Who Put Christ In Christmas?
By Larry Ray Hafley

During December we are reminded to, “Keep Christ In Christmas.” Who, though, put him there in the first place?

Did God? We know “the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 Jn. 4:14). Jesus said that he neither acted or spoke of his own will, but that he said and did only those things authorized by his Father (Jn. 6:38; 12:49). Is the celebration of Jesus’ birth a thing spoken by the Father to the Son?

We are not saying the birth of Jesus was not the Father’s will. It was. To God the Father, Jesus said, “A body hast thou prepared me” (Heb. 10:5). “When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4). About Jesus’ birth, as related by Matthew and Luke, there can be no dispute. However, we are asking a separate question; namely, did God put Christ in the tradition that we know as Christmas? What Scripture shows that God placed Christ in Christmas and put Christmas in the worship of the church? Does anyone know? If not, how can we say that God put Christ in Christmas?

Did Jesus? Jesus was given all authority (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-23). Did he place himself in Christmas? Since he is the founder and the foundation of our faith, if his Father did not put him in Christmas, perhaps, as head of the church, he did so himself (Eph. 5:23, 24). If he did, where might we find this information? Surely, in the New Testament, but do we find it there? Do we have a source which shows that Jesus taught his disciples to keep a tradition called Christmas, or an annual remembrance of his birth? If so, where is it? If it cannot be found, is it correct to say that Christ put himself in Christmas and that he set Christmas in the church?

Did The Holy Spirit? Jesus promised the apostles the Spirit would guide them “into all truth,” revealing to them things he had not spoken to them directly (Jn. 16:12-15). So, then, did the Spirit design the Christmas season as we know it, and did he put Christ in Christmas? If he did, we must accept his word and “keep Christ in Christmas,” for to reject the Spirit is to reject God (1 Cor. 2:10-13; 1 Thess. 1:5; 2:13; 5:19; Cf. Acts 5:3, 4, 9). Where has the Spirit revealed that he is the one who put Christ in Christmas and Christmas in the church?

Did The Apostles? To reject the word of the apostles is to reject the word of Christ and God (Lk. 10:16; 1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Thess. 4:1, 2, 8). The “apostles’ doctrine” is “the doctrine of the Lord” (Acts 2:42; 13:12). Thus, if we can find the apostles putting and keeping Christ in Christmas, we may do likewise with the approval of heaven. Do we read of disciples who, at the behest of the apostles, observed the Christmas tradition, or who noted the birth of Jesus in any manner? Since keeping Christ in Christmas allegedly is an important duty, we should expect to find the first fervent and devout disciples of the Lord doing so. But, is that what we find?

“December 25 is...observed as the...birth of Christ. In early times this day was not one of the feasts of the Christian Church. In fact, the church fathers frowned upon the celebration of birthdays and thought them a heathen custom. It is thought that Christmas was not celebrated until some 300 years after the birth of Christ.

“No one is certain why December 25 was chosen. There is nothing in the New Testament to indicate that this is the date of the Nativity” (The New Book Of Knowledge, Vol. 3, p. 289).

Since neither God, nor Christ, nor the Holy Spirit, nor the apostles put Christ in Christmas, why should we? If your preacher encourages you to “keep Christ in Christmas,” show him this article and ask him to answer it. 

Why I Go to Every Service of the Church
Author Unknown

1. I Go To Every Service Of The Church Because I Am Made Stronger. Power is given in worship to live a nobler life (Acts 20:32). There is the sweetest fellowship on earth. Why should I want to miss ANY service?

2. I Go To Every Service Of The Church Because God Wants The Church To Grow (cf. Acts 2:47; 4:4). The church always grows when members put God first by loyal attendance. Here is a way all can help in the finest work on earth.

3. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Set A Good Example. Many look my way and follow in my steps (Matt. 5:14-16). Influence is either good or bad. Any hour the church meets, my influence is with or against Christ.

4. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Prove My Love And Gratitude. One who truly loves God does not ask if he must attend all services. His love compels him to! If I show love to God by attendance, I show lack of love by absence (Matt. 22:37-39).

5. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Obey God. The Bible says, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25). Any service where the Bible is taught, prayer is made, and God is worshipped, is good, and “to him that knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Jas. 4:17). If it is good to be present for all services, it is bad to be absent from any.

6. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Put First Things First. “But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). Jesus said the church must be first to the Christian, even before seeking food, clothing or drink.

7. I Go To Every Service Of The Church Because It Is Safe To Do So. All who forsake an assembly wonder if they sin, but I know I am safe in attending EVERY service (Rom. 14:21-23).

8. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Abound In The Lord’s Work (1 Corinthians 15:58). A true Christian wants to do ALL he can and not as LITTLE as he can. Since the assemblies of the church are vital, I must abound in attendance.

9. I Go To Every Service Of The Church To Be An Example To The Lost. Jesus taught His disciples to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). — Selected & Edited 

10 Reasons Why Folks Attend Bible Study!
 

1. They love the Lord.

2. They love the word, the Bible.

3. They love to study the Bible.

4. They love the Lord’s church.

5. They love to see it grow.

6. They love their own souls.

7. They love the souls of others.

8. They love to do good.

9. They love to see souls saved.

10. They love the fellowship of the Lord’s people. — Selected