Some forgotten truths about Christmas

There are some things that accompany Christmas that are not Biblical. Also, many assume that Christmas was always celebrated. But this is not the case. Many also forget that the reason for the season is Jesus and are not even conscious they are partakers in the mix of pagan influences on Christmas.

Modern Christianity has departed so far away from celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas, today has been perverted from trusting Jesus and His Birth and giving Him Praise, Glory and Honour to honouring Satan.

If we study history, for centuries and even millennia, true Christians have been very dogmatic and against Christmas. It is hard for a modern Christian to think; how could Christians be against Christmas?

For instance, the Puritans in England would not celebrate it. Even the founding fathers of America rejected the celebration of Christmas, which they considered as a pagan holiday. It was only around 1842 that Alabama in America was the first state that made Christmas a holiday and legalised it on the calendar.

Why Christmas at all?

Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ in a manger and that is what we should remember. In Luke Chapter 2, we have a picture of the nativity scene: 1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3. And everyone went to their

own town to register. 4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. 7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terri-fied. 10. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” 15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

The origins of the word ‘Christmas’

There are two distinctive types of Christmas, the one where many remember Jesus. This is the Christ-centred Christmas where Jesus is worshiped as Saviour and the other which is commercial-centred and secular that omits Jesus and in which many ways glorifies Santa Claus and the lies people tell their children that Santa Claus brings them presents.

Christmas means Christ-mass which was coined up by Catholicism since ‘mass’ is celebrated by Catholics. Christmas was greatly popularized in the Christian world when Charles Dickens published the book ‘ A Christmas Carol’ in 1843. After he wrote this novel, many Christians wanted to celebrate the Christmas spirit.

In the process they forgot that this was a Catholic holiday. This resulted in many Protestants and Puritans adopting this Catholic holiday thus becoming a culturally accepted practice done by all of society.

Until the 3rd Century, the word ‘Christmas’ was unheard of and it was in 325 A.D, when the Church split and the Catholic Church officially started at the Council of Nicea that Constantine adopted an existing Pagan festival, that of the Winter Solstice, which then was 25 December turning it into the day of the birth of Christ.

December 25 was the day originally celebrated by the Babylonians to honour the son of Semiramis, which was called the Queen of Heaven. In order to accommodate the heathen and swell the number of Christians, 25 December came into being.

Constantine was the first Roman Emperor who officially joined the Roman State with the Church and it became known as the Roman Catholic Church. A state religion was thus set up and instantly replaced the worshiping of idol gods (such as Tammuz, Semiramis and Baal) with Jesus, Mary, Joseph and so on. Paganism thus mixed with Christianity. These false gods have their origin in Babylon and in fact most idol worship has its origin from Babylon.

What about 25 December?

There is not a word in the Scriptures of the precise date of Jesus’ birth. But this is not perfectly true as in the Bible there is a list of Levitical Priests who came in their course to serve in the Temple. It is thus possible to go back in that Old Testament and read when the sons of certain people of the tribe of the Levitical Priesthood had to serve in the Temple and chronologically work out the date of Christ’s birth. There were 24 Priestly Courses which were calendar indications

Using this information the birth of Jesus would not be 25 December but anywhere between the period 23 September 21 and September 24. December 25 was the date of one of the Popes put to celebrate Christmas.

In the short contribution above, some insights of the origins of Christmas have been put forward. We have seen that not only has the Birth of Christ been mixed with pagan origins but that it has transformed into a festival of consumerism.

As Malta gears itself into celebrating the birth of Christ, it should not forget the origins of the Nativity Day of Jesus and the reason for the Season, Christ Himself. It is also wise for every true Christian to celebrate with moderation and steer away from all excesses in drinking, eating and revelling.

A God-blessed Nativity Day to all!