Christmas is a man made holiday. It is not taught in the Bible. Yes, the birth of Emmanuel is recorded in the scriptures, but not keeping the day. The Lord’s way has always been to clearly describe what days He wanted observed. In the book of Numbers a succession of special days are recorded. They are summarized with this statement; “And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.” (Numbers 29:40)
What? You mean now that the Messiah has come we can do anything we want? No doubt for many, it is in the spirit of wanting to do good. Peter was like this, He said; “. . if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” (Matt.17:4) Notice that Peter said “if thou wilt.” He recognized the proper thing was to subject the proposal to God’s will. The Heavenly Father’s response to Peter was; “. . hear ye him.” It appears somebody way back when had the idea of making a special day for the Lord’s birthday, as well as other religious things. It caught on.
The Lord gave leeway for the Jewish believers to come to terms with the great lack of ceremony in the New Covenant. This is evidenced in Acts 21:19-26 and the book of Hebrews. The fourteenth chapter of Romans teaches moderation and love as we behold one another in our growth as disciples. And there is a place for keeping customs of the land as long as they are not confused with Divine ordinance; “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” (I Cor.9:19-23)
However, the above statement is about intermingling with people, being flexible in our care for others. It’s not about permission to do anything we want in the worship of God. May His mercy be upon us all as we try to make our way through the brambles of human tradition.
It is nice to have a holiday. It is pleasant to have time to relax with family and friends. For some, there may be a degree of extra religious devotion on Christmas. For others like myself, there’s no more religion on Christmas than on any other day. This is all on a personal level. But what about the congregation, the assembly of believers? The apostle Paul made it clear when he wrote some would-be makers of holy days; “Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” (Gal.4:10-11)