1. Christmas Commemoration or Confusion?

2. Facts About the Origin of Christmas Christmas began in the 4 th century Localized feast days observing the birth and baptism of Christ had begun earlier The “church” did not make December 25 the day for celebrating Jesus birth until 345 A.D.

3. Facts About the Origin of Christmas The original ordinance was an attempt to “Christianize” the pagan world Conglomeration of various pagan festivals Most closely fits the festival of Saturnalia

4. Facts About the Origin of Christmas “there is no month in the year to which respectable authorities have not assigned Christ’s birth ” (Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 3, pg. 74) The date never centered around the actual date of Jesus birth Most cultures had a festival around the winter solstice

5. Facts About the Origin of Christmas The hedonistic aspects of the celebration were not removed until 1645 in England Christmas was actually illegal in the Colonies from 1659-1681 because the hedonism clashed with Puritan culture Became an American holiday in 1870

6. What Does God’s Silence on the Matter tell us? The most unique event in all of history Prophesied for centuries Unmistakable sign of God’s direct involvement in the redemptive plan Scripture is absolutely silent in regards to a commemoration of the birth of Christ

7. What Does God’s Silence on the Matter tell us? Silence authorizes nothing Scripture offers clear indication of approved observances We must learn the lesson of Uzzah! 1Chron 13 Many traditional practices ignore the authority of Christ to rule over His kingdom

8. What Does God’s Silence on the Matter tell us? What about nativity scenes, angels and stars? How do we separate such from idolatry?? Even “innocent” things can become dangerous if our understanding is perverted

9. What Does God’s Silence on the Matter tell us? What about religious Christmas songs? Are we singing them all year long?? Are they so intimately connected to Christmas that we cannot separate them?

10. Where is our focus?? Salvation is in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord We must be in constant realization of the price paid for our redemption Focusing too much on the baby in the manger is the product of selfish thinking