Christmas - Sermons, Bible Studies, Articles, and Essays
Excusing Paganism in Christmas
Commentary by Richard T. RitenbaughChristmas is not a biblically commanded observance, and December 25 is neither Christ's birthdate nor a day God ever set apart; Scripture instead tells believers to commemorate His death through the Passover. Most Christmas customs have pagan origins, and December 25 falls in the midst of the Roman Saturnalia, which Roman Christian
A Sanitary Christmas
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughChristmas is an unbiblical holiday that Christians defend without any scriptural authority. While atheists and the ACLU push to secularize it, professing Christians rush to protect a day whose only biblical basis is the Gospel birth accounts of Matthew and Luke, and those accounts undercut the traditional teaching. They give no bir
Christmas Contradictions
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughChristmas is a bundle of contradictions, inanities, and outright lies, and most people already know it. Jesus could not have been born near the winter solstice, and the December 25 date came from the Church merging the Roman Saturnalia with a celebration of His birth. Customs such as the Yule log, rooted in a pagan midwinter festiv
The Conundrum of Christmas Cheer
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughChristmas is not godly, so its fruits are bad (Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 6:7-8). The season's forced jollity hides the fact that December leads the year in depression, suicide, and aggravation. The holiday has become centered on gift-giving, which has little to do with worshipping Christ. The Magi gave gifts to Jesus, but the Bibl
Does Jeremiah Describe a Christmas Tree in Jeremiah 10:2-5?
Bible Questions & AnswersChristmas is a pagan custom, and the Christmas tree is what Jeremiah 10 describes: a tree cut down and set up, decorated, and tied to the signs of heaven. Christmas today is likewise a custom tied to the winter solstice. Most people do not link the two, but that does not change its pagan origin. Though the passage applied to the ca
The Crazy in Christmas
CGG Weekly by Ronny H. GrahamChristmas is not a biblical festival, and those who decline to keep it are not crazy. Jesus says God must be worshipped in spirit and truth (John 4:24), yet nowhere does Scripture command the celebration of His birth. He commands the commemoration of His death (I Corinthians 11:23-26). Even reference works admit that the date of Hi
Cogitations on Christmas
Article by Richard T. RitenbaughChristmas is a bundle of contradictions, inanities, and outright lies. Jesus was not born on December 25; the celebration merges the Roman Saturnalia and sun-worship festival with a commemoration of His birth. Its trappings, such as Santa Claus, Yule, and the Yule log, come from pagan or folk sources with no basis in the gospel nar
Reasons for Not Celebrating Christmas
CGG Weekly by John ReissChristmas is not a righteous observance of Christ's birth but a pagan inheritance dressed in Christian language. Jesus was not born on December 25. Calculating from Zacharias's priestly course puts John the Baptist's birth in late March, and Jesus, six months younger, around the fall holy days in September. The earliest gospel skip
The Plain Truth About Christmas
Herbert W. Armstrong BookletWhere 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. CollinsMany 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 FordHere 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. RitenbaughChristmas, 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 FordChristmas, Easter, and Halloween all derive from sex, fertility, and sun worship. Christmas traces to the incestuous relationship of Semiramis and Nimrod.
The Names of Christmas
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe 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. GrabbeThis 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. RitenbaughThe 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. GrabbeChristmas 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 byRejecting 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. ReidWe 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 StaffMembers 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. CollinsChristmas, 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. GrabbeBobby'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. CollinsThe holidays of this world counterfeit God's holy days, but it is obvious that they are very different. God warns us not to be involved in them.
Dating Christ's Birth
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughChristmas, though called Christian, has no biblical foundation. Most professing Christians celebrate it on December 25 or, in Eastern Orthodoxy, January 6, yet proof for the December date is scanty, and few care about the date so long as they celebrate the Son of God's coming and enjoy family, cheer, and presents. Its trappings (tr
Presumption and Divine Justice (Part One)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHardly 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. RitenbaughThe 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 McClureChrist 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 FordWe are immersed in the Christmas holiday season, a time when neighborhoods are adorned with lights, inflatable Santas, sleighs, reindeer, and nativity scenes. This season is a pinnacle of pagan holidays, drawing nearly everyone into its festivities. A 2019 Gallup poll revealed that 93% of Americans celebrate Christmas or some varia
True Worship of God
Sermonette by Craig SablichAny 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. CollinsMany 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 MyersNew Years, Christmas, Easter, Halloween and birthdays all originate in paganism. Satan entices many into accepting these pagan practices through emotional appeals.
Sincerity Without Truth Is Worthless
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThere 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 SablichAs 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. RitenbaughIn 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 FinkleaChristmas 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. HennGalatians 4:9-10 is a favorite crutch of those who claim Christians no longer need to observe God's holy days. However, Paul's meaning is quite different.
Nicolaitanism Today
'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. RitenbaughThe 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. RitenbaughThe 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. RitenbaughMany fail to perceive the difference between the first and second commandments. The second commandment defines the way we are to worship the true God.
More on Tolerance
CGG Weekly by John W. RitenbaughAt 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 StaffThe 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