Is It a Sin to Celebrate Christmas'?
(Why the Iglesia Ni Cristo Does Not Celebrate Christmas)
THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO is not against giving praise and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ; we recognize the significance of offering praise and reverence to Him. We celebrate His birth daily by honoring and worshiping Christ and extending our love and compassion to our fellow men. It is essential to note, however, that Christmas, observed on December 25, was originally referred to as the ‘Birthday of the Sun,’ the great pagan religious celebration of the Mithras cult, which was celebrated all through the Roman Empire, and as true Christians, we do not celebrate any pagan holidays.
Catholics and Protestants considered the twenty-fifth of December Christmas day—the “birthday of Christ.” It is the most celebrated holiday of the year throughout the world. Yet amidst all the merry-making activities of the “yuletide season,” members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) are visibly non-participants in the worldwide commemoration of the alleged birthday of Jesus on December 25.
“Why?” others might ask. “Don’t they believe in Jesus as the Christ and Savior? Are they not happy about the Savior’s birth? Are they not Christians? If they celebrate their own birthdays, why not Christmas?” These questions often come up when people learn about the beliefs of the Iglesia Ni Cristo regarding Christmas.
However, the non-participation of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in the “December 25 festivities” does not mean that we are against fun and merriment; neither are we anti-social nor against fostering peace and goodwill among men. Neither are we opposed to the idea that the birth of Christ is a day of rejoicing. On the day Christ was born, angels from heaven rejoiced (cf. Luke 2:13-14). We must also make it clear that the Iglesia Ni Cristo are one in the belief that the baby born in Bethlehem who was the son of Mary is Christ, our Savior.
So, why the Iglesia Ni Cristo refrain from participating in celebrating Christmas?
CHRISTMAS IS ALIEN TO THE GOSPEL
Nowhere in the New Testament is December 25 specified as the birth of Christ. The following is the biblical account of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem:
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirini-us was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
(Reference: Luke 2:1-8 RSV)
Biblical historians are well acquainted with the narrative of the events surrounding the birth of the Savior. Catholic Bible scholars have comments on this:
“Origin of date –Concerning the date of Christ’s birth the Gospels give no help; indeed, upon their data contradictory arguments are based. The census would have been impossible in winter… Authorities moreover differ as to whether shepherds could or would keep flocks exposed during nights of the rainy season.”
(Reference: The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, s.v. “Christmas.”)
It is evident that the Bible is silent regarding the exact date of Christ’s birth. The Gospel narrates that He was born during the period when the Roman census was in progress. Contrary to the December 25 tradition, it is argued that the census would have been impossible in winter. Some authorities pointed out that Shepherds could not or would not keep the flocks exposed during the nights of the rainy season. Furthermore, a secular historian writing about Christmas noted that:
“The most widespread myth in the Christendom is that of Chrismas. Those who take the Bethlehem birth-story as history readily accept the traditional date of Christ’s birthday. But all branches of the Church agree that no data exist for determining the day, month, or year of the event, nor was such festival celebrated in Apostolic or early-Post Apostolic times.”
(Reference: Paganism to Christianity in the Roman Empire by Walter Woodburn Hyde, Pub: 1946, p. 249, Emphasis Mine)
History attested that Christmas was not celebrated in the Apostolic and early post-Apostolic times, and that no data exist for determining the day, month, or year of Christ’s birth. Moreover, it would have been absurd for the inspired writers of the New Testament to miss recording the date of Christ’s birth if it should be commemorated by His disciples. Thus, it is not surprising for us to find neither explicit pronouncements nor implicit statements from the Bible affecting the celebration of Christmas, more so on December 25, as the “birthday of Christ” as claimed.
Indeed, there is no verse in the Bible that says Jesus was born on December 25, that “Christmas” was celebrated by the early Christians, and that the birth of Christ is to be commemorated. Thus, Christ has nothing to do with the December 25 celebration though He is supposed to be the center of the festivities.
THE FIRST "CHRISTMAS"
There has never been a single statement from Jesus nor from the disciples commanding the commemoration of His birth. Instead, we find extra-biblical sources for the celebration traceable to pagan festivities of which the Catholic Church is fond of adopting as its own. More so, these appeared only centuries after the establishment of the Church of the New Testament:
“How old is Christmas Day? … One would naturally think that the anniversary of so great an event as the birth of the Son of God would have been a day of religious joy from the earliest years of the Church; but it is clear that this was not the case. There is no mention of it in any of the oldest lists of the Church festivals… In the part of the Church which follows the Latin rite the celebration of Christmas on the twenty-fifth of December begun probably about the middle of the fourth century. An ancient tradition assigned that day as the probable date of the great mystery of the Nativity.”
(Reference: The Externals Of The Catholic Church : Her Government, Ceremonies, Festivals, Sacramentals, And Devotions by John Francis Sullivan D.D., Pub: 1918 p. 136, Emphasis Mine)
Christmas was not celebrated nor known in the Apostolic and early post-Apostolic times. The Catholic book quoted above attested that there is no mention of Christmas in any of the oldest lists of the festivals of the Catholic Church and that the celebration of the Roman Catholic Church (the Church which follows the Latin rite) of Christmas on December 25 was begun probably about the middle of the fourth century. The first mention of Christmas celebrated on December 25 was in 336 AD only:
“The First mention of Christmas as a festival of the Church on 25 December, goes back to AD 336. It comes in the Philocalian Catalogue (354), a civil and religious calendar compiled at Rome.”
(Reference: Introduction to the history of Christianity, Pub: 1977, p. 147)
Thus, history attests that the “first Christmas” was held only in the fourth century AD, more than three centuries after the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. It is important to note that Christ himself had no involvement in selecting this date, as he had ascended to heaven in the first century. Obviously, His apostles could not be the source of the selection of the date of the Nativity in the fourth century since they had all died before the second century. Therefore, the celebration of Christmas did not originate from a command by the Lord Jesus or His apostles; it arose for different reasons.
THE ORIGIN OF THE CELEBRATION
What was the origin of the celebration of Christmas? Who was responsible for initiating the Christmas celebration?
“Pentecost and Epiphany were the next feasts added to the calendar; the latter on January 6, coincided with the pagan festivals celebrating the birth of the new year. Christmas originated in the fourth century, when Constantine joined it with a pagan feast celebrating the birthday of the sun on December 25.”
(Reference: A Concise History of the Catholic Church by Thomas S. Bokenkotter, Pub: 2005, p. 47, Emphasis Mine)
This Catholic book admitted that Christmas originated in the fourth century when Constantine joined it with a pagan feast. Any diligent student of Church history can easily discern why this is so. The influence of paganism on the Catholic Church began overtly when Constantine the Great ascended to the throne as the first “Christian emperor” of the Roman Empire. However, at first, the celebration of Christmas was done on January 6, coinciding with the pagan festivals celebrating the birth of the new year.
THE ORIGIN OF THE DATE
At first, the celebration of Christmas was held on January 6. However, who was responsible for the initiation of the December 25 celebration? What were the reasons for choosing that particular date from among the 365 days of the year?
“Some early Fathers and writers claimed that December 25 was the actual date of Christ’s birth, and that the authorities in Rome established this fact from the official records of the Roman census that had been taken at the time of the Saviour’s birth. Saint John Chrysostom held this opinion and used it to argue for the introduction of the Roman date in the Eastern Church. He was mistaken, however, for nobody in Rome ever claimed that the records of the census of Cyrinus were extant there in the fourth century, and much less that Christ’s birthday was registered in the lists. In fact, it was expressly stated in Rome that the actual date of the Saviour’s birth was unknown and that different traditions prevailed in different parts of the world.”
(Reference: Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs by Franz Xaver Weiser, Pub: 1958, pp. 60-61, Emphasis Mine)
Catholic authorities have admitted that the actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown. If there were any biblical verses to be cited to support their claim, we would expect to find them in their writings about Christmas. But again, nowhere could we find the substantial presentation of biblical evidence but rather their admission of the absence of any evidence at all.
Christmas originated in the fourth century when Constantine linked it to a pagan feast. Initially, the celebration of Christmas was observed on January 6, coinciding with pagan festivals celebrating the birth of the new year. January 6? So, how did the date of the celebration of Christmas become December 25?
“Formerly Christmas was celebrated on January 6, but Pope Julius I, at the beginning of the fourth century, changed the day to December 25, since the date is unknown.”
(Reference: The Handbook of the Catholic Practices by Sister M. Catherine Frederic, O.S.F, Pub: 1964, p. 176, Emphasis Mine)
Readers might have noticed that Julius I changed the date of Christmas from January 6 to December 25. From then on, Christmas was celebrated in the West on December 25, but in the East, it was continuously celebrated on January 6:
“After the triumph of Constantine, the Church at Rome assigned December 25 as the date for the celebration of the feast, possibly about AD 320 or 353. By the end of the fourth century the whole Christian world was celebrating Christmas on that day, with the exception of the Eastern churches which celebrated it on January 6.”
(Reference: Collier’s Encyclopedia, vol. VI, p. 403, s.v. “Christmas,” Emphasis Mine)
Thus, it is a fact that only a Roman Pope by the name of Julius I was responsible for assigning December 25 as the date of the celebration of Christmas.
WHOSE BIRTHDAY WAS "CHRISTMAS"?
First celebrated on January 6 (coinciding with the pagan celebration of the birth of the New Year), the Church at Rome changed it to December 25. Julius I not only erred in assigning the date of Christ’s birth per se but was even indecisive in moving the date from January 6 to December 25. Whose birthday was “December 25”?:
“…December 25 was called the ‘Birthday of the Sun,’ and great pagan religious celebrations of the Mithras cult were held all through the empire….” (Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs by Francis Xaver Weiser, Pub: 1958, p.61, Emphasis Mine)
The feast celebrated on December 25 was originally a pagan feast, a grand pagan religious celebration of the Mithras cult. It was initially called the “Birthday of the Sun”—Sol Invictus. Thus, Pope Julius I officially declared December 25 as the birthday of Jesus when, in fact, it was the supposed birthday of a pagan God called “Sol Invictus.”
MITHRAS CULT OVER THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
What made Julius I, the “head” of the Roman Catholic Church, subscribe to pagan festivals and practices? Why the choice of December 25 that coincides with the celebration of the Mithras cult of the “birthday of the Sun” – their god, Sol Invictus?
“The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence. The recognition of Sunday (the day of Phoebus and Mithras as well as the Lord’s Day) by the emperor Constantine as a legal holiday, along with the influence of Manicheism, which identified the Son of God with the physical sun, may have led Christians of the fourth century to feel the appropriateness of making the birthday of the Son of God coincide with that of the physical sun. The pagan festival with its riot and merrymaking was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit or in manner.”
(Reference: The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Pub: 1909, Vol. 3, p. 48)
The pagan festival called Saturnalia (the Birthday of the Sun – Sol Invictus) was deeply entrenched in popular customs to be set aside by the Catholic Church. This festival was so popular that it was celebrated all throughout the Roman Empire. Obviously, this led the Catholic Church in the fourth century “to feel the appropriateness of making the birthday of the Son of God coincide with that of the physical sun.” A Catholic book has this to say:
“…the choice of December 25 was influenced by the fact that the Romans, from the time of Emperor Aurelian (275), had celebrated the feast of the sun god, (Sol Invictus: the Unconquered Sun) on that day. December 25 was called the ‘Birthday of the Sun,’ and great pagan religious celebrations of the Mithras cult were held all through the empire. What was more natural than that Christians celebrate the birth of Him Who was the ‘Light of the World’ and the true ‘Son of Justice’ on this very day?…”
(Reference: Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs by Francis Xaver Weiser, Pub: 1958, p.61, Emphasis Mine)
Noted catholic theologian Rev. Francis Xavier Weiser, S.J. admitted that “…the choice of December 25 was influenced by the fact that the Romans, from the time of Emperor Aurelian (275), had celebrated the feast of the sun god (Sol Invictus: the Unconquered Sun) on that day.” He added, “What was more natural than that Christians celebrate the birth of Him Who was the ‘Light of the World’ and the true ‘Son of Justice’ on this very day?”
Hence, the December 25 tradition with its practices is a “Christianized” pagan festival. The riot and merry making is dedicated no longer to Sol Invictus but now to Christ Jesus! What were once dedicated to a pagan god are now dedicated to Christ as birthday presents. What insult can be greater than this?
Yet Catholic authorities neither mind nor prohibit lay Catholics from participating in pagan festivals. Why? Noted catholic theologian John F. Sullivan stated:
“It is interesting to note how often our Church has availed herself of practices which were in common use among pagans, and which owed their origin to their appropriateness for expressing something spiritual by material means… she has often found that it was well to take what was praiseworthy in other forms of worship and adapt it to her own purposes, for the sanctification of her children. Thus it is true, in a certain sense, that some Catholic rites and ceremonies are a reproduction of those of pagan creeds; but they are the taking of what was best from paganism, the keeping of symbolical practices which express the religious instinct that is common to all races and times.”
(Reference: The Externals of The Catholic Church: Her Government, Ceremonies, Festivals, Sacramentals, and Devotions by John Francis Sullivan D.D., Pub: 1918, p. 156, Emphasis Mine)
Catholic authorities admit their interest in adopting customs and traditions from pagan rites and ceremonies in their worship allegedly for the sanctification of their members. Thus, an indirect admission of that Mithras cult overcoming the Roman Catholic Church.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH PAGANISM?
What does the Bible say concerning pagans and their beliefs? What did the Apostles advise the Christians about the pagans? In Ephesians 4:17-18, Apostle Paul admonished the Christians thus:
“This then is my word to you, and I urge it upon you in the Lord’s name. Give up living like pagans with their good-for-nothing notions. Their wits are beclouded, they are strangers to the life that is in God, because ignorance prevails among them and their minds have grown hard as stone.”
(Reference: Ephesians 4:17-18 NEB, Emphasis Mine)
Not only does Apostle Paul reject the ritual of pagan rituals and customs but he said that they are “good-for-nothing notions.”In fact the meaning of the term pagan gives us reasons to reject anything pagans do and practice. Webster’s New International Dictionary states:
“Pagan… the opposite of Christian… a person who is not a Christian… not a Christian.”
(Reference: Webster’s New International Dictionary)
It is interesting to note that even the etymology of the term “pagan” shows the incompatibility of Christianity and paganism. Any good book in church history would contain the origin of the term.
“Churches were first established in the cities. The people in the country continued to be heathen when the people in the cities had already become Christians. The Latin word for country people was pagani. So the name pagani of Pagans became equivalent to heathen. From the cities Christianity spread among the heathens or pagans, in the country.”
(Reference: https://thechurchinhistory.fandom.com/wiki/ Chapter_3:_The_Church_Grows_Inwardly_(A.D._33-325)
(Reference: https://thechurchinhistory .fandom.com/ wiki/ Chapter_3: _The_Church_Grows_Inwardly_ (A.D._33-325)
How do true Christians view pagans and their practices? In Ephesians 4:17-18, 20, Apostle Paul states:
“In particular, I want to urge you in the name of the Lord, not to go on living the aimless kind of life that pagans live. Intellectually they are in the dark, and they are estranged from the life of God, without knowledge because they have shut their hearts to it.
“Now that it is hardly the way you have learned from Christ, unless you failed to hear him properly when you were taught what the truth is in Jesus.”
(Reference: Eph. 4:17-18, 20 Jerusalem Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Apostle Paul attested to the fact that pagans live an aimless life, being estranged from the life of God. Living the way as they do is hardly the way of Christ and Apostle Paul urged all Christians not to go on living as pagans do. The supposed celebrant of Christmas has this to say:
“And he said to them, ‘How ingeniously you get around the commandments of God in order to preserve your own tradition’.”
(Reference: Mark 7:9. Jerusalem Bible, Emphasis Mine)
There are those who will yet and insist and argue that its just a custom and there is not harm in celebrating Christmas despite the admonitions of such pagan rituals by the Apostles. What else did Apostle Paul say about copying the behaviors and “customs of this world”:
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think…”
(Reference: Romans 12:2 The Living Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Hence we should not “copy the behavior and customs of this world.” But Catholics even go to the point of making the claim that pagan forms of worship could sanctify her children, but what does Christ say about such practices:
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’“
(Reference: Matthew 15:8-9 RSV, Emphasis Mine)
The primary objective of the Iglesia Ni Cristo is to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ; however, we never ignore but remain committed to adhering to the pronouncements of the Bible. Our acts of praise and glorification are conducted in alignment with biblical teachings. The reason why we don’t participate in Christmas celebrations is because Christmas celebrations are pagan, and anything pagan is abhorrent to Christ. To engage in such celebrations under the pretext of honoring Him on what is perceived as His birthday is not only erroneous and unscriptural but also constitutes a profound disrespect and insult towards Christ. It raises the question, how can one, in his mind, offer a person something which the latter perceives as disgust?
IN CONCLUSION
1
WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors an invitation to explore the pristine, unadulterated teachings of Christ and His apostles as they were taught in the first-century Church Of Christ. The teachings presented by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) will guide you toward the path that leads to eternal life for all on that appointed day of Judgment:
Our 'Fundamental Beliefs'
WITH THE AIM of aiding others in achieving a more comprehensive understanding of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, a series of readings has been developed. These readings encompass a range of significant topics, from the nature and work of Christ to apostasy. We encourage all those who are curious or in search of truth to engage with these articles. They are designed to encapsulate the comprehensive doctrines and beliefs of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
The Great Apostasy
LEARN ABOUT “The Great Apostasy” that led to the transformation and change of the Church of Christ, gradually becoming the Catholic church, which later in turn gave birth and rise to the Protestant faith, both of which continued to hold conflicting and unbiblical doctrines. Many sought the truth during this time but were unable to find it. Despite their belief in God and Jesus Christ, they did not have access to the pristine gospel truth. Consequently, each generation inherited a deeper state of apostasy, perpetuating changes to Christ’s gospel.
Reach Out
If you wish to acquire a deeper understanding of our Church Doctrines and have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be delighted to direct you to one of our local resident ministers in your vicinity. Kindly include any queries you may have so that we may forward your inquiry in advance. Thank you.
Please note, we only read and respond to messages that do not contain hate speech or insults...
“Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].”
(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.”
(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)