Is the celebration of Christmas a Bible doctrine?
No, it is not. Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing in Scripture to support the practice of celebrating Christmas. In fact, it is common knowledge that Christmas has its origin in paganism (you can Google this for yourself and read about it). Pagans worshipped the “Sun” on December 25th to celebrate the days getting longer and the advent of spring. At some point in time Roman Catholics, in order to appease their pagan converts, changed this holiday where they worshipped the “Sun” to a holiday where they worshipped the “Son of God.” They also declared December 25th as the date He was born and thus the popular holiday, to this day, is supposedly a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Again, Scripture is absolutely silent regarding the celebration of Christmas (by Jesus or anyone else). I would like to give you scriptures that actually refute the current practices of Christmas.
1) Jesus could NOT have been born on December 25th. This is borne out in Luke 2:8-11. In this passage there were “shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night” (verse 8) who were told by “an angel of the Lord….there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (verse 11). It is a known fact that Shepherds did NOT keep watch over their sheep in December, which was the rainy season in Palestine. It is more likely Jesus was born in October. The first 7 verses of this chapter also teach us that the birth of Christ could not have been in December, for we learn in that passage that it was a decree from Caesar Augustus (to be taxed) that led Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem. Caesar never would have called for all to be traveling in the depth of winter.
2) Jesus was given gifts as a “Child,” not as a “Baby.” I would encourage you to read Matthew 2:1-12 where we have the story of the “wise men from the East” (verse 1) who came to worship the King of the Jews. In verses 9 & 11 we read, “Behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the YOUNG CHILD was…and when they had COME INTO THE HOUSE, they saw the YOUNG CHILD with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.” For years I was told the “wise men worshipped the baby Jesus when He lay in the stable in Bethlehem.” Here we learn that He was a “young Child” (perhaps as old as two…see verse 16) and He was in “the house.” We know that the popular concept of Christmas is worshipping Jesus on the day He was born and giving gifts to one another. But the truth is He was worshiped as a young Child and He was the One who was given gifts instead of men giving gifts to one another.
3) Christians are never told (or asked) to celebrate His birthday on a special date. The truth is Christians are NOT to have a “religious calendar” with set feasts. This was only true of God’s earthly people, the Jews. The apostle Paul rebuked believers in Galatia for this very thing. “But now after you have known God, or rather are known of God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You OBSERVE DAYS and MONTHS and SEASONS and YEARS. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.” The formal observances of certain days is nothing less than LEGALISM, which results in men priding themselves on doing something to earn God’s favor. The only FEAST that the Lord asked us to participate in is THE LORD’S SUPPER where we “remember Him in His death for us” (see Luke 22:19-20; 1st Corinthians 11:23-26 and Acts 2:42, 46; 20:7).
I would close with a word of caution. We know how popular Christmas is to the world; in fact, wars have been stopped on that day in order to observe it. Yet “most” who celebrate it do not even know the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Then why do they celebrate it? Ah, I believe we know that for many it is a time to indulge in food and drink and gift-giving. We know that it is the biggest “commercial day” of the year where businesses begin (months before) advertising their wares and appealing to the masses to “show their love to one another by giving gifts.” There is a verse that convicted me many years ago that can easily be applied to the holiday we call Christmas. I leave this with you to think on, “And He (Jesus) said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For WHAT IS HIGHLY ESTEEMED AMONG MEN IS AN ABOMINATION IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD” (Luke 16:15). (351.3) (DO)