It is very difficult if not impossible in some cases to get folks to engage in an objective study of "Christmas" because most tend to be subjective when this cherished observance is under consideration.

 Folks who usually demand a "thus saith Lord," where other religious observances are under consideration, lose their objectivity when we consider how one should conduct one's self regarding "Christmas."

 Having read this far,  you are probably not as prejudiced as many. You can probably study with me objectively.  I know this isn't easy since we have all formed our beliefs and practices honestly believing that our practices are pleasing to Christ.

 I have often asked folks the following question: "If  I can show you that a particular belief or practice that you cherish is totally without Biblical authority, will you give it up?"  I ask you, kind reader, what about you?

 The importance of having authority  behind every  belief and practice cannot be overstated. A curse from heaven is threatened upon those who "add  to," "take from," or "substitute for," that which is authorized in the New Testament (2 John 9-11; Galatians 1:6-11; Revelation 22:18-19; Matthew 15:1-9; Colossians 3:17). Often the things  people do intending to honor Christ do the exact opposite. You cannot honor Christ while engaging in a practice which His word doesn't  authorize! The religious observance  of  "Christmas" falls into this category.

 While listening to my car radio recently, I was impressed with the sincerity with which the "disk jockey" spoke of the birthday of Jesus Christ supposedly on December 25th.

 The songs they were playing were beautiful and emotionally touching!  I was in the process of writing this tract already, and I wondered how it would be possible to write something that would convince folks of the total lack of Scriptural authority for this observance on December 25th, or any other day as the birthday of Christ , without  "turning off" the reader who in many cases is deeply involved in what he considers about the most "holy day" of the year, "Christmas?" In fact what they are trying to do, to use their own terminology is,  "to put Christ back in Christmas." Little do many folks know that Christ was never "in Christmas" to begin with. How can He be put back where He never was?

  I thought to myself, you will never be able to convince most folks, since they are bent on observing this celebration.  Someone may ask, "then why this tract?"  Because there are a few into whose hands this tract may fall who are of the number who have never heard "the rest of the story" to borrow the words of Paul Harvey, and some of them are honest and will be willing to study and make whatever sacrifices faithfulness to Christ demands of them (Mark 10:28-30).

 Sometimes one must face the opposition from one's own family when one has a conscience problem (having learned what the Scriptures teach) in observing  religiously, those things associated with "Christmas." I wonder how the Roman Catholic or the Protestant can tell the difference between their "religious" observance of "Christmas" and some of  my  own brethren's "non-religious" observance of "Christmas" when the houses of  both  look just as "Christmassy?" My  conscience cannot be another's guide, nor would I attempt to make it such, but whatever a Christian does at this time of the year ,  must  not " bid God speed to error" (2 John 9-11; Ephesians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Even the exercising of what we recognize as our "liberties," must not put a stumbling block in the path of others, nor cause them to violate their own consciences (1 Corinthians 8:8-13; Romans 14:14- 15).

  The fact that one's own loved ones may become terribly upset over this or any other doctrinal matter on which we may differ, while making our choices more difficult,  must not be the deciding factor in the choices we make as Christians. I must remain true to Christ at all costs (Matthew 10:37). Jesus Christ went to Calvary to make my salvation possible. Can I not sacrifice whatever I must for Him?  See (Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 5:6-8; Philippians 3:7-15; Luke 14:23-33).

 If I am to study the matter of "Christmas" in an unbiased manner, I must allow reason and revelation (Scripture) to be my guide, not emotions or what someone else will think. Let me say it again emphatically, "you simply cannot honor Christ by engaging in activities for which there is no Scriptural precedent or authority!" (Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 10:23; James 1:25; John 16:12-13; 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 For the first few centuries after the religion of Christ came into the world, there was no such thing as "Christmas."  No religious significance was placed on December 25th whatsoever.  This day began to figure prominently in the apostate church known today as the Roman Catholic church in the fifth century A.D.

 The birth of Christ is recorded in the New Testament  and was a great event in history!  Jesus becoming flesh to dwell among us a God-man was in fulfillment of Old Testament  prophecies and is crucial to His identity as our Savior (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 2:1-20; John 1:1-4, 14).  Jesus did not begin with His fleshly birth of a virgin however;  He had existed with the Father in heaven from eternity (Philippians 2:5-11; John 17:5). Jesus was "declared to be the Son of God with power...by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:1-4).  It is interesting to note that no memorial to the birth of Christ is authorized, nor was it observed by Christians as they followed "the apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42).  They were authorized to observe one memorial however, and this weekly.  It is a memorial to the death and resurrection of Jesus, known as the "Lord's Supper" or  "Communion" (Acts 20:6-7; 1 Corinthians 11:20-34; 1 Corinthians 10:16).  Men must respect the silence of the Scriptures and only "speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11; Hebrews 7:14).

 To answer this important question we are forced to go outside of the Bible to secular history and to the history of the apostate Roman church a few centuries after the period of inspiration closed. Read carefully the following historical statement from the founder of "Christmas," the Roman Catholic church!  "Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church.."  (Christ's church ket).  "The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt, Pagan customs centering around the January calends gravitated to Christmas" (Catholic Ency. 1911 Ed. published by the Catholic church).

 Under the heading "Natal Day," we find that the early Catholic father, Origen, acknowledged this truth. "...In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a banquet on His birthday.  It is only sinners (like Pharaoh, and Herod) who make great rejoicing over the day in which they were born into this world" (Ibid).

 The 1946 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, says about the same. "Christmas (i.e. "the Mass of Christ") ... was not among the earliest festivals of the church.."

 Christmas was not instituted by Christ or the apostles, or by Bible authority.  It was begun later from Paganism.  I realize that we all have a few things we think nothing of, which had their origin in Paganism, such as the days of the week.  So far as I know,  no one places any religious significance on such.  If they did and using those days lent credence to Paganism, I would cease to use those names of various Greek gods. "Christmas" does have great religious significance to many Catholics and Protestants and I have a difficult time wishing someone a "merry Christmas" without seeming to be of the same mind with those who perpetuate the errors surrounding this unauthorized observance (Ephesians 5:11; 2 John 9-11; Jude 3).  If I am a "Scrooge" in this matter, it is for Jesus' sake (2 Corinthians 4:1-5).

 Jesus isn't pleased with His "birthday party" that men have dreamed up. They claim to be showing their love for Him by giving Him this party each year in honor of His birth.  These same people fail to observe the one memorial about which He has given the particulars concerning when and how it must be observed, the Communion. In them is fulfilled anew what Jesus said of the Pharisees of  His day. "This people honoreth Me with their lips; But their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men" (Matthew 15:9).  "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition" (Mark 7:7-9 NKJV).  "Christmas" is among several other purely human traditions and customs and stands condemned for lack of authority from Christ.  It is in fact sinful and not something for which one will be blessed for observing (with religious significance) (1 John 3:4; Matthew 7:13-29; Colossians 3:17; Galatians 1:6-11; 2 John 9-11). Please take time to read each Scripture reference! kt.

 "Christmas...It was, according to many authorities, not celebrated  in the first centuries of the Christian church,  as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth..."   "a feast was established in memory of this event (Christ's birth) in the fourth century.  In the fifth century the Western church ordered it to be celebrated on the day of the old Roman feast of the birth of Sol, as no certain knowledge (of the day) of Christ's birth existed." How is that for plain factual and historical evidence?

 To my Roman Catholic friends who may say that since "the church" ordered its observance that makes it proper to observe, let me simply say plainly that this means nothing at all! "The church" that ordered it was not the New Testament church to begin with, and even the New Testament church has no law making prerogatives. The Bible, not the church must authorize a practice before Christ is pleased with it (John 12:48; Acts 3:22-23; Matthew 28:18; Colossians 3:17; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 In opposing the celebration of "Christmasse" I have to many, "trodden on sacred ground!"  Some would see their souls lost in eternal torment before they would consider giving up this as a religious celebration. If they persist and do not obey the gospel of Christ and thereafter walk by the authority of Christ in all things, that is exactly what they will experience (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:22-38, 41, 47; Colossians 1:13-14; Romans 6:3-6; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 1 Peter 1:22-25).

 Most religious sects teach "salvation by faith alone" and that folks should "join the church of their choice" and these are the ones who observe the "mass of Christ" called by the Catholics, and Protestants, "Christmas."

   Those who honor the law of Christ will demand neither more nor less for fellowship than His word authorizes.  First century believers in Jesus as "the Christ"  repented of their sin and error, confessed Jesus as the Son of the living God and were immersed into His death for the forgiveness of alien sins. Such were added by the Lord to his blood bought church, His kingdom and took the family name "Christian" (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-49; Acts 2:22-38,40-41,47; Colossians 1:13-14).

  These folks lived, loved, labored and died in His service and went to glory when they died and never even heard of "Christmas" let alone observe it (2 Timothy 4:6-8).  So can we (Hebrews 5:8-9; Revelation 22:14; Matthew 7:13-28). What will you do my friend? Where you will be forever depends on you being able to answer in keeping with the will of Christ (John 12:48; Acts 3:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 2 John 9-10).

 Is it possible to observe "Christmas" in a "non-religious manner" with one's family like we do other legal "holidays" such as the fourth of July etc.? We may, so long as we do not engage in any activities that would be "bidding Godspeed" to the errors surrounding this season, as we have noted earlier in this tract (Ephesians 5:11; 2 John 9-11; Galatians 1:6-11; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

 Question? As you engage in your "non-religious" observance of  "Christmas" can your friends and neighbors see any difference in what you are doing "non-religiously" and what they are doing "religiously?" Each one must decide for himself. My conscience cannot be your guide in this, or any other matter. I may not always be consistent in this matter, but I certainly attempt to be.

Kenneth E. Thomas