Superstitious regard for times and seasons

(Charles Spurgeon)

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world, rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8

We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons.

Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas. First, because we do not believe in the mass at all - but abhor it, whether it is said in Latin or in English. And, secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior. Consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority.

Superstition has fixed most positively the day of our Savior's birth, although there is no possibility of discovering when it occurred. We venture to assert, that if there is any day in the year, of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Savior was born - it is the twenty fifth of December.

Probably the fact is that the 'holy days' were arranged to fit in with heathen festivals.

There are those who, on December 25th, will pretend to exhibit joy in the remembrance of our Savior's birth - but they will not seek their pleasure in the Savior. Joy in Immanuel would be a poor sort of mirth to them. In this country, too often, if one were unaware of the name - one might believe the Christmas festival to be a feast of Bacchus, certainly not a commemoration of the Divine birth.

When it can be proved that the observance of Christmas and other Popish festivals were ever instituted by a divine statute - then we also will attend to them, but not until then. It is as much our duty to reject the traditions of men - as to observe the commandments of the Lord.

Those who follow the custom of observing Christmas - do not follow the Bible, but pagan ceremonies.

How absurd to think that we could celebrate the birth of Christ, in the spirit of the world - with a Jack Frost clown, a deceptively worldly Santa Claus, and a mixed program of sacred truth with fun, deception, and fiction. If it is possible to honor Christ in the giving of gifts - I cannot see how, while the gift, giver, and recipient are all in the spirit of the world. The Catholics may have their Christmas one day in 365, but we have a Christ gift the entire year!

Since it is lawful, and even laudable, to meditate upon the incarnation of the Lord upon any day in the year - then it cannot be in the power of other men's superstitions to render such a meditation improper for today. Not regarding the day - let us, nevertheless, give God thanks for the gift of His dear Son.

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For those who are interested, we have published a few short articles on the topic of Christmas over the years.