Christmas appears to be the most significant holiday to Christians. Is the holiday mandated anywhere in Christian scriptures or in the doctrine of the Church? If so where?
2007-12-14 01:59:25 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
It's nowhere in scripture. As far as if it is mandated by the doctrine of the Church... What Church?
2007-12-14 02:02:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christmas actually started out as a pagan holiday. No, it isn't in Scripture, and I'm not even sure you could call the celebration on December 25th a doctrine of the church. Recognizing and celebrating the birth of Christ - regardless of the calendar day of the year - is mandated by no one. The timing of that celebration (for those who do) is mandated by government.
2007-12-14 02:09:59 · answer #2 · answered by CassandraM 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word "Christmas" does not appear, and neither does a date. Given some historical evidence, Jesus was probably born in the early springtime, but December 25 was decided upon by the early church at the Council of Nicea in about 325 AD to coincide with a pagan festival of the winter solstice so Christians would not per persecuted.
2007-12-14 02:09:55 · answer #3 · answered by jack of all trades 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word CHRISTMAS isnt in the bible, Christmas then isnt what it has turned into today. Christmas is the day Christ was born. You can read about the birth of Christ in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-14 and Luke 2:15-20 and Matthew 2:1-12 Those are all good verses to read durring the Christmas season.. They make good devotionals to share with the family...
Hope that helps....
2007-12-14 02:06:11 · answer #4 · answered by Steph 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually in the Greek Orthodox church the most significant holiday is Easter, but whatever.
I doubt Christmas is mentioned in the scriptures. The Nativity story is mentioned throughout all four Gospels, though. :)
2007-12-14 02:08:23 · answer #5 · answered by Shooting STELLAR Press (MISAWA) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas. Nobody is claiming the good baby Jesus was born on Dec 25th. That's just when we celebrate it. I don't always celebrate my birthday on my birthday. Sometimes I celebrate the weekend before. So what? Its all about honoring the day of his birth, no matter when its done. The first Christmas card was printed in 1875, and I guess we've kept tradition for over 100 years.
2007-12-14 02:15:24 · answer #6 · answered by Katie G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no where in the Bible that says "Celebrate Christmas on the 25th December". However, I think that the birth of Jesus as both fully human and fully God on earth, so that we would be able to have God's love, forgiveness, and eternal life is something worth celebrating! Easter has similar reasons for celebration too.
Interesting question, i hope you find a satisfactory answer! :)
2007-12-14 02:06:16 · answer #7 · answered by ashgargobinait 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its actually a pagan holiday that had nothing to do with Christ birth. Santa Claus & Christmas trees, no it is nowhere in the scriptures. The scriptures actually have his birth around the spring. Easter is another Pagan holiday.
2007-12-14 02:05:02 · answer #8 · answered by Little Lisa 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The Christmas Story is one of the most important in the Bible. Many churches tell it every year. No, it isn't about Santa, and Best Buy specials. It is about the birth of our Lord, and it is repeated, (in different words) if I recall, in all 4 gospels...Mathew Mark Luke and John. I heartily recommend you read them, as my recollections are not the most accurate.
In a nutshell, Joseph was called to a far away town to register to pay his taxes. Even tho Mary was heavy with child, he did so anyway, in no small part for her and his family benefit. (Good things did not happen to people who did not obey the Kings decree that you register to pay taxes) When he got there, he could find no room at the inn for his wife about to give birth. So, he was forced to take her to a barn where she gave birth to baby Jesus..in a manger.
It isn't about gifts..it is about the gift God gave us, allowing his only son to be born in a barn while he could have easily built the largest castle on earth to announce his sons birth. Even tho the word "Christmas" is not mentioned it is not unusual to wait until after a persons death to wait to make a holiday celebrating their birth. As a single example, we did not have a holiday for president Lincoln's birth when he was a year old. Now, however, we often refer to it as "Presidents Day" to honor several presidents birth days. Please note we celebrate Presidents day on Mondays, not necessarily the exact day of Lincolns birth. Our Lord, being infinitely more important than the president, has his name attached to the holiday celebrated about his birth. Even though The Bible does not give "Dec. 25 th" as his birthday, we have generally adopted that date to celebrate his birth. I feel that God may well agree with that date, as he often blankets our area with beautiful snow to decorate our entire area in honor of his birth.
2007-12-14 02:10:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
actualy it does. in all four gosples actuly but it is most thouroly toldin the book of
John
alothough it is not actualy called christmas, it is told 4 times, once in each of these books, Mathew Mark Luke And John
in john it really starts to tell the story from the first verse, "In the begining was the word and the word was God and the word was with God." (the "word" would stand for Jesus)
2007-12-14 02:04:59 · answer #10 · answered by *princess* 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋