The reason I hate christmas is not because I don't believe in christmas, but because christmas period is a period of dejection for me. I feel lonely, I feel dejected, I don't feel loved like others, I feel suppressed, I become an alien in this world.
I seldom talk about myself, except when it is very necessary. Some have said that I'm a complex, controversial person. I know, because it's complex for me to talk about myself too.🤦🏽♂️
As a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, I belong to a society where many believers like me (but not as me 🌝), believe in and celebrate christmas.
The Background
I was not born into Christendom but I joined Christendom precisely July 2011, about 12 year ago. I came from a Muslim family. After a year of secretly going to a house church, I told my dad that I could no longer toe the line of his religion and begged him to allow me be going to church.
As at that time, Jesus could no longer accept my secret followership, He revealed this to me in Matthew 10: 37, 38. When I told my dad, it became a serious issue and he eventually sent me out of his house. I knew my dad, and I knew the implications of what I told him too, so I was no surprised, neither was I offended. I loved my dad much more, I know it was not easy for him too, I knew he had to send me out.
I suffered much after he sent me out, but I survived by the grace of God. But the most important in all these is that I studied the Bible more. Also, I could now go to church as I wanted. I learnt many things in the Bible through practical experience, even as I read. Jesus' teachings became became more real to me, my eyes were opened to the Word, an entrance was given me into the Word.
The reason I'm saying all these is to establish the fact that I studied the Bible (it took me three years to complete and I'm still studying it). I also did some research on the internet when necessary. Before my conversion, I had always heard that Christians serve a pagan god by celebrating christmas and there was nothing like christmas celebration in the Bible and christmas was an import from the old pagan Roman Empire. And I found all these and more to be true.
Christmas is nothing more than a scheme.
One of the reasons I don't believe and celebrate or participate in christmas is because it was not instituted by Jesus neither was it instituted or practiced by his Apostles.
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Act 2:42)
"Whoever goes beyond, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son." (2Jn 1:9)
The only practice where Jesus commands "do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19), is the feast of the Passover, the feast of the unleavened bread, which is now translated to be the holy communion.
About six years ago something happened which made the pastor of my church to notice that I was not in church for a service. He saw me later and asked why I was not in church and I told him (naively) that it was a Christmas carol service and I don't partake in such. He asked me why and I told him because there is nothing like christmas in the Bible and Jesus and his Apostles never commanded nor practiced it.
He said "so those of us doing it are sinners?" I replied "no", then he said that the Apostles could not do it because during their period it was a period of persecution so they could not celebrate but the church is now enjoying a period of peace so we can celebrate the birth of the Lord then he left, saying that I do not have understanding and some other things I can't remember. That day I was not quick to realise that I had spoken too much and that I was arguing with the presiding pastor of my church.
A few months later our paths crossed and he asked me "have you stop being a heretic?" I was shocked and sad afterwards "why could you call me a heretic" I thought. I was very depressed for some time after that, especially when I had to go to church.
The second reason why I don't partake in Christmas is because Christmas celebration is an insult to the person of Jesus. Or you could say it is blasphemy.
Another incident... I asked a brother sitting beside me yesterday (25th December) during Sunday service "so how old is Jesus now?", he looked straight at me with a puzzled face and repeated the question. I said "yes, how old is Jesus now?" he was confused for a moment, then said "I don't know", then I said "do you know your age?", "yes" he replied, "how do you know your age?" I asked. "Because I know my date of birth" he replied, then I said "since you know Jesus' date of birth, how old is Jesus now?" he then returned the question to me and said "okay, how old is Jesus?" I laughed. He was a smart guy, maybe he guessed the question was a trap, but I was really glad he didn't give me any number.
Jesus came into the world in flesh for a purpose but he had existed before the creation of the world. He is the Lord of Lords, the King of kings. He is the priest after the Order of Melchizedek, (Hebrews 5:6). Celebrating christmas is a celebration of flesh (in a context), which the Bible in discourages. Jesus wants us to remember his death and in so doing rejoice in His resurrection, not His birth.
Jesus Himself says, "... Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)
John the beloved says" All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (see John 1: 1-10)
Jesus, in an instance, sways people from giving credence to the fact that He was born of a woman because that is not the important thing to Him. The important thing to Him is that we hear His word and keep it (do it), (Luke 11: 27, 28).
Jesus, in another instance tries to prove to people that He is greater than what they were taking Him to be because is the Christ. (please read Matthew 22: 41 to 46).
It is clear to me that christmas celebration is taking Jesus for less than what He really is. To me, it is belittling His person and His great status. People who celebrate christmas don't really know who Jesus is.
( so many things I would like to say, but for time, therefore I will highlight a few things and conclude. I hope I would have time to write a part 2 of this article next time)
Did I mention the historical origin of christmas? Well, it was an import from pagan Roman Empire. It started when Rome adopted Christianity as state religion. (please do well to research yourself, same as Sunday Sabbath).
Lastly, another reason why I CAN'T partake in christmas is because of its implication on the gospel of Christ and the will of God. For the gospel to progress, Christendom must detach herself completely from her ancient alliance with Rome, and that means putting an end to the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Okay, to conclude, I was having a conversation with a friend in the neighbourhood and he said that why am I in the church where they celebrate Christmas and I don't. I answered "we have many other things in common, which we do together, but when it gets to things that we don't have in common I stay aloof for the moment". You know how I started this article... It is "that moment" and that's why I hate christmas.
**Thanks for reading. 🔥😘Shalom. **
