Why do Christians celebrate something that does not have it's founding in the Bible?
It was not until several hundred years after Jesus lived on the earth that people began to commemorate his birth on December 25. But the Bible or any historic records do not indicate that date as Jesus’ birth.
So why was December 25 chosen?
Some who later claimed to be Christian (Catholicism) likely “wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun.’” (The New Encyclopædia Britannica) In winter, when the sun seemed weakest, pagans held ceremonies to get this source of warmth and light to come back from its distant travels. December 25(winter solstice) was thought to be the day that the sun began its return. In an effort to convert pagans, religious leaders (Catholicism)adopted this festival and tried to make it seem “Christian.”
So how can "Christians" observe something that is clearly an abomination to the God of Abraham?
What happens when the blind lead the blind?
Answers & Comments
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i have no idea...no one really knows when jesus was born so they picked a date shared with the celtics (yule)...which is pretty contradicting because they killed 7,000+ of the celtics, pagans, ect...and yule was a holiday that celebrated the death (and also rebirth) of the year and harvest...and some activities that happened at yule included massive orgies.
It was just something that everyone was doing. Our family got a big Christmas tree every year. My dad bought it and brought it into the house and put it up and the rest of us all decorated it. We all gave gifts to each other and went to any Christmas celebrations that happened to be in the area at the time like at the church or school. We sang Christmas songs at school too, not just "Jingle bells" and the secular ones but "It came upon a Midnight Clear," and "O Little Town of Bethlehem," etc. This was just something that surrounded us and no way to get away from it and we thought it was neat especially all the food but we didn't have much money so the gifts were not much. It made no difference what the encyclopedia said or the Atheists or Jews or anybody else. We learned from our church, our family traditions, relatives (who were all Christians) and the school, but we believed our family the most and the church.
Christmas was created as a rival celebration on a day that was celebrating paganism.
It was hoped that it would replace the pagan celebration in popularity with a completely different Christian based celebration.
Now many years later the pagan celebrations have all been forgotten as Christmas has almost completely taken over.
However commercialization has now started to take over.
Let us not forget the reason for Christmas. The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Catholics chose the date, but they did not come later as you assert. The winter solstice was chosen because of the symbolism of Christ , the Light of the World. Christ Mass sounds like it has something to do with Christ. It began as a celebration, the feast of the incarnation. It doesn't have to have it's founding in the bible, although the birth of Christ is clearly a huge event in the bible. It doesn't "seem" Christian as you say, it IS Christian, and has been for many generations. How can you piously assert that Christmas is "clearly an abomination to the God of Abraham?" Christ gave His Church(Catholic) authority to bind and loose on earth and in heaven. Where did you get your authority?
I think that whoever decided to celebrate Christmas on the winter solstice (a pope, maybe?) wanted to give the people they were ministering to something else to do. There is absolutely no connection between Christmas and the pagan holiday, so how could it be an abomination? What were Christians supposed to do the day the pagans were sacrificing stuff, play monopoly? :)
I don't see why this is an abomination. Early missionaries to Europe knew that people loved their traditional celebrations, and rather than force them to stop, they translated the meanings of the celebrations in Christian terms. It doesn't matter when Jesus was actually born, but it is a special time to thank God for sending him. Our two most important holidays, the birth and resurrection, have pagan roots in their celebrations, but they are such wonderful times to focus on what God has done for us. I can't imagine God thinking it is an abomination.
The actual date of Jesus's birth is not important. What is important is that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.
The first celebration of Christ's birth is found in the second chapter of Luke.
Luk 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
"One man esteems one day above another; another man esteems every day to be the same. Let each be persuaded in his own mind." (Romans 14:5)
The Jews had many festivals that corresponded to new moons and seasons. This is not abominable to God. But setting up in your mind a notion about God that is false is idolatry. The Pharisees didn't see God when he walked in their midst in the form of Christ. Beware their leaven. They were zealous for the law, but didn't understand the heart of God. Don't be like them. "Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness for all who believe." (Romans 10:4)
To celebrate the Birth of Our Lord & Saviour.
hmm perhaps re- read some history, you are actually wrong. Also maybe give the bible a whirl too. Jesus' Birthday was never mentioned to be on December 25.
when the blind lead the blind they have a tendency to smack into a wall.