Could Celebrating Christmas be a Stumbling Block to Your Successful Recovery?

In worship and reverence to our Holy God, my husband and I look forward to the Feasts and Sabbaths of the Lord God Almighty. As summer turns into fall, it brings to my mind the birth of Jesus Christ, my loving and sacrificial Lord and savior who gave His life for me. Did you know that ‘holiness’ is defined in Scripture as ‘being set apart from the world‘ – NOT conforming to the word’s ways. God commands us “be holy as I Am holy”, so holy we must be!

“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I Am holy.'” (1 Peter 1:15-16, the Holy Bible)

Why am I saying this, and why am I saying this today? ‘Christmas’ is once again around the corner, and carries with it a very urgent warning as you will see. PLEASE read on and through to the end. before you get angry at me or doubt what I’m saying. Before you comment, or formulate your own conclusion, please take all of what I have to say with courage and truth. How does this connect to this blog about recovery? It connects because, in order to receive the Lord’s healing and blessings, you must be on the ‘straight and narrow road’ as He describes it, not as we ourselves may want it. Our faith is not a smorgasbord where we can pick and choose what we want to believe and take part in. We are not saved by works; however, works are evidence of His grace and our reverence.

Christmas is absolutely 100% pagan in all ways which I will describe below. It’s the Feast of Tabernacles. that most likely represents the birth of our Lord. The interesting thing is that the Bible never defines the exact day. Could that be that God didn’t want us to ‘idolize’ that day but, instead, wanted us to worship and give God the glory for His coming here to earth? As we dive deeper into the biblical narrative, a compelling argument emerges that challenges the traditional winter nativity scene, inviting us to redefine the miraculous moment of Christ’s arrival.

The snowy, cold winter season, often depicted in nativity scenes, stands in stark contrast to the biblical account of Jesus’ birth. Shepherds would not have been tending their flocks in the cold, harsh winter months, as pastures lay barren and animals sought shelter. There wouldn’t have been any need for shepherds to be out in the empty fields with no animals! Remember, the Scripture tells us that shepherds were in the fields, watching their flocks by night – a scene impossible during the winter’s unforgiving freezing cold and snow as Christmas believers hide. The presence of shepherds in the open fields points to a time of year when the land was lush and mild, typically during the early autumn.

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, becomes a deeply meaningful holy (set apart) times for Christ’s birth. This harvest festival celebrates God’s provision and protection during the Israelites’ wilderness journey. Families would build temporary shelters, or sukkahs, as a reminder of the dwelling places used during their desert wanderings. The parallels are breathtaking – the Word becoming flesh and “tabernacling” (living) among us, just as God had dwelled with His people in the wilderness.

Jesus is the ultimate provision of God, born during a festival that celebrates God’s provision, protection and His very presence. The temporary shelters represent a temporary dwelling that points to something far more profound – both for Jesus and for us. The Feast of Tabernacles is a time of great rejoicing, of gathering, of celebrating God’s faithfulness – a perfect time for the arrival of the promised Messiah, remembering that all ‘holy days’ that are commanded by God for us to celebrate FOREVER have prophetic ties. These holy celebrations (convocations) are for God’s people – both Jew and Gentile in Christ.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) The Holy Bible

Historical and biblical evidence supports Jesus’ birth being in fall, during the Feast of Tabernacles. The Roman census would have been more logically conducted during the harvest season when travel was easier and people were already gathering for the festival. This alignment seems to loudly speak of God’s orchestration – the Light of the World entering human history during a festival of light and thanksgiving.

As we contemplate this perspective, we’re invited to see beyond the familiar the glitz and glamor of the Christmas narrative. The birth of Jesus is deeply rooted in the heart of Jewish life and bible prophecy. It’s a reminder that God’s plan is intricate, purposeful, and never mixed with pagan traditions.

The Feast of Tabernacles speaks of God’s intimate desire to dwell with His people. In Jesus, God becomes 100% flesh and 100% man – a profound bridge between Heaven and earth, inviting us into a relationship of unprecedented intimacy and grace.

The traditional Christmas celebration is deeply entangled with pagan practices that stand in sharp contrast to the pure, prophetic narrative of Christ’s true birth. The very date of December 25th has its pagan roots in the Roman festival of Saturnalia and the celebration of the winter solstice, honoring the pagan god Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun). Ancient Romans would exchange gifts, decorate their homes with greenery, and engage in pagan idolatry that bore little resemblance to the sacred moment of Christ’s arrival. The Christmas tree, a beloved holiday symbol, can be traced back to pagan winter solstice celebrations, particularly those of Germanic and Nordic peoples who would decorate evergreen trees as part of their worship of nature deities. I won’t go into it here, but the decorations on your Christmas tree as well as on your doors and walls, ALL signify sexual organs. (Look it up if you don’t believe me.)

“Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the LORD: ‘Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.’” (Jeremiah 10:1-5, The Holy Bible)

Mistletoe, another Christmas tradition, originated in Celtic Druidic practices as a sacred plant with mystical properties, used in religious rituals far removed from Christian worship. The very practices of gift-giving, feasting, and decorative revelry have more in common with pre-Christian winter festivals than with the humble birth of Jesus in a simple manger. Even the imagery of Santa Claus has complex origins, blending elements from various folkloric figures like the Norse god Odin and Saint Nicholas, creating a mythological character that overshadows and has absolutely nothing to do with the true spiritual significance of Christ’s birth. These pagan influences stand in stark contrast to the pure, prophetic narrative of Jesus’ arrival – a moment of God’s humility and purpose that was opposite from the boisterous, materially-focused celebrations that now characterize the modern Christmas season. Let me ask you a question: Would Almighty God decide to birth His only Son on a pagan day, or would He align His birth on a holy (set apart) day of His own? Would He mix a fictitious fake Santa Claus, other false gods, drinking, pagan worship and decorated trees with the HOLY birth of Jesus our Messiah?

“And you are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean.” (Leviticus 10:10-11, The Holy Bible)

In Closing Here are some Thought Provoking Facts

In biblical times, winter travel was indeed challenging and often discouraged due to several significant factors:

Travel during winter months was particularly difficult in ancient Judea and surrounding regions. The rainy season, typically running from November to March, created treacherous conditions for journeying. Roads would become muddy and often impassable, rivers would swell, and mountain passes could become dangerous or completely blocked. The cold temperatures, while not as extreme as in more northern climates, were still harsh enough to make travel uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening.

The Talmud and other historical Jewish sources provide insight into travel restrictions during winter. Specifically, rabbinical teachings discouraged long-distance travel during the winter months. The mishnaic literature suggests that travel was particularly challenging during the rainy season, which coincided with winter. Shepherds would typically bring their flocks down from higher pastures and keep them closer to sheltered areas during these months, further supporting the argument against a winter birth of Jesus.

Roman census practices also took into account the challenges of winter travel. While censuses were important, authorities were pragmatic about the difficulties of moving large numbers of people during the most challenging season. The harsh weather would have made a long journey, such as the one Mary and Joseph undertook, extremely difficult and potentially dangerous for pregnant women, children, and elderly travelers.

Biblical references indirectly support the impracticality of winter travel. In Matthew 24:20, Jesus even mentions praying that their flight (referring to a future event) would not be in winter, highlighting the extreme challenges of traveling during this season. This biblical passage underscores the understanding that winter travel was particularly arduous and something to be avoided if possible.

Geographical considerations of the region further complicate winter travel. The terrain of Judea, with its rocky landscapes and mountain passes, became especially treacherous during the rainy season. Rivers like the Jordan would flood, making crossings dangerous, and mountain paths would become slippery and unstable. These physical barriers would have made a census-related journey extremely challenging during the winter months.

These historical and geographical realities provide compelling evidence against the traditional narrative of a winter birth of Christ. They suggest that a journey for a census would have been much more feasible during the milder autumn months, particularly during the Feast of Tabernacles, when travel was more comfortable and people were already gathering for the religious festival.

Thank you for reading to the end. I hope this impacts you the way it did me, many years ago when I learned about this. If addiction is going to be healed by Jesus Christ, Almighty God Himself, then let’s pause to want to see everything through the Eyes of God!

Have a blessed rest of your day, seeing life through the Eyes of Jesus. I hope to see you next post!