Not only is the date of Jesus' birthday wrong by 4 to 6 years, but so is the date of celebration, December 25. But should we get all flustered over these historical and church inexactitudes, after all there are great many believers who take their faith quite seriously and honestly rejoice in the observance of Christ birth. To be fair, I think there are two answers; yes and no! First let review the facts and then we can intelligently debate.

We know from the silence in the NT and the writings of the 2 ^nd century Church father's, that the apostolic church did not celebrate the birth of Jesus. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts.

Although there is no command in the NT to observe Christmas, the Sabbath and the seven feasts of the LORD such as Passover, were observed (I Corinthians 5:7,8). Jewish custom never recognized a person's birthday; rather the day of death was noted. Origen argues that in the Scriptures "sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday" (in Lev. Hom. viii in Migne, P.G., XII, 495) . Arnobius ridicules the "birthdays" of the gods. Pagans were most likely interested in the day of birth due to interest in Astrology, which revealed one's future.

We know from history that as the number of gentiles in the early church grew (especially 2 ^nd to 4 ^th century) they blended into the Church certain customs and ideas from pagan culture. This was certainly aided by anti-Semitic sentiment and Roman politics.

Some Christians confused by Gnostic teaching thought Jesus was a type of sun god. Consider the people below if you think the Church today has some strange theologies!

There are many dates given for the birth of Christ. Ancient and modern chroniclers put the birth of Christ in almost every month of the year. In modern times, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe April 6 ^th (1830,via Joseph Smith) is the correct date because that is the anniversary of that organization.

Some ancient dates recorded were:

"Others reached the date of 24 or 25 Pharmuthi (19 or 20 April). With Clement's evidence may be mentioned the "De paschæ computus", written in 243 AD and falsely ascribed to Cyprian (P.L., IV, 963 sqq.), which places Christ's birth on 28 March , because on that day the material sun was created. But Lupi has shown that there is no month in the year to which respectable authorities have not assigned Christ's birth (Zaccaria, Dissertazioni ecc. del p. A.M. Lupi, Faenza, 1785, p. 219).

Clement, however, also tells us that the Basilidians celebrated the Epiphany, and with it, probably, the Nativity, on 15 or 11 Tybi (10 or 6 January). At any rate this double commemoration became popular, partly because the apparition to the shepherds was considered as one manifestation of Christ's glory, and was added to the greater manifestations celebrated on 6 January;" - From the article: "CHRISTMAS", The Catholic Encyclopedia

Ultimately the church in Rome was responsible for establishing the final date of December 25, (3^rd century), and I might add it was not without good cause. Pagan customs bore heavy idolatrous influence on the Church flock. Although there is no way of knowing for sure when Jesus was born there are several ways of guessing using all available clues. Three methods are explored below.

1. Course of Abijah - Luke 1:5

Today among the messianic community (Christian Jews) and fellow gentile believers, there is a popular opinion that Jesus (Yeshua) was born during the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Succoth/Tabernacles). These festivals occur during September-October, depending on the cycle of the moon. This is arrived at by method 1 and 2.

"The calculation of the time of Yeshua's birth begins with Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. According to Luke 1:5 he was a priest of the order of Abijah. He was performing his duties, burning incense in the Temple, when an angel appeared and said his wife Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son, and he would be called Yochanan (John)."

"The order in which the priestly families performed their duties is given in 1 Chronicles 24:7-18. According to the Mishnah (also note I Chronicles 27:3), the cycle begins on the first Sabbat (Sabbath) of Nisan, and each family of priests would minister in turn for one week. Since there are 24 families, each family would minister about twice a year. The cycle would be delayed slightly because all priests, regardless of their families, were required to be at the Temple for the three festivals of Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost) and Succoth (Tabernacles)."

"The family of Abijah was eighth in line, so Zechariah would have had his first period of duty during Sivan (about June) and his second period during Kislev (about December) about six months later. There is no way of knowing for sure which period of duty is referred to in Luke's Gospel, but if we suppose it is the first period we get some very interesting results."

Zechariah finished his first period of duty about the middle of Sivan. Because of his unbelief, God struck him dumb, but his reproductive system was still working. He went home to his wife and she became pregnant. Count off 40 weeks, the usual period of gestation, and we get to the month of Nisan the following year. Beginning on the 14^th of Nisan, and lasting for eight days, we have the festival of Pesach (Passover), which roughly coincides, with Easter on the Christian calendar. This raises the distinct possibility that John the Baptist was born at Pesach, which coincides with the Jewish expectation that Elijah would come at Pesach. The Jews always put an extra cup of wine on the table at Pesach, in the hope that Elijah will come and drink it.

"If John the Baptist was born at Pesach, Yeshua (Jesus) must have been born during the High Holy Days or at Succoth (40 weeks later). In Luke 1:26 and 36 we are told that Yeshua was six months younger than John. "

"We are given a possible clue about the time of the birth by the angel who appeared to the shepherds. He said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people" (Luke 2:10). There are actually two clues here. Succot is a festival of joy, and it is also known as the "Festival of the Nations". The angel was actually giving them a greeting for the Festival of Succoth. This is the only festival where the nations are positively encouraged to participate (Zechariah 14:16-19). "

"During Succoth, the Jews using wood and leaves, construct flimsy shelters called "Succah", in which they ate and sleep. This was done to remember how they were completely dependent on God as they wandered around for forty years in the desert. The Lord was with them in His Tabernacle."

"The birth of Yeshua at Succoth fulfils another prophecy: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel - which means, "God with us". (Matt. 1:23, a quotation from Isaiah 7:14)."

In his gospel, John mentions the idea of the Word coming to earth in a fleshly tabernacle. John 1:14

"If the day of his birth were the first day of Succoth, the day of his circumcision would be the eighth day of Succoth, which, like the first day, is a day of sacred assembly. (Leviticus 23:39). On this day, or traditionally the day after, the Jews complete their annual cycle of Torah readings and start again from Bereshit (Genesis). It is called Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law), and is considered to be a time of "fulfillment" of the Torah. The circumcision of Yeshua at this time indicates how he had come to fulfil the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17-18)."

"Starting from Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and his first period of duty in the Temple, and doing a few simple calculations, we arrive at a result that gives a new and profound meaning to many passages of Scripture." - Excerpts from article, "Birth of Yeshua, by Mike Gascoigne

For the above reason Yeshua was born during Succoth.

Similar Holy day associations were envisioned by Lightfoot. He argues for a relation between Passover and Pentecost to Easter and Whitsuntide, connecting the Nativity with the feast of Tabernacles. He argues from Old Testament prophecy, e.g. Zacharias 14:16 sqq,; combining, too, the fact of Christ's death in Nisan with Daniel's prophecy of a three and one-half years' ministry (9:27), he puts the birth in Tisri, i.e. September. - The Catholic Encyclopedia

From Internet article: "The Messiah's date of birth", Hilke Dokter

EARLY CELEBRATION - The Catholic Encyclopedia

As mention in the beginning, Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it

from their lists of feasts. The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt. About AD 200, Clement of Alexandria (Strom., I, xxi in P.G., VIII, 888) says that certain Egyptian theologians "over curiously" assign, not the year alone, but the day of Christ's birth, placing it on 25 Pachon (20 May) in the twenty-eighth year of Augustus. [Ideler (Chron., II, 397, n.) thought they did this believing that the ninth month, in which Christ was born, was the ninth of their own calendar.] Note next document!

Excerpt from "The Constitutions of the Holy Apostles"

Fifth, of eight books. Sec. III.--on feast days and fast days. A catalogue of the feasts of the lord which are to be kept, and when each of them ought to be observed. Presently, scholars date Constitutions from the late second or third century.

"XIII. Brethren, observe the festival days; and first of all the birthday which you are to celebrate on the twenty-fifth of the ninth month ; after which let the Epiphany (January 6th) be to you the most honoured, in which the Lord made to you a display of His own Godhead, and let it take place on the sixth of the tenth month; after which the fast of Lent is to be observed by you as containing a memorial of our Lord's mode of life and legislation. But let this solemnity be observed before the fast of the Passover, beginning from the second day of the week, and ending at the day of the preparation. After which solemnities, breaking off your fast, begin the Holy Week of the Passover, fasting in the same all of you with fear and trembling, praying in them for those that are about to perish. "

It is apparent that the ninth month is not the Roman month of December, because it is the twelfth month. The Biblical month system would agree best with this document, because the month coinciding with the last month of the Roman year is Kislev. At times the 25th of Kislev might coincide with December 25th, however between the years 1-6 BC it does not! The 25th of Kislev is always celebrated as Hanukkah. Jesus was born on Hanukkah!

The above dates were calculated using the perpetual Jewish calendar software, via the Internet.

Hanukkah is mention only once in the Bible in the Gospel of John 10:22,23 "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch."

There was one census, ordered by August at the year 7 BC and then there was another one at the year 7 AD. According to Matthew's account (Matthew 2.1) the magi came to Herod and told him when they had seen the star of Christ. Herod later panicked, fearing a coup d'etat, and killed all males in Bethlehem under two years old. Since Herod died in 4 BC and he wanted the children two years and younger put to death, we can deduce that Matthew dates the birth of Christ between 6-5 BC. Most scholars put the birth of Jesus approximately 4 - 6 BC.

Q: What reason/s led the Church to choose December 25th?

The reason that Christmas became a Church Holy day has nothing to do with Biblical custom but out of true reverence for Christ and a deep pastoral concern over the strong influences of pagan holidays. So the Church appointed the time of the winter solstice as Christmas. It was to be the birth of the "Son of God" not the "sun god".

"Practically every country in the world, from China to India, from South America to the Middle East, held celebrations at this time of year . . . It was not until the fourth century that Pope Julius I declared that December 25 should be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus Christ, and Christmas as we know it began. We now celebrate Christmas every year, with a little bit of pagan superstition, a Norse Yule log, Druid candles, a drop of wine from Saturnalia, and a feast from the winter solstice." [Brandreth, Gyles. The Christmas Book. London: Robert Hale, 1984. p9.]

The rivalry with paganism is clearly revealed in the instructions of Pope Gregory the first, AD 601:

"Because they [the pagans] were wont to sacrifice oxen to devils, some celebration should be given in exchange for this. . . they should celebrate a religious feast and worship God by their feasting, so that still keeping outward pleasures, they may more readily receive spiritual joys." [Bede. Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation." Encyclopedia Britannica, 1961. 5:643.]

The Roman Catholic writer Mario Righetti candidly admits that, "to facilitate the acceptance of the faith by the pagan masses, the Church of Rome found it convenient to institute the 25th of December as the feast of the birth of Christ to divert them from the pagan feast, celebrated on the same day in honor of the 'Invincible Sun' Mithras, the conqueror of darkness" - (Manual of Liturgical History, 1955, Vol. 2, p. 67).

Most believers are unaware of the Gentile Church's long historical role persecuting the Jews and removing everything Jewish from the Church. This began in the 2nd century. A few examples are note.

Ignatius Bishop of Antioch (98-117 AD) ­ epistle to the Magnesians

"For if we are still practicing Judaism, we admit that we have not received God's favor it is wrong to talk about Jesus Christ and live like Jews. For Christianity did not believe in Judaism, but Judaism in Christianity."

Acts 25:8, the Apostle Paul defends himself against the accusation that he violated Jewish Law and custom:. Earlier in Jerusalem (Acts 21:20-25), Paul paid for and then sacrificed offerings in the Temple to prove his obedience to the Law of Moses. Certainly Paul was not being a hypocrite obeying the Law.

Consider the following reason for changing Passover to Easter.

- ON THE KEEPING OF EASTER - Internet Medieval Source Book From the Letter of the Emperor to all those not present at the Council. (Found in Eusebius, Vita Const., Lib. iii., 18-20.)

It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of all festivals, to follow the custom [the calculation] of the Jews, who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded.

We ought not, therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Saviour has shown us another way; our worship follows a more legitimate and more convenient course (the order of the days of the week); and consequently, in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews, for it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without their direction we could not keep this feastit would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communications with such wicked people[the Jews].

Hated of the Jews is the primary reason for changing the observance of Passover.

...is considered a "doctor of the Church", and among the greatest of the Greek Fathers. He was bishop of Antioch at the time of these sermons, although in 398 AD he became archbishop of Constantinople. He was admired for his eloquence and gifts in preaching.

While in their writings Hilary and Eusebius introduced the pagan world to this strange version of Jewish history, Chrysostom expressed similar theories with much greater violence from his pulpit at Antioch. In eight sermons which he delivered in 387 he speaks with a bitterness and lack of restraint unusual even in that place and century {PG Vol 97). If it were not for the exegetical background, which has already been shown, it would be impossible to explain, let alone excuse, his tone. Christianity was no longer in any danger. He himself had not, like Athanasius, ever known any persecution from the Jews, and the period of trial under Julian had been very short. Even had they been a menace in old times, the rich and powerful Jewish community of Antioch was now hemmed in, like every other, by numerous imperial edicts issued under Christian inspiration. Moreover, Chrysostom was a man whose character excited the admiration of his contemporaries. If he was hated by politicians for his unswerving firmness, he was loved by the multitudes, and his commentaries on the gospels are still read and studied in the Orthodox Church because of their deep spiritual beauty.

Except for John Chrysostom's personal resentment of Christians attending synagogues in Antioch and associating with Jews, there is no other reason for his bitter sermons.

[Sermon VI:2, 3]. The synagogues of the Jews are the homes of idolatry and devils, even though they have no images in them [Sermon I:3; based on Jer. vii:11].

They are worse even than heathen circuses [Sermon I:3.

The very idea of going from a church to a synagogue is blasphemous [Sermon II:3]

The Jews do not worship God but devils [Sermon I:3, based on John 8:19], so that all their feasts are unclean [Sermon I:6].

God hates them, and indeed has always hated them. But since their murder of Jesus He allows them no time for repentance [Sermon VI:1].

When it is clear that God hates them, it is the duty of Christians to hate them too; and he begins his sixth sermon with a revolting analogy of a beast in the arena, who has tasted blood, and longs for it again. So he, Chrysostom, having once begun to denounce the Jews, cannot leave off [Sermon VI:1] for he who has no limits in his love of Christ must have no limits in his battle with those who hate Him [Sermon VII:1]. ' I hate the Jews ' he exclaims roundly, for they have the Law and they insult it'. - James Parkes. Chrysostom's homilies against the Jews: an English translation Internet Medieval Source Book

Some further examples of how this attitude has been continued throughout the Christian church.

Martin Luther (1543) -The Jews and Their Lies

At the beginning of his career, Luther was apparently sympathetic to Jewish resistance to the Catholic Church. But Luther expected them to convert to his purified Christianity. When they did not, he turned violently against Jews.

It is impossible for modern people to read the horrible passages below and not to think of the burning of synagogues in November 1938 on Krystalnacht (Luther's birthday) Nor would one wish to excuse Luther for this text.

While there is little doubt that Christian anti-Semitism laid the social and cultural

Basis for modern anti-Semitism, modern anti-Semitism does differ in being based on pseudo-scientific

notions of race. The Nazis imprisoned and killed Jews who had converted to Christianity: Luther would have welcomed them.

"Did I not tell you earlier that a Jew is such a noble, precious jewel that God and all the angels dance when he farts?" (Luther could be a bit profane at times)

"I brief, dear princes and lords, those of you who have Jews under your rule--if my counsel does not please your, find better advice, so that you and we all can be rid of the unbearable, devilish burden of the Jews, lest we become guilty sharers before God in the lies, blasphemy, the defamation, and the curses which the mad Jews indulge in so freely and wantonly against the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, this dear mother, all Christians, all authority, and ourselves. Do not grant them protection, safe-conduct, or communion with us.... .With this faithful counsel and warning I wish to cleanse and exonerate my conscience.

"What shall we Christians do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews?"

1. First to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn

2. Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed.

3. Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them. (Remainder omitted)

4. Fourth, I advise that their rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of life and limb

5. Fifth, I advise that safe-conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews. For they have no business in the countryside, since they are not lords, officials, tradesmen, or the like. Let they stay at home.

6. Sixth, I advise that usury be prohibited to them, and that all cash and treasure of silver and gold be taken from them and put aside for safekeeping

7. Seventh, I commend putting a flail, an ax, a hoe, a spade, a distaff, or a spindle into the hands of young, strong Jews and Jewesses and letting them earn their bread in the sweat of their brow, as was imposed on the children of Adam (Gen 3[:19]}. For it is not fitting that they should let us accursed Goyim toil in the sweat of our faces while they, the holy people, idle away their time behind the stove, feasting and farting, and on top of all, boasting blasphemously of their lordship over the Christians by means of our sweat. No, one should toss out these lazy rogues by the seat of their pants.

Modern anti-Semitism

"If the Jew with the help of his Marxist creed is victorious over the peoples of this world, then his crown will be the funeral wreath of humanity; then this planet will travel through the ether as it did millions of years ago, devoid of men. Eternal Nature avenges itself mercilessly on the transgression of its commandments. Thus I believe today that I am acting according to the will of the almighty Creator: when I defend myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord."

Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf (14th ed., Munich, 1932), pp. 54-70. Translated by Richard S. Levy.]

 "He who fights the Jews battles the Devil." - Julius Streicher. Nazi propagandist, Der Sturmer One of ten hung after the Nuremberg trials.

A: a pagan holiday is vailed with an out of place Christian observance.

Almost all Christmas customs are pagan in origin except attending Church on Christmas.

Prior to the celebration of Christmas, December 25th in the Roman world was the Natalis Solis Invicti, the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun. This feast, which took place just after the winter solstice of the Julian calendar, was in honor of the Sun God, Mithras, originally a Persian deity whose cult penetrated the Roman world in the first century BC . . . Besides the Mithraic influence, other pagan forces were at work. From the seventeenth of December until the twenty-third, Romans celebrated the ancient feast of Saturnalia. It was commemorative of the Golden Age of Saturn, the god of sowing and husbandry."

In Rome December 25 was made popular by Pope Liberius in 354 and became the rule in the West in 435 when the first "Christ mass" was officiated by Pope Sixtus III.

The Eastern Church continued to observe January 6th as Christ's birthday. In the past this date was observed by the Greeks as the birth of the god Dionysis, and by the Egyptians, for the god Osiris.

The Roman festival of Saturnalia and the winter solstice:

Saturn --An ancient Italian god . . . Saturnalias, this is the great 'Festival of Saturn,' celebrated on the 19th, but after Caesar's reform of the calendar, the 17th of December. Augustus decreed that the 17th and the 18th should be sacred to Saturn and the 19th and 20th to Opalia the festivals of Ops. Caligula added a fifth day, 'The Day of Youth,' December 25th lasting seven days. The time was one of general joy and mirth. The woolen fetters were taken from the feet of Saturn and each man offered a pig (the Christmas ham). During the festival schools were closed . . . "Gambling and dice at other times illegal was now practiced. All classes exchanged gifts, the commonest being tapers and clay dolls. These dolls were especially given to children. Varro thought that these dolls represented original sacrifice of human beings to the Infernal God." -New Americanized Encyclopedia Brittanica, 1900, Vol. IX, page 5236, -

Gift giving coupled with commercialism has resulted in gross materialism and greed.

The exchange of gifts and greetings at or near Christmas time began long before the Catholic Church put their new "Christian" meaning to the custom. You have already read how gifts and visits were a part of the Babylonian festival and the Roman Saturnalia and Kalends of January in pagan Rome rich men gave generously to their poorer neighbors during the Saturnalia and at the Kalends of January gifts were even more plentiful. Gift giving was an essential part of the pagan celebrations. The church frowned upon it as sternly as upon other New Year customs, and in the first centuries Christians did not give each other presents in the Christmas season, or if they did, it was without ecclesiastical sanction. But the Church, rather than abolishing the custom, simply pointed the gift-giving away from Saturn to the Babe in Bethlehem to commemorate the gifts of the Magi (the three Wise Men) to the infant Jesus! - "Heathen Holidays" by Denise Snodgrass - part7

Paul's letters to Ephesians, Galatians and Colossians warned of Judeo-Christian-Pagan Syncretism and Jeremiah 10.2 reminds us: "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen . . ."

Until the recent era you would not be able to find a Baptist who would have anything to do with these pagan feasts. They have now become "sacred cows" in many "Baptist" churches, and woe be to the one who speaks a word against any of them. Quoting from a 12/23/83 USA TODAY article about Christmas: "A broad element of English Christianity still considered Christmas celebration a pagan blasphemy. The Puritans, Baptists, Quakers, Presbyterians, Calvinists and other denominations brought this opposition to early New England and strong opposition to the holiday lasted in America until the middle of the 18th century." Indeed, even many Protestants abhorred this pagan day until recent times. Henry Ward Beecher, a Congregationalist, wrote in 1874 of his New England boyhood: "to me Christmas is a foreign day, and I shall die so. When I was a boy I wondered what Christmas was. I knew there was such a time, because we had an Episcopal Church in our town, and I saw them dressing it with evergreens, and wondered what they were taking the woods in the church for; but I got no satisfactory explanation. A little later I understood it was a Romish institution, kept by the Romish Church." - Let's Keep Christ Out of Xmas! by Pastor Greg Wilson

In England, and in parts of the English colonies in America, Christmas was forbidden by Act of Parliament in 1644; the day was to be a fast and a market day; shops were compelled to be open; plum puddings and mince pies condemned as heathen. The conservatives resisted; at Canterbury blood was shed; but after the Restoration Dissenters continued to call Yuletide "Fooltide".

As the church distanced itself from its Jewish roots it took over some of the customs associated with pagan celebrations. Aggravated by anti-Semitism, but with an honest concern for the problem of pagan cultural influences, the Church adopted a yearly cycle patterned more like that of the converted nations. Both the Catholic and Protestant churches,continue to observe the solstices and equinoxes, just as in the ancient pagan religions (i.e. Christmas and Easter), instead of continuing in the Biblical feasts of the LORD (Leviticus 23, Exodus 12, they are everlasting ordinances) and the 1st century traditions introduced by the apostles I Corinthians 11:2). I believe this constitutes the one of the Church's main errors. However, we should be fair to the 4th century church, because they admit that their reasons for the December 25 date were to wean X-pagan coverts away from their previous idolatrous traditions.

We are aware of more plausible dates for the birth of Jesus but they were not chosen for the reasons given above.

The two of the most likely birth dates that I like are Succoth (Tabernacles) or Hanukkah, the 25th of Kislev. Either date might be more appropriate than December 25th if Biblical reasons are considered.

Some argue that Christmas is bad because its origins are grounded deeply in paganism, but in reality no Christian views him or herself as a Saturn or Sun god worshiper. Even neo-pagans know that Christians are repulsed by the very thought. They even dislike the fact that Christians have stolen their holy days. Christians really did turn the world upside down, or from our view right-side up.

Therefore, I conclude that it is not a sin to include a new celebration such as Christmas into the Church. However, the noose does tighten a bit around our necks when the Church faithful exclude celebrations that were established by the LORD (i.e. the LORD's seven feasts). In Romans chapter eleven, Paul tells us that gentile believes are grafted into Israel. This enables them to partake of the New Covenant, which has been made between God and the house of Jacob and the house of Israel (Jeremiah 31:31). If you are graft into something, you become part of that whole. If you are dead to your previous way of life you do not bring it into the Church and supplant Apostolic tradition or Bible doctrine.

Does God look with disfavor upon what we allow and disallow in light of His Word? I think the answer is yes, judging from church history, past and present. The sins of omission seem to get us just as often as the sins of commission.

2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat (Bema) of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

2 Corinthians 6:17 (Isaiah 52:11) "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"

1 Peter 4:17 "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? "

-Donald Shomody

The term AD was introduced about the year 527 by Dionysius Exiguus, a Scythian monk resident at Rome, who fixed its starting point in the year 753 from the foundation of Rome, in which year, according to his calculation, the birth of Christ occurred. Making this the year 1 of his era, he counted the years which followed in regular course from it, calling them years "of the Lord", and we now designate such a date A.D. (i.e. Anno Domini). The year preceding A.D. 1 is called Ante Christum (A.C.) or Before Christ (B.C.). It is to be noted that there is no year O intervening, as some have imagined, between B.C. and A.D. It is supposed by many that the calculation of Dionysius was incorrect, and that the birth of Christ really occurred three years (4-6 years by other scholars - my note) earlier than he placed it, or in the year of Rome 760 which he styles 3 B.C. His system was adopted but gradually, first in Italy, then in other parts of Christendom. England would appear to have been among the earliest regions to have made use of it, under the influence of the Roman missionaries, as it is found in Saxon charters of the seventh century. In Gaul it made its appearance only in the eighth, and its use did not become general in Europe until after A.D. 1000; accordingly in French the term millésime was frequently used to signify a date A.D. In Spain, although not unknown as early as the seventh century, the use of the Christian Era, as will presently be shown, did not become general until after the middle of the fourteenth century. From CHRONOLOGY - The Catholic Encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia Americana, 1942 Edition, Vol. 6, page 623 reads thus . . . "Christmas. -- It was according to many authorities not celebrated in the first centuries of the Christian church as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth. A feast was established in memory of the birth of the Saviour in the fourth century. In the fifth century the western church (Roman Catholic) ordered it to be celebrated forever on the day of the old Roman feast of the birth of Sol."

In the Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia, 1903, Vol. 2, page 987 -- we read . . .

"Christmas, -- properly begins with the evening of December 24 . . . and continues until Epiphany, January 6, the whole period called Christmastide. In the Roman, Greek, Episcopal and Lutheran Churches Christmas is observed as a religious festival with special services. Its celebration was formerly forbidden by the Puritans."

  Holly and ivy

"The tradition of bringing holly and ivy, or any evergreen, into the house is another Christmas practice which goes back to the Romans." [Muir, Frank and Jamie. "A Treasury of Christmas". Glasgow: William Collins, 1981. p62.]

"Christmas incorporated many other pagan customs. Holly and ivy, for instance, sacred to the ancient gods Saturn and Dionysus, were believed to have magic power against evil." [The Mystical Year. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, no date. p121.]

"Many other Christmas decorations used today were once pagan symbols. The Romans used flowers and leafy boughs in their rites. Records show that the Saxons used holly, ivy, and bay in their religious observances." [The New Book of Knowledge. New York: Grolier, 1979. p291.]

Christmas trees

"Some authorities maintain that its [the Christmas tree's] origins lay in the pagan worship of vegetation." [Muir, Frank and Jamie. A Treasury of Christmas. Glasgow: William Collins, 1981. p64.]

"The Christmas tree is of ancient origin." [Webster's Unified Dictionary and Encyclopedia. New York: Webster's Unified, 1970. p361.]

"Even the Christmas tree, which came into common use only in nineteenth-century Germany, is perhaps a throwback to a great tree from Norse mythology that was named Yggdrasil." [The Mystical Year. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, no date. p121.]

"The Christmas tree is the symbol of the spirit of the Yuletide in many homes. The custom came from Germany and dates to long ago when primitive people revered trees-particularly evergreens." [The New Book of Knowledge. New York: Grolier, 1979. p291.]

Evergreen wreaths

"The use of evergreens to decorate homes at Christmas has an unmistakable pre-Christian origin." [Colliers' Encyclopedia. New York: P. F. Collier, 1991. p404.]

"In ancient Rome, people used decorative wreaths as a sign of victory and celebration. The custom of hanging a Christmas wreath on the front door of the home probably came from this practice." [The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, 1995. p535.]

"The use of evergreens was so closely associated with the garlands of pagan days that in many of the early Church celebrations they were forbidden." [Hottes, Alfred Carl. 1,001 Christmas Facts and Fancies. New York: A.T. De La Mare, 1954. p15.]

"The idea of using evergreens at Christmas also came to England from pre-Christian northern European beliefs. Celtic and Teutonic tribes honored these plants at their winter solstice festivals as symbolic of eternal life, and the Druids ascribed magical properties to the mistletoe in particular." [The Encyclopedia Americana International Edition. New York: Grolier, 1991. p666.]

Yule logs

"The ceremony of the Yule log, like so many of the oldest Christmas traditions, was thoroughly pagan in origin." [Muir, Frank and Jamie. A Treasury of Christmas. Glasgow: William Collins, 1981. p59.]

"The Yule log is another of the many Christmas traditions that originated among the Germanic tribes. It was burnt during the winter solstice celebrations, and its name comes from jol, the Old Norse name for their pagan festival. The word "Yule" has since become a synonym for Christmas." [Merit Students Encyclopedia. New York: MacMillan, 1983. p470.]

Mistletoe

"Mistletoe was always known to have played an important part in the rituals of the Druids, and consequently, was never really accepted by the Church." [Muir, Frank and Jamie. A Treasury of Christmas. Glasgow: William Collins, 1981. p63.]

"Ancient Celtic priests considered the plant [mistletoe] sacred and gave people sprigs of it to use as charms. The custom of decorating houses with mistletoe probably came from its use as a ceremonial plant by early Europeans." [The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, 1995. p528.]

"The Druids gave the world the tradition of hanging mistletoe in the house." [The New Book of Knowledge. New York: Grolier, 1979. p291.]

"The practice of decorating houses and churches is pagan in its origin, and the mistletoe so widely used for that purpose was the sacred plant of the Druids." [Everymans Encyclopedia. Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1967. p1,672.]

Gift-giving

"The idea of giving presents goes back to the Romans." [Muir, Frank and Jamie. A Treasury of Christmas. Glasgow: William Collins, 1981. p84.]

"The custom of presenting friends with gifts at Christmas dates back to the time of the ancient Romans." [Everymans Encyclopedia. Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1967. p1,672.]

"The custom of exchanging gifts at Christmastime stems from an ancient Roman practice. During the Saturnalia the Romans presented their emperor and each other with tokens of good luck, called strenae." [Merit Students Encyclopedia. New York: MacMillan, 1983. p470.]

"The early church . . . cleverly transferred its significance [pagan gift-giving at Saturnalia] to a ritual commemoration of the gifts of the Magi." [Discovering Christmas Customs and Folklore.]

"The giving of presents at this time of year has been a custom that has quite naturally lingered through the ages from the Saturnalia and Kalends celebrations when garlands of flowers, candles and dolls were presented as symbolic gifts to bring good luck and prosperity for the future. Although the early Christian Church turned its nose up at pagan rituals, its members saw that they were missing out on the present-giving and cleverly decided to adopt the practice in remembrance of the gifts brought to the infant Jesus by the kings and the shepherds." [Brandreth, Gyles. The Christmas Book. London: Robert Hale, 1984. p100.]

"Because gift-giving was so essential a part of the pagan celebrations [of Saturnalia], the early Church frowned upon it as sternly as upon other and more questionable New Year celebrations." [Hole, Christina. "Christmas and its Customs". London: Richard Bell, 1942. p25.]

"The practice of exchanging presents at Christmas stems from the ancient Roman custom called Strenae. During the Saturnalia, Roman citizens used to give "good luck" gifts (strenae) of fruits, pastries, or gold to their friends on New Year's Day." [Colliers' Encyclopedia. New York: P. F. Collier, 1991. p404.]

"The custom of giving gifts to relatives and friends on a special day in winter probably began in ancient Rome and northern Europe." [The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, 1995. p534.]

"The sending of gifts had its origin in the Yule gifts of northern countries of Europe and ancient Rome." [Webster's Unified Dictionary and Encyclopedia. New York: Webster's Unified, 1970. p361.]