{"id":33991,"date":"2015-12-21T00:01:53","date_gmt":"2015-12-21T08:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/?p=33991"},"modified":"2015-12-21T06:02:42","modified_gmt":"2015-12-21T14:02:42","slug":"christianity-today-on-christmas-and-december-25th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/church-history\/christianity-today-on-christmas-and-december-25th\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Christianity Today’ on Christmas and December 25th"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nSolis Invicti<\/em> coin (Jastrow)
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COGwriter <\/a><\/p>\n

While I have tended to have articles about how the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics have viewed Christmas, a reader sent me something that was run long ago in the misnamed publication Christianity Today<\/em>. Here are some excerpts:<\/p>\n

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Why December 25?<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n

The month and day of Christ’s birth have been hotly disputed for centuries. For the church’s first three centuries, Christmas wasn’t in December\u2014or on the calendar at all.<\/em><\/p>\n

By Elesha Coffman<\/p>\n

It’s very tough for us North Americans to imagine Mary and Joseph trudging to Bethlehem in anything but, as Christina Rosetti memorably described it, “the bleak mid-winter,” surrounded by “snow on snow on snow.” To us, Christmas and December are inseparable. But for the first three centuries of Christianity, Christmas wasn’t in December\u2014or on the calendar anywhere.<\/p>\n

If observed at all, the celebration of Christ’s birth was usually lumped in with Epiphany (January 6)…Some church leaders even opposed the idea of a birth celebration. Origen (c.185-c.254) preached that it would be wrong to honor Christ in the same way Pharaoh and Herod were honored. Birthdays were for pagan gods…<\/p>\n

Clement of Alexandria (c.150-c.215) favored May 20 but noted that others had argued for April 18, April 19, and May 28. Hippolytus (c.170-c.236) championed January 2. November 17, November 20, and March 25 all had backers as well. A Latin treatise written around 243 pegged March 21, because that was believed to be the date on which God created the sun…The eventual choice of December 25, made perhaps as early as 273…December 25 already hosted two other related festivals: natalis solis invicti<\/em> (the Roman “birth of the unconquered sun”), and the birthday of Mithras, the Iranian “Sun of Righteousness” whose worship was popular with Roman soldiers. The winter solstice, another celebration of the sun, fell just a few days earlier. Seeing that pagans were already exalting deities with some parallels to the true deity, church leaders decided to commandeer the date and introduce a new festival.<\/p>\n

Western Christians first celebrated Christmas on December 25 in 336, after Emperor Constantine had declared Christianity the empire’s favored religion. Eastern churches, however, held on to January 6 as the date for Christ’s birth and his baptism. Most easterners eventually adopted December 25, celebrating Christ’s birth on the earlier date and his baptism on the latter, but the Armenian church celebrates his birth on January 6…<\/p>\n

The pagan origins of the Christmas date, as well as pagan origins for many Christmas customs (gift-giving and merrymaking from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and charity from the Roman New Year; Yule logs and various foods from Teutonic feasts), have always fueled arguments against the holiday. “It’s just paganism wrapped with a Christian bow,” naysayers argue.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Truly, real Christians did not celebrate Christmas. It was added as a compromise with those that worshiped the sun god. Its symbols are not Christian, they are pagan. Despite the fact that church leaders knew this, many of the compromised church adopted it. It has long been a difference between those in the true Church of God and those in the world’s churches.<\/p>\n

The sun-god worshiper, Emperor Constantine, who put the sun-god image on his coins AFTER he supposedly converted to Christianity, had been keeping December 25th.\u00a0 He decided to call Mithras’ birthday, Jesus’ birthday.\u00a0 And at least partially because of him, the Greco-Romans began to eventually follow suit.<\/p>\n

The true Church of God never celebrated Christmas, and certainly not on December 25th. Those of the Greco-Roman-Protestant faiths, eventually did, and still do. There are, of course, others (like the Jehovah’s Witnesses) that do not celebrate it.<\/p>\n

But it truly is such a popular holiday that it is easy to show that most people really do not care about its pagan origins and observe it anyway.<\/p>\n

However, since Protestants (officially at least) have claimed ‘sola scriptura<\/em>‘ (the idea that doctrine is supposed to only come from the Bible), the hypocrisy of Protestants keeping Christmas should be obvious.<\/p>\n

Actually, this is one of the Roman Catholic criticisms of Protestantism–that while Protestants claim sola scriptura<\/em>, they in reality rely on many of the same non-biblical\/pagan traditions that the Church of Rome does as well.<\/p>\n

So, if you are Protestant, claim to believe in sola scriptura<\/em>, and keep Christmas, you should ask yourself how you can justify the contradiction. Of course, most will ignore the obvious. But you do not have to.<\/p>\n

For those of us in the Continuing<\/em> Church of God<\/a>, the decision to not observe Christmas is simple and obvious. We do not wish to learn the way of the heathen nor adopt truly heathen practices. The Bible teaches:<\/p>\n

2″Do not learn the ways of the nations
\nor be terrified by signs in the sky,
\nthough the nations are terrified by them.
\n3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
\nthey cut a tree out of the forest,
\nand a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
\n4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
\nthey fasten it with hammer and nails
\nso it will not totter.
\n5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
\ntheir idols cannot speak;
\nthey must be carried
\nbecause they cannot walk.
\nDo not fear them;
\nthey can do no harm
\nnor can they do any good.” (Jeremiah 10:2-5, NIV).<\/p>\n

29 When the Lord thy God shall have destroyed before thy face the nations, that thou enterest in to possess, and thou shalt possess them, and dwell in their land: 30 beware left thou imitate them, after they be subverted at thy entering in, and thou require their ceremonies, saying: As these nations have worshipped their Gods, so will I also worship. 31 Thou shalt not do in like manner to the Lord thy God. For all the abominations, that our Lord doeth abhor, have they done to their Gods, offering their sons and daughters, and burning them with fire (Deuteronomy 12:29-31, DOT).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Notice what the NKJV version of the New Testament (a Protestant-made translation) states the following about going along with pagan practices:<\/p>\n

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:<\/p>\n

“I will dwell in them
\nAnd walk among them.
\nI will be their God,
\nAnd they shall be My people.”<\/p>\n

17 Therefore<\/p>\n

“Come out from among them
\nAnd be separate, says the Lord.
\nDo not touch what is unclean,
\nAnd I will receive you.”
\n18 ‘I will be a Father to you,
\nAnd you shall be My sons and daughters,
\nSays the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So unclean practices associated with idols are prohibited by God. Does not that include celebrating as the idolaters celebrate?<\/p>\n

Real Christians are to be separate from those who compromise and church history shows that historically there were always two groups–those of the the faithful and those of the compromisers (see also Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries?<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Christmas on December 25th, at best, is a compromise. But it also takes people away from God as it distorts God’s plan of salvation and does not truly honor Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

Protestants may disagree, but their disagreements tend to be based upon emotion and tradition, not the actual word of God.<\/p>\n

Some items of possibly related interest may include:<\/em><\/p>\n

Sola Scriptura <\/em>or Prima Luther? <\/em>What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible?<\/a> Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura <\/em>teaching, did Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther<\/em> was his ultimate authority? Statements from him changing and\/or discounting 18 books of the Bible are included. Do you really<\/em> want to know the truth?
\nHope of Salvation: How the Continuing<\/em> Church of God differ from most Protestants<\/a> How the real Church of God differs from mainstream\/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
\nThe Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong<\/a> This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the genuine Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example? Here is a related sermon video: Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong: Reformers with Differences<\/a>.
\nTradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings<\/a> Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they? A related sermon is titled Tradition and Scripture<\/a>.
\nWhich Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing<\/em> Church of God?<\/a> Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity?
\nSome Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing<\/em> Church of God<\/a> Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
\nDo You Practice Mithraism?<\/a> Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
\nWas Jesus Born in the Grotto of the Nativity?<\/a><\/span> Was Jesus born in a below ground cave? Was Jesus born below the “Church of the Nativity”? Were the wise men there?
\nDid Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays?<\/a> Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations? A related sermon video is available and is titled: Birthdays, Christians, and December 25th<\/a>.
\nHow did December 25th become Christmas?<\/a> Was Jesus born then? If not, why December 25? Here is the article translated into Mandarin Chinese 12\u670825\u65e5\u6700\u540e\u662f\u600e\u4e48\u88ab\u8bb8\u591a\u57fa\u7763\u7684\u4fe1\u4ef0\u8005\u91c7\u7eb3\u7684<\/a>.
\nIs Keeping Christmas a Sin?<\/a> Is keeping Christmas acceptable for true Christians? What are some scriptures to consider?
\nWhat Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days?<\/a> Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them? Is December 25th Jesus’ birthday or that of the sun god? Here is a link to a sermon titled What do Catholic and other scholars teach about Christmas?<\/a>
\nThe History of Early Christianity<\/a> Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
\n<\/strong>Where is the True Christian Church Today?<\/a> This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? <\/a>Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: \u00bfD\u00f3nde est\u00e1 la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?<\/a> Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE?<\/a> Here is a link in the French language: O\u00f9 est la vraie \u00c9glise Chr\u00e9tienne aujourd\u2019hui?<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Continuing History of the Church of God<\/a> This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D<\/a>. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries<\/a>. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuaci\u00f3n de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios<\/a>, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes<\/a>, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw\u2019ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete<\/a>.
\n<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Solis Invicti coin (Jastrow) COGwriter While I have tended to have articles about how the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics have viewed Christmas, a reader sent me something that was run long ago in the misnamed publication Christianity Today. Here are some excerpts: Why December 25? The month and day of Christ’s birth have been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-church-history","category-religious-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t