- The development of the feast celebrating the birth of Jesus is directly connected to fading expectations of the imminent return of Christ
- The Christian celebration of Christmas replaced the Roman festival of Dies Invicti Solis (the Day of the Invincible Sun) which was introduced by the Emperor Aurelian in the 3rd century and was celebrated on December 25th
- December 25th was also the birthday of Mithra, the Persian god of light; the day was devoted to the invincible sun
- Festivities of the pagan holiday included:
- All work and business suspended
- The giving of gifts
- Many celebrations and parties
- Easing of certain moral restrictions
- Many Christian writers (including Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Epiphanius) opposed the celebration of Christmas in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. In like manner, the Puritans of the 16th and 17th centuries opposed the celebration of Christmas.
- The celebration of holidays is a personal decision according to the scriptures. No one should be forced to keep a holiday or refused a chance to celebrate—as long as the acts of celebration themselves are scriptural. See Romans 14:4-10 [4] Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
[5] One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
[6] He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
[7] For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
[8] For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
[9] For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
[10] But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
See All... and Colossians 2:16-17 [16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
See All....
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Historical Statements About Christmas
Proverbs 28:7
Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.