Transcript Document
Christmas
Commemoration
or Confusion?
Facts About the Origin of
Christmas
Christmas began in the
4th century
Localized feast days
observing the birth and
baptism of Christ had
begun earlier
The “church” did not
make December 25 the
day for celebrating Jesus
birth until 345 A.D.
Facts About the Origin of
Christmas
The original ordinance
was an attempt to
“Christianize” the
pagan world
Conglomeration of
various pagan
festivals
Most closely fits the
festival of Saturnalia
Facts About the Origin of
Christmas
“there is no month in the
year to which respectable
authorities have not
assigned Christ’s birth”
(Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 3,
pg. 74)
The date never centered
around the actual date of
Jesus birth
Most cultures had a festival
around the winter solstice
Facts About the Origin of
Christmas
The hedonistic aspects of
the celebration were not
removed until 1645 in
England
Christmas was actually
illegal in the Colonies from
1659-1681 because the
hedonism clashed with
Puritan culture
Became an American
holiday in 1870
What Does God’s Silence on
the Matter tell us?
The most unique event in
all of history
Prophesied for centuries
Unmistakable sign of
God’s direct involvement
in the redemptive plan
Scripture is absolutely
silent in regards to a
commemoration of the
birth of Christ
What Does God’s Silence on
the Matter tell us?
Silence authorizes nothing
Scripture offers clear
indication of approved
observances
We must learn the lesson of
Uzzah! 1Chron 13
Many traditional practices
ignore the authority of
Christ to rule over His
kingdom
What Does God’s Silence on
the Matter tell us?
What about nativity
scenes, angels and
stars?
How do we separate
such from idolatry??
Even “innocent” things
can become dangerous
if our understanding is
perverted
What Does God’s Silence on
the Matter tell us?
What about religious
Christmas songs?
Are we singing them
all year long??
Are they so intimately
connected to
Christmas that we
cannot separate them?
Where is our focus??
Salvation is in the death,
burial and resurrection of
the Lord
We must be in constant
realization of the price
paid for our redemption
Focusing too much on
the baby in the manger is
the product of selfish
thinking