Unscriptural Holy Days: Christmas

By O. C. Birdwell

The New Testament writers completed their work during the first century. Anything that originated after the first century must be discussed from the viewpoint of secular or uninspired history. Exception to this would be the foretelling by inspired men of events that would come to pass, such as the apostasy foretold by Paul in Acts. 20:28, 30. The modern day celebration of Christmas is not found in scripture. It is essential for us to look elsewhere if an article is written on the subject. In view of the extensive acceptance of the day as a holy day it seems imperative that we write on the subject. Also, we were asked to do so by the Editor!

An account of the birth of Christ is found in scripture. The event was prepared, prophesied, and presented in historical reality through the almighty power of God. While affirming the reality of the birth of Christ, we remind the reader that the birth is ,not synonymous with “Christmas.” The word “Christmas” is defined as, “lit., Christ’s mass.” “Mass” is “a sequence of prayers and ceremonies forming the Eucharist office esp. of the Latin rites . . . . a celebration of the Eucharist.”(1) There is no such celebration in scripture relating to Christ’s birth. It all came into being this side of completion of the New Testament. Christmas did not, therefore, originate with inspired men.

New Testament Observances

Before his death, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper to be eaten in His memory and in the kingdom (Matt. 26; Mk. 14; Luke 22). After the church was established disciples began immediately the practice of “breaking bread” in their worship assemblies (Acts 2:42). The church at Troas came together on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 20:7). Paul gave detailed instructions about the communion (1 Cor. 11). This observance related to the death, not the birth, of Christ. It was observed on the resurrection day, the first day of the week. The practice of eating the Lord’s Supper on each first day was authorized by inspired men, practiced by first century Christians, and continued for two or three hundred years before anyone ever practiced or heard about the practice of an observance of the birth of Christ. There is no indication of an accepted feast of Christ’s birth until the fourth century. The acceptance at that time was by those who had no faith in the final authority of the New Testament.

Historical Accounts of Christmas (1) Some hold to a Gnostic origin. It is affirmed that Christmas originated with the Basilidians of Egypt.(2)These people were Gnostic disciples of Basilides who in the second century began observing January 6th as the date of Jesus’ baptism. Later, this same day, January 6th, began to be regarded in the East as the time of Christ’s birth also, since they affirmed him to be exactly 30 years old when he was baptized.(3) Luke affirmed that he was about 30 years old when he began to teach (Lk. 3:23). There are at least three things wrong with this theory of the birth of Christ. First, there is no scriptural proof that January 6th was the baptism date of Jesus. Second, the time Jesus began teaching was when he was about thirty. This does not mean that he was baptized and began to teach on his birthday. In the third place, even if both the baptism date and birth day could be established, there is no indication from scripture that they are to be regarded as religious feast days, or days of special worship.

(2) Others hold that Christmas was the transformation of pagan festivals. Schaff lists the festivals as, “the Saturnalia, Sigillaria, Juvenalia, and Brumalia-which were kept in Rome in the month of December, in commemoration of the golden age of universal freedom and equality, and in honor of the unconquered sun, and which were great holidays, especially for slaves and children.” In a footnote he describes these festivals . in the following words: “The Saturnalia were the feast of Saturn or Kronos, in representation of the golden days of his reign, when all labor ceased, prisoners were set free, slaves went about in gentlemen’s clothes and in the hat (the mark of a freeman), and all classes gave themselves up to mirth and rejoicing. The Sigillaria were a festival of images and puppets at the close of the Saturnalia on the 21st and 22nd of December, when miniature images of the gods, wax tapers, and all sorts of articles of beauty and luxury were distributed to children and among kinsfolk. The Brumalia, from bruma (brevissima, the shortest day), had reference to the winter solstice, and the return of the Sol invictus.”(4)

As one can see even from the quotations given, the earliest and greatest corruptions of the church Jesus built came about through the injection into the organization, worship, and work, foreign and scripturally unknown elements. There was a tendency to mix with the pure religion of Christ the pagan superstitions and ceremonies. This was done, seemingly, in order to make the religion of Christ less offensive to the world in general, and to get them to accept Jesus as the Christ. When the mixing was done, however, the only result was a corrupted and perverted gospel. The church developing out of such a marriage of paganism and Christianity cannot be the one Jesus built. It is an apostate body. The Roman leadership in this corruption and apostasy has some forty special holy days in a year. Of these observances Benjamin Franklin says, “Protestants are patronizing them in this, and recognizing their holy days, and at the same time making nothing of celebrating the suffering of our Lord, on the first day of every week, as all history assures us was the practice of the first church!”(5)

(3) There were many later additions to Christmas. Many of these were taken from the pagan practices. We are told of old English Christmas festivals as follows: “It was customary to light candles of large size, and to lay upon the fire a huge log, called a Yule clog or Christmas block, a custom not yet extinct in some parts of England. Yule (from huel, a wheel) was a sunfeast, commemorative of the turn of the sun and the lengthening of the day, and seems to have been a period of pagan festivals in Europe from ancient times.”(6)

The Puritan William Prynne (1600-1669), tells us about the Christmas celebration in his day and also gives his attitude toward it. “Our Christmas lords of misrule, together with dancing, masks, mummeries, stage players, and such other Christmas disorders, now in use ‘with Christians, we derived from these Roman Saturalia and Bacchanalian festivals, which should cause all pious Christians eternally to abominate them.” During the same period as Prynne, John Selden, described as a man of “stupendous learning in all kinds and in all languages,” paid his respects to the Christmas celebration. He said the dishes most in vogue were formerly, for breakfast and supper on Christmas eve, a boar’s head stuck with rosemary, with an apple or orange in the mouth, plum porridge, and minced pies. Eating the latter was a test of orthodoxy, as the Puritans conceived it to be an abomination; they were originally made long, in imitation of the manger in which our Lord was laid.(7)

More could be presented about the origin and development of the Christmas celebration. This should suffice to show it is not from the Bible. Truly it is an unscriptural holy day!

Conclusion

Concluding remarks maybe should be made about what, if anything, Christians may do during the Christmas period, that is done by those who celebrate Christmas. May a family get together during the season and exchange gifts? May they have a large turkey dinner? May they decorate a tree? If these things can be done with the understanding that Christ’s birthday is not being celebrated and that they are not related to our worship and service to God, this writer has no objection. People are known to wear new clothing on “Easter Sunday” who do not observe annually the resurrection of Christ. Just remember that Christmas must not become a special holy day to us. It is not in scripture. The most that can be said for the day is that in a time of appalling unbelief it is gratifying to know that so many still, at least, believe in Christ’s birth!

Truth Magazine XXII: 1, pp. 13-14
January 5, 1978

The Lord’s Day

By John Brandt

“The Lord’s day is the day on which Crist rose from the dead. It is the day on which he broke bread with the apostles. It is the day on which the Holy Ghost descended from heaven. It is the day on which salvation was first preached to the whole world. It is the day on which repentance, baptism and remission of sins were first preached in the name of Christ. It is the day on which the first church of Christ was established. It is the day on which the apostles and primitive Christians met, to read the Scriptures; to observe the Lord’s Supper; to offer prayers, and participate in the various religious privileges. It is the day on which the apocalypse was revealed to John on the isle of Patmos. It is a day filled with hallowed memories of sacred events. It is a day filled with hallowed memories and sacred events. It is a day of rest and worship. It is a day of joy, praise, thanksgiving and fellowship. This day as we remember, in partaking of this Supper, that Christ died for us, and that the Son of righteousness rose for our justification, let us ask God to keep us faithful and steadfast in thus showing forth His death and resurrection until the glorious day of eternity shall dawn upon us, and we shall have that unspeakable privilege of sitting down at the table of the Lord, with the loved ones who have gone before, in that everlasting kingdom.”

Truth Magazine XXII: 1, p. 12
January 5, 1978

Attitudes Toward the Lord’s Day

By George T. Eldridge

The words “the Lord’s day” are found only once in the scriptures (Rev. 1:10). The author of the book of Revelation is God Himself, who “sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John” (Rev. 1:1). God’s bond-servant is the apostle John. He was one of Jesus’ most intimate earthly friends and was selected by the Lord with two other disciples to be present on a high mountain when He “was transfigured” and “Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him” (John 20:2; Mt. 17:1-3). John was the disciple whom Jesus “loved” (John 19:26). While on the cross, Jesus spoke to John these words concerning His mother, “Behold, your mother” (John 19:27). Therefore, the responsibility of Jesus’ mother became the obligation of John.

The Lord’s Day

It is quite certain that when John uses the expression “the Lord’s day,” he is using it as we use it. As I have said, this is the first passage in God’s Word where there is any mention of “the Lord’s day.” “The Lord’s day” is the first day of the week, commonly called today Sunday.

The word here translated “Lord’s” occurs only twice in the Bible: Rev. 1:10 and 1 Cor. 11:20, where it is applied to the Lord’s Supper. The word “Lord’s” comes from the Greek work kuriakos and properly means pertaining to the Lord. The Lord’s day, the first day of the week, means a day pertaining to the Lord because He claimed it as His own and had set it apart for His own service. Also, the first day of the week was designed to commemorate some important event pertaining to Jesus and was observed in honor of Him.

It is clear, (l) That this refers to some day which was distinguished from dl other days of the week, and which would be sufficiently designated by the use of this term. (2) That it was a day which was for some reason regarded as peculiarly a day of the Lord, or peculiarly devoted to him. (3) It would further appear that this was a day particularly devoted to the Lord issue; for …. (a) if the Jewish Sabbath were intended to be designated, the word Sabbath would have been used. The term was used generally by the early Christians to denote the first day of the week. It occurs twice In the Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians (about A. D. 1011, who calls the Lord’s day “the queen and prince of all days.” Chrysostom (on Pa. exia.) says, “It was called the Lord’s day because the Lord rose from the dead on that day:” Later fathers make a marked distinction between the Sabbath and the Lord’s day; meaning by the former the Jewish Sabbath, or the seventh day of the week, and by the latter the first day of the week, kept holy by Christians . . . . No one can doubt that it was an appellation given to the first day of the week; and the passage, therefore, proves (l) that that day was thus early distinguished in some peculiar manner, so that the mere mention of it would be sufficient to identify it in the minds of those to whom the apostle wrote; (2) that it was in some sense regarded as devoted to the Lord Jesus, or was designed in some way to commemorate what He had done; and (3) . . . the observance of that day had the apostolic sanction (Albert Barnes, Barnes on the New Testament, Revelation, p. 491.

Therefore, the Lord’s day means beyond all reasonable doubt the first day of the week, which we call Sunday. “From Ignatius onwards, we have a complete chain of evidence that” the Lord’s day was “the regular Christian name for the first day of the week” (The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 22, Revelation, p. 5).

In the Spirit

This state of mind, emotions, feelings, and thoughts should be experienced by all honest and good hearts, especially born-again individuals, when the first day of the week arrives! This means God-fearing people will have the right attitude and correct manner of thinking on Sunday so as to be in church services. At church, we have the (1) observance of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7), (2) giving of one’s money into the church treasury based on his prosperity (1 Cor. 16:1-2), (3) singing of praises to God through congregational singing (Col. 3:16), (4) preaching of God’s Word (Acts 20:7), and (5) stirring up of one another to love and good works by our presence (Heb. 10:23-25).

John could not be in church services on the first day of the week, Sunday. He was on the Isle of Patmos, having been banished there under the persecution of Domitian, Emperor of Rome. Being “in -the spirit,” John recalls the usual church services. He had the spirit of true devotion. Though on that desert island, John was in a religious enjoyment state of mind to devote Sunday to the worship of God and to the honoring of the risen Savior. What a rich spiritual influence the soul enjoys when “in the spirit on the Lord’s day.”

The Attitude Seen Today .

You seldom hear Sunday called “the Lord’s day.” The conduct of too many individuals, even some baptized believers, is that the first day of the week is their own personal day to do with as they choose. Some churches encourage this attitude by disbanding all Sunday services during certain months of the year or having church services on another weekday instead of Sunday, “the Lord’s day.”

Where is the Lord’s day for many? Their reply1s in their behavior! No church services for me! It is my own personal day for activities such as these:

1. Sleep-late day.

2. Be-at-the-cottage-on-the-lake day.

3. Return-from-weekend-activities day.

4. Wash day.

5. Overhaul-the-car day.

6. Free-will-to-work-overtime-at-the-factory day.

7. Mow-the-lawn day.

8. Roof-the-house day.

9. Paint-the-house day.

10 Clean-the-house day.

11. Hunting day.

12. Fishing day.

13. Golfing day.

14., Go-visit-relatives day.

15. Stay-at-home-with-company day.

16. Only-day-I-have-to-work-on-the-farm day.

17. Only-day-I-have-to-rest day.

18. Mother’s day.

19. Father’s day.

20. Tour-the-country day.

21. Boat-racing day.

22. Hot-rod day.

23. A-loaf-and-take-it-easy day.

24. Football day.

25. Baseball day.

26. Read-the-Sunday-paper day:

27. Adinfinitum.

Also, the Lord’s day has become the “Too-Hot Day” or “Too-Cold Day” or “Too-Rainy Day” or “Pain-in-the-Body Day” instead of “in the spirit on the Lord’s day.” They use Sunday for their own personal selfish interest and gratification.

Final Word

God permits you to decide how you will treat “the Lord’s day” and whether you will “be born again.” “Yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17). Believe the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12). Be “in the spirit on the Lord’s day.”

Truth Magazine XXII: 1, pp. 11-12
January 5, 1978

What’s Happened to the Lord’s Day?

By Johnny Stringer

Of the making of special days there is seemingly no end. Men have an apparent inclination to set aside days to honor prominent individuals and to commemorate momentous events, and the result is that there are so many special days that it is a difficult matter to keep track of them all. There is Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, George Washington’s birthday, Lincoln’s birthday, and the list could go on and on. Yet, despite our penchant for the observance of special days, men have shown an amazing lack of interest in the day that God has set aside in honor of the Lord.

That there is a day especially set aside by deity for the honor of the Lord is clear from John’s reference to a day which he designated “the Lord’s day” (Rev. 1:10). This could be no other day than the first day of the week, for it was on that day that Christ was resurrected and His church was established, and it is upon that day that Christians are to assemble and remember Him in a special way by partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7). As men are busily setting aside and observing special days, it is appropriate to ask, “What’s happened to the Lord’s day?”

Of all the special days, none is so important as the Lord’s day. This is not to say that other special days are wrong, provided they are kept in proper perspective. For example, it is good, in view of all that our parents have done for us and meant to us to have days in which we remember our mothers and fathers and express our appreciation to them. We must remember, however, the, unlike the Lord’s day, such days as these are set aside, not in honor of deity, but of human beings and human events. Their observance is not something that God has demanded as a part of our service to Him. The Lord’s day, however, is in honor of deity; its observance is, part of the divinely revealed religion of Christ. Thus, it is a holy day and its importance is paramount.

When people are more diligent about the observance of days which honor human beings and commemorate human events than they are about observing the Lord’s day, they clearly reveal that they have a higher regard for these human beings and events than they have for the Lord. There are those, for example, who never fait to send a card to their mothers on Mother’s Day, or in some way express their love for their mothers, yet persistently fail to honor the Lord by scriptural observance of the Lord’s day. Certainly it is good to use Mother’s Day as an occasion to show in a special way the love we have for our mothers; but to be more interested in Mother’s Day than in the Lord’s day betrays the fact that we love our mothers more than we do the Lord. This does not mean that we love our mothers too much; it means that we love the Lord too little.

Those who are of this disposition need to be reminded of the principle that our Lord enunciated in Matt. 10:37, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” The same principle is taught in Lk. 14:26, where Jesus said that a man must hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothels, and sisters in order to be His disciple. He did not use the word “hate” literally, but as a strong figure of speech, a very forceful and emphatic way of saying that we must love these relatives less than we love the Lord. If our love for the Lord exceeds our love for all mere humans, then we will necessarily be more interested in honoring Him on His day than we are in honoring any human being on that person’s special day.

There are those who, even on the rare occasions that they attend church- services on the Lord’s day, do so more to honor a human being than to honor Christ. For example, there are some who attend one time a year-on Mother’s Day! Whom do you think they are honoring?

In fact, denominational groups sometimes set aside certain Lord’s day assemblies for special services designed for the observance of some event other than the Lord’s day. For example, the following announcement appeared recently in the newspaper under the title, “Pleasant Valley Homecoming”:

Everyone to invited to attend the first Homecoming at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, also known as Back Horn, located near Walcott, Sunday, May 15.

Homecoming, high attendance day and open home for the newly remodeled church will begin at 10 Sunday morning and continue until 3:30 In the afternoon. Former pastors will be attending, the church history will be related, various singing groups will be featured and other activities have been planned for the special observance.

I’m sure a wonderful time was had by all, but does this sound like the primary purpose was to honor the Lord? No, they obviously substituted Homecoming Day for the Lord’s day.

As I write these words, Mother’s Day has just passed, and I am reminded that some denominational churches design their services on that day so as to honor, not the Lord, but mothers. On Mother’s Day they have special Mother’s Day services, and on Father’s Day they have special Father’s Day services. Surely, it is right and scriptural for preachers to teach the truth regarding the responsibilities of mothers and fathers, and regarding the respect and appreciation that children should have for their parents. But to center the activities of the Lord’s day assembly around mothers or fathers, so that they are the ones being honored rather than the Lord; is quite another matter. Some also have been known to set aside certain Lord’s day assemblies to honor grandmothers and grandfathers. The Lord’s day has ceased to be treated as His by these groups. Rather than seeking to honor the Lord, they use His day to honor mere humans.

Another problem is that so many of man’s special days come on or near the Lord’s day, so that people often use such days as an occasion. to neglect the scriptural observance of the Lord’s day. This has become a greater problem as more and more special days have come to be observed on Monday, so that people sometimes get that day as a holiday from their jobs. Thus, having three consecutive days off from work, they are able to travel away from home, and in their recreational pursuits which are occasioned by some special day, they forget the Lord’s day. Similarly, there are children who will fail to assemble with saints to honor the Lord on His day, in order that they can assemble with their brothers and sisters to honor their mother or father on bother’s Day or Father’s Day; and there are mothers and fathers who will fail to assemble for worship on the Lord’s day, in order that they can be present on such occasions- thereby choosing to receive honor from their children rather than to give honor to the Lord on His day.

Yes, as men give priority to humanly devised special days, it is with a sense of urgency that we ask, “What’s happened to the Lord’s day?” It strikes me as noteworthy that as we read in scripture of the various days observed by the devout in Israel, we find little inclination to set aside days in honor of human beings, no matter how great they were. Where, for example, do we read of any celebration of the birthday of Moses or of Abraham? Rather than being preoccupied with setting aside and observing days to honor human beings and human events, they were more concerned with observing the holy days which God had set aside to honor and glorify deity. Modern man would do well to be similarly disposed.

Truth Magazine XXII: 1, pp. 10-11
January 5, 1978