The celebration of Christmas had always been in controversy. From the date it was celebrated, Christmas tree and Santa-Claus, many of today’s Christmas celebrations have nothing to do with the birth of Jesus Christ. In this post, we will explore the reasons why Christmas today is no longer the true Christmas intended.

Unbiblical Customs

This post is not about discussing if Santa Claus is St. Nicholas of Myra or Tammuz (or) if Christmas tree is the tree of Thor. We will also not discuss about the recent additions of Christmas Elf introduced in literature by Louisa May Alcott in 1856. However, this post is to show how, by introducing unbiblical customs in Christmas had completely removed Christ from it.

Jer 10:2a Thus says the LORD: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles

Lev 18:3 ‘According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances.

God had mentioned in the law and prophets very clearly not to learn the way of the Gentiles or do according to the doings of them. Today, we are seeing the full effect of introducing unbiblical customs (whether it is pagan or not is a different discussion) where corporations are happy to celebrate Christmas by removing Christ. Recently, they even started changing Christmas celebrations to ‘End-of-year celebrations’ and Merry Christmas to ‘Happy holidays’.

Santatracker

Take santatracker as an example from Google and look at the way they celebrate Christmas. There is zero reference for Jesus or Christ using their own search engine. Christmas has become a western religious holiday without Jesus Christ.

How to celebrate Christmas?

The thumb rule to celebrate Christmas or the birth of Jesus is to always use the Bible as a guide.

Rejoice

Isa 9:2-7 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The above prophesy is clearly a messianic prophesy and it is God who multiplied the nations and increased its joy and we rejoice as the joy of harvest and rejoice when men divide the spoil because Jesus Christ was born.

Not like worshiping the golden calf called YHWH

Exod 32:1-5 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD (YHWH).”

If you look into the golden calf incident, the people wanted to make gods (plural) for themselves. So, Aaron made a god (singular) and called it YHWH. The people neither questioned why Aaron made just one idol nor why that idol is called YHWH. They least bother about God or following Him. What they truly desire is having celebrations. This exactly happening today with some minor changes. Many people including Christians are least bothered about Jesus and His commandments but more into mere celebrations which He never asked anyone to do. As you can clearly see, the Jesus is either suppressed or completely replaced by Santa Claus in most secular circles. Many western families who celebrate Christmas are totally unaware of the actual story of Jesus.

Not to forget God and His good news

Ps 50:22 “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver

Forgetting God and rejecting His commandments has it’s consequences. While celebrating Christmas, most importantly, we must not forget Jesus Christ and the true reason for His coming into this world which is to suffer and die for us, so that we can be saved and have eternal life if we depart from darkness.

John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

Today, Christmas is celebrated by not only removing Jesus Christ but the purpose of His coming into this world, which is the good news of salvation is removed.

Conclusion

Many are happy with Santa-Claus, Christmas trees and elves in most secular circles but become unhappy when Jesus Christ or His message of salvation is mentioned. Christians must never compromise Christmas by introducing traditions and customs not found in scripture. These not only gives opportunity to remove Christ from Christmas but also eliminates His message of salvation.