No, Jesus Christ was NOT born on December 25th. Yes, Christmas is a pagan holiday. You need only do a Google Search with these questions and you will read of its pagan origin. In short, pagans worshipped the “Sun” on December 25th to celebrate the days getting longer and the advent of spring. Later, the Roman Catholic church changed this pagan holiday to celebrating Christ’s birth on that same date to appease their pagan converts. They were, in essence, telling them that instead of worshipping “the Sun” they would now worship “the Son of God.” This did indeed satisfy their pagan converts and today most of those who call themselves Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on that day. The truth is the Bible is absolutely silent regarding this holiday and I would like to give you scriptures that actually refute the current practice of Christmas.

1) Jesus could NOT have been born on December 25th. The birth of Jesus Christ is recorded in Luke 8:1-18 and in verse 8 we read that “in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.” It is a known fact that shepherds did NOT keep watch over their sheep in December, which was the rainy (and cold) season in Palestine.

2) Jesus was given gifts as a “Child,” not as a “Baby” and it took place in a “House.” I would encourage you to read Matthew 2:1-12 where we read of the “wise men of the East” (verse 1) who came to worship the King of the Jews. Verses 9 & 11 are very revealing: “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 worshipped Him.” We have all seen the famous “manger scene with the Kings worshipping baby Jesus with gifts yet He was a CHILD living in a HOUSE when they arrived.

3) Christians are never told or even asked to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. We do not have a “religious calendar” like the Jews did under the Law of Moses, with set feast days. In fact, 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” (Galatians 4:9-10).

I would add that the world, which has no love for Christ, pretends to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25th, yet how do they celebrate it? They indulge in FOOD and DRINK and GIFT-GIVING but hardly a word is said about Christ’s birth. This is the biggest “commercial day” for businesses and they make the most of this holiday for monetary gains. Those who buy their merchandise give to please their loved ones and friends, not the Lord. I have often thought of Luke 16:15 when it comes to Christmas, for it says, “For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of the Lord.”

In closing, I want to end on a positive note. Though we are not told to celebrate Jesus’ birth, all believers in Christ should be THANKFUL EVERY DAY that He was willing to be “made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death…that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). We can say in truth, Jesus was BORN TO DIE! He “was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) so He could take man’s place (which we deserve!) in death and judgment on the cross. Because of this, Jesus has asked us to “Remember Him in His death” (see Luke 22:19-20) and He had the Apostle Paul teach us to do this “until He comes to take us home” (see 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). It is especially fitting that we DO THIS on the First Day of the week, the Day that He rose from the dead and conquered sin, death, and the grave (Matthew 28:1-6 with Acts 20:7).  (DO)  (614.5)