The Truth About Christmas

THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTMAS Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32) Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................xi CHAPTER 1 THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST .......1 CHAPTER 2 WAS JESUS BORN ON DECEMBER 25TH? ............................19 CHAPTER 3 GIVING GIFTS .................................25 CHAPTER 4 THE TRUTH ABOUT ANGELS ......33 CHAPTER 5 CHRISTMAS TREES .......................49 CHAPTER 6 DECORATIONS ...............................55 ABOUT THE AUTHOR ..............................................67 INTRODUCTION When I was a child I loved Christmas and looked forward to it each year with great anticipation. I loved watching the parades and Christmas cartoons on television. I enjoyed seeing the decorations in the department stores and around the neighborhoods. When I was in elementary school my classmates and I drew each others names out of a box or a hat. Th e person’s name you drew out of the hat or box; you were supposed to buy him or her a present. You were not supposed to tell the person whose name you drew that you had his name. Just before the holiday break, usually at our class party, we would give the person whose name we drew their present. At church we the congregation would sing Christmas carols the entire season. We would have a Christmas play also. One year my mother was the director of our Christmas play. It was about the birth of Jesus. I played the inn keeper who told Joseph that there wasn’t any room in the inn for him and Mary. My parents would decorate the inside and outside of our home. It looked so pretty with all the decorations lit up and our aluminum tree in front of the window. My brothers, sister and I would look through the Christmas catalogs and choose the toys, clothes, etc. we wanted Santa Claus to bring to us. My younger brother and I kept our bedroom messy about 99% of the year. However, a few days before Christmas we’d give it a thorough cleaning because we didn’t want Santa to come to our home and fi nd our room looking like a disaster area and not leave us any presents. I would tie a rope to my bed post with knots tied on it counting down the days until Christmas. Each day I would untie a knot showing how many days were left. We (my brother, sister and I) would sing carols to put us and keep us in the holiday spirit. Also, during that time we would go on a scavenger hunt for any presents hidden around the house. One year my parents were in the living room sitting on the sofa watching television. My brother crawled under the in table and found what we thought were our presents hidden behind the sofa. My parents told us that Santa knew we’d be looking for them so he put empty packages resembling our gifts behind the sofa. When Christmas Eve arrived we would put out milk and cookies for Santa and get to bed early because our parents told us if Santa came and caught us awake he’d put pepper in our eyes. My brother was usually the fi rst one to awaken very early on Christmas morning. He’d call to me to awaken me and we’d see our stockings full of candy, nuts and fruit hanging from our bed. We would rush into the living room and tear into our presents. We never ate breakfast, lunch or dinner that entire day. We just played with our toys and ate candy, fruit and nuts. To me those were the best Christmases ever. When I grew older I still looked forward to the Christmas season. I didn’t look for Santa anymore or toys but I still loved the season and what it brought with it (the decorations, sometimes snow, family and friends coming in for Christmas dinner, taking photos of each other, etc.). After I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and savior I had a new excitement about Christmas. I was celebrating my savior’s birth. Th e presents we gave to each other reminded me of the gift of God’s only begotten son who came to be the savior of the world (John 3:16). However, soon after I was born again I was told by some well meaning Christians that the celebration of Christmas was not for God’s children and I should not participate in it. I was also told that it was not the savior’s birthday. It was nothing more than a pagan (non- Christian) ritual and too commercialized (exploited for profi t). I was even quoted biblical scripture references regarding that fact. I heard about a Bishop who goes on vacation every December and travels so he doesn’t have to be involved in the celebration of the most important birth this world or any other world has ever known. Just because the world has taken something sacred and made it pagan and commercialized, doesn’t mean that we (Christians) should not celebrate it. Th e only thing we have to do is not adopt the same attitude as the world has done. It just seemed totally absurd to me that we who claim to know God, and accept the sacrifi cial death, burial, and resurrection of his son the Lord Jesus Christ, would not want to go all out in the celebration of his birth. After all, it seems to me that Jesus’ birth is as important as his death; for had he not been born we who claim to be born again are still in our sins and on our way to hell. I was watching a televangelist on a Christian television station one morning teaching on the subject of Christmas. When I heard what his message was going to be about I grabbed my pen and paper to take notes, and to write down ordering information in case I wanted to purchase a copy of it. It seemed as though the Lord had the broadcast on at the right time, and had me in the right place to hear and receive the message. He explained many things in his message about Christmas. He gave me enough information to get started on my own exhaustive search. While researching this topic, I discovered I had always read the Bible from a “traditional” point of view. What I mean is I read the Bible concerning the birth of Jesus from what I was told and seen depicted, and not from what it actually says. Since I read the Bible in reference to Christmas from this traditional viewpoint, I came to the conclusion that there may be other people who also probably read it from this perspective as well. I ask you the reader to set aside any preconceived ideas regarding Christmas, and approach this study with an open mind. May I also suggest that you have your Bible open to see for yourself what the Word of God says and not just take my word for it as we have done, and unfortunately, are still doing in the secular and the Christian world. THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST MATTHEW 1:18-25 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Th en Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfi lled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Th en Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her fi rstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Th e book of Matthew says that Mary, who was to be the mother of Jesus, was engaged to Joseph. Before they were married the Word of God (Matthew 1:18) says that Mary was found with child;