Is Christmas For Christians?

Is Christmas For Christians?

(Family Worship Worksheet)

Christmas--What Will It Mean for You? CHRISTMAS means different things to different people. Many view it as a time of vacation when the whole family gets together. They look forward to Christmas as a joyous occasion featuring good food, singing and dancing, preferred companionship and the exchanging of presents. A California musician summed up his feelings about his yearly trip home for Christmas in this way: "All my grandparents will be there. . . . Everybody will be cooking, and I'll probably gain 30 pounds. It's the only time of the year when the whole family gets together." Today, many view Christmas as a time for what?

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION: 1) Read 2 Cor. 6:17 and you decide: how does this scripture help you decide whether celebrating Christmas makes Jehovah happy or does it deeply hurt his feelings?

2) Christmas "may be" an official national holiday in the country where you live. Read 1 Corinthians 10:20, 21 and you decide: If the nations celebrate this holiday, do I want to?

DID YOU KNOW? WHERE DO CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS COME FROM?

Origins of Christmas

"The first reported observance of Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ was more than 300 years after the event. In the 4th Century, Christianity became the official religion of the Holly Roman Empire, and, scholars believe, Christians set Jesus' birth date at Dec. 25 to coincide with existent celebrating by non- Christians. In England and Germany, they celebrated the winter solstice.

Most scholars agree that December 25 was assigned by the Catholic Church as Jesus' birthday. Why? "Most probably the reason," says The New Encyclop?dia Britannica, "is that early Christians wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the `birthday of the unconquered sun." The pagan holidays replaced by Christianity were the Roman celebrations of Saturnalia--which were carnivalesque celebrations with gift-giving--and later the Yule celebrations in England and Germany that celebrated the winter solstice

As the predominant form of Christianity spread across Europe, Christmas expanded with it. The Catholic Church adopted the viewpoint that it was fitting to perpetuate a joyous festival in honor of Jesus' birthday. Accordingly, in 567 C.E., the Council of Tours "proclaimed the 12 days from Christmas to Epiphany as a sacred and festive season."--The Catholic Encyclopedia for School and Home.

"Christmas has gained and slipped in popularity over the centuries. It was banned for a time in England and America by Puritans who objected to the frivolity associated with it. But toward the mid-1800s, Christmas was in trouble, waning in popularity. Religious leaders welcomed an injection of commerce, via gift-giving and Santa Claus, to revive the holiday. The revival was credited largely to English author Charles Dickens, whose 1843 `A Christmas Carol' showed a reformed Scrooge who became a generous giver." And, modern day Christmas as we know it was born.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION: 1) Now that you know a little about the beginnings of Christmas, Eph 4:25 tells us to do what?

Christmas Day Parades: Christmas parades announce the beginning of the Holiday season. They give people the signal to go out to the stores the next day and begin shopping for Christmas. Stores hold huge the days before & after Christmas The ongoing festive spirit, shopping spree, helps the shopkeepers to gain maximum sales and profits. In the US, the most popular Christmas parades are shown on tv and is paid for by a major

department store ? now you know why.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION: 1) What are Christmas parades for? How do you think Jehovah views them and how does this affect how you feel about them?

WHEN WAS JESUS BORN? - IS IT IMP0RTANT TO THE TRUE FLOCK?

The shepherds were watching their flocks at night at the time and Joseph and Mary had traveled a long way to Bethlehem to be registered in keeping with the decree of Caesar Augustus. The shepherds would not have their flocks outside during the cold wet rainy winter season of Palestine, nor is it reasonable to conclude that Caesar would require all the Jews to do so much traveling at the worst time of the year for it; a fact apparent from Jesus' words, "Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime."-- Matt. 24:20; Luke 2:1-20, NW.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION: 1) READ Luke 2:1-20, where were the shepherds living? And, what were the people doing as a result of the decree from Caesar Augustus?

2) While modern Christmas abounds in "gaudy commercialism," the fact is that true Christians never expected to celebrate Jesus' birth. Rather, the Bible emphasizes the ransom that Christ provided by his death and resurrection to heaven. READ - Matthew 20:28 ? what will remain of importance through all time to come?

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NATIVITY SCENE:

Who were the "wise men"? In nativity scenes, prominently displayed at this time of year, three "wise men," kings, are shown bringing gifts to the babe Jesus in a manger. But the Bible does not say that these men were kings; they were pagan astrologers. "A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture," page 856, acknowledges: "The Magi (D[ouay] V[ersion] `wise men') were originally a Median priestly tribe of clairvoyants. . . . The term later became general . . . for astrologers, sorcerers, etc. of all nationalities." Did you know that?

How many "wise men" were there? If you look in the Bible you will nowhere find that it says there were three. The number is not given. The book "The Glory of Christmas," on page 72, admits: "The brief

account in Matthew . . . is the only mention of these Wise Men in the Bible. It does not name them, say where they came from or even how many there were."

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NATIVITY SCENE: CONTINUED..... When did the "magi" visit Jesus? Nativity scenes sponsored by church groups usually show the "magi" bringing their gifts to the newborn Jesus in a manger. But read the Bible account at Matthew chapter 2 for yourself. You will see that it says that, by the time the astrologers arrived, Jesus was a "young child" living in a "house." (Matt. 2:11) It was only the shepherds who visited the babe Jesus in the manger.--Luke 2:12. MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION:

1) READ - Matt 2:11, does it say Jesus was an infant in a manger?

Did God use a star to lead the astrologers to Jesus? Remember, too, that the "star" seen by the astrologers led them first to wicked King Herod, who then ordered all the young boys in and around Bethlehem slaughtered in an effort to kill Jesus. MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION:

1) Do these facts point to God or to his adversary, Satan the Devil, as the source of that moving "star"?

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION: 2) READ - Luke 2:8-12 Jehovah did indeed announce the birth of his Son, but he did so by means of Whom?

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION: 3) Read Isa. 47:13,14 Jehovah's Word says what about astrology

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Who were the "wise men"? Are they important to true worshippers of Jehovah?

GIFT GIVING ? IS IT SCRIPTUAL?

The Bible does say that wise men, or astrologers, brought gifts to Jesus. However, Christmas giving is not patterned after their example because they did not exchange gifts with one another. More important, they did not give their gifts at Jesus' birth but at a later time. Their actions were in harmony with the ancient custom of honoring rulers. Note that the Bible record says that when they arrived Jesus was no longer in a manger but was living in a house. That is why Herod, based on what they had told him, decreed that all boys two years of age and under be killed.

In contrast, the annual gift giving at Christmas does not induce thankfulness. Instead, people expect to receive presents. Many become highly insulted if they do not get anything. Even those who receive gifts are often disappointed if the gift does not meet their expectations.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION: 1) Jesus certainly does not condemn giving. On the contrary, always being willing to give unselfishly of himself in the service of others, he taught his disciples: "Practice giving." And showing that giving would result in the givers themselves being blessed, he added: "And people will give to you."--Luke 6:38. So, is gift giving at Christmas something we should avoid, and if so why?

2) However, Jesus was not here referring to the exchanging of gifts. Rather, he was pointing out the universal truth that unselfish giving is generally reciprocated. This is especially true when the one giving has a proper motive and loves another "intensely from the heart."--1 Peter 1:22. Why, then should be Imitators of the "Christ"?

SHOULD I GET TOGETHER WITH MY FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS?

Some people believe that celebrating Christmas isn't a big deal. They decide to overlook the pagan roots of this holiday and use it as an opportunity to get together with their family - seeing as everyone gets the day off.

What, then, is the modern-day Christian likely to conclude as he views this national holiday? Dedicated Christians certainly will not convey to others (especially their family) the idea that they believe in a pagan ?originated Christmas tradition. Personal decisions need to be made and a stand must be made.

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