In Defense of Christmas

There is a movement today teaching the pagan roots of Christmas to Christians and encouraging them not to take part in the celebration of this season. It is true that the original observances of the season’s festivities centered around the worship of the sun god and the pagan feasts of the winter solstice. During the winter months, when daylight was in short supply, superstition grew that the sun was leaving the earth, never to return again. To encourage the sun to return, the ancients performed elaborate rituals and ceremonies that included building great bonfires, and decorating with evergreens such as mistletoe, holly and ivy. When the movement of the southern sun stopped, it was believed that their petitions had been heard. The community broke out in celebration which included heavy drinking, carousing, and gluttonous feasting.

The Romans celebrated December 25th as the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun in honor of the Sun God Mithras. When Emperor Constantine came to power, he made Christianity the religion of the empire. In a move to bring unity throughout the land between pagans and Christians, former pagan holidays and festivals were replaced by a Christian theme. The Sun God and his mother Isis became the Son of God – Jesus Christ, and the Virgin Mary. In 375 A.D., the Roman Catholic Church through Pope Julius officially proclaimed the birth of Christ to be December 25th.

This being said, why would I as a Christian defend the celebration of Christmas? Let’s look at Acts chapter 17 in the Bible. Paul had come to Athens, and as was his practice, he went to the local synagogues to discourse with the Jews regarding Jesus the Messiah. Athens was steeped in idolatry. They had never heard of this Jesus, so they invited him to a public place called Areopagus to tell them of this Jesus and his resurrection from the dead. They asked, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”

Paul responded in verse 22, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found and altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”

He continued to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to these men who were inquiring of the hope that was within him. He was being instant, in season and out of season declaring Jesus Christ to a lost people in need of salvation. He did not chide them for their idols, but used the objects of their worship to preach the message of salvation to those who were hopelessly loss and needed to know that the blood of Jesus was the only thing that would wash away the stain of sin in their lives.

No, the Bible does not discuss the practice of Christmas. Yes, the Bible is full of stories of people who worshipped other gods. It also tells us that we are not to have any other gods before the Lord God of hosts. He is a jealous God and will not share His glory with another. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of that sin is death.

Christmas is known the world over as a time to remember that God sent Jesus as a baby in a manger who grew to manhood. He willing went to the cross and paid the penalty for our sin. In this season, the message goes out showing God’s love for mankind. Should we silence this message because of the pagan roots behind the season? Should Paul have refused to use the object of the Athenians worship to preach the gospel? I don’t think so. There’s a world that needs Jesus. Christmas is a perfect opportunity to introduce Him to your friends and neighbors, and to remember where you were without Him as your Savior.

Merry Christmas!