The answer to that question is, “No.” When was He born then? The answer is likely in the season of Fall (Sept/Oct) or in Spring (March/April). While many point to the Fall season, we aren’t totally sure. Does it matter?
It matters when the December 25th date is adopted for Jesus when it wasn’t really that day. The reason is that the date chosen as the remembrance of Jesus’ birth happens to be of the pagan Solstice for the ceremonies of fertility worship to the gods of the pagans. Namely Molech, Baal, and Mithras, as according to culture. The date of this became a specific target of December 25th. But it wasn’t Jesus’ birth date. Was it coincidence to have that celebration coincide with the pagan one? No, it was designed purposely to bring cultures together. So why celebrate it on that date? Do we compromise Jesus and liken Him to other gods? I say we do.
In the early church the Christian culture rivaled the pagan. When the Roman Catholic Church was demanded during Constantine, along with it came the adoption of pagan gods given relation to Christian saints. And this to appease both Christians AND pagans to accommodate the acceptable religion of Rome that was adapted to satisfy the citizens on either isle.
However, the early believers did not make a significant point of his birth. Their focus was on His sacrifice and resurrection. The reason Christians took December was to be LIKE THE PAGANS and exchange a season representing the birth of a pagan god and put Jesus in that place for the Catholic Christians to equate Jesus with the other gods and celebrate with them. That is the ONLY reason the holiday even exists.
What is wrong with that? Well, it degrades Jesus like unto other gods. It also LIES and deceives people into thinking it was originally the birth of Christ, rather than the truth that Catholics adopted the date for Jesus to merge two cultures. However, when Christians INSIST on that date as Jesus’, in surrender of OTHER gods, they actually show their ignorance and plead something that they have no basis for in claiming. As it was the pagans’ gods that founded the holiday (holy day).
The Puritans and Separatists did NOT hold the observance of Christmas. They regarded it a pagan ceremony and forbade it recognized in the New World. However, as Dutch settlers came here, as well as pagans and witches (Druids and such), the observance began to again gain recognition in culture. The variations of the story about Saints and Bishops gave more folklore to the credence. Saint Nick became a character of Christmas, which in the pronunciation became “Santa Claus” in sound. Some argue that it actually migrated into a hidden Satan as the letters of Santa scrambled form that name.
I don’t tell people they CANNOT or celebrate Christmas. Especially those who are not Christ’s. For the Believer, I inform them with facts and truth and it is up to them to decide. But I don’t have to point fingers and demand. They should consider these points and hopefully come to a proper decision.
Christians who make it a point to celebrate the pagan time of year for their remembrance of the birth of Jesus do so in justification of the facts. Many defend their right to recognize it as a means to honor Jesus rather than the pagan gods. But does Jesus need a specific day, and furthermore a day to make it His adopted birthday from a pagan one that was someone else’s on top of that?
We Christians need not lie to make a point and redirect focus for pointing to Jesus. The Apostle Paul didn’t do that. It would be like Paul erecting an altar along with the pagan altars on Mars’ Hill and saying, “This one is an altar or idol for Jesus.” When all he needed to do, which is what he actually did, is to point to their altars and just make a connection to them of the significance of Jesus Christ who is different than their gods.
Why fake that it is Jesus’ birthday just to make a relationship when we can simply just point to Jesus without the big displays that are pagan. It would be like saying, “Hey look over here at OUR pagan display of Jesus.”
Is the Tree forbidden in Jeremiah 10?
We are told throughout scripture not to take on the ways (manners and intent) of the pagans. And not mimic their culture. Of course we would need to come out of the world to wholly be separate from every aspect of culture. So that isn’t practical. We are IN the world. However, we are not to be OF the world. That means not to give in to traditions of men and adopt cultures that have compromised to worship other gods. In that we may occupy along with them, but not celebrate in their ceremonies of worship.
So what about taking in a tree to represent the Christmas holiday?
Jeremiah speaks on this description in chapter 10:
[Jer 10:3-6 KJV] 3 For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They [are] upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also [is it] in them to do good. 6 Forasmuch as [there is] none like unto thee, O LORD; thou [art] great, and thy name [is] great in might.
Many Christians justify this passage in a couple of ways. Either they say that it is not the same thing, as they are not doing it to worship other gods. And also that the scripture is speaking of it being done as an idol for the pagan. They contend that the Christian does it to make an image to represent the remembrance of Jesus Christ.
The other argument given is that they did not adorn the tree the same way. That the silver and gold were hammered into a plate and fastened. Nor do they bow down to worship it in honor of gods.
All of these justifications are rather weak. Christians can rightly divide the word of truth when it comes to identifying idols in their lives – something that becomes worth over Jesus, however, when in a context they defend, all rational application is forsaken and compromised.
First of all, to say it doesn’t represent the pagan god, but only Jesus, is to say that Jesus can be idolized and reduced to an image. Something in the law that was warned against. Jesus don’t need an image to make an appearance for Him. Nor a symbolism to represent His birth.
They argue that the silver and gold adorned was hammered into plate, which is not what they do. They may not hammer the plate themselves, but the silver and gold representation is present and still applies. They hang ornaments on the tree in the same manner. And they DO bring in the tree and make a stand for it to place it in the home. How close does it have to be to mimic the same?
But do they bow before it? The tree has become the centerpiece for the holiday. And people DO bow before it to place their presents. It may not be intended to literally bow before it, but just giving it reverence of “worth” to be as an image for something is the same. We just make justifications sometimes.
Symbolically the tree stands as an altar in the living room. And just as in the description in Jer 10. Christians say the tree presents their remembrance of Jesus’ birth. Any Christian who wants to make that their case, I would ask why the tree is the representation and not the Nativity scene more relevant, if it is about Jesus’ birth?
People are more sensitive to the Gospel on Christmas, so why shouldn’t we Use it?
That is the other argument. And it is a valid one. There is nothing wrong with using the sensitivity of this time to relate to the significance of the true gospel and the reason for the birth of Christ. Nothing taking away from that. Just that we do not necessarily need to participate in the paganism to do that is my point. We don’t have to adorn our homes in the culture of the pagans and secular world. We do not need to remind everyone THIS is the date of Jesus’ birth (because it isn’t) in order to make it a useful tool and point of reference. So that is also an excuse to participate and be like them.
And that God can use it, I do not deny. I agree. But has nothing to do with the false perception lying that it is Jesus’ birth date, or our having to participate in the paganism of it. We can STILL use it. God can speak through cults, false teachers, and donkeys to reach people if He chooses. However, we don’t have to participate in the display in order to reach them or lie to them.
Much of the Display and Decor of Christmas is Pagan.
The reason for the white and red berries? Sure you can extend it to justify that it represents purity and the blood of Christ that cleanses. However, you would be wrong in the origin that actually refers to the holly tree (the holly branch is a sacred tree of witchcraft to use as magic wands and idol-making). The berries represent the cycle of fertility worship (male and female semen and virginal blood). The tree is said to represent the erected phallic symbol of Nimrod for Babylon, as is the obelisk for Osiris in Egyptian culture. The Yule log is also the image of the phallic of the gods. And when we “Deck the halls of bough and holly,” we adorn it for a witchcraft atmosphere (I already made mention of the sacred holly meaning to witches).
But the very name “Christmas” also has its suspicions. In Latin, the word “mas” is “misse” from mæsse and means dismissal. It has a double meaning, one that sends forth a mission, the other a dismissal to end. That is why some warn it is referring to the “death” of Jesus. So they say Christ MAS is actually celebrating the death of Christ.
While that is said to be a false interpretation, we do know the double talk of occultists. By using a word that has double meaning, they can use it to appease two ideas. One that Jesus was birthed to be sent forth for a sacrifice, and the other that it is a celebration of his death. This “death” concept is actually accurate when realized that the Eucharist in the Catholic Mass recognizes Jesus as “dead” and therefore takes the re-igniting and unity of partaking in the Eucharist to revise Him each meeting and create a supernatural resurrection each service. So this can have a dark meaning underneath the cover of celebration and joy.
My conclusion
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not is not my decision for you. Each has to function as to his own convictions and what the Holy Spirit has taught them. But to leave it at that and never explain, inform, or expose is also not taking proper action upon one’s conviction. So to that I do not carry out uniting in the celebration or ceremony of the holiday to commemorate the birth of Jesus, as I know it really isn’t that. Will I use it? Sure. Will I inform? Of course. Will I condemn? Only if that’s how you see my message. Upon that let each do with it and not anger at me for the message of the facts and truth. But you may also see me at one of the family dinners eating amongst the sinners and pagan ceremonies. But do I regard Christmas as how the world does? No, I don’t recognize it as Jesus’ birth. Nor am I convicted for eating of the table of those who are ignorant. Every day is recognized for Jesus in my view. And I will still use their perception to petition for Jesus Christ for their salvation, despite the “reason for the season.”