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Question: What about the observance of Christmas?

1. The word "Christmas" was not coined until the eleventh century,
a thousand years after Jesus came to earth.

2. The observance or celebration of the birth of Christ dates to
the second century, the first traces of such being noted in the
reign of the Roman emperor Commodus who died about 180 A.D.
(Woods.203). In the centuries following the close of the apostolic
age, the birthday of Christ was celebrated in the spring of the
year, often as late as April or May; it was not until the fourth
century that an agreement was reached by various religious parties
and their leaders to observe Dec. 5 as the day of our Lord's birth
(ibid). Mc & Str: It was not till the 6th century that the whole
Christian world concurred in celebrating the nativity on the same
day."

3. The observance of Christmas as a religious holiday did not
originate in the apostolic age; it is not taught in the Bible that
it should be kept as a religious festival. God has made the death
and resurrection of Christ significant by authorizing in its memory
the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor.
11;23-24; Acts 20:7). Had He wanted the birth of Christ celebrated
He could and would have so authorized (Patton.256). 
     a. There is a sense in which nothing the Christian does is
"secular." Rom. 12:1,2; Titus 2:10; how much of his time is he to
devote to godliness?
     b. But to involve the church, and plan a program of church
function around the Nativity is not authorized.

4. There are many things that are right that become wrong when
turned into a religious ceremony. The washing of hands is proper,
but to observe such as a religious ordinance unto God was wrong
(Mk. 7;1-13).

5. A key question in this discussion is, "How do we honor Christ?"
The answer is, by doing what He says (Lk. 6:46; Jno.14:15; 15:14).
     a. I do not think the problem is that we are thinking too much
about the birth of Christ! (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Micah 5:2; Heb.
2:9-18; Lk. 1-2).
     b. The danger lies more in not placing enough emphasis upon
the present role of Christ, in His rule as King of kings and Lord
of lords! (Rev. 1; Matt. 28:18-20).








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