“We ought to celebrate XMAS because it is Christ’s birth…It is a good work”

Ads: “Put Christ back into Christmas” Churches: Christmas services

I. Where Did Christmas Originate?

“Christmas” suggests a connection w. Christ

If true, should find it in NT Mt. and Lk. are silent about XMAS and

the time of His birth

Allthings

2 Pt.1:3

Secretthings

Dt.29:29

Man’sthings

Col.2:20-23

Jesus was born Best guess is 7-4 B.C.

Only source: uninspired writers Dionysius Exiguus (Roman monk)

made calendar in A.D. 526 In 1582 “Pope” Gregory corrected

mistakes of 4-5 years, so 7-4 B.C.

Year, month, day: unknown

“No one knows exactly when Jesus was born . . . Scholars do not know the exact date of Christ’s birth. For more than 300 years, people observed His birthday on various dates. In AD 354, Bishop Liberius of Rome ordered the people to celebrate it on Dec. 25” (World Book, p. 409, 416)

Pagan background“The first mention of the celebration of Christmas occurred in A.D.336 in an early Roman calendar, which indicates Dec. 25 as the day of observance. This celebra-tion was probably influenced by pagan (unchristian) festivals held at that time. The ancient Romans held year-end celebrations to honor Saturn, their har-vest god; and Mithras, the god of light” (World Book, 408)

The appeal of paganism

“The pagan festival w. its riot and merry-making was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration w. little change in spirit or in manner” (Schaff-Herzog III, p.48)

Is Dec. 25 Christ’s birthday?

“By different learned men it has been fixed at each month in the year. Nor is it of consequence to know the time; if it were, God would have preserved the record of it. Matters of moment are clearly revealed; those which he regards as of no importance are concealed” (A. Barnes; cf. M’Clintock & Strong VI, p. 861)

Final facts The name comes from “Christes

Masse,” later shortened to Christmas

Yule-tide: a winter festival, initially celebrated by Germanic peoples, as a pagan religious festival, though later absorbed into Christmas

Fr. / Eng.Noel

Lat.natalis

(birthday)

Lat.natus(born)

I. Where Did Christmas Originate?

II. What Does The Bible Say?

Jesus the baby is “safe”

NT emphasizes His death and resur-rection, not His birth (Jn.16:13)

Memorials:

Lord’ssupper:

His deathMt.26:26-29

Ac.20:7

First dayof week:His res.Mt.28:1

1 Co.11:26

Waterbaptism:His DBRRo.6:3-4

Col.2:11-13

What does Bible say about His birth?

1. Shepherds visit (same night): Lk.2:8-20

2. Circumcision (eight days later): Lk.2:21

3. Presentation (40 days later): Lk.2:22-38 (Lv.12:2-6)

4. Visit of wise men: Mt.2:1-12

The wise men(Mt.2)

Wise men (not shepherds) (1) Number: unknown From East (not nearby fields) (1) Star (2, 9-10) Found child, not baby (9) In house, not manger (11) Some 40 days to 2 years old (Lk.2)

1. Shepherds2. Circumcision3. Presentation4. Wise men

5. Star: Mt.2:2, 9-10

6. Journey to Egypt: Mt.2:13-15

7. Male children slaughtered: Mt.2:16-188. Return to Nazareth: Mt.2:19-23; Lk.2:39

I. Where Did Christmas Originate?

II. What Does The Bible Say?

III. What Does It Mean To Us?

Dangers of the season

Growing laxin attendance:

family overfaithfulness

Extravagant spending:

neglect goodstewardship

Misuse of alcohol:Office parties“Christmas

cheer”

Caught up in thereligious side of

the season:Ga.4:8-10

National holiday: no one can escape it

Affects work, schools; families Mar. 3, 1984, Supreme Court ruling:

a nativity scene has as much to do w. celebrating a national holiday as w. a religious observance (ABC)

Do not judgeinnocentactivities:Ro.14:1-5

Do not violateyour own

conscience:Ro.14:22-23

Do not causeanother tostumble:1 Co.8, 10

Beconsistent with other

days

Other days / activities

Groundhog day, a “Christian tradition”: medieval Catholic holiday: Candlemas

Birthdays Astronomy vs astrology Candy canes

Purpose mattersPurpose matters

Some things are morally right, but religiously wrong

Washing hands, Mk.7:1-8. Giving gifts, Ac.20:35. (Est.9:19) Days, Ro.14:1-5 (not religiously: Ga.4).

Ac.20:16; 1 Co.16:8 Eating food, 1 Co.11 Giving thanks, 1 Th.5:17

Purpose mattersPurpose matters