Christmas - Sermons, Bible Studies, Articles, and Essays

Excusing Paganism in Christmas

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The annual celebration of Christmas is widely embraced across the world by people of various beliefs, marked by glitzy lights, special foods, carols, parties, and gift-giving. However, there is a sense of oversaturation with the festive cheer and its trappings, leading to a desire for the season to end. Many customs and traditions

A Sanitary Christmas

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christmas is only days away following the winter solstice, which used to coincide with it. However, due to calendar inexactitude, the solstice has shifted forward over centuries. Some celebrate Christmas in the heat of summer for different reasons. Christmas-keeping Christians have been defending the holiday against atheists, agnos

Christmas Contradictions

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christmas is a bundle of contradictions, inanities, and outright lies. Most people are aware that Jesus could not have been born around the winter solstice. In the early fourth century, the Catholic Church combined the Roman winter solstice festival, the Saturnalia, with a celebration of Jesus' birth to help new converts adjust to

The Conundrum of Christmas Cheer

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christmas, often marked by greetings of seasonal cheer, reveals a stark contradiction as December emerges as the most depressing time of the year for many. Despite the overdone jollity, the holiday season is filled with angst, frustration, and disappointment, leading to negative emotions that many struggle to handle. The central fo

Does Jeremiah Describe a Christmas Tree in Jeremiah 10:2-5?

Bible Questions & Answers

The practice of using a Christmas tree, as we know it today, mirrors the carved idols described in Jeremiah's writings. This custom, linked to the signs of heaven much like the winter solstice, reflects a pagan origin despite modern unawareness of this connection. The scriptures in Jeremiah, primarily prophetic and relevant to our

The Crazy in Christmas

CGG Weekly by Ronny H. Graham

Many years ago, the subject of Christmas arose in conversations, revealing astonishment from others when I shared that I do not celebrate it. Neighbors, upon presenting Christmas gifts, were stunned to learn of our stance, questioning our belief in God when they noticed the absence of a Christmas tree and decorations in our home. T

Cogitations on Christmas

Article by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Christmas is a bundle of contradictions, inanities, and outright lies, a fact that many people are aware of yet often ignore. The celebration, commonly associated with December 25, is not the true date of Jesus Christ's birth, as He could not have been born around the winter solstice. In the early fourth century, the celebration wa

Reasons for Not Celebrating Christmas

CGG Weekly by John Reiss

Christmas, as observed on December 25, does not align with the actual birth date of Jesus Christ. Clues in the Bible suggest His birth occurred in the second half of September, around the fall holy days, based on calculations related to John the Baptist's birth in late March. The Bible does not specify the exact day of His birth, a

The Plain Truth About Christmas

Herbert W. Armstrong Booklet

Where did we get Christmas? It is a custom that has come to the world from the Roman Catholic Church, not from the Bible or the original apostles who were personally instructed by Christ. Historical authorities, such as the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1911, reveal that Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church, with

What's Wrong With Christmas?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Many people are well aware of the tainted origin and history of Christmas, yet this holiday flourishes in the materialistic Western world, spreading its revelry globally. Despite widespread information on the Internet, in magazines, newspapers, and newscasts revealing its non-Christian background, Christmas remains a quagmire of de

So You Plan to Keep Christmas Now?

Article by Mike Ford

Here in America, Christmas is observed with dazzling lights, greenery, and jolly Santas on every corner, presenting a beautiful and enticing surface of harmless entertainment. However, the customs of using evergreens, such as putting up a Christmas tree, tacking a wreath on the door, or hanging mistletoe, carry deeper significance

Christmas, Syncretism, and Presumption

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Christmas, as a widely celebrated holiday, reveals a striking contradiction in its observance across the globe. Despite claims of Judeo-Christian roots, the festival is nowhere mentioned in the Bible, except for the story of Jesus' birth in the book of Luke. Its origins are acknowledged as pagan by some clergy, yet they often dismi

Christmas and Sun Worship

Sermonette by Mike Ford

Next Wednesday is Christmas, a day often viewed through a religious lens, yet its roots trace back to pagan festivals. Over the years, I have addressed Christmas from various perspectives, and today I approach this holiday from a unique angle, focusing on its historical connections to sun worship. A common thread running through ma

The Names of Christmas

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The celebration of Christmas is marked by a variety of terms and traditions that carry deep historical and cultural significance. Words like Yule, Yuletide, Noël, the Nativity, Advent, and the Feast of the Incarnation are commonly used during this season. Among these, Yule and Yuletide are derived from the Old English word géol, re

The Rea$on for the Season

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

This time of solstice celebrations brings an ironic humor amidst the weariness for those called out of worldly paganism. The American Family Association launched a boycott against Target stores due to the absence of the word Christmas in their marketing, noting that this year marked a significant elimination of such references by m

Celebrating a Lie

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The celebration of Christmas on December 25 is marked by widespread participation, yet it lacks a foundation in biblical instruction. There is no directive in either Testament to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ with an annual celebration. Instead, Jesus Himself emphasizes remembering His death rather than His birth. The date

Spirit and Truth

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Christmas in America has become a battleground, revealing the pagan origins of this esteemed tradition. The timing and trappings of this celebration, centered on December 25th, long predate Christianity and are tied to sun-worship across many millennia. These pagan roots are so well-documented that it raises the question of why Chr

A Search For Christmas Truth?

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh

Rejecting the Sabbath or embracing Christmas requires rejecting fundamental biblical truths. If we do not do what Christ did, we cannot claim to follow Christ.

When Was Jesus Born?

Article by John O. Reid

We are approaching the time of year when the world celebrates the supposed birth of Jesus Christ. Anywhere we go, Christmas cheer is inescapable. For most of us in the church of God, this is a season we struggle through, as we do not celebrate Christmas, often standing out in a crowd. This difference piques the curiosity of some, w

'Tis the Season: Help for Our Young People

Article by Staff

Members of God's church do not celebrate Christmas or New Year's Day due to the absence of a biblical command to do so and the divine command to avoid pagan practices, which these holidays embody in abundance. The Christmas season presents challenges for God's people, becoming both easier and harder each year as society and adverti

Syncretismas!

Article by Martin G. Collins

Christmas, as a Christian holiday, is surrounded by falsehoods and deceptions that obscure its true meaning in relation to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Elements such as evergreen trees, Yule logs, holly wreaths, mistletoe, and Santa Claus bear no connection to our spiritual bond with Him. This holiday, flourishing in the mater

Insinuating the Savior Into Paganism

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Bobby's condition declined noticeably after Christmas, when his parents gave him a gun as a gift, disturbingly the same one his brother Stuart had used to commit suicide. This thoughtless act by his parents, showing no regard for whether the gift was fitting or well-received, mirrors a broader issue of self-centeredness. Similarly,

Pagan Holidays

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

This present world system has attempted to change God's Sabbath and holy days, syncretizing them into corrupt worship and establishing their own counterfeit holidays. Though the Bible makes no direct references to Christmas, the origins of such pagan holidays are mentioned as being abominations to God. It matters that most of this

Dating Christ's Birth

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Despite the secularization of society, curiosity about the historical basis for Jesus Christ's life peaks during Christmas, a time when He is considered the central figure of the celebration. The vast majority of mainstream Christians observe Christmas on December 25 or January 6, depending on denominational ties, though many ackno

Presumption and Divine Justice (Part One)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Hardly anything more clearly illustrates the self-deceived perverseness of human nature than its presumptuous additions of the observation of Christmas to the worship of the God of the Bible. That Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea is indisputable, but among other things, He was not born on December 25, nor did anybody exchange g

What Is This 'Advent'?

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The world around us celebrates Advent, a month-long buildup to Christmas, which some treat as a time of intense prayer and fasting, though most nominal Christians merely erect a Christmas tree and decorate with traditional greenery. Manger scenes appear at churches and in yards, competing with glowing Santa Clauses, animatronic rei

For the Love of the Truth

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

Christ has never been in man's holidays, which are built on lies, and which teach children they cannot trust the veracity of their own parents.

Hearing and Understanding the Truth

Sermonette by Cody Ford

We are immersed in the Christmas holiday season, a time when the majority of people eagerly participate in what is considered the pinnacle of pagan holidays. A staggering 93% of Americans celebrate Christmas or some variation of it, often spending around $1,000 per person or $4,000 for a family of four, with total seasonal spending

True Worship of God

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

Any practice that does not give its loyalty to the Creator and is not devoted to His truth is nothing more than a method of worship created by men.

Truth-Based Worship Vs Spiritual Confusion

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Many individuals, upon leaving God's church, return to observing Christmas, viewing it through their own humanly reasoned opinions rather than truth. Despite widespread awareness of its non-Christian origins, Christmas flourishes in the materialistic Western world and continues to spread globally. Its history, well-documented in va

Satan's Pagan Holy Days

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim Myers

Christmas, as one of Satan's counterfeit 'holy days,' is steeped in pagan origins that God's people must recognize and avoid. The term 'yule,' meaning infant or little child in Chaldean, was tied to the ancient Babylonian celebration on December 25th, known as Yule Day or the birth of the promised child day, representing the incarn

Sincerity Without Truth Is Worthless

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

There is a notable admission this year about the origins of Christmas, met with a widespread indifference that reflects a broader disregard for truth. Christmas, often celebrated as a Christian holiday, is embedded with falsehoods and deceptions that render it an abomination in the sight of God. Despite the sincerity of many who ob

Offering Profane Fire

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

As the holiday season approaches, it stirs deep memories and emotions tied to what many were taught was the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. For those who grew up in traditional Christianity, this time is not just about decorations or music, but about family, belonging, and nostalgia. However, upon reading God's word for t

A Son Is Given

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In just three days, many sincere professing Christians will be celebrating Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ the Savior. They will sing their Christmas carols, attend their Christmas parties, open numerous Christmas presents under their Christmas tree, have their Christmas dinners, and spread their Christmas cheer to everyo

Appointments

Sermon by Clyde Finklea

Christmas is regarded as one of the most significant holidays in the Christian world, alongside Easter. However, it is notable that Christmas is not found observed anywhere in the Bible. If it held the importance in the early church that it does today, one might expect some mention of it in scriptural accounts. Instead, the Bible h

Does Paul Condemn Observing God's Holy Days?

'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn

God has called us completely out of the ways of this world, including the pagan customs and traditions that define many of its holidays. Among these are days like Christmas, which have their roots in the worship of pagan deities. The scriptures warn against returning to such unchristian holidays, emphasizing that we should not obse

Nicolaitanism Today

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Christmas season has passed, with its colorful, twinkling lights taken down, dying evergreens left at curbs for trash collection, store lines reduced to manageable size, and the overly sweet seasonal tunes no longer filling the airwaves. The frequent Merry Christmas farewells have ceased, the Salvation Army bell ringers have mo

Truth (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The celebration of Christmas, among other observances, is embraced by many, despite the awareness of its questionable origins. People often come across information suggesting that Jesus was not born on December 25th, and they recognize connections between Christmas and pagan festivals like Saturnalia and Brumalia. Yet, they dismiss

The Second Commandment (1997)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Christmas and its trappings, like the Christmas tree, are not part of the way God commanded we worship. It is not part of the truth of God. Therefore, the Christmas tree is a component of an idolatry created when man desires to worship God as he devises rather than as God instructs. So he breaks the second commandment even though h

More on Tolerance

CGG Weekly by John W. Ritenbaugh

At one time, the Protestant world would not tolerate practices rooted in paganism to infiltrate their worship of God. Among these were Christmas and Easter, recognized as obviously pagan, along with other unacceptable pagan practices. These observances began to be tolerated within their assemblies on a small scale, but today, Chris

Who Were the Wise Men?

Article by Staff

The Christmas season extends over twelve days, culminating on January 6, which is observed by some as Christmas Day but more commonly as the Feast of Epiphany. This day commemorates the visit of the wise men, often called magi, to the infant Jesus at Bethlehem, an event detailed in Matthew 2. The account raises questions about the