What are the facts about Christmas?

Millions of people worldwide celebrate Christmas for various reasons. Some enjoy festive times with friends and family. Others think about God or devote time to helping the poor or  needy.  By themselves, these are undoubtedly worthy deeds.  However, they are clouded by the dark side of this holiday. 

First, many celebrants believe that Christmas is a  birthday celebration for Jesus. ( Note: It not only is not Jesus' birthday,  he also never celebrated  his birthday.)  However, historians widely concur that the date of his birth is unknown.  The Christian Book of Why notes that "the early Christians refused to set aside a date marking Jesus' birth" because they wanted "to divorce themselves from all pagan practices."  Interestingly, The Bible gives no indication that Jesus ever celebrated his own birthday or anyone else's. In contrast, he did command his followers to commemorate his death. -Luke 22:19.  (Note: which is not on Easter.)  Second many scholars agree that most Christmas traditions have their roots in non-Christian and pagan customs.  These include Santa Claus, as well as using mistletoe and the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, burning candles and Yule logs, hanging decorative wreaths, and caroling.  Regarding some of these customs, the book The Externals of the Catholic Church observed:  "When we give or receive Christmas gifts, and hand green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan (Not Christian) customs? 

You, though, may wonder what is wrong with following these seemingly innocent customs.  Consider this third point as an answer. God does not approve of the blending of pagan customs with pure worship.  Through his prophet Amos, Jehovah God said to his wayward worshipers in ancient Israel:  "I hate, I despise your festivals . . .Spare me the din of your songs." -Amos 5:21, 23. 

Why such strong words? Consider what the people of the northern kingdom of ancient Israel were doing.  Their first king Jeroboam, placed golden calves in the cities of Dan and Bethel and induce the people to worship these rather than to worship Jehovah God properly at the temple in Jerusalem. The king also instituted festivals and appointed priests to help the people celebrate them. -1 Kings 12:26-33. 

What those Israelites did was seemingly  for a good cause. After all, were they not doing all these things in the name of worshiping God and pleasing him?  God's strong words through Amos and other prophets indicate clearly just how God felt about such practices.  Through the prophet Malachi, God said:  "I am Jehovah; I do not change." (Malachi 3:6)  Does that not tell us how God feels about the many Christmas celebrations today?   (Note: There are a lot of people who either don't take his word as gospel or they just don't care about displeasing God) 

After considering the above facts, millions of people have decided  to abstains from celebrating Christmas. Instead, they find joy and true satisfaction in spending time  with their friends and family and in helping the poor and needy whenever they wish throughout the year. 

Note: No one seems to think that you can give your loved ones a gift anytime throughout the years,and that you can others anytime.  Why wait just one time out of the year, when giving can be done anytime?  Also, being with friends and family don't have to be done once a year either. That can also happen whenever the moos hits you.   That is called love and compassion for your family and friends.   There is also not thanksgiving day holiday either. In the Bible thanksgiving means giving thanks to God for all the kindnesses and blessings he has shown you. The thanksgiving in the Bible means thank you.   Not lets start a holiday! That is for businesses to get rich off of gullible people like the rest of the holidays.  Those are not Christian holidays. We were all lied to in our childhood by false religion. 

Next time: "The Insight of a Man Certainly Slows Down His Anger"

From the Watchtower magazine, 2014