Should Believers Celebrate Christmas?

• Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Christmas – is it a Christian Practice?
• Christmas being on December 25th
• Was Christ really Born in Winter?
• Is the Christmas’ Account Consistent with the Scriptural Record?
• The Origin of Christmas is Paganistic
• The Customs and Practices of Christmas are Idolatrous
• Conclusion – should Believers Celebrate Christmas?

Unbelievers will think it strange that we do not care to participate with them in fleshly indulgences. In particular, they may think it strange that we do not celebrate Christmas or care for Christmas parties. The way of this corrupted world, the way of this crooked, perverted generation, is to follow the trend of indulgence and dissipation. But we would not run together with them according to this trend. (Life-study of 1 Peter, msg. 26)

One of the most striking examples of the deeds of this apostate church is the so-called Christmas. We want Christ, but we do not need a mass. Originally, December 25, the so-called Christmas Day, was the day the ancient Europeans worshipped the sun. They said that December 25 was the birthday of the sun. When the apostate church spread to Europe, she assimilated this ancient custom because she had taken in thousands of unbelievers into the church. These unbelievers still wanted to celebrate the birthday of their god. Therefore, to accommodate them, the apostate church declared December 25 to be the birthday of Christ. This is the source of Christmas. The book, The Two Babylons, exposes the origin of the evil, demonic, pagan things that were brought into the apostate church. If we see this picture on the negative side, then we shall know what we must be on the positive side. (Life-Study of Revelation, msg. 13)

So many things in Christianity are leaven. These include Christmas, Easter, idols, pictures, images, rock music, drama, and the entire Y.M.C.A. system. We must be careful not to take anything other than Christ for God’s purpose, because anything other than He is leaven. Oh, the subtle one is crouching nearby waiting for his prey! We can easily become his prey because in our human nature is the desire to make it easy for people to experience spiritual things. But whatever you use to help people to touch spiritual things is a type of leaven. The pure and sanctified way to preach the gospel and to bring people to Christ is prayer and the ministry of the Word. Do not take any other way. If after praying and ministering the Word, people will still not receive the gospel, that is up to the Lord. Whether or not people receive our word is a matter of the Father’s will. We do not want to use any gimmicks to help in our preaching. Every gimmick is leaven. We are not for a work or for a movement—we are for the testimony of Jesus. (Life-study of Matthew, msg. 38)

Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Christmas – is it a Christian Practice?

Christmas being on December 25th

It is the day designated in today’s calendars as the day of Christ’s birth. Christians and non-Christians alike celebrate it. But does the Bible have a command to remember the birth of Christ? Is this the day on which Christ was born? Are today’s Christmas custom and practices of Christian origin? Or is Christmas an example of mixture between paganism and Christianity?

On this matter, Watchman Nee wrote,

…Why would they set the Lord’s birthday at December 25? Three days prior to this day is the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. After the twenty-fifth, the days begin to be longer. Idol worshippers everywhere in the world take this day as the birthday of the sun god. In Rome at that time, the great festivals were conducted at the grand theaters as celebrations of this feast. The Christians tried to take this date for celebrating the Savior’s birth. If we read the words of the ancient father ______, we will realize that this date was ordained by men only. He said:

“This day (December 25) was recently made the birthday of Christ in Rome, so that while the idol worshippers are busy with their worldly ceremonies, the Christians can quietly accomplish their holy ceremonies. They call this day the birthday of the unfailing One (i.e., the sun). Yet who can be unfailing as our Lord who has removed death? They call this day the birthday of the sun, but the Lord is the real Sun of righteousness!” This is the way the church at that time adopted the idol worshippers’ festival as its own illegitimate child. This is the cause of the defilement of the truth of Christ.

How clear it is that Christmas is made by man! Since it is made by man, why do we have to keep it? God has not commanded man to remember His Son’s birthday! Since He has not commanded us to do so, why should we keep it? All faithful children of God should know how to answer this question.

Why do men celebrate Christmas? I am afraid that there is more realization of the flesh than remembrance of spiritual things! The jesting, laughter, amusement, and much other wantonness that disturbs the quietness of the spirit are not only harmful to the body, but inflict deadly wounds to the spirit. After I was saved, I attended some of these services. When I returned home from these meetings, I was not happy. On the contrary, I had to confess my sins before the Lord for participating in these meetings. Strictly speaking, Christmas parties at their worst are nothing but opportunities for the flesh, and at their best are something to stir up the soul and to cause confusion. The most beneficial thing for the spirit is to keep the Lord’s Word, to remember only the Lord’s death, and nothing else. Hence, in order to receive the greatest benefit, we should not celebrate Christmas.

I do not know when God’s children will separate the worldly things from the spiritual things, the human things from the divine things. If our brothers and sisters will one day happily separate themselves from the literary clubs, the concerts, the welcome parties, the entertainment clubs, and the social gatherings, and will make a clear-cut separation from the world, they will receive power to be God’s witnesses. Alas, jesting is the greatest destroyer of a godly living, and revelling is a worm in one’s spiritual living! Social celebrations and gatherings are the weapons that put the believers’ holy life and power under a siege! Young believers should beware of these things! (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, Set 1, Vol. 07: The Christian (5), Chapter 6, Section 1; full text via here)

Furthermore, brother Lee in Life-Study of Hebrews, Chapter 56, Section 2, said,

Another example is Christmas. Christmas is a blasphemy to Christ, and no Christian with a pure conscience should have anything to do with it. As the book, The Two Babylons, proves, Christmas originated from European paganism. Centuries before the Christian era, on December 25 the European pagans celebrated the birthday of the sun. When Constantine embraced Christianity, he encouraged the Roman citizens to become Christians, and he even rewarded many thousands for being baptized. Thousands who knew nothing of Christ were baptized and came into Christendom, bringing their pagan customs with them. Later, the name of Christ was attached to the birth of the sun god celebrated on December 25. In principle, the celebration of Easter is the same. Although some Christians in Orange County condemn us as heretical, they themselves still practice the pagan festival of Christmas. To be sure, during the three and a half years of the great tribulation all Christians will abandon such things as Christmas, Easter, the worship of Mary, and all paganism.

In The Kernel of the Bible, Chapter 8, Section 2, there’s this wonderful quote,

According to the book The Two Babylons, many heathen things were brought into Catholicism. Take the example of Christmas. December twenty-fifth, the day Christmas is celebrated, was originally the birthday of the pagan sun god. After Constantine the Great embraced Christianity, he encouraged others to be baptized. As a result, thousands of unsaved persons were baptized into Christianity. Formerly they worshipped the sun and celebrated the birth of the sun on December twenty-fifth. After they were baptized into Christianity, they maintained their heathen practice of worshipping the sun, and eventually this practice was absorbed by Christianity. They changed the name of the sun god to Jesus and claimed that December twenty-fifth was the birthday of the Lord Jesus. What an insult to the Lord! What blasphemy! Easter also has a pagan origin. Furthermore, the Catholic Church worships Mary, calling her the mother of God. Actually, the Mary in Catholicism is a heathen goddess. This heathen goddess was brought into Catholicism, and her name was changed to Mary. Now she is called the mother of God, and Catholics worship her. This is idolatry. And it is abominable in the eyes of the Lord. A number of aspects of paganism have been brought into Protestantism through Catholicism. Christmas is celebrated not only by Catholics, but by those in all the major denominations. This indicates that these denominations are involved in paganism. (The Kernel of the Bible, Chapter 8, Section 2)

Was Christ really Born in Winter?

Although the birth of Christ is one of the most important events that happened in the whole universe, yet remembering it by celebrating Christmas is not something God wants Christians to do. That no precise date of the Lord’s birth is recorded in the Bible indicates that the Lord never intended to celebrate His birthday. Rather, He wants us to remember His death and look forward to His second coming (1 Cor. 11:26; Rev. 22:12).

As to the actual date of Christ’s birth, December 25th is to be doubted. Weather condition at the time of Jesus’ birth indicates that it could not have taken place in December. Luke 2:8 tells us that when Jesus was born, the shepherds were watching over the sheep at night. The cold weather in the evening during midwinter is very piercing; it is the custom of shepherds in Judea to bring home their flocks before the start of November, prior to the onset of the cold winter months. Hence, the birth of Christ could not have been in December.

On the birth date of the Savior, Watchman Nee once said,

Question: Some consider it inaccurate to say that the Savior was born on December 25th. What then is the actual date? Some oppose meetings on Christmas Day. Should Christians remember Him on this day or not? (Chung, Chekiang)

Answer: The Bible does not tell us on which day the Savior was born. This shows that God does not want man to know the date. December 25th came from the Roman Catholic Church. History tells us that this date was fixed by man, and it is therefore not accurate. God only commands us to remember the Lord at His supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26). We should not add anything to what God has not spoken. Hence, Christians should not go along with men to celebrate. Collected Works of Watchman Nee, The (Set 1) Vol. 07: The Christian (5), Chapter 17, Section 6

In 4 B.C. The Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar issued a decree for a census to be taken in order to know just how many subjects he had and how much taxes he could collect. Quirinius, who was then governor of Syria (where Judea was then part of the great Roman-controlled province), implemented the decree to take the first enrolment for census of Judea that same year.

There were no historical records to indicate that the inconvenient harsh months of winter was the time the authorities scheduled for the tax enrolment, which necessitated the population’s travelilng from all parts of the land to their natal districts to register in the electoral roll, for storms and rain make journeys both unsafe and unpleasant in the winter.

It was in compliance with this decree for registration that Joseph went up to Mary from the city of Nazareth in southern Galilee to his hometown Bethlehem in southern Judea (Luke 2:1-5). It is also unlikely that Mary, who was pregnant, would travel 190 kilometers from Nazareth to Bethlehem because it was considered not fit for a pregnant woman to travel during winter (Matt. 24:20; Mark 12:18).

Is the Christmas’ Account Consistent with the Scriptural Record?

The Christmas nativity scene, as customarily portrayed, with the infant Jesus in the manger surrounded by His parents, the shepherds with their flock, the ‘three kings’ with their gifts, gathered together in the barn, and heralded by the angels and the star outside, is not an accurate account of what actually took place during the birth of Jesus.

The shepherds’ visit of Jesus and the magi’s visit occurred at different times and separate places! Matthew 2:1-12 and Luke 2:1-20 are two Biblical passages that record separate accounts of stories related to the birth of Jesus. We do not see the shepherds in Matthew chapter 2, neither do we see the ‘three kings’ in Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2 presents the picture of the angels appearing to the shepherds who eventually found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in the manger (v. 16).

Matthew chapter 2 portrays the magi (or wise men, not kings) from the east, who after sighting the star and believing such a star must be the sign that a great king had been born in far off Judea, set off to the capital city, Jerusalem, where a new king is supposed to be born, only to find that Herod still reigned as king and were interrogated by him. By the time they arrived in Bethlehem under the guidance of the star, Joseph had been able to move Mary and Jesus from the temporary rough shelter of the barn to a house.

As they entered into the house they found the child Jesus and Mary only (v. 11). This could have transpired quite a while after the Lord’s birth, which was why Herod ordered the slaughter of all the boys in Bethlehem and in all its borders from two years old and under according to the time accurately determined from the magi (Matt. 2:16). Moreover, the fact that the magi brought three kinds of gifts does not necessarily mean that there were three magi.

The Origin of Christmas is Paganistic

Under the article ‘Christmas’, the Catholic Encyclopedia states: ‘In the earliest days of the Church there was no such feast. …Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church …’ Christians in early days did not commemorate Jesus’ birthday!

In the Roman Catholic Church and in all the denominations, there are many real Christians, yet there is also much leaven. The Roman Catholic Church has picked up many pagan things and mixed them with the things of Christ. For example, did you know that the origin of Christmas is pagan? Christmas Day, December 25, celebrated the birthday of the sun god. The Roman Catholic Church took in this pagan holiday, making December 25 the birthday of Christ. Many Christians argue that Christmas is an excellent time to preach the gospel because they can take the opportunity to preach Christ while people celebrate Christmas. This is leaven and is the subtlety of the enemy. Easter is also a leaven. When the Catholic Church went to China, it even embraced ancestor worship. Not only in the Roman Catholic Church but also in the denominations, there are many worldly things and lusts added to the things of Christ to produce a mixture. Our eyes need to be opened to see this mixture. (Witness Lee, The Kingdom, ch. 12, section 6)

Christians in the first three centuries were persecuted for their faith until 325 A.D. when Roman Emperor Constantine in the council of Nicea formulated the Nicene Creed, fully legalizing and legitimizing Christianity, even making it the state religion of the Empire.

In an effort to appease the nominal converts all over the Roman-subjugated territories who were unwilling to give up their heathen feasts and to make them subservient to the cause of religion, Constantine adopted many heathen religious feasts and practices in honor of the various gods into Christianity. Despite protests by many faithful believers against the paganistic nature and frivolity with which Christ’s birth was celebrated, a Roman Almanac from 354 A.D. gives a first clear reference to December 25, the date celebrated by several pagan religions, being regarded as the date of Christ’s birth.

Prior to conversion to Christianity, Mithraism was the most wide-spread and most influential pagan religion among the Roman subjects. Mithra was the sun god in ancient Persia (today’s Iran). After the defeat of the Persians by Alexander centuries ago, the soldiers brought the worship of Mithra throughout Asia and to Europe where he was called Deus Sol Invictus Mithras. It fostered the celebration of December 25 as a holiday throughout the Roman and Greek worlds.

The Catholic Encyclopedia states that, ‘The birth of Christ was assigned the date of the winter solstice because on this day, as the sun began its return to northern skies, the pagan devotees of Mithra celebrated dies natalis Solis Invicti (birthday of the Invincible or Unconquered Sun). The well-known solar feast celebrated on 25 December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our December date.’

The Romans adopted this festivity to honor Saturn and other agricultural gods with boisterous weeklong feasts of Saturnalia and Brumalia during the winter solstice that culminates on December 25. These two pagan feasts were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence that in 530 A.D. the Roman church commissioned the Monk Dionysius Exiguus to officially proclaim December 25 as the birth of Christ.

The midwinter festival was also celebrated by many other cultures. The Egyptians dedicated it to the son of Isis, Queen of Heaven, and to Osiris and Horus. The Greek dedicated it to their gods Apollo, Dionysus, and Adonis. Sabeans of Arabia celebrated it as the birthday of the moon. The Saxons celebrated Yule in honor of Thor, Scandinavian god of war. In Scotland, Hogmany was celebrated. In England it was to the Nordic God Balder. The Babylonians celebrated Baal’s birthday with the festival of Bacchus, the ‘Drunken festival’.

In 600 A.D. Pope Gregory I instructed Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, to adapt existing local religious customs to Christianity in order to help propagate the faith. This humongous amalgamation of paganism and Christianity has resulted in a grotesque mixture of what is known today as Christmas.

The Customs and Practices of Christmas are Idolatrous

Christmas Tree – Scandinavians in pre-Christian era worshipped trees. In Egypt, the date palm was brought indoors as a religious symbol. In Rome, the fir tree was decorated with toys in honor of Saturn’s birthday; candles were fastened to trees to indicate the return of the sun to the earth. The Druids honored Odin (Woden) by tying gilded apples and other offerings on the tree branches.

The Germans used evergreen trees in worship and celebration of the yule god and also in observance of the resurrected sun god; they brought it indoors as a symbol of good luck. In Jeremiah 10:2-5, the Lord strongly forbade us to learn the vain and idolatrous customs of the nations in cutting down trees and decorating them indoors.

Wreaths – In the early days, pagans decorated places of worship with wreaths at the feasts to express good luck. But ‘blessed is the man who makes Jehovah his trust’ (Psa. 40:4a) and ‘blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him’ (Psa. 34:8b).

Holly, Berries, and Mistletoe – The Christmas practice of ‘kissing under the mistletoe’ came from the feast of Saturnalia. The holly, berries, and mistletoe were hung in doorways of temples and homes to invoke powers of fertility in those who stood beneath and kissed, causing the spirits of god and goddess to enter them.

Gift-Giving – This originated from the Roman celebration of the feast of Saturnalia and Kalends of January (Roman New Year). Today’s Christmas practice of exchanging gifts is based on the notion that gifts were presented during the Lord’s birth. But the wise men gave gifts to the Lord and not to one another.

Santa Claus – Saint Nicholas in the 4th century was said to have brought gifts to children by throwing them through the windows. The belief that he enters the house through the chimney comes from an Old Norse legend that believed the goddess Hertha appeared in the fireplace and brought good luck to the house.

Christmas Party – The merrymaking in Christmas parties today is commensurable to the ancient pagan feasts of Saturnalia and Brumalia that were highlighted by wanton indulgence of eating, drinking, and revelries dressed in costumes. Paul warned us to ‘neither become idolaters, as some of them did; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play’ (1 Cor. 10:7).

In these days the whole world is celebrating Christmas. Look how they celebrate! Outwardly, they are celebrating the holy birth of Jesus Christ, but actually, they are in the flesh and indulging in their lusts. No dancing in the world is worse than the dancing on so-called Christmas Eve! People even call such a dancing party “the holy party”! This is how men celebrate Christ’s “birthday”! Not only do the Gentiles behave this way, but even many Christians also are carried away by the tide of this age. Many send Christmas cards to each other, greet each other with “Merry Christmas,” set up trees at home, and hang little light bulbs on them. It seems that if they do not do these things, they will not be fashionable. I am afraid that among the young brothers and sisters, some have also done this in the past. Please remember that all these are fallen things. Today all of Christianity has fallen into Babel. There is not a trace of God’s ruling, not a trace of God’s expression. It is altogether a condition of men forsaking God. In such a desolate age, God needs young people to rise up to turn the age. (Men Who Turn the Age, Chapter 1, Section 4, by Witness Lee)

Conclusion – should Believers Celebrate Christmas?

We need to see the great significance of God’s move in His incarnation (John 1:1, 14). Many of those in Christianity today do not see this significance. When they think of Christ’s birth, they may think only of the manger or of the pagan things associated with the celebration of Christmas. Today’s Christianity has lost the genuine essence and genuine character of God’s economy. It has become absolutely an outward, formal religion. We need to abandon our traditional, unscriptural concepts to see the pure revelation of the incarnated Triune God from the Holy Scriptures. (The Move of God in Man, Chapter 1, Section 4, by Witness Lee)

In his message “Remembering Christmas”, Brother Watchman Nee said,

December is right in front of us, and many people will again celebrate Christmas. According to the opinions of many believers, it is a good thing to have a day each year to remember the Savior’s birth. I dare not treat the opinions of God’s children lightly. However, apart from man’s opinion, God’s Word, the Bible, is still the only standard and the highest standard. Our concern lies not with what man speaks, but with what God has spoken. This is what we care about. “Thus saith the Lord” is the supreme judge over all things.

Does the Bible have a command to remember the birth of Christ? If God’s children are willing to ask this question, they will receive the shining of God’s light. What a pity that so many have forgotten the necessity of asking this question. According to the Bible, during the last supper, the Lord only asked us to remember His death. He did not command us to celebrate Christmas, nor did He command us to celebrate Easter! These things are poison from Roman Catholicism. Only one who believes in the Bible will know that the things God did not command and the things God did command have the same significance.

Many say, “God never put a stop to the celebration of Christmas.” But did God ever command us to observe Christmas? It is sad when Christians search the Scriptures to give a basis for their sin and an occasion to the flesh. They say, “The Bible does not prohibit this, so why can we not do it?” Oh, how I wish that God’s children would not speak in this way. May God give us more strength to enable us to say, “How do we dare do what God has not commanded?” (Watchman Nee Collected Works, Vol. 18, p. 249)

The true significance of Christ’s birth is God became man (through His incarnation – John 1:14) that man may become God (through our regeneration to become His sons – John 1:12-13) in life (1 Pet. 1:3) and in nature (2 Pet. 1:4) but not in the Godhead (1 Cor. 8:6). As God’s children, we are in the world, but we are not of the world (John 17:11,14). If we make a clear-cut separation from the world, we will live a sanctified life (1 Thes. 5:23) and a holy life for the church life.

Today millions of Christians are occupied even more by the religious world than by the secular world. Take Christmas as an example. The celebration of Christmas is certainly related to the religious world. If you still observe Christmas, it is doubtful that you are living a new creation. The celebration of Christmas has nothing to do with God’s new creation.

By the cross we are separated from the religious world. If we are still involved with the religious world, we shall not be able to live a new creation. We should be able to say that the religious world has been crucified to us and that we have been crucified to the religious world. We should be able to testify that even if we tried to go back to that world, we would be rejected by it, for we have been crucified to it. Even if Paul had desired to return to Judaism, the religionists would not have accepted him. Rather, they would have commanded him to leave, for he was in another world. To Judaism Paul had been crucified, and Judaism had been crucified to him. Between him and the religious world there was the separation of the cross. It is this separation which qualifies us to live a new creation. Everything practiced in the religious world is part of the old creation. But through the cross of Christ, we are finished with religion and are in another world, another realm. In this realm we live a new creation by the Spirit, not the old creation by the flesh. (Life-Study of Galatians, Chapter 30, Section 2, by W. Lee)

Jesting and revelry in paganistic Christmas celebration will put our holy life under siege. Idolatry is a serious sin. To participate in Christmas celebration is an abomination that the Lord hates. Christ is the reality of all feasts; we do not need the shadow because we have Christ as the reality (Col. 2:16-17; John 1:14b). As the world celebrates the day of the unconquered sun god, we have Christ as the true Sun of righteousness (Mal. 4:2) who has conquered Satan, world, sin, and death. We want Christ, but not the ‘mas’, the mixture.

Many dear ones have seen the Lord’s recovery, but due to the matter of Christmas, they sold their birthright. Their Christmas celebration was like the religious meals in Judaism. Many American and European Christians find it difficult to give up Santa Claus and Christmas trees. The teachings about Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and stockings are some of today’s various and strange teachings. A number of saints in the western world have been distracted from the Lord’s recovery by these very things. If we would take away these things, many of the children would forsake the church, and many grandparents would be unhappy, saying, “Who is this preacher who comes to our country to take away Christmas, Santa Claus, and the Christmas stockings?” Others have said, “We know that the Lord’s recovery is the way, but because our children cannot give up Christmas, we cannot take this way.” In principle, they have been drawn away by today’s religious attractions as the Hebrew believers were by the festival foods in the first century. (Life-Study of Hebrews, Chapter 56, Section 2)

Christmas is a leaven added to the meal by Christendom (Matt. 13:33). In 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 Paul admonished us to purge out the leaven and instead keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the continuation of the Passover (Exo. 12:15-20). It lasted for seven days, a period of completion, signifying the entire period of our Christian life. It is a life-long feast that we must keep with unleavened bread, which is Christ as our nourishment and enjoyment. Only He is the life supply of sincerity and truth, absolutely pure, without mixture, and full of reality.

Recently I read an article in which I was accused of destroying the practice of Christmas. Actually I do not have any intention to attack the practice of Christmas. My time is fully occupied with ministering Christ to others. But while I am ministering Christ, Christmas is spontaneously exposed. Yes, I have said that we should care fully for Christ and forget about the so-called Christ-mass or Christmas. I have also said that we should be Christians, but not care for the “-anity” of Christianity. I certainly do not have the intention of opposing either Christmas or Christianity. Nevertheless, in my ministry I have said that we should care for Christ and be real Christians, but have nothing to do with the “-mass” or “-anity.” When certain ones hear such a word, they accuse me of opposing Christianity and ruining the practice of Christmas.

Actually, Christmas and the system of Christianity include many things that are not even the genuine feathers and skins in the Bible. It is a fact that Christ was born in a manger and raised in Nazareth. These definitely are truths in the Bible; however they are “feather-truths” or “skin-truths,” not “meat-truths.” An example of a “meat-truth” is John 1:1 and 14. These verses declare that the Word, which is God, became flesh and tabernacled among us, full of grace and reality. John 1:16 goes on to say, “For of His fullness we all received, and grace upon grace.” Verse 4 of the same chapter says this: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” In these verses we have meat, not feathers or skin.

More meat is found in chapters fourteen and fifteen of the Gospel of John. John 14:23 says, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make an abode with him.” This verse says nothing about Christmas, Easter, or the system of Christianity. Neither do any other verses in the Gospel of John. This verse declares that the Son and the Father will make an abode with the one who loves the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, in John 15:4 the Lord says, “Abide in Me and I in you.” In this chapter He also says,“I am the vine, you are the branches” (v. 5). Verses such as these do not have any feathers or skin. Rather, they are full of nourishing meat. (Life-Study of 2 Corinthians, Chapter 17, Section 2, by Witness Lee)

We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired for a possession (1 Pet. 2:9). In this age of apostasy the Lord is calling us, the overcomers, to come out and be separated from the world and from the degraded Christianity that is full of mixtures (2 Cor. 6:17), and not to participate in her sins that we might not receive her plagues (Rev. 18:4). The Lord’s promise to the overcomers is to give them to eat of the hidden manna (Rev. 2:17). If we love the Lord and forsake the world and its enjoyment, we shall surely enjoy the Lord in a subjective and transcendent way.

Instead of “celebrating Christmas” we should rather know and appreciate the deep meaning and significance of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The birth of Christ was a momentous event: it was prophesied in the Old Testament and was fulfilled in the New Testament. The truth regarding Christ’s birth affects us today – we become a believer in Christ, a regenerated being, when we believe into the Lord Jesus and receive Him as our Savior and life. Read more concerning the Deep Significance of the Birth of Jesus Christ via, BFA blog.

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A very enlightening and hear-warming introduction to what Christmas is, how it came about, and what our attitude should be as believers is, Christmas Explained, via Church in San Diego website.

I love the closing paragraph,

It is a great dishonor to the Lord for a Christian to participate in any of the activities of Christmas. To do so is to associate the Lord’s holy name with the customs and rituals of paganism and also to defile yourself. It is no doubt a grief to the Lord to see sincere and well-meaning Christians fully involved in the practices which were initiated and maintained for centuries in the ritualistic worship of heathen gods. May those of us who care for the Lord Jesus honor Him according to the pure word of God and with a good conscience, and leave all the idolatrous practices to the pagans. “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption” (Eph. 6:24).

Further Bible Verses for Your Reading

• Jer. 10:2-3 Do not learn the way of the nations …for the customs of the people are vanity.
• 1 Cor. 5:8 So then let us keep the feast, not with old leaven …but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truths.
• 1 Cor. 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Further references – this article was inspired from here and here. Read also, What is the real meaning of the birth of Jesus? (via holdingtotruth)