by Steve Hale
"One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to die Lord he does not observe..." ( Romans 14:5-6a, NKJV) .
Christmas. The Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate it on January 6. The Armenian church celebrates it on January 19. The first mention of December 25 was around the time of Constantine, about A.D. 325. The exact date of the birth of the Savior is simply unknown.
The root of Christmas comes from Christ + Mass. It originally meant celebrating a mass as a religious service in celebration of the birth of Christ. Mass is: "the celebration or service of the Eucharist; a sacrament of the Roman Catholic church, consisting of a series of prayers and ceremonies: the term is also used in some High Anglican churches" (Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, p. 1106).
If by Christmas, someone means such a mass and celebration of Christ by means of partaking of the Eucharist (what we would call the Lord's Supper), unalterably opposed to it. In Catholicism, the Eucharist undergoes transubstanation that is, it ecomes the literal body and blood of Christ.
The Lord's Supper is not the literal body and blood of Christ, but a memorial ( 1 Corinthians 11:23-29). The eating of blood is prohibited in the Scriptures ( Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:10, 11; Acts 15:28-29). Further, this was done on the first day of the week ( Acts 2:1, 42; 20:7), not on "Christmas."
On the other hand, there was great celebration around the birth of the Savior of the world! The heavenly host were filled with joy knowing that, through Him, salvation would be offered to everyone ( Luke 2:13, 14). So what should our reaction be to "Christmas?"
If the root and etymology of "Christmas" offends you to the point of despair, don't observe it: "...he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it..." ( Romans 14:6). If, on the other hand, you are not attaching the idea of "Christ + Mass," but merely joyful people are remembering Jesus: "He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord" ( Romans 14:5).
We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every Lord's Day. Victory over sin was by his death, burial, and resurrection. His birth was celebrated by shepherds and; the heavenly host, though we do not know the exact day. We hope this helps your celebration through this Holiday!