My question is: as christians do we celebrate Christmas? And what is the significance of December 25^th to Jesus Christ?  Thank you!

Sincerely,
Holly And Jolly

Dear Holly And Jolly,

Many people believe Christmas to be a spiritual holiday, but the Bible never commands us to celebrate Jesus’ birth on December 25^th (the truth is, no one knows when Jesus was born, but it was most likely in the spring or summer because the shepherds were out – Lk 2:15).  Christians are commanded to remember Jesus’ death every first day of the week (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 11:24-25)… we are never commanded to remember His birth on an annual basis.  Christmas is not a biblical holiday.  There is nothing wrong with celebrating it as a family holiday, but it is wrong to teach that there is a biblical foundation to it.

Christmas can be traced back to the Roman pagan holiday of Winter Solstice (also known as ‘Saturnalia’ because it was in worship of the god, Saturn).  As Catholicism tried to integrate itself into a pagan Roman world, Christmas was instituted by Pope Julius I on December 25^th as a way to assimilate the pagans into a Catholic worldview.  In short, Christmas has never been a truly biblical holiday; it is a manmade tradition with no bearings upon your salvation.

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

(This is a follow-up to “Tax Deductible”)

In addition to the article referenced above, are we as His church today "commanded" to give as a part of our worship?  The Corinthian church was given charge to give for a specific reason.  Should we give not only money but time and everything else God has given us with a good and cheerful heart (not just when we assemble)?

Sincerely,
Cheerful Giver

Dear Cheerful Giver,

Individual christians are called to give to God every part of their life – not just their money.  Paul said it best when he explained a christian’s life should be a “living sacrifice” (Rom 12:1).  However, the question we dealt with in the post “Tax Deductible” dealt only with financial giving to the church.  The verse we cited, 1 Cor 16:1-2, is the only example we are given of how a local congregation should gather money.  If a congregation wants to make sure it is following God’s wishes, it must use Bible patterns for its behavior.  It is true that a congregation doesn’t have to take up a collection on Sunday if there isn’t a financial need… but as long as there are needy christians, expenses for worship, local and international evangelists to support, and the truth to teach… the church is going to have financial needs.  If a congregation needs to collect money, it is given a Bible pattern for how and when to do that – collect on the first day of the week as each member purposes in their heart to offer.

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

Are christians supposed to tithe?  If so, can you prove it in the Old and New Testament… prove it with more than one Scripture in the New Testament?  Please!!!

Sincerely,
Ten Percent Off

Dear Ten Percent Off,

The New Testament and Old Testament teachings on giving are similar… but not the same.  The Old Testament was very specific that giving should be a minimum of ten percent (Deu 14:22).  The word ‘tithe’ means ‘one-tenth’.

However, the New Testament teaching is more generic.  Though ten percent is a good rule of thumb (after all, the Old Testament is given to us as an example – 1 Cor 10:11), christians are simply told to “give as they have prospered” (1 Cor 16:1-2).  God tells us to be cheerful givers (2 Cor 9:7), but He never specifically says how much christians should give.  That is an issue of wisdom and is left for each individual heart to work out for itself (Php 2:12).