If you think we should stop celebrating Christmas just because it has pagan roots, consider the following.
The music you listen to, the way your calendar and clock measures time, the names you use to refer to various planets in the universe, etc., all have ties to pagan religion. If you think just because something has pagan roots, that Christians shouldn’t participate in it, you would have to give up your calendar, all of your music, and much of our astrological termonology, and lots of other things you take for granted and your common sense judges to be permissible. Originally, there were probably all sorts of pagan ideas strongly associated with the way we measure time on our clander, but that doesn’t mean a Christian who uses such “origianlly pagan” systems is somehow participating in pagan religious practices. Originally, much of our musical tastes had ties in all sorts of pagan celebrations, but that doesn’t mean that musical instruments and styles of celebration should be “off limits” for Christians who use music to worship God. Don’t forget that Yahweh commanded the Jews to adapt pagan music to worship Him in the Old Testament. The Jews didn’t start from scratch in their attempts to worship God, they adopted much of the pagan forms of worship to Judaism.
Where do you think celebrating birthday’s originated? It’s not in the Bible. So I guess it’s pagan too? What about basketball? Should Christians particiapte in sports celebrations? It’s pagan.
Why not rather give thanks to God that whatever celebration the pagan culture had going on before it evolved into a Christ-centered celebration in the West (notwithstanding the current cultural changes), Christians sort-of “high-jacked” the celebration and conformed it to a Christ-centered worldview and lifestyle.
For a better article on this … see Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? at sbcIMPACT
T h e o • p h i l o g u e 
And don’t forget — the cross was adopted by the Romans from Babylonian origins. It was used in pagan worship as well. Now it is a revered symbol of our Lord and Savior’s sacrifice for our salvation and redemption.
Good point Scott.
[…] Xmas Has Pagan Roots ::: So What? – Theophilogue “The music you listen to, the way your calendar and clock measures time, the names you use to refer to various planets in the universe, etc., all have ties to pagan religion.” […]
I don’t know. I don’t think G-d wants us to worship pagan things. actually in the bible, he asks people to break from idol worship and the worship of the celestial bodies. It is an insult to G-d to pray to objects he made
The Old Testament does not ask the Jews to use pagan music, and the ritual was not pagan. Where did you get that?
not nice to make things up
No i don’t think worshipping pagan things is what G-d had in mind.
I think what he had in mind was to worship HIM. Not the mytholiogical stories of the ancients. Afterall…that is why they are not here any more
Michelle,
I agree. I don’t think Yahweh wants anyone to worship pagan things either, or worship of celestial bodies, or anything for that matter, other than himself.
You asked, “Where did you get that?”
I get it from a combination of biblical literature (i.e. the Bible) and study of biblical backgrounds, which includes the study of ancient culture and ancient literature.
Historically speaking, the musical instruments of the Israelites were not original. They were first used by pagans—and therefore in pagan worship. In fact, the only reason scholars are familiar with the words used to describe the instruments mentioned in the psalms is because they are mentioned in Pagan Canaanite literature and these pagans drew pictures of them. In spite of the fact that many of the musical instruments Israel used in worship were important instruments in much of pagan spirit worship, God still used the cultural Canaanite musical expressions to accompany the praises of His Holy name.
You might disagree with me, but I’m not making this up, I’m trusting the books I have read for my biblical education. As far as I know, there is no “controversy” among historians on this point. I would be open if you wanted to direct me to other historical analysis providing alternative viewpoints.
Bradley
I’ve never read about a Christmas tree in the Bible. Signs of the times……