How Does Jesus Christ View Christmas?
If a celebration was to be held in your honor, would not your approval of its nature be of importance? Therefore, we do well to ask: Does the Bible indicate how Jesus views traditions steeped in paganism?
Jesus condemned religious leaders who compromised pure worship to gain converts. He said to such leaders: “You [travel] sea and land to make a single convert, and then you make him twice as ripe for destruction as you are yourselves.”—Matthew 23:15, Phillips.
Conversion was not to be accomplished by blending pagan and Christian beliefs. Paul, an apostle of Jesus, wrote to Christians living in Corinth: “You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons.” (1 Corinthians 10:21) And in his next letter to them, Paul added: “Don’t link up with unbelievers and try to work with them. . . . How can there be harmony between Christ and the devil?”—2 Corinthians 6:14, 15, Phillips.
If a conscientious mother saw her child pick up candy from a sewage-filled gutter, she would insist that he get rid of it immediately. The thought of his eating it—even touching it—repels her. Christmas, though sweet to many, has been picked up from unsavory places. Jesus’ sentiments match those of the prophet Isaiah, who urged true worshipers of his day: “Turn away, turn away, get out of there, touch nothing unclean.”—Isaiah 52:11.
Therefore, true Christians today do not celebrate Christmas. While their position may seem strange to others, they view traditions as did Jesus. When asked: “Why is it your disciples overstep the tradition of the men of former times?” he replied: “Why is it you also overstep the commandment of God because of your tradition?” And he added: “You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition.”—Matthew 15:2, 3, 6.
True Christians today manifest unity with Jesus by practicing “the form of worship that is clean and undefiled,” untarnished by the pagan traditions of men.—James 1:27.
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“Why is it you also overstep the commandment of God because of your tradition?”—Matthew 15:3
Cited Scripture
Matthew 15:3
New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
3 In reply he said to them: “Why do you overstep the commandment of God because of your tradition?+
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