IS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION PLEASING TO GOD?

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IS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION PLEASING TO GOD?

A Doctrinal Examination by Scripture Alone

📖 WHAT DOES “Pleasing to God” MEAN?

To ask whether Christmas celebration is pleasing to God is not a cultural question but a doctrinal one. Scripture defines what pleases God—not human sentiment, tradition, emotion, or majority practice.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

What pleases God is:

· Faith grounded in His revealed will

· Obedience to His commands

· Worship offered according to His authority

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.” (2 John 9)

☛ Thus, anything done “for God” but without His authorization is not pleasing—no matter how sincere.

✎Key Question: Did God command, approve, or authorize the observance of Christ’s birth as a religious holy day?

🔎 Doctrinal Insight : Pleasing God is not about intention—but authorization. (See also: Matthew 7:21–23; Colossians 3:17)

📖 GOD’S RECORD OF WHAT PLEASES—AND DISPLEASES—HIM

Scripture provides clear patterns.

A. Examples of What Pleased God

1. Noah — “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” (Genesis 6:22).

2. Abel — “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…” (Hebrews 11:4)

3. Jesus Christ — “I do always those things that please him.” (John 8:29)

☛ Faithful obedience—not innovation—pleased God.

B. Examples of What Displeased God

1. Cain — “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” (Genesis 4:7)

☛ Cain worshiped God—but not according to God’s instruction.

2. Nadab and Abihu — “Which he commanded them not.” (Leviticus 10:1–2)

☛ Unauthorized worship resulted in divine judgment.

3. Jeroboam’s Feast — “He ordained a feast… even in the month which he had devised of his own heart.” (1 Kings 12:33)

☛ God condemned man-made religious holidays.

🔎 Doctrinal Insight: God consistently rejects worship He did not authorize—even when done “for Him.” (See also: Deuteronomy 12:32)

📖 EXEGETICAL ANALYSIS: “The Grammar of God” and Divine Authority

This section is critical.

A. Authority Defined

“Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Colossians 3:17)

The phrase “in the name of” (Greek: en onomati) means by authority, not mere mention.

☛ If Christ did not authorize it, it is done without His name.

B. Worship Must Be Regulated

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

· Must (Greek: dei) = divine necessity, not suggestion

· Truth = God’s revealed word (John 17:17)

☛ Emotion, culture, and tradition are excluded as standards.

C. Silence of Scripture Is Prohibitive

“For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.” (Hebrews 7:14)

☛ God’s silence forbade Christ from Levitical priesthood.

☛ Likewise, Scripture is silent about celebrating Christ’s birth as a religious event.

☑ Silence is not permission.

🔎 Doctrinal Insight: Where God is silent, man must be silent. (See also: 1 Peter 4:11)

📖 OBJECTION & REFUTATION: Silencing Christmas Defenders by Scripture Alone

Claim 1: “We are honoring Christ.”

Refutation:

“In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9)

☛ Honor without authorization is vain worship.

Claim 2: “The Bible never forbids Christmas.”

Refutation:

“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee.” (Proverbs 30:6)

☛ Divine authority operates on revelation, not prohibition.

Claim 3: “Jesus’ birth is important.”

Refutation:

Yes—but importance does not equal authorization.

The Lord’s Supper commemorates Christ’s death, not His birth:

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

☛ God chose the memorial—not man.

Claim 4: “Christmas is just cultural.”

Refutation:

Religious observance wrapped in culture is still religious practice.

“Learn not the way of the heathen.” (Jeremiah 10:2)

🔎 Doctrinal Insight: Good motives do not sanctify unauthorized worship. (See also: Romans 10:2)

📖 ANSWERING SKEPTICS, DENOMINATIONS, AND CULTURAL ARGUMENTS

☒ Objection: “God sees the heart.”

☑ Answer: Yes—but obedience reveals the heart.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

☒ Objection: “Everyone celebrates Christmas.”

☑ Answer: Truth is never determined by majority.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate…” (Matthew 7:13–14)

☒ Objection: “Rejecting Christmas is legalism.”

☑ Answer: Legalism adds human rules to God’s commands.
Rejecting Christmas removes human tradition.

🔎 Doctrinal Insight: Obedience is not legalism—it is faith in action. (See also: James 2:17)

📖 WHAT SCRIPTURE TEACHES INSTEAD

☛ God authorized:

· Weekly worship (Acts 20:7)

· The Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11)

· Teaching, prayer, singing (Ephesians 5:19)

☛ God did not authorize:

· Annual holy days

· Birth celebrations

· Liturgical calendars

☛ Christ is honored by obedience, not festivals.

📜 HISTORICAL WITNESS:

· No apostolic church celebrated Christmas

· December 25 originates from Roman Saturnalia

· First recorded Christmas observance: 4th century

☛ Early Christians rejected pagan syncretism.

🔎 Doctrinal Insight: Christmas is historically post-apostolic and pagan-influenced.

📖DOCTRINAL INSIGHT SUMMARY

God defines worship—not man
Silence forbids religious practice
Tradition cannot sanctify innovation
Christ is honored through obedience

📖 A CALL TO OBEDIENCE: An Evangelical Appeal

Beloved reader, sincerity alone is not enough.

“Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

☛ God is not asking for tradition—He is asking for submission.

📖 DOCTRINAL FLOW DIAGRAM (TEXTUAL)

God’s Authority

↓

Revealed Will (Scripture)

↓

Authorized Worship

↓

Silence Forbids

↓

Christmas = Unauthorized

↓

Not Pleasing to God

📖 FINAL EVANGELISTIC INVITATION

Obey the Gospel—Not Tradition

Christ calls men not to holidays—but to obedience.

“He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” (Hebrews 5:9)

If you desire to please God:

· Hear the gospel (Romans 10:17)

· Believe in Christ (John 8:24)

· Repent of sins (Acts 17:30)

· Confess Christ (Romans 10:10)

· Be baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38)

· Walk faithfully (Revelation 2:10)

📖 FINAL WORD

God is pleased—not by December 25—but by obedient faith.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Readers may share, print, teach, or repost these articles if unaltered, intent preserved, not sold or used commercially, and with a clear link back to this blog.

#Christmas #ChristmasDoctrine #BibleAuthority #UnauthorizedWorship #ThusSaithTheLord #WorshipInSpiritAndTruth #CommandmentsOfMen #SilenceOfScripture #ChristianApologetics #DoctrinalRefutation #Katotohanan #Pagsamba

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ANG PAGDIRIWANG BA NG PASKO AY KALUGOD-LUGOD SA DIOS?

Isang Doktrinal na Pagsusuri Ayon sa Kasulatan Lamang

📖 ANO ANG IBIG SABIHIN NG “KALUGOD-LUGOD SA DIOS”?

Ang tanong kung ang pagdiriwang ng Pasko ay kalugod-lugod sa Dios ay hindi tanong ng kultura, damdamin, o tradisyon, kundi isang tanong ng doktrina.

Ang Dios mismo ang nagtatakda kung ano ang Kaniyang kinalulugdan.

“At kung walang pananampalataya ay hindi maaaring maging kalugodlugod sa kaniya; sapagka't ang lumalapit sa Dios ay dapat sumampalatayang may Dios, at siya ang tagapagbigay ganti sa mga sa kaniya'y nagsisihanap.” (Hebreo 11:6)

☛ Ang kalugod-lugod sa Dios ay:

· Pananampalatayang nakabatay sa Kaniyang ipinahayag na kalooban

· Pagsunod sa Kaniyang mga utos

· Pagsambang may banal na kapahintulutan o awtoridad

“Ang sinomang nagpapatuloy at hindi nananahan sa aral ni Cristo, ay hindi kinaroroonan ng Dios:” (2 Juan 9)

☛ Samakatuwid, anumang bagay na ginagawa “para sa Dios” ngunit walang Kaniyang pahintulot ay hindi kalugod-lugod, gaano man ito kasinsero.

✎ Pangunahing Tanong: Iniutos ba, pinahintulutan ba, o inaprubahan ba ng Dios ang pagdiriwang ng kapanganakan ni Cristo bilang isang banal na kapistahan?

🔎 Aral na Dapat Tandaan 1:

Ang kalugod-lugod sa Dios ay hindi nasusukat sa mabuting hangarin, kundi sa banal na kapahintulutan. (Tingnan din: Mateo 7:21–23; Colosas 3:17)

📖 MGA HALIMBAWA NG KINALUGDAN AT TINANGGIHAN NG DIOS

Malinaw ang tala ng Kasulatan.

A. Mga Halimbawa ng Kinalugdan ng Dios

1. Noe — “Gayon ang ginawa ni Noe; ayon sa lahat na iniutos ng Dios sa kaniya, gayon ang kaniyang ginawa.” (Genesis 6:22)

2. Abel — “Sa pananampalataya si Abel ay naghain sa Dios ng lalong mabuting hain kaysa kay Cain…” (Hebreo 11:4)

3. Si Cristo — “Ako’y laging gumagawa ng mga bagay na nakalulugod sa kaniya.” (Juan 8:29)

☛ Ang tapat na pagsunod—hindi pag-imbento—ang nakalulugod sa Diyos.

B. Mga Halimbawa ng Hindi Kinalugdan ng Dios

1. Cain — “Kung ikaw ay gumawa ng mabuti, di ba ikaw ay tatanggapin?” (Genesis 4:7)

2. Nadab at Abihu — “Na hindi iniutos sa kanila.” (Levitico 10:1–2)

3. Pista ni Jeroboam — “Na kaniyang inakala sa kaniyang sariling puso.” (1 Hari 12:33)

☛ Ang Dios ay paulit-ulit na tumatanggi sa pagsambang hindi Niya iniutos.

🔎 Aral na Dapat Tandaan 2:

Ang pagsamba na kinatha ng tao, kahit para sa Dios, ay kinapopootan Niya. (Deuteronomio 12:32)

📖 EKSEGETIKAL NA PAGSUSURI: “Ang Gramatika ng Dios” at Kaniyang Awtoridad

A. Ang Awtoridad sa Pagsamba

“At anomang inyong gawin sa salita o sa gawa, gawin ninyo ang lahat sa pangalan ng Panginoong Jesus.” (Colosas 3:17)

Ang “sa pangalan” ay nangangahulugang may awtoridad, hindi basta pagbanggit lamang.

☛ Kung walang pahintulot ni Cristo, ito’y walang awtoridad.

B. Ang Pagsamba ay May Tiyak na Panuntunan

“Ang Dios ay Espiritu: at ang mga nagsisisamba sa kaniya ay kinakailangang magsisamba sa espiritu at katotohanan.” (Juan 4:24)

☛ Ang salitang “kinakailangan” ay nagpapahayag ng utos, hindi mungkahi.

☛ Ang “katotohanan” ay ang Salita ng Dios (Juan 17:17).

C. Ang Katahimikan ng Kasulatan ay Pagbabawal

“Sapagka’t maliwanag na ang Panginoon natin ay nagmula sa Juda; na tungkol sa angkang yaon ay walang sinalita si Moises tungkol sa pagkasaserdote.” (Hebreo 7:14)

☛ Ang katahimikan ng Kasulatan ay nagbabawal, hindi nagbibigay pahintulot.

☛ Ang Biblia ay tahimik tungkol sa pagdiriwang Pasko o kapanganakan ni Crsito.

🔎 Aral na Dapat Tandaan 3: Kung saan tahimik ang Kasulatan, nararapat ding tumahimik ang tao. (1 Pedro 4:11)

📖 MGA PAGSALUNGAT AT PAGPAPABULAAN (POLEMIC)

☒ Katuwiran ng tao: “Ang ipinagdiriwang namin ay si Cristo.”

📜Pagpapabulaan:

“Datapuwa't walang kabuluhan ang pagsamba nila sa akin, Na nagtuturo ng kanilang pinakaaral ang mga utos ng mga tao.” (Mateo 15:9)

☛ Ang pagpaparangal nang hindi iniutos ng Diyos ay walang kabuluhang pagsamba.

☒ Katuwiran ng tao: “Walang pagbabawal ang Biblia tungkol sa pagdiriwang ng Pasko.”

📜Pagpapabulaan:

“Huwag kang magdagdag sa kaniyang mga salita, baka kaniyang sawayin ka, at masunduan kang sinungaling.” (Kawikaan 30:6)

☛ Ang banal na awtoridad ay kumikilos dahil ipinahayag ng Kasulatan, hindi sa katahimikan nito.

☒ Katuwiran ng tao: “Mahalaga ang kapanganakan ni Cristo.”

📜Pagpapabulaan:

Oo, ngunit hindi ito iniutos na ipagdiwang.

“Inyong ipinahahayag ang kamatayan ng Panginoon hanggang siya’y dumating.” (1 Corinto 11:26)

☛ Diyos ang magpapasya ng gaganaping pag-alaala sa Kanya—hindi ang tao.

☒ Katuwiran ng tao: “Ang Pasko ay pangkultura lamang.”

📜Pagpapabulaan:

Ang pang-relihiyosong pagtalima na nakabalot sa kultura ay relihiyosong gawain pa rin.

“Huwag kayong matuto ng lakad ng mga bansa,...” (Jeremiah 10:2)

🔎 Aral na Dapat Tandaan 4:

Ang mabuting layunin ay hindi nagbibigay kabanalan sa maling gawain.

📖 PAGSAGOT SA MGA SKEPTIKO, DENOMINASYON, AT PANGKULTURANG ARGUMENTO

☒ Katuwiran ng tao: “Ang Tinitingnan ng Dios ay ang puso.”

☛Sagot: Oo—ngunit ang pagtalima ay naglalantad ang puso sa Dios.

“Kung kayo’y nagsisiibig sa akin, ay tutuparin ninyo ang aking mga utos.” (Juan 14:15)

☒ Katuwiran ng tao: “Lahat naman ay nagdiriwang.”

☛Sagot: Ang gawain ng nakararami ay hindi kailanman pamantayan ng pagtukoy sa katotohanan.

“Sapagka't makipot ang pintuan, at makitid ang daang patungo sa buhay, at kakaunti ang nangakakasumpong noon.” (Mateo 7:13–14)

☒ Katuwiran ng tao: “Ang pagtanggi sa pasko ay legalismo.”

☛Sagot: Kung gayon, ang legalismo ay pagdaragdag sa utos ng Dios, hindi pag-aalis ng kinathang tradisyon ng tao na walang kabuluhan sa Diyos.

Ang pagtanggi sa pagdiriwang ng pasko ay pagtanggi sa tradisyong inimbento ng tao.

📖 BAGKUS ITO ANG ITINUTURO NG BANAL NA KASULATAN

☛Iniutos ng Dios ang:

· Lingguhang pagsamba (Gawa 20:7)

· Hapunan ng Panginoon (1 Corinto 11)

· Pagtuturo, panalangin, pag-awit (Efeso 5:19)

☛Hindi Niya iniutos ang:

· Taunang kapistahan

· Pagdiriwang ng kapanganakan

· Kalendaryong panrelihiyon

☛ Si Kristo ay pinararangalan sa pamamagitan ng pagtalima, hindi sa mga kapistahang inembento ng tao.

📜 PATOTOO NG KASAYSAYAN

· Walang pagganap ng pagdiriwang ng Pasko sa unang iglesia

· Disyembre 25 ay mula sa paganong Saturnalia

· Unang naitalang Pasko: ika-4 na siglo

🔎 Aral na Dapat Tandaan 5:

Ang Pasko ay nilikha matapos lumipas ng mga apostol at may impluwensiyang pagano.

📖 BUOD NG MGA DOKTRINA NA DAPAT TANDAAN

· Ang Dios ang nagtatakda ng pagsamba

· Ang katahimikan ng Kasulatan ay pagbabawal

· Hindi kayang linisin ng tradisyon ang kamalian

· Ang tunay na paggalang kay Cristo ay pagtalima

📖 PANAWAGAN SA PAGTALIMA

“At bakit tinatawag ninyo ako, Panginoon, Panginoon, at di ninyo ginagawa ang mga bagay na aking sinasabi?” (Lucas 6:46)

☛ Hindi kathang tradisyon ang hinihingi ng Dios kundi pagpapasakop.

📖 DOKTRINAL NA KAAYUSAN (TEXT DIAGRAM)

Awtoridad ng Dios

↓

Ipinahayag na Kalooban

↓

Pinahintulutang Pagsamba

↓

Katahimikan = Pagbabawal

↓

Pasko = Walang Awtoridad

↓

Hindi Kalugod-lugod

📖 HULING PAANYAYANG EVANGHELISTIKO

“Siya ang gumawa na pinagmulan ng walang hanggang kaligtasan sa lahat ng mga nagsisitalima sa kaniya.” (Hebreo 5:9)

Upang maging kalugod-lugod sa Dios:

· Dinggin ang ebanghelyo (Roma 10:17)

· Sumampalataya (Juan 8:24)

· Magsisi (Gawa 17:30)

· Ipahayag si Cristo (Roma 10:10)

· Mabautismuhan (Gawa 2:38)

· Mamuhay na tapat (Pahayag 2:10)

📖 PANGWAKAS NA PANANALITA

Hindi Disyembre 25 ang kinalulugdan ng Dios—kundi ang masunuring pananampalataya.

“Ito ang wakas ng bagay; lahat ay narinig: ikaw ay matakot sa Dios, at sundin mo ang kaniyang mga utos; sapagka't ito ang buong katungkulan ng tao.” (Mangangaral 12:13)

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“For Now I Know” — God’s Response to Faith With Works

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