A religious apologist and scholar reported that no one is certain of the date of Christ's birth. The Roman Catholic Church decided to place the date on the day of THE pagan sun god worship as a method of converting pagans in the Roman Empire to Catholicism. All believe this was the primary motive for the December date. Could this possibly be the date of Jesus' birth or close to it? No! What evidence does exist regarding the birth of Christ says otherwise. This winter solstice celebration date is based on superstitious fear and sun worship.
Jeremiah 10:2 NKJV 2 Thus says the LORD: "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
God said that His people were not to fear the Sun, Moon and Stars of heaven nor worship them as the pagan nations do that do not know God. First, before we explain the evidence, we should realize that the Roman Catholic Church was not the only organization which claimed to be the true Church of God. The early true church never heard of Christmas. Centuries passed before the large, apostate church ever so gradually, began blending and adapting in pagan practices. Later, some writers began urging a celebration at the same time as the pagan winter solstice observances. This was done for the simple reason that so many pagans were already accustomed to “joyous” sometimes “riotous” orgies of feasting at the time of the winter solstice.
Each year, articles appear in thousands of publications at Christmas time, cheerfully admitting that the true origins of the celebration date are pagan. Further, such articles also admit that Christ was probably born several months earlier than December 25th, also admit the pagan origin of the Christmas tree, “Santa Claus,” mistletoe, holly wreaths, yule logs, and the exchanging of gifts. One Christian apologist claims that “gift giving has become excessive and like extortion”. He felt the commercialization of the season did not bring us closer to Christ. There are some important clues we should understand. They begin with the miraculous birth of John the Baptist, who was Jesus’ second cousin, and the “voice in the wilderness” who was to announce the coming of the Messiah.
Luke 1:5-23 NKJV 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. … 8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division...13 the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 "... 23 And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.
The events in the order of his course as priest at the Temple offer the best evidence of Jesus' real birth date.
HOW THE DIVISION OF THE PRIESTHOOD HELPS US WITH CHRIST'S BIRTHDAY
As a good historian, Luke provides vital information and an orderly account of the time period surrounding Christ’s birth. First, in a long section from Luke 1:5-8 to 2:8, Zachariah, the priest was of the priestly course of Abia or Abijah which began June 18th and extended until July 1st. (See 1 Chronicles 24:10.) This would be in the summer.
Luke 1:26-37 NKJV 26 Now in the sixth month (of Elizabeth's pregnancy) the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary..." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
A second great miracle is about to begin. One miracle was for the elderly parents to have John the Baptist and now the immaculate conception of Mary.
35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."
After he returned home, his elderly wife Elizabeth became pregnant. His son John was born six months before Jesus. This information allows us to calculate Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy as December, during which Mary also conceived Jesus. Note Luke 1:26-38. This means Jesus Christ would have been born in the Fall. The Bible has Fall and Spring Holy Days to celebrate Christ. The evidence is below:
- The priestly course of Abijah ends in June/July. John the Baptist's mother is impregnated then.
- Wait nine months from summer and John is born in the spring time March/April.
- John is six months older than Jesus Christ therefore add six months and Jesus is born in the Fall.
A second point is that the sheep were outside the barn at night when Christ was born inside, in the manger. It would be too cold to have sheep outside at night in the fields in the winter. See Luke 2:8.
Luke 2:8-11 NKJV 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
It is clear Christ was not born on December 25 on a cold winter night; that date choice was a pagan influenced political choice. If we really love Jesus Christ let’s worship him in spirit and truth.
The early Christian Church did not celebrate Christmas. The Bible does not mention Christmas. Early Christians did celebrate God’s Holy Days. The Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition states that even as late as 245 A.D. The Catholic theologian, Origen still said that keeping Christmas was sinful. Yehovah or Jehovah ( God) told Israel in Deuteronomy 12:30-31 not to inquire about the pagan rites and customs because He knew it would be spiritually debilitating for them.
Deuteronomy 12:30 NKJV 30 "take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.'
Why didn't God want his people to copy the paganism of the world around them?
Deuteronomy 12:31-32 NKJV 31 "You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
Pagan ways bring up bad associations and memories to God that are not spiritually good for believers either.
IS THE SECULARIZATION OF AMERICA A GOOD THING ?
Academia is leading the way in removing all religious labels from all holidays including Christmas. They are called winter break or spring break. God is being surgically removed from education and our calendars by the elites. Even if believers have disagreements on Christ's birth date and other issues, theologically the secularization of the nation is setting society up for an even more damaging future. The western world is spiraling toward a full denial of God. These trends will create a cultural and spiritual vacuum. What will fill that emptiness? Viewing what we can see being promoted now, we predict earth worship. It will be similar to pure paganism. This will be augmented by state worship. Eventually it will lead to worship of a man. If you think the national SOCIALISTS who worshiped Hitler was so wrong wait until we see what is coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NKJV 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
According to the Bible this is mankind's future to be worshiping an evil man, one worse than Hitler. Unbelievable! In Ps 146:3 and other verses God says to not put our trust in human leaders. WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT BEFORE YOU TELL SOMEONE YOU DO NOT KEEP CHRISTMAS FIRST, LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE A STRONG CHRISTIAN. Otherwise, they will think we are not a believer in Christ. If you get the chance, explain that we do celebrate the coming of the Messiah in a more purely Biblical manner. We celebrate Jesus also.
All the Holy Days come from GOD'S WORD in the Bible, not from human tradition and our own ideas. Christ's birth was probably from all available, evidence in the Fall during the Fall Holy Days which we celebrate. Those days represent the coming of Jesus to set up His Kingdom. Those days also celebrate His first coming to qualify as our Redeemer. He paid for our salvation. When I was a Baptist I had never even heard mentioned in church, the Holy Days that are in the Bible. Below is an example of one:
Acts 20:6 NKJV 6 But we sailed way from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Paul was clearly involved with and keeping Biblical days, see also I Cor. 5:6-9. Puritans banned Christmas in England and America so Charles Dickens wrote his book the, The Christmas Carol, where he demonized those opposed to Christmas (scrooges) as a way to help revitalize the holiday. We do not need to fear Christmas or act ugly toward others who do not yet understand or care about the pagan compromise.
Be loving and pleasant and kind to all. Win people over with love and smiles. But remember what God says about pagan traditions. God says we should flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14).
The Pilgrims did not celebrate Christmas either. They realized that it was not in the Bible. In early America, a law was passed in Massachusetts in 1659 which stated that “Whosoever shall be found observing Christmas, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way, every such person shall pay as a fine five shillings to the county.” OH HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED!
Note ICG booklet Christmas the Untold Story”
