Was Jesus Really Born on December 25th?

No

Most experts agree that Jesus was not born in December. Shepherds would not have been out in the fields during the month of December (Luke 2:8).

The December 25th tradition is actually the result of a number of pagan celebrations primarily having to do with the winter solstice. The adoption of the date was partly to discourage Christians from participating in pagan rituals, and partly a compromise to allow them to continue the rituals they were accustomed to but with a Christ focus. 1


In light of the apostle Paul’s instruction regarding participation in pagan holidays, it could be argued that Christians have no business celebrating Christmas because it is based on pagan holidays and copies pagan idolatry rituals:

GAL 4:8-11 - Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. (NIV)

But remember, when Paul told us not to eat food offered to idols:

1CO 10:19-20 - Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. (NIV)

He set this in balance by telling us we should not refuse food where this was unknown:

1CO 10:25-27 - Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."

If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. (NIV)

But only if we know:

1CO 10:28-30 - But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice,"then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake -- the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? (NIV)

Reality is that Christmas traditions today aren’t worship of pagan idols. Even if the traditions originally were part of idol worship, that association ended when the idols were torn down and forgotten. Most people today aren’t even aware of the pagan rituals that many Christmas traditions stem from. My honoring Christ’s birth on December 25th does not pay homage to the mythical birth of the pagan god mirtha. My giving gifts does not pay homage to the pagan god saturn. My putting up a Christmas tree is not a pagan voodoo ritual to give me long life. My hanging mistletoe does not pay homage to the pagan god freya.

As long as we don’t apply the pagan meaning to the Christmas rituals we perform, our conscience remains clear and we do not sin by celebrating. If you know someone who has an issue with Christmas because of it’s pagan origins, you should respect them by not forcing it upon them for their conscience’ sake, but you need not feel constrained from celebrating yourself.


Merry Christmas.

James:)