Don’t We Have a Christmas Program?

Why?

Why Don’t We Have a Christmas Program?

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for

instruction in righteousness, that the man

of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for

every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)

There is no Bible authority for one.

Why Don’t We Have a Christmas Program?

(Colossians 3:17) And whatever you do in word

or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father

through Him. (NKJV)

There is no Bible authority for one.

Why doesn’t the church have a Christmas program?

Entertainment is not work of Church Not worship (John 4:24)

Not evangelism (1 Tim. 3:15)Not edification (Eph. 4:16)

Not benevolence (1 Tim. 5:16)

Their origins are pagan, not Christian.

Why not celebrate Jesus’ birth?

(Romans 14:23) …for whatever is not from

faith is sin. (NKJV)

There is no Bible authority for one.

Why not celebrate Jesus’ birth?

“Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of

the church” - Catholic Ency. Vol. 3, 724

Origen (245 A.D.) repudiated

the idea of keeping the birthday of Christ - Ency.

Brit. 1975, Vol. 5, 642

There is no Bible authority for one.

It was not practiced by the early

church.

Why not sing Christmas Carols?

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your

hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16 NKJV)

Some songs maybe, others would not be authorized.

Why not sing Christmas Carols?

The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in

fields as they lay: In fields where they lay a keeping

their sheep On a cold winter's night that was

so deep.

Some songs maybe, others would not be authorized.

Lk. 2:8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over

their flock by night.

“It is also a fact that the Jews sent out their flocks into the mountainous and desert regions during the summer months, and took them up in the latter part of October or the first of November, when the cold weather commenced… It is probable from this that our Savior was born before the 25th of December,

or before what we call "Christmas." At that time it is cold, and especially in the high and mountainous

regions about Bethlehem. But the exact time of his birth is unknown; there is no way to ascertain it… Nor is it of consequence to "know" the time; if it

were, God would have preserved the record of it.” - Albert Barnes Comments on Luke 2:8

The exact date of Jesus' birth is unknown; the legendary date of December 25 cannot be

traced back farther than the fourth century. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary

Why not sing Christmas Carols?

They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far: And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and

night.

Some songs maybe, others would not be authorized.

Why not sing Christmas Carols?

Then entered in those wise men three, Fell reverently upon their knee,

And offered there in his presence Their gold and myrrh and

frankincense.

Some songs maybe, others would not be authorized.

Why not set up a manger scene?

• The star, the angel and the wise men were not even in the manger scene.

• The angel appeared to the shepherds out in the field, not in the manger (Lk. 2:8-9).

• No mention in either Matthew or Luke’s account of the shepherds and wise men having been there at the same time.

Maybe, so long as it were accurate for the purpose of teaching.

“…came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a

manger.” - Lk. 2:11

Why not set up a manger scene?

• “the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.” – Mat. 2:9

• “…when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.” – Mat. 2:11

Maybe, so long as it were accurate for the purpose of teaching.

Why not put up a Christmas tree, mistletoe?

“The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a

custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship

was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their

conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating

the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds

during Christmastime." – The Encyclopedia Brittanica

Their origins are pagan, not Christian.

Why not put up a Christmas tree, mistletoe?

“the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is

called the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god

and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it

meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs

reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return.”

Their origins are pagan, not Christian.

Why not put up a Christmas tree, mistletoe?

“Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity…As late as the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted

by most Americans.”

Their origins are pagan, not Christian.

Why Not Christmas as a Religious Holiday?

“The Christmas date, December 25…was then possibly borrowed from a pagan festival.” (ISBE, 3:1628)

The origin is pagan, not from the Bible.

Why Not Christmas as a Religious Holiday?

Roman Saturnalia – 7 day Pagan Festival (Dec. 17-24)

honor of Saturn

25th was day of worship of Sun-God Mathra

Celebration of victory of light over darkness

Celebration of the “Sun god” altered to the celebration of

“the Son of God”

The origin is pagan, not from the Bible.

Why Not Christmas as a Religious Holiday?

In the Roman world the Saturnalia (December 17)

was a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts.

December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the

Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness." – The Encyclopedia Brittanica

The origin is pagan, not from the Bible.

(2 Corinthians 6:17) Therefore "Come out from among them And be

separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." (NKJV)