by Arthur W. Pink
by Arthur W. Pink
Philologos Religious Online Books
Philologos.org
by Arthur W. Pink
October, 1940
XMAS.
“Who hath required this at your hand?” (Isa. 1:12). This question was asked Israel of old by Jehovah with regard to their “vain oblations,” which He declared were an “abomination” unto Him. Well may He issue the same searching inquiry to the peoples of Christendom in connection with their annual carnal gratifications and financial extravagances in the celebrating of “Xmas.” Most certainly the Lord Himself does not require it. Nowhere in His Word has He bidden us to celebrate the birth of His Son, and nowhere in the New Testament is there any record that the early Christians did so. Therefore, if even a religious commemoration of the incarnation of the Saviour receives not the slightest warrant from the Scriptures, then how much less does the worldly and fleshly celebrating thereof find justification therein?
If, then, God has not required anyone to memorialize the birth of Christ, who has? Who are the ones that have introduced and popularized this innovation? The first answer is, the Papacy. This is unmistakably evident from the name given to this season, for “Xmas” is but an abbreviation of “Christ-mass.” It is Rome and those sections of Protestantism which never succeeded in completely shaking off her shackles who have engineered this monstrosity. Second, it is the Mammonites who saw their opportunity to make capital out of the same. They have commercialized this season for their own mercenary gain, for probably more money changes hand during December than in any three months together. Third, the lovers of pleasure have united with the lovers of money to make this season one of festivity and feasting, in which they can gratify their carnal lusts to the full.
There are few things in the world today which so plainly evidence how rapidly and how thoroughly so-called “Protestantism” is being Romanized as the observance of “Xmas” by both church-goers and the masses who make no religious profession. The Papists have been quick to seize such an opportunity for the promotion of Mariolatry. And sad it is to see the watchmen on Zion's walls asleep at their posts of duty, instead of sounding the alarm. With very few exceptions so-called Protestant churches and chapels yield to the popular demand and have their “special Christmas services.” How the pope and his satellites must chuckle at the folly of those whose fathers once stood as a firm bulwark against her insidious approaches. Reader, you are playing into the hands of Rome if you observe “Xmas.”
There are few things today which more clearly and tragically demonstrate that the line of demarcation between the Church and the world has been blotted out than the way in which those claiming to be saints join arm in arm with the godless at this festive season. What an anomaly! Why the very term “saint” signifies a separated one—a one who has severed himself from those who despise and reject his Lord and Saviour. What an anomaly we say, to behold the alleged friends of Christ making common cause with His enemies in an orgy of money-spending, carnal gluttony, and merry making. How empty their claim to belong unto God's “peculiar people” (Titus 2:14); how worthless their profession that they are “strangers and pilgrims” here (1 Peter 2:11)! Reader, you are acting the part of an utter worldling if you observe “Xmas.”
“I earnestly desire to see the wall of separation between the Church and the world made broader and stronger. Nothing gives me more sorrow than when I hear of church members saying, 'Well, there is no harm in this, there is no harm in that,' and getting as near to the world as possible. We are to avoid the very appearance of evil, and especially just at this festive season of the year, this Christmas, when so many of you are having your parties, your children's sports, and all that kind of thing. I would have you doubly jealous; do recollect, church members, that you are to be Christians always, if Christians at all; we do not grant dispensations to sin, as the Roman Catholics did in Luther's day, you are always to wear your regimentals as Christian soldiers, and never, at any time, to say, 'I shall do this just now: it is only once a year; I shall do as the world does; I cannot be out of the fashion.' You must be either out of the fashion or out of the true Church. Recollect that, because the place for Christ's Church is altogether out of the fashion. You are called to go forth without the camp, bearing His reproach. If you want to be in the camp, you cannot be Christ's disciple. You must be a separated one or be lost.” (C. H. Spurgeon).
Those words are found in a sermon preached by that fearless man of God in “Xmas” week of 1867. How much stronger would be his language were he on earth today, witnessing the vast majority of church-members joining with the irreligious in this mad saturnalia, for mad it certainly is, even taking it on its lowest grounds. Think of the money which is wasted in the exchange of “Xmas presents”! How tragic to witness, as we did all through last December, little tots, poorly clad, sent out night after night on to the streets, exposed to the bitter cold and snow, singing “Xmas Carols” and calling from house to house for pennies to hand over to their beer-drinking parents: police ignoring such a breach of the law (as they now do the breaking of others) and professing Christians encouraging them by handing them money.
“If any man would come after Me,” said the Redeemer, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). Saving grace is not merely a theological term but a Divine dynamic, “teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12). But what denying of self is there by those who observe “Xmas”? What indeed—it is the very opposite—ungodly and worldly lusts are freely indulged, and instead of heeding that Divine precept, “make not provision for the flesh” (Rom. 13:14) it is blatantly trampled underfoot by “the Church” and the world alike. This in itself should be sufficient to open the eyes of real Christians to this glaring evil if they have never been previously warned thereon.
“A merry Christmas.” What a travesty! What a mockery! Was the Christ of God accorded a “merry Christmas” when He entered this world? Was He given an open-hearted welcome? Far, very far from it, as the manger cradle manifested. The fact is that His presence was not wanted. “No room” in the inn was indicative, symptomatic, prophetic of the days of His public ministry, when oftentimes He “had not where to lay His head.” Behold the Lord of glory, my reader, first opening His incarnate eyes in a stable and then ask yourself is that a fit object and subject for merry making? We are well aware that this brief article is likely to be distasteful to some of our readers (because it condemns them); but suppose it is a message which God has prompted! In such case it will rise up in judgment against you in the Day to come if you disregard its warning and continue to further Rome's activities and join hands with the world in its Christ-insulting merriment.—A.W.P.
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