Kippur)--a day for fasting and repentance; abstain completely from food and drink; keep holy, do worship--Lev.23:7-8.

Feast of Tabernacles--the first day & 8th day is holy; do worship
Usually you can go to a Motel, seperate dwelling place or tent you can live in during this period. My family do the tent during the feast.

JESUS & THE APOSTLES KEEP THE SABBATH FEAST DAYS.

JOHN 7:2,14 "NOW THE JEWS' FEAST OF TABERNACLES WAS AT HAND. NOW ABOUT THE MIDST OF THE FEAST JESUS WENT UP INTO THE TEMPLE AND TAUGHT."

MARK 14:12 "AND THE FIRST DAY OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, WHEN THEY KILLED THE PASSOVER, HIS DISCIPLES SAID UNTO HIM, WHERE WILT THOU THAT WE GO AND PREPARE THAT THOU MAYEST EAT THE PASSOVER?."

{The Apostles kept the Sabbath Feast Days}
ACTS 2:1 "AND WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME, THEY WERE ALL WITH ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE."

ACTS 20:6 "AND WE SAILED AWAY FROM PHILIPPI AFTER THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, AND CAME UNTO THEM TO TROAS IN FIVE DAYS; WHERE WE ABODE SEVEN DAYS."

ACTS 20:16 "FOR PAUL HAD DETERMINED TO SAIL BY EPHESUS, BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT SPEND THE TIME IN ASIA: FOR HE HASTED, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE FOR HIM, TO BE AT JERUSALEM THE DAY OF PENTECOST."

ROM.5:11 "AND NOT ONLY SO, BUT WE ALSO JOY IN GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED THE ATONEMENT."

1COR.5:6-8 "YOUR GLORIFYING IS NOT GOOD. KNOW YE NOT THAT A LITTLE LEAVEN LEAVENTH THE WHOLE LUMP? PURGE OUT THEREFORE THE OLD LEAVEN,{bread, sin, corn,dust and dirt---(Lev.23:14)leavening agents are yeast, baking soda and baking powder}THAT YE MAY BE A NEW LUMP, AS YE ARE UNLEAVENED. FOR EVEN CHRIST OUR PASSOVER IS SACRIFICED FOR US: THEREFORE LET US KEEP THE FEAST, NOT WITH OLD LEAVEN, NEATHER WITH THE LEAVEN OF MALICE AND WICKEDNESS; BUT WITH THE UNLEAVENED BREAD OF SINCERITY AND TRUTH."

1COR.16:8 "BUT I WILL TARRY AT EPHESUS UNTIL PENTECOST."

1THESS.4:16 "FOR THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD: AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST:..." {feast of trumpets}

{7th Day Sabbath & God's Feasts in both kingdoms of heaven}
ISAIAH 66:22-23 "FOR AS THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH, WHICH I WILL MAKE, SHALL REMAIN BEFORE ME, SAITH THE LORD, SO SHALL YOUR SEED AND YOUR NAME REMAIN.AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT FROM ONE NEW MOON TO ANOTHER, AND FROM ONE SABBATH TO ANOTHER, SHALL ALL FLESH COME TO WORSHIP BEFORE ME, SAITH THE LORD."

ZECHARIAH 14:1,16-19 "BEHOLD, THE DAY OF THE LORD COMETH, AND THY SPOIL SHALL BE DIVIDED IN THE MIDST OF THEE. AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT EVERY ONE THAT IS LEFT OF ALL THE NATIONS WHICH CAME AGAINST JERUSALEM SHALL EVEN GO UP FROM YEAR TO YEAR TO WORSHIP THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS, AND TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. AND IT SHALL BE, THAT WHOSO WILL NOT COME UP OF ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH UNTO JERUSALEM TO WORSHIP THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS, EVEN UPON THEM SHALL BE NO RAIN.
AND IF THE FAMILY OF EGYPT GO NOT UP, AND COME NOT, THAT HAVE NO RAIN; THERE SHALL BE THE PLAGUE, WHEREWITH THE LORD WILL SMITE THE HEATHEN THAT COME NOT UP TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES.
THIS SHALL BE PUNISHMENT OF EGYPT, AND THE PUNISHMENT OF ALL NATIONS THAT COME NOT UP TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES."

Answer 2

This is a very interesting question.

Personally, I don't celebrate Christmas simply because I don't believe in God, Jesus and the need for religion. When asked why I don't celebrate the 'birth of the saviour', I usually reply that it's stupid to throw a party for someone you don't believe existed and is, in my own personal belief, a work of imagination.

I also don't celebrate Easter as again, there is no point if you don't believe?

However, I do use Christmas day to meet up with my family and extended family... we just don't exchange gifts, attend church or sing any 'religious' hymns/songs.... if I'm not working.

Because I don't celebrate Christmas, it makes it very hard at work during the Christmas period... I'm always asked if I'm going to join in with the Kris Kringle gifts... I usually buy a token gift for whomever's name I end up with but refuse to accept one in return... just because I don't believe, it doesn't mean someone else has to miss out. I also volunteer to work both Christmas day and Boxing day... it doesn't bother me... lol... as it's just another normal day!

A lot of people think I'm strange because I don't join in with the Christmas 'spirit'... a few people even get insulted by my attitude which in turn makes me feel insulted. I mean, Muslims and Jews don't celebrate Christmas either and people are usually more than ok with that but because I'm not either religion... there must be something wrong with me for not celebrating a fictional characters supposed birthday?

I've read the other answers to this question and I have to agree with some of them... from what I've learned at school and religious education classes (what actually put me off religion!), Christmas was originally a pagan festival but was melded into the Christian religion so that the pagans would be less reluctant to sign up for the Christian faith.

Also, Christ was not born on Dec. 25th... he was supposedly born in March/April or even later.

Answer 3

There is none. The Bible even states that Christ was not born anywhere near winter. That was a Catholic invention during the Middle Ages as a conversion tactic because the Pagans worshipped Gods who were born near the Winter Solstice (Dec 21-25) and that was the only way to go about things without inciting riots since they would lose followers otherwise.

Answer 4

Hmm, I think it would be a good idea to continue to celebrate His birth because even the Wise Men made an effort to come see Him as soon as they could. If they had lived closer I bet they would have come the very night of His birth. Go by the spirit of the law in this case, even if there is no law or commandment in the Bible that says "Thou shalt celebrate Christmas." Our Christmas celebration is very low-key anymore. After the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, I would like to bet (not money) that Christians will also celebrate that particular day every year as well. I send you a gummy bear.

Answer 5

We don't need biblical evidence to decide which day, or whether to celebrate the birth of Christ.

The authority God gave clearly gave to his church is all that's necessary.

Jesus never told anyone to post questions on the internet either, but here we are.

If the Church designated December 25th as the day we celebrate Jesus' birth, than that's it.

Take it or leave it. God gave you free will.

Answer 6

It doesn't. It's a pagan festival, filled with pagan traditions. If we celebrate, we should celebrate in the Spring..... Won't get into that.
BUT
We are sinners, and I love Christmas. Mainly because everyone in the family is together. That is basically what we celebrate, being together, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Answer 7

It's only celebrated in the name of Jesus because the Catholic Church needed some way to assimilate Yule/the Winter Solstice so they could convert Pagans. It sorta went, "Look, we have that holiday too, so you can convert without giving it up!"

Answer 8

There is none.

We observe Christ's birth during Christmas because we choose to.

I personally believe that He was born closer to mid April.

Answer 9

So don't let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
Colosians 2:16

Answer 10

There is nothing to say that we SHOULD celebrate it. We just celebrate it to remember the birth of Jesus Christ.

Answer 11

You may be right.

But what's wrong with celebrating Jesus' birth? Isn't it a form of worship to have a day where we remember His birth and be thankful to Him for coming to earth?