CHRISTMAS

It is highly unlikely Christ was born December 25 since the winters of that land are far too severe from November to February for people to be traveling to pay taxes, staying in a manger, or for shepherds to be “in the field”, especially when travel is by foot/mule and there are no Super 8s or other shelter available. There is a reason why Jesus said “Pray that your flight be not in winter.” Jesus was born during warm days. The date is unknown, and, at this point unknowable, although it was most likely in the fall during the Feast of Tabernacles.

Christmas became a ritual of the church sometime after the fourth century. Tertullian and other church fathers lamented the growing observance of heathen customs by Christians, that the church was becoming full of pagans. Christmas, literally “Christ-Mass”, the Mass of Christ, the Old English Cristes Maesse first found in 1038, was copied from an ancient heathen festival observed on December 25 honoring the birth of Tammuz, the son of Nimrod-Bar-Cush, the grandson of Ham the unworthy son of Noah, and Semiramis the First, who would later be known as the Babylonian Queen Astarte... Queen of Heaven. The letter “T” from Tammuz’s name, who, incidentally, was claimed to have been immaculately conceived, is the origin for the “Sign of the Cross.” Ezekiel protested against the worship of Tammuz during the days of the captivity (Ez. 8:14 and others). The Chaldeans called this annual festival Yule Day or Child Day and their celebration included a decorated tree and gift giving. Jeremiah warranted Israel to flee from this heathen custom in Jer. 10:1-10. Most of the accompaniments of Christmas, though seasoned with righteous intentions, originated none the less in paganism: Can sweet and bitter water flow from the same spring? It is essential to note the only thing given in scripture whereby we are to remember Christ is The Lord’s Supper, whose elements bring one face to face with the cross of Christ.

We should not, as is often postulated, “put Christ back in Christmas”, for He was never in Christmas in the first place. If we want to celebrate the birth of our Lord than let us recognize it as the necessary precursor to His death, burial and resurrection, and include The Cross as the focus of our celebration. If we want to give gifts than let us remember likewise the widows and orphans, and the poor, as we are admonished to do. If we want to honor our Savior let us do so by sacrificing our Self-Life for His Divine-Life, releasing His Life as a river of living water flowing through us to a lost and dying world. This is the “jealous yearning” of the Holy Spirit. This is worship “in Spirit and in Truth.” This is the greatest gift we can ever give to others... and to ourselves. This is “Christmas”, if you will! Have a most blessed holiday.