Dear Explorer,
Read Luke 2:8-20
That's it. Luke 2:1-20 is all that we are told about the first Christmas. Yet, you've been taught a lot more things. You've gotten a lot of information from tradition, songs and poetry. Be a student of truth and make sure that what you believe lines up with God's Word.
I was a young adult before I encountered followers of Jesus who believed it was “wrong” to celebrate December 25th as Jesus' birthday. I was horrified to learn that His birthday was unknown. But it's a fact. Nobody living today knows His birthdate.
The first clue that it probably wasn't December or any other winter month, is that the shepherds were in the fields with their sheep. During the winter months, the shepherds would have built folds (pens) for several flocks of sheep and took turns keeping watch – so that there would have only been 1 or at most 2 shepherds guarding the sheep. The rest would be inside a building keeping warm!
So why do we celebrate December 25th?
Tradition. Somebody decided it would be a good time to celebrate His birthday and gradually it became the accepted time of celebration. So, is it okay to celebrate on December 25?
Of course! You can celebrate the coming of Jesus any and every day of the year! But know the truth so you won't be tripped up.
Now, another truth-seeking adventure: Look closely at Luke 2:13. Do you see anything there that is different from what you hear in Christmas carols and children's stories?
If you search throughout the Bible, you will never find a statement regarding angels “singing!” They always “say” the words – not sing them. Apparently, angels don't sing! They rap! You won't find in the Bible a heavenly chorus of angels singing praises to God! If you do – then there's a problem with the translation (I once found it in an old Bible of mine – but when I checked, later versions had been corrected.)
It's hard to separate truth from tradition, and a lot of tradition is harmless, but you don't want to get tripped up and put tradition as more important than truth.
In His service, dale
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