Christmas… Should Christians Celebrate a Holiday that May Have Pagan Roots?

November 30th, 2009

This is a question many Christians have asked themselves. In this sermon consider…

We are assembled this day to celebrate the nativity of the Son of God. The theme is one full of wonder, of instruction, and of comfort.

We celebrate in December and some have said that Christmas is indeed pagan. There have been many other sermons given through the years that question whether Jesus could have been born in the winter season. I never really gave it much thought. Until 25 or so years ago, my pastor at the time, Richard Schermerhorn, gave a sermon. In it, he made a clear case for Christ’s birth having occurred on or around the time of year we celebrate it.

This sermon, preached on Christmas Day in 1844 covers the pagan roots of the holiday and the difference between ”high church” (read liturgical) and ”low church” read informal celebrations. I also contains some timeless wisdom… especially since the exact arguments are tried today!

If we remember…

It commends Christ to us as a perfect Savior. As a Redeemer. We need one who can suffer in our stead; one who can make a satisfaction to divine justice; one who can be a “mediator between God and man,” [1 Timothy 2:5] “a days-man betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both,” [Job 9:33] This qualification the Son of God acquired by his assumption of flesh.

It is a great thing for us because He did assume flesh!

Read the entire sermon here: WallBuilders – Historical Writings – Sermon – Christmas – 1844

For me and my house… we commemorate the day to the Lord!