by Have you heard someone say something like this, “Observing Christmas is wrong because the Bible has not authorized it?” I will write on this over the next few weeks.
If we’re not careful, as with so many other statements that are made by seeming scholars of the Word, we will fall prey to twisting much scripture to support their unbiblical claims. Taking this statement from its core is saying, “Since God did not ordain Christmas celebrations then it is a sin.” The question then is, “Is it wrong to observe a celebration concerning God that was not ordained by God?” Simple observation, with scripture upon scripture, will reveal the answer to this question:
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Celebrations that God ordained for the Jews are found in Leviticus, known as the Feasts of the Lord: Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles
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Another celebration of the Jews, a feast not ordained by God yet approved by God, is called the Feast of Purim which is found in Esther. This is a celebration of the divine deliverance and redemption by God. As a part of this feast, they were to eat, have joy, and send gifts to one another and to the poor. Sound familiar? (Esther 9:20-22)
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As a Jew, Jesus participated in the Jewish feasts (John 5:1). From childhood, Jesus would have observed the Feast of Purim every year. If there were an issue with any aspect of this celebration not ordained by God, then Jesus would have condemned it as He boldly did with all Pharisee religious traditions that violated scripture. Jesus, who is God, allowed this celebration to honor God, because it did not violate any scripture.
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With this example, this statement is obviously untrue: “Observing Christmas is wrong because the Bible has not authorized it.”
Therefore, commonsense and simple logic tells us that as long as our Christmas celebration does not violate God’s Word, let’s joyfully remember Jesus’ birth according to the Bible! Look to Purim: make a feast, have joy, give gifts to one another, and give to the poor. Make your Christmas a joyous time as you celebrate the miraculous birth of our deliverer and our redeemer, Jesus Christ.
