For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Rick Daley
The bible teaches us to prove all things, and part of this is examining the origins and roots of whatever it is we do, and in my honest and humble opinion, Christmas never had anything to do with Christ!
Jesus never wanted his birthday celebrated, and if he did the bible would have instructed us to do so; so these holidays we celebrate are not inspired by God but created by men.
Danny Hickman
The bible didn't tell us to get a blood test before we get married but we do it in the country I live in. Is the government wrong to require us to do what the bible never told us to do?
We have no proof that the people who married exchanged wedding rings. The bible didn't tell us to do that. I believe that tradition was "created by man," the way you say that the observance of the birth of Jesus was created by man. You're right, it was created by man, but many of our traditions are created by us.
I'm not a Jew. All of the traditions the Jews observe are for them, given to them only. My community was never given any instructions from God to do, or not do anything. The Jews were but Jesus freed them from "the handwriting of ordinances that was against [them], which was contrary to [them], and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross (Col 2:14). Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days (vs 16).
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him (Col 3:17).
When we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus into this world we celebrate in His name giving thanks to God by Him. Christmas is a man made tradition that we use to celebrate our relationship with God through His Son Jesus. If there were no man made traditions I and my community wouldn't have any traditions. If you're not Jewish I mean you too when I say my community.
Jennifer Rothnie
It's true that man over time creates traditions, which is hardly automatically "bad." Traditions can unite cultures, help the young understand what their elders find important, bring a sense of community, keep up spirits in dark times, etc. For example, the Jews created Purim after God rescued them from Haman's plan.
But when it comes to traditions like Christmas, there are a couple of "sticky issues."
For one, it is often erroneously treated *as if* it is an official day of the church (when very few of us even keep the days God appointed and that we will one day keep in the New Jerusalem) or a day blessed above others by God Himself, rather than as a tradition of man. So unlike wedding rings or blood tests, it gets "official sanction" by many in the church which can cause issues when it's history or narrative inconsistencies or pagan-rooted elements are examined.
Other large issues are "do we have the right" to proclaim this sort of day and "is it actually honoring?"
If my husband ever died and I remarried, would I "honor" my new spouse by celebrating his birthday on my former husband's birthday and give him all the gifts and trappings my former husband would have liked, and craft a modified version of his birth to tell others?
Jesus was probably born the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles and placed in *the* manger at Migdal Eder. Yet all that wonderful and precise fulfillment of prophecy is obscured by the typical Christmas narrative of a winter inn and wisemen.
Danny Hickman
I get your point Jennifer. I just think the pros outnumber the cons. I wouldn't hesitate to wager that there were many who scoffed at the creation of the Purim tradition; There will always be scoffers (2Pet 3:3).
You mention the controversy Christmas causes: "Do we have the right" to proclaim... I think you know that Baptism and Holy Communion is debated in the same manner. "Do we have to be baptized to be saved; Is Holy Communion only for certain people; How often is too often?"
These ordinances were instructions from God for the church, and are just as controversial as any other thing that the church observes.
I agree with your basic sentiment, however. I don't like the way the church acts as if Christmas is an official church observance. The church pretends that all it does is done by ordinance from Jesus. All the church needs to do is follow the instructions of Col 3:17. "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Translation: The first two chapters of Colossians tell of the "old man," a man who had the "appearance of wisdom in self made religion." Chapter 3 tells of the New Man who "died" and whose "life is hidden with Christ in God." Verse 17 summarizes it all: don't worry about the former things that were used to get you to where you are in Christ. The rules don't apply.
Of course there will always be controversy. Sometimes it hard to tell your friends from your enemies.