Christ Mass
In the past few decades the above two words have been incorporated to produce the word "Christmas." This word "Christmas" is derived from the medieval "Christes Masse," the MASS OF CHRIST; the feast commemorating the birth of Jesus, observed by the Catholic Church annually on the 25th of December. It was, according to many authorities, not celebrated in the first centuries of the Catholic Church. The first feast was established for the birth of Christ by the Catholic Church in the 4th century. In the 5th century the Western or Roman Catholic Church ordered it to be celebrated forever on the day of the old Roman feast of the birth of Sol, a pagan god, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ's birth existed. The Eastern Catholic Church celebrated this day on January 6th. The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log, and the wassail bowl are relics of PRECHRISTIAN TIMES. The Christmas tree has been traced back to the Romans.
None of the above facts were found in God's word, the Bible. It was necessary to go to the encyclopedia and Catholic books to find this information. Thus, God's word is as silent as the tombs on the subject of Xmas. It is not authorized by the Lord nor sanctioned by Him. If we celebrate it we have to borrow it from the great apostate, the Roman Catholic Church.
The only grain of truth in anything connected with Christmas is the fact that Jesus was born. The date is false! The season of the year is false! The spirit in which the day is kept is out of harmony with the birth of Christ.
Saint Nickolas or "Santa Claus" is founded upon lies and Catholicism, which are usually equal to the same thing. There are many reasons why a Christian should have no part in this pagan celebration originated and maintained by the Catholic Church. Some are as follows:
1. By the way we ordinarily observe Christmas we fail to glorify Christ and thus defeat the very purpose for which it is said to be kept. The average person goes in debt for months to buy gifts for the children and relatives, including the wife and the mother-in-law. As a result of this he robs the church of the money he should have contributed and thus fails to glorify Christ through the church, Eph. 3:21. Yes, we rob the Lord to buy presents in celebration of a Roman Catholic holiday.
2. This day has been made one of festivity which is entirely out of accord with the teachings of Christ. Suppose a man should celebrate Memorial Day by kicking down the tombstones and trampling underfoot the flowers and by shouting drunkenly. What would you think of him? Yet, Christmas has become a season of drunken parties and revelry.
3. It fits too closely with the conditions described in Revelation chapters 17 and 18, especially 18:3. It is true that the merchants of the earth have certainly grown rich because of the Christmas holiday which originated with "Babylon the Great," the Roman Catholic Church.
4. Because it has no authority from God. It goes beyond the scriptures. It speaks where the Bible is silent and thus falls into the realm of tradition. Jesus said, "But in vain do ye worship me, teaching for doctrine the TRADITIONS OF MEN." Matt. 15:9. Christmas is ENTIRELY FOUNDED UPON THE TRADITIONS OF MEN AND IT IS A DAY SET ASIDE BY THE WORLD TO WORSHIP CHRIST. Hence it is vain worship.
Many other reasons could be given, but these are sufficient to indicate that a member of the Lord's church should have no part in this holiday. He should not help the Catholics to celebrate any of their holidays. I know that this is contrary to what we perhaps have been taught and to what we would like to do, but every word of it is truth, and Jesus said, "Ye should allow the truth to make us free from this paganistic celebration.
Last of all, when we teach our children there is such a thing as "Santa Claus" we endanger their future faith in Christ. How is this done? Well, listen. The child believes in Santa Claus; then he learns there is no such "critter." It is all make believe; a myth. Well, those same people taught him that Christmas was in celebration of Christ; but he can't see Christ any more than he could Santa Claus, so unwittingly, he reasons that perhaps Christ is a myth also, thus undermining at the very outset the faith that is so vital to Christian living. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Accept him and he will flee to you.