"For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. . ." Numbers 23:9

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THE MOUNTAIN MESSENGER

December 2005
Volume 2..........................Number 12
Crum, West Virginia

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"Christmas Tree" ~ or ~ "Holiday Tree" ? ? ?

By James E. Farley

Have you been following all of the hoopla about the major retail stores not saying "Merry Christmas" but saying "Happy Holidays"? Did you hear about Lowe’s calling their trees "holiday trees" this year instead of "Christmas trees"? We are hearing many of those who claim to be "Christians" crying "foul". They are saying "There is a war going on against all Christian symbols" - whatever those are!!! Some are saying they are trying to take Christ out of Christmas . . . as if He was ever in it.

Two who are leading the "defense of Christmas" in 2005 are Fox News Channel personalities, Bill O’Reilly (host of "The O’Reilly Factor") and John Gibson (host of "The Big Story"). Gibson has a new book out called, THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS: How The Liberal Plot To Ban The Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought.

Gibson says the goal of the "Left" is to "drive Christianity indoors . . . out of public view." (Stated in an interview with Pat Robertson.) This very well may be an agenda of those on the far Left . . . but where should true Christians stand on a defense of "Christmas"? It just seems to me that members of the churches of Christ have for years striven to teach the truth concerning the false ideas and fables surrounding "Christmas" . . . and now I see and hear many of the same trying to defend the denominational holy day! Strange indeed!!! Should we be standing with Gibson and O’Reilly and their Catholic and Protestant troops in this battle? Bill O’Reilly has the "no spin zone" but write him and emphasize the pagan and Catholic origins of "Christmas" and watch him spin like a top!

I heard another commentator on TV recently repeat the worn out phrase, "Jesus Is The Reason For The Season" in his defense of "Christmas". Well, there is some truth in that, for He is God, and as God He is the Creator. He created ALL of the seasons, and upholds what He has created. (John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-4; Daniel 2:20-21; Genesis 1:14; Genesis 8:22; etc.) So yes . . . Jesus is the reason for Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall . . . He is the Creator! But this is not what is usually meant by the phrase. It is typically employed to support the celebration of Jesus’ birthday on December 25th

Now, I certainly rejoice that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and I fully realize that there is considerable space in the Holy Scriptures dedicated to His conception and birth. However, there is nothing specifically stated about when He was born, and certainly no commandment nor example for Christians to celebrate His birth. We have been given "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" . . . in the Bible. (2 Peter 1:3). The verbally inspired Scriptures are what we need to use to teach the Truth that will set us free, for they thoroughly furnish us unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Now . . . how many is ALL? It just seems that the Great God of Heaven would have told us something about keeping a special holy day each year, and calling it "Christmas" to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, if that is what He wanted us to do . . . RIGHT? Well, the Scriptures, which certainly furnish us unto all good works, are as silent as a tomb about "Christmas"!

THE ORIGIN OF "CHRISTMAS"

The beginnings of the special day modern religious folks call "Christmas" are found in the Roman Catholic Church, and not in the New Testament of Jesus Christ! By the way, the very name "Christ Mass" helps us to see its origins.

The Catholic Church has always been a pliable, flexible and borrowing religion. The early Catholic leaders saw the benefit in borrowing from the various pagan religions in order to further their own cause. And, the fact of the matter is, they readily admit this in their own writings.

The early Roman people celebrated the "birthday of Saturn" (the Sun) during the period of the Winter solstice. It is the time when the days begin to get longer again, and they therefore saw it as the "birth" of the Sun. They worshipped the Sun in the person of the false god "Saturn". They typically celebrated this "birthday" with a festival on December 25th. The Roman Bishop Liberius ordered the people to celebrate the birth of Jesus on this day in the year 354 A.D. This way he just incorporated a festival . . . a holy day . . . that they were already keeping, and made it a "Christian" holiday (holy day). So, "Christmas" has its roots in paganism, and was adapted and applied by the Catholic Church. Protestants, during the Reformation, just accepted it into their beliefs because it had been celebrated for centuries. BUT . . . keep in mind that the Bible has absolutely NOTHING to say about it. It is an attempt to worship God through the use of men’s traditions and commandments . . . and this makes worship "vain" or empty! (Matthew 15:7-9, 13).

NOT JUST "CHRISTMAS"

"Christmas" is not the only holiday adapted by the Catholic Church in this fashion. "Easter" is another. The pagans worshipped another false goddess named, '"Eastre". Her festival was in the Spring when things were seemingly being brought back to life. Her special holy day (holiday) was called EOSTUR, and she was worshipped for her seeming power to bring things that seemed dead back to life. Rabbits were used as a part of the celebration for it is in the Spring that rabbits begin to be seen after a long cold Winter. Eggs were used as a part of the worship and festivities for it is in the Spring when hens typically begin laying again. The Catholics saw the emphasis upon resurrection and saw that some of the things emphasized resembled some of the things about the resurrection of Christ. So, they just incorporated this pagan festival into their religion, and made it a special holy day to remember Christ’s resurrection. There is nothing in the New Testament of Christ about "Easter."

The Catholics also set aside an evening just before "All Saints Day" on November 1st. On October 31st they ordained the "Hallowed Eve" or "Holy Evening" . . . which is commonly called "Halloween" today. Catholicism also borrowed and developed another day in February that we commonly call "Valentine’s Day". The real name is "Saint Valentine’s Day". Catholics saw the pagans worshipping the false gods JUNO and PAN during mid-February. They had a special holy day called "Lupercalia" to honor these gods. JUNO was their goddess of women and marriage. PAN was the god of nature. At this time, and during the festival of "Lupercalia" (Lover’s Feast) young men and women would draw names from a box and exchange gifts as tokens of affection. In the year 496 the Bishop of Rome, Gelasius, (whom the Roman Catholic Church now calls a "Pope"), changed this pagan festival into "Saint Valentine’s Day" to honor a Catholic priest from Rome named Valentine. He was killed in mid- February. In March, many will don something green for "Saint Patrick’s Day," another Catholic special day honoring Patrick, the "patron Saint of Ireland."

IS IT WRONG TO CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS?

My point is just that these one-time "holy days" have now, for most people, become simply secular days when we have fun, and traditionally observe certain practices in a secular way . . . in a traditional and family way. Who hasn’t carved a pumpkin into a jack-o-lattern for a child. Did you do it for a religious purpose? Is it wrong to give candy to children as they come to your door, or to have a party for them and allow them to dress in fanciful costumes? Who hasn’t sent a box of candy shaped like a heart or a special card to a loved one in mid-February? Did you do it to be religious, or to honor a fallen Catholic priest? Did you wear green last "St. Patrick’s Day"? Was it to honor a Catholic hero, or just so you would not get pinched!!??

Just so, having a tree, and decorating with tinsel and lights in December does not have to be religious either. It is certainly not the birthday of Jesus, and He has not authorized His birthday to be celebrated.

Everything we do and say must be done and said with His authority, for He is King of kings, and Lord of lords. (Revelation 17:14; I Timothy 6:15; Colossians 3:17). We must not think of men above that which is written. (I Corinthians 4:6). We must not go beyond or step across the doctrine of Christ. (2 John 9-11). Men will come along and teach other gospels . . . they will turn their ears from the truth and turn to fables. (Galatians 1:6-10; 2 Timothy 4:1-4). To observe these "special holy days" with some kind of religious significance is going beyond what is written in the New Testament!

It is not wrong for friends and family to gather to have a good time. It is never wrong to give and receive gifts, for this is certainly the way of our Lord! We must always be thankful for our blessings, especially for the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus the Christ! We should always be singing songs like "JOY TO THE WORLD" . . . in December . . . but also in May, June, July . . . every day of every month!!! It is not wrong to have a tree in one’s house. My wife has kept a weeping fig and an orange tree in our house for years now. The objection is often offered here, "Well, the pagans worshipped trees!" Well, I DON’T WORSHIP TREES!!! And just because I might have one in my house, does not mean that I worship it!!! It is not wrong for families to gather and exchange gifts. It is not wrong to carve a pumpkin so that it looks like a face. It is not wrong to give away candy to children. It is not wrong to send and receive greeting cards in December or February. HOWEVER, while none of these things are wrong, in and of themselves, we must never attach any religious meanings to any of these days!!! Let us never get caught up in human religious traditions which will make our worship VAIN! (Matthew 15:7-13) Let us never seek to please men above God. (Galatians 1:10).

The world CERTAINLY DOES consider December 25th as the birthday of Jesus. We must never give then any indication that we too think this is a celebration of the Lord’s birth. Coming together as friends and family is good and right! Exchanging gifts . . . aving a nice meal together . . . visiting and laughing . . . enjoying each other’s company . . . are all good things! We need to encourage more of it. But let us serve and worship God in the ways He has specified. (John 4:23-24).

James E. Farley -To Contact Jim by email, click here