Introduction
‘Twas the night before Christmas…Wait a minute, what does Christmas have to do with Christ and His Church anyway? Most would answer that it’s the day we celebrate Jesus’ birthday. And they would be right in this assumption and but for one small technicality there would be no problem with the assumption. That is: Jesus was not born on Christmas day even though we celebrate His birth on December 25th. It is likely that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb on Christmas day and He was born during the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles in the fall, but it is impossible that His birth took place during winter.
Well if this is true, at least we have cause to celebrate the conception of the Savior, Right? Maybe we do, but I find no Scriptural directive—or even an ambiguous insinuation—that we do so.
Everything about the celebration from the nativity scene down to “olde saint Nic” is and always has been associated with one form or another of pagan worship and is therefore the “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1-5; cf., 1 Corinthians 10:20). Even the word “Christmas” should be offensive to the believer in Christ’s one (Romans 6:10) sacrifice for sin: “The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning “Christ’s Mass.” It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse…Cristes is from Greek Christos and mæsse is from Latin missa (the holy mass);” (electronic media: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas).
Before The Storm
Therefore, it strikes me as something weird that many professed Christian are taking offense at local, state and national governments and even many private businesses removing the vestiges (Santa Claus, “Merry Christmas”) of this “holiday” for the sake of political correctness. Why should these acts alarm or offend a believer in Christ? Jesus is not the “reason for the season,” rather, it is the season (the winter solstice and its association to pagan rites), which gives reason for this brief time of mankind’s hypocritical expression of goodwill towards all men and a false sense of fallen humanity’s ability in bringing about peace on earth (these sentiments are a misinterpretation of Luke 2:10-14).
If you doubt me on these stated facts go do some research—unless, of course, you’re too afraid of truth; like the proverbial ostrich who sticks its head in the sand—before condemning my statements or adjudging me as some kind of kooky radical. Although, I don't mind a "radical" label, because I am, but I ain't no kook.
Of course Paul does say that, “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). And in this sense many would argue that the Church has absorbed everything pagan about Christmas and sanctified it so that it is now holy onto God. We should, many would say, “give thanks to God, hang the light, trim the tree, have our feasts and feel no guilt or shame.” While I am not far removed from this sentiment I am in no way convinced that verse 31, quashes everything else Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 10.
The Things Ordained
Whatever you believe, do what you do, because as far as my experience goes we all in most instances are going to do what please our sensibilities—and who is there to judge our actions over their own (cf., Matthew 7:1-6). But keep in mind, the true Church of God has more important, God-ordained things that are clearly shown in Scripture, which we must be engaged in.And make no mistake and don’t continue deluding yourself; there is a storm brewing that will engulf and obliterate most of humanity and all of its ungodly institutions and traditions will be swept away forevermore (Luke 21:25, 26). This imminent storm is described in the Bible as nothing less than the wrath of God poured upon this current world system of sin, rebellious mankind and Satan, the prince and god of the world (Luke 21:22; cf., Revelation 6:16, 17; 16:1). All of man’s traditions, philosophies, inventions and all else that does not originate from God is instigated by and comes from Satan (John 8:34). This evil angelic being is the true father of those who willfully disobey God’s Word (Ephesians 4:17-19). And everything that this vile creature does is a mere cheap imitation (Isaiah 14:14; 2 Corinthians 11:14) of the glorious way of life that the Father desires for His children.
In contrast to mankind’s hypocrisy, true goodwill toward men comes from God and is shown in His giving of the sacrifice of the Son (John 15:13), which alone relieves God of His enmity to the sin that has offended His holy nature and separated the creature from the Creator. And true Christian care for society and the culture that surrounds us is seen in our desire to proclaim the Word of life (Matthew 10:38).
Conclusion
Lastly, my attention is constantly draw to the question that the disciples asked the Lord toward the expiration of the forty days of His presence among them following His glorious resurrection: “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 2:6)? And the Lord replied: “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 2:7).
Notice, the Lord Jesus did not reprove them, for what some might have called their carnal conception of the kingdom. He did not tell them, as some have taught, that all the promises to Israel nationally were cancelled because of their failure as a people to recognize their Messiah when He came among them in lowly guise. He did not announce that the only kingdom they could ever expect would be that which was to be set up in the hearts of believers. But He replied, saying, “It is not for you to know.”
In the meantime, our responsibility as Christians is to go into the entire world with the glad message of salvation purchased by the blood of the Cross and freely offered to all men everywhere who will put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The hope of the rapture, the thought of the anguish of those who will suffer the wrath of God during the Tribulation and His glorious second advent to establish His earthly “kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever” (Daniel 2:44), is the strongest motive possible for sending the message far and wide and seeking the completion of the body of Christ by winning those who are to be saved and thus added to the number who will be caught up to meet the Lord when He returns. Grace and peace.
