The Child Who Never Had a Birthday
He grew up in a Jehovah's Witness home — no Christmas trees, no wrapped presents, no carols. He watched his neighbours' houses light up every December and wondered why his family was different. He was taught that Christmas celebration was pagan worship, forbidden to those who truly honour Jehovah. But when he grew up and read the Bible for himself, he discovered that no text in Scripture prohibits celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ — and that the Watch Tower had added a prohibition the Bible never placed there.
What the Watch Tower Teaches
Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to avoid Christmas celebration for three reasons: (1) supposed pagan origins of certain traditions; (2) the exact date of Christ's birth is unknown; (3) birthday celebrations in general are seen as unscriptural. Any Witness who participates in Christmas faces congregational disciplinary action. This teaching enforces compliance through social penalty, not through a direct biblical prohibition.
Does the Bible Prohibit Celebrating Christ's Birth?
A sincere search of Scripture reveals: there is not one single verse in the entire Bible that prohibits celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The text most commonly cited — Jeremiah 10:3-4 about cutting a tree and decorating it — is about the manufacture of wooden idols for worship, not about decorating trees for festive celebration. Applying a prohibition of idol-making to Christmas tree decoration is a serious contextual error that requires ignoring the plain meaning of the passage.
Colossians 2:16 — No One Is to Judge You Regarding Festivals
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." (Colossians 2:16). The apostle Paul explicitly declares that festivals and holy days are matters of personal conscience — no one has the right to judge another believer regarding them. This text alone invalidates the Watch Tower's organisational mandate against Christmas. Scripture says "let no man judge you" regarding holy days; the Watch Tower judges all its members with a blanket prohibition and social penalties for violation.
Romans 14:5-6 — Freedom in Days
"One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord." (Romans 14:5-6). Choosing a particular day for special remembrance and celebration is a matter of individual conscience before God. The believer who sets aside a day to remember and celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ "regardeth it unto the Lord" — this is exactly what Romans 14 describes as acceptable personal practice. The Watch Tower's prohibition of this personal conscience freedom directly contradicts these texts.
Luke 2:10-14 — The Angels Celebrated
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11). And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest." (Luke 2:13-14). An entire multitude of the heavenly host celebrated the birth of Christ. If the angels celebrated the birth of the Lord Jesus with praise and proclamation, there is nothing unscriptural about believers doing the same today.
Matthew 2:1-11 — The Wise Men Brought Gifts
"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11). The giving of gifts to honour Christ at His birth is a biblical pattern established in the nativity narrative itself. Celebrating the birth of Christ with gift-giving in a spirit of honouring Him follows a pattern the Scripture itself records with approval.
The Pagan Origins Argument Does Not Hold
If we must avoid everything with historical connections to non-Christian practices, consistency demands far more than avoiding Christmas. The names of the days of the week in English have pagan roots (Sunday from sun worship, Saturday from Saturn). January comes from Janus, the Roman two-faced god. If the Watch Tower applied its "pagan origins" principle consistently, it would need to abandon most of the calendar it uses. The inconsistency reveals that the argument is selective rather than principled — and therefore not a genuine biblical standard.
Isaiah 9:6 — The Prophet Celebrates the Birth
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah's prophecy is a celebration of the coming birth — "unto us a child is born." Every December, believers who gather to recite and sing this text are doing exactly what the prophet did: celebrating the birth of the One who would be called "The mighty God." There is nothing pagan about this — it is biblical praise rooted in prophetic Scripture.
John 1:14 — The Greatest Event in History
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14). The incarnation — God made flesh — is the pivotal event in all of human history. Any occasion that focuses the believing mind on this staggering truth, that moves the heart to gratitude and worship, that proclaims to family and children that God entered human history as a baby born to save sinners — such an occasion honours God in the most direct sense. The Independent Baptist church allows every believer the freedom of conscience Romans 14 and Colossians 2:16 protect.
What a Biblical Believer Celebrates
The biblical believer who celebrates the birth of Christ is not celebrating commerce or tradition — he is celebrating the truth of the incarnation. God sent His Son (John 3:16). The Word became flesh (John 1:14). A Saviour was born (Luke 2:11). The "fullness of the time" came (Galatians 4:4). These are truths worth remembering, proclaiming, and celebrating — not once a year as an obligation but as often as the heart is moved by them. And the annual occasion provides a meaningful focal point for that proclamation.
Galatians 4:4 — The Fullness of the Time
"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." (Galatians 4:4). God planned the incarnation from eternity and executed it at the precise moment He had chosen — "the fulness of the time." This was not an accident or a secondary event; it was the central act of all human history, planned before the foundation of the world and fulfilled at exactly the right moment. Remembering this moment annually, proclaiming it to children and family, singing of it with joy — all of this is not paganism. It is the proclamation of the most important historical event since creation itself.
The Principle Behind Romans 14 — Freedom Without Judgment
"Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth." (Romans 14:4). Every believer stands before God as His servant — accountable to God directly, not to the Watch Tower's governing body. The Watch Tower's disfellowshipping threat for participating in Christmas directly violates the principle of Romans 14, which explicitly forbids one believer judging another in matters of personal conscience including the observance of days. This social coercion mechanism has no scriptural authority — it is organisational overreach into the territory of conscience that belongs exclusively to the individual before God.
John 1:9-14 — The True Light Has Come
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9). The incarnation is the coming of the True Light into a world of darkness. Any occasion that reminds the heart of this truth — that God Himself entered human history as the Light of the world — serves the proclamation of the gospel. The Christmas season provides millions of opportunities to point people to Jesus Christ, to place nativity scenes in public, to sing of His birth in public gatherings, and to proclaim that a Saviour has come. These opportunities are gifts, not dangers.
The Historical Church Celebrated Rightly
The early church's recognition of the birth of Christ as a worthy occasion for celebration grew organically from the biblical truth of the incarnation. The theology of the incarnation — explored in depth by the early church Fathers and summarised in the creeds — is profoundly biblical. The celebration that grew around this theology was, at its core, an expression of biblical faith. Whatever commercial or cultural accretions have gathered around the season in modern culture, the core celebration of Christ's birth remains a worthy expression of the faith that "the Word was made flesh."
A Sincere Invitation to Every Jehovah's Witness
If you are a Jehovah's Witness who has never experienced the freedom of celebrating the birth of your Saviour — know that the Bible you hold does not prohibit this freedom. Colossians 2:16 protects it. Romans 14:5-6 affirms it. The angels practised it on the first Christmas night. And the most important truth of that night is not the celebration itself but the One being celebrated: a Saviour was born, who is Christ the Lord. Come to Him personally, believe in Him directly without organisational mediation, and receive the eternal life He freely gives. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31).
The Real Birth That Matters — Born Again
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). More important than any annual celebration of the birth of Christ is the spiritual birth that Jesus described — the personal, individual, transforming new birth that comes through genuine personal faith in Him. This new birth is what every person needs above all things. And it is available to every person who comes to Christ directly, in personal faith, without an organisation as intermediary.
Philippians 4:4 — Rejoice Always
"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4). Paul's command is to rejoice in the Lord always. Any occasion that channels joy toward Christ fulfils this apostolic command. An organisation that forbids its members from rejoicing at the celebration of Christ's birth contradicts the apostle who commanded rejoicing in the Lord at all times. Joy in Christ — expressed at any time, in any biblically permissible form — honours God.
The Spirit of Christmas — Gratitude for the Gift of Christ
"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." (2 Corinthians 9:15). The gift of Jesus Christ — born, living, dying, and rising for our salvation — is the "unspeakable gift" for which Paul gives thanks. The spirit of Christmas, at its biblical core, is exactly this: thanksgiving to God for the gift of His Son. A gift-giving season that expresses gratitude for God's greatest gift, that centres on the proclamation that "a Saviour is born," that gathers families around the truth of the incarnation — this spirit is not pagan. It is the spirit of 2 Corinthians 9:15.
Summary — The Biblical Position on Christmas
The biblical position is clear: (1) No text in Scripture directly prohibits celebrating Christ's birth. (2) Colossians 2:16 explicitly protects freedom of conscience regarding holy days. (3) Romans 14:5-6 establishes that choosing to observe a particular day is a matter of individual conscience before God. (4) The angels celebrated the birth of Christ (Luke 2:13-14). (5) The Magi brought gifts to honour the newborn King (Matthew 2:11). (6) The pagan-origins argument applied consistently would require abandoning far more than Christmas. The Watch Tower's prohibition is an organisational rule without biblical warrant — and Romans 14 and Colossians 2:16 protect every believer from having such rules imposed on their conscience. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31).
What the Independent Baptist Church Teaches
The Independent Baptist church does not mandate Christmas observance — nor does it prohibit it. In keeping with Colossians 2:16 and Romans 14, the decision of whether and how to celebrate the birth of Christ is left to the individual believer's conscience before God. The church's position is: if you celebrate, celebrate to the Lord (Romans 14:6). If you do not, let no one judge you (Colossians 2:16). The important thing is not the form but the Lord at the centre. And in all things — "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The Most Important Celebration of All
The birth of Christ in Bethlehem is the event that made possible the death and resurrection that saves. Without the incarnation, there is no atonement. Without the atonement, there is no salvation. The chain from manger to cross to empty tomb is unbroken. Celebrating the birth of Christ is thus connected to celebrating the whole of His saving work — and a believer who honours Christ's birth is honouring the One whose birth set in motion the redemption of the world. Come to Christ personally. Trust Him completely. And let the wonder of the incarnation fill your heart — not just in December but every day you live.
A Final Word on Freedom and Conscience
The liberty of conscience that Scripture establishes in Romans 14 and Colossians 2 is one of the most precious freedoms the gospel brings. No organisation — however well-intentioned — has the right to take this freedom from a believer. When a Witness leaves the organisation and first celebrates Christmas with family and reads Luke 2 to their children and sings "O Come All Ye Faithful" — they are not abandoning the faith. They are recovering a freedom the Bible always gave them. Come to Christ, trust Him personally, and live in the freedom that belongs to every child of God. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31). That freedom — the freedom to celebrate the birth of the Saviour who came for you — is yours by right of the Scripture that protects conscience liberty in days and festivals. Come to Christ and discover the joy of worshipping Him freely, directly, and without organisational constraint. And let the birth of Jesus Christ — the Word made flesh, the Saviour of the world, the Lord of all — be the greatest joy of your life, celebrated not once a year but every single day in the freedom and peace that only He can give. He is worthy of every celebration and every song and every moment of praise.
Closing — Come to the One Who Was Born for You
The most important question is not whether you celebrate Christmas — it is whether you know Jesus Christ personally. He was born in Bethlehem, lived among us, died on the cross for our sins, rose on the third day, and calls every person to come to Him in personal faith. The celebration of His birth is meaningful only if the One being celebrated is known personally. Come to Him now. Believe in Him personally. And let every day of your life — not just December 25th — be a celebration of the Saviour who came. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31).
## Let us Pray:
"Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Word made flesh, the Saviour born for us. I come to You now in personal faith — believing that You died for my sins, were buried, and rose again. I receive You now as my personal Lord and Saviour. Thank You for coming into this world for me. Let every day of my life be a celebration of what You have done. Amen."
«Glory to God in our Lord Jesus Christ, for ever and ever and ever. Amen.»
An Invitation to Receive Divine Salvation — Accept The Lord Jesus Christ as Your Personal Saviour
Dear reader — if these words have touched your heart and you have recognised that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour, know that God is calling you to Himself in this very moment. You do not need a priest, or a human mediator, or a holy place, or rituals or works. The Lord Jesus Christ paid the full price on the cross, and the promise of God is certain and clear:
What saves you is not the words of this prayer — but the faith in your heart that the Lord Jesus Christ died for you and rose from the dead. But if you want to express your faith in sincere words, read this prayer with a humble heart as though you are speaking to the living God:
The Prayer of Salvation
"O Great, Holy, and Loving True God,
I come to You now with complete humility, confessing that I am a sinner. I have broken Your commandments many times in my thoughts, in my words, and in my deeds. I know that my sin deserves eternal death and eternal separation from You. I have no good work I can offer that is able to redeem my soul, and no righteousness of my own to cover my nakedness before Your holiness.
But I believe with all my heart in the testimony of Your Word that Your only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins — bearing in my place the punishment I deserved. I believe that He was buried, and that He rose from the dead on the third day, alive and victorious over death and the grave, and that He is alive now unto the ages of ages.
In this blessed moment, I receive the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. I trust in Him alone — not in my works, not in my religion, not in rituals or any person or angel or saint. On the Lord Jesus Christ alone, and on His precious blood shed on the cross, I build the hope of my eternal salvation.
I thank You, my Father, that You have now received me in the Lord Jesus Christ, and have forgiven all my sins, and have given me eternal life as a free gift by Your grace. I thank You that You have sent Your Holy Ghost to dwell in my heart, bearing witness to me that I have become Your child. Give me grace to know You more day by day, and to live the rest of my life for Your glory alone.
I pray all this in the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
After You Have Prayed — What Now?
If you prayed this prayer from a truly believing heart, the greatest miracle in all your history has happened in this moment: you have passed from death to life, from darkness to light, from the kingdom of sin into the kingdom of the beloved Son of God. You have become a child of the living God, and God's own promise guarantees this to you in His trustworthy Word:
Notice the power of this promise: "gave he power" — a settled right, guaranteed, not a wish or a possibility. And notice "them that believe on his name" — not "those who performed great deeds," not "those who completed rituals," but simply "them that believe." You are now one of them — with absolute certainty.
Here are five simple steps to establish you in your new life with the Lord Jesus Christ:
First — Read the King James Bible every day. Begin with the Gospel of John, then continue through the rest of the New Testament, then the Psalms and Proverbs. God speaks to you through His Word as a father speaks with his son. Do not read quickly — read with meditation and prayer. "The holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation" (2 Timothy 3:15).
Second — Pray every day. Speak to God as a loving Father — not with memorised words, but with words from your heart. Share with Him your joys and sorrows and questions and fears. Prayer is the breathing of the Christian life. "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Third — Join a Bible-believing church. Do not walk this road alone. Faith grows in the fellowship of believers, where the Word is preached faithfully and baptism and the Lord's Supper are practised according to the King James Bible. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25).
Fourth — Be baptised according to the King James Bible. Baptism is not a condition for salvation, but it is the first step of obedience after faith. It is a public declaration that you died with the Lord Jesus Christ and were buried with Him and rose with Him to a new life. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16) — faith first, then baptism as its natural fruit.
Fifth — Witness to others about the Lord Jesus Christ. What you have experienced of salvation and love cannot remain hidden. Begin with your family and friends. Tell them simply and honestly how the Lord Jesus Christ changed your life. "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you" (1 John 1:3).
And finally, remember always that your salvation is not built on your feelings or on any work you perform — but on the unchanging promise of God:
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life."
— 1 John 5:13
Notice: "that ye may know" — not "that ye may hope," not "that ye may wish," not "that ye may wait in anxious fear." But that ye may know with complete, unshakeable certainty that you have eternal life. This is the difference between all the world's religions and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ: religions say "work and perhaps you will be saved" — and the Word of God alone says: "believe and know that you are saved."
✉ Share Your Testimony of Salvation
"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." — Luke 15:10