Gateway To Jesus Ministries - Bible Study #8. Average Reading Time: 9 minutes.

What Does The Bible REALLY Say About Celebrating Christmas

Christmas Question to Santa?

Does The Bible Say Anything About Christmas
And Its Pagan Customs, Traditions, And Santa Claus Lie?

If what you believe about the significance of Christmas for Christians is not true would you want to know it? Have you ever really proved what you believe about actually celebrating the birth of Jesus is true, by looking at what the Scriptures really say about it? Rather than believing the teachings of mere men, you are encouraged to study God's Word and see for yourself what the Bible actually says about Christians celebrating this holiday.

Does God Really Hate Christmas With All Its Pagan Customs And Traditions?

If you are looking for Bible studies that show you what the Bible says about the significance of this holiday, the pagan customs and traditions, and the Santa Claus lie that surrounds it, this one may surprise you. The Scripture verses that clearly and plainly indicate the significance to God of US celebrating this day, may not be in a way you might expect.

Does the Word of God say anything about celebrating Christmas, and the universally accepted lie parents, (including Christians) tell their children about Santa Claus? Is it really wrong if you say a little, culturally accepted white lie in the name of innocent fantasy during this holiday? Is it really a sin to break the 9th commandment and bear false witness to your children and grand children and say there actually is a Santa Claus who will bring them gifts if they are good? Absolutely! It is a transgression of the commandment if we lie to our children and say Santa Claus really does exist as the focal point of this holiday. There is no excuse that the Lord will accept for breaking His laws. We raise our children to tell the truth, but look at the example we set when WE lie to THEM about Santa Claus and him bringing them presents? If we expect our children to be honest and always tell the truth we should actually set a right example ourselves.

If our children find out Santa Claus does not really exist, is it possible they will logically question if Jesus is real too? Children are usually intelligent enough to make the connection. They may begin to question everything when they actually learn the truth about Santa Claus, who knows everything about them, whether they have been bad or good and actually rewards them accordingly. When our kids find out we lied to them about Santa Claus, is it really a shock to find out they also question everything spiritual we say to them? Some parents justify lying to their children because they view the secular version of the "X-mas" holiday as innocent fantasy having nothing to do with the birth of Christ, but can a young child tell the difference between fantasy and reality when they are taught by the most trusted people in their life? Children trust their parents yet parents do not see the harm in breaking that trust by falsely teaching their children about beings like Santa Claus that really do not exist. What they say is a lie, plain and simple! Sin is sin! There are no exceptions in the commandment for lying to children for any reason, and there are actual consequences for lying according to Scripture.

"A false witness will not go unpunished." (Proverbs 19:5)

Where Did This Whole False Christmas Concept Of Jesus Being The Reason For The Season Come From?

Have Christian parents unintentionally made Santa Claus and all the pagan traditions and customs surrounding him more important than Jesus during this holiday? Do parents and grandparents talk about our Savior as much as Santa Claus? Really be honest now. Do children actually get as excited about the little Babe in the manger as they do about Santa Claus on his mighty throne? Parents often do not even take their children to church to worship when they celebrate this holiday, yet they do not think twice about taking their kids to the mall to sit on the lap of Santa Claus. He has taken the place of our Heavenly Father to little children, knowing everything about them, whether they have been bad or good, and rewarding them accordingly.

Do we care about God's thoughts about man-made religious holiday's that He never commanded? If you are looking for key Scripture verses supporting the celebration of this holiday, you will not find them. There is actually no command, example, or instruction anywhere in Scripture to celebrate the birth of Jesus. In fact the Scriptures really say God HATES our religious holiday celebrations and festivals. Explore the Scriptures to see how our Creator hates our man-made festivals that He never commanded. Why do we observe pagan based holidays instead of the the ones God ordained as His special Festivals and Holy Days?

"These are MY appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies." (Leviticus 23:2)

"Your New Moons and YOUR appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them."(Isaiah. 1:14)

Pagan Feast Day

Scripture tells us in Leviticus 23 "GOD'S" special Feasts. Christmas and Easter are not listed anywhere in the Bible as Holy Days or Feast Days. MEN created them and filled them with pagan based customs and traditions. Is it any wonder that God hates man created holidays? As a Christian shouldn't we also hate the things God hates rather than embracing these pagan holidays? How about Christians putting decorated trees in our home and in our churches in light of what Scripture really says about them being a false, pagan tradition? Does Scripture say anything about putting evergreen trees in our Christian churches near the altar, as so many churches do every year? Does it not violate the principle of "planting", even if only on a temporary basis, a tree near the altar as is plainly written in Scripture?

“Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of thy Lord thy God..." (Deut. 16:21)

Does The Bible Plainly Tell Us About Using Pagan Customs To Celebrate Christmas?

Does the Bible say the early Christian church used pagan customs and traditions to celebrate Jesus birth? Never! They did not even celebrate this birthday at all. Do we know the sources of many of our traditions and customs that were added centuries later? Should we really care where they came from? Their source matters to God based on HIs words in the Bible He will do to ALL people who follow pagan customs and traditions. Should we not see the significance of our man-made holidays as He does? Should we not we call the Christmas season the way it really is, a celebration for the birth of the Sun God, not the Son of God? Have you ever researched just how many of our holiday customs and traditions were really taken directly from the ancient false religions? If you look you will find nearly all of them actually came from paganism. As a Christian who loves the Lord, why would you not care and continue to use them to observe a pagan based holiday like Christmas?

Do we know why the Catholic church started using all the pagan customs and traditions to celebrate the Nativity? It was as an appeasement to all the pagan converts to Catholicism who still wanted to celebrate the birth of the SON OF GOD with their old customs used for celebrating the birth of the SUN GOD. Remember, these people had grown up with pagan holidays, chief of which was the idolatrous festival of late December, around the 25th. It really was a festival of merrymaking, with its special spirit. They enjoyed it! They did not want to give it up! The truth is out there for anyone willing to see it. God says He will punish "ALL those following PAGAN CUSTOMS", ( Christmas Traditions?), and who "participate in PAGAN WORSHIP CEREMONIES", (Midnight Mass and Christmas Church Services?), and those who fill their houses with "DECEIT", (Santa Claus lie to our children?). Here is what the Bible actually says.

"On that day of judgment, says the LORD, I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah and all those following pagan customs. Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies, and those who fill their masters houses with violence and deceit."(Zephaniah 1:8-9 ESV)

God Will Punish Us

"For I am the LORD, I do not change.". (Malachi 3:6)

The Bible says the Lord NEVER changes. Words our Creator said thousands of years ago to His chosen people then, still applies to His chosen people, (Christians), and ALL people today! He never changes! He will do what He says and actually PUNISH us Christians if we celebrate heathen holidays.

Does The Bible Say ANYTHING About The Significance Of Christmas, (Or The Nativity?)

The fact is, the Bible does not actually say anything positive about Christmas being significant in any way! Many well meaning Christians say they do not do the Santa Claus based holiday traditions, but are celebrating the Nativity, the birth of our Savior, and putting Christ back into Christmas. How can we put Christ back into a secular heathen celebration that He was never really a part of in the first place? The Nativity, or birth of Jesus, has NOTHING in common with Santa Claus and the modern customs and traditions we use in celebration of this holiday! The early church did not even celebrate Jesus birth. This holiday as we know it is a relatively modern observances that really has nothing to do with the Nativity. Our modern, secular, commercialized "X-mas" does not look anything at all like the birth of Jesus we see in the Bible. Have we been deceived by a non-Biblical lie? Absolutely Yes! Is the modern "X-mas" spirit something Jesus would endorse with all the selfish and greedy values that are taught to our children at this time of year? It has turned kids into selfish little consumption addicts.

The modern spirit of "X-mas" with all the parties, drinking, over-eating, selfish expectations of toys and gifts, etc. is not only not accepted by God, it is all hated by Him! It all sets a selfish example for our children that really does them more harm than good. What does the Bible really say about this holiday? Does Gods Word tell us to teach our children to observe this man-made holiday, or does it actually teach the truth about false worship that God will not accept? Will we stand with the truth of God, or will we continue to follow heathen inspired traditions that have no Biblical foundation?

How About The “Yeah But What About...." Bible Verses Concerning Christmas?

After you have read this study you may have some questions about several Bible verses that Christians think prove we should celebrate this holiday. See for yourself the "Yeah But, What About...." Bible verses that supposedly show reasons Christian say we should celebrate it, and learn the REAL truth about them. Visit the Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas page to learn the answers to these "Yeah But What About....." Christmas questions.

What about the 3 Wisemen who came to celebrate Jesus birth on Christmas?

What about the Shephards who came to the manger to celebrate Jesus birth?

What about the angels singing praises to God in Heaven when Jesus was born?

Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas

The Bible Says To "Prove All Things". (1 Thess 5:21) Have you proved what the Scriptures really say about this holiday or do you just assume it is OK to celebrate it because you heard a minister, preacher, or priest at church say it? Do you really just celebrate it because you like it and have done so all your life? What if you are wrong? Will you believe what fallible men said, or what the Bible says ? Is it possible Jesus really hates this holidays no matter how well intended, and you are in opposition to GOD and His WILL? Your eternal life depends on you knowing the truth!


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