Chapter 28
Tradition or Truth?
Mention the word tradition and you can almost hear the song from the opening
scenes of the classic movie ìFiddler on the Roofî.
The character Tevye is trying to explain why the people in his little village do
things the way they do them. Speaking to the audience he says:
ìYou may ask, How did this tradition get started? Iíll tell you ñ I
donít know! But itís a tradition! And because of our traditions,
everyone knows who he is, and what God expects him to doîThis is a very apt description of the traditions of Christmas and Easter. Not once
in all of New Testament scripture are believers encouraged to commemorate the
birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ or honor His death with sunrise services and the
hunt for eggs.
In fact the Apostle Paul states just the opposite.ìYe observe days, and months, and times and years. I am afraid of
you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.î
Galatians 4:10-11
If the observance of the birth of Jesus is so important, why didn't Paul, Peter,
James, John or any of the other first century Apostles and church leaders teach
this practice?
One of the arguments is because the Bible doesnít say not to do it ñ itís ok to
celebrate the birth of Christ. But this is a false and errant statement. Although
Christians do have a great deal of liberty in Christ, it is not to be used as an
opportunity to express unholy allegiances that usurp the Word of God.
ìFor, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not
liberty for an occasion to the fleshÖî Galatians 5:13a
Although the cries of ìKeep Christ in Christmasî arise from todayís Christians,
those who are unfamiliar with the Gospel of Christ are oft times the first to use the
selfishness, greed and lasciviousness that are so prevalent during the holiday to
mock the very name bestowed on December 25th.