By what authority do we do or say these things?

Our authority can be either form God or human traditions. Jesus warned his people about the dangers of following human traditions and rejecting what is written in the scriptures. Mk 7:6-8, "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do."

1. Do we sing and tell people that Jesus was born on December 25
a. God in his wisdom gave us information in the scriptures on the: place of his birth and parents but not his date of birth.
b. The Apostles, parents of Jesus, early church and Church Fathers neither celebrated nor mentioned December 25 as the birth date of Jesus.
c. Christmas was started as a tradition by the Roman Catholic Church, as a MASS for Christ.

2. Do we teach our children that Santa gives them gifts
a. God has warned us about willfully telling lies Pro 6:16-19, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

3. Do we teach and sing about "Three wise men" ,they who traveled far.
a. The bible tells us of "Wise men" Mt 2;1, 7, 16
b. They gave three kinds of gifts Mt 2:11, "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."

4. Decorate "Christmas trees" in the honour and name of Jesus
a. Would Jesus approve such a practice?
b. The decorating of trees was considered a heathen practice and condemned by God
Lev 18:1-5, 20:22-24, Jer 10:1-4, "Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."

5. The things Jesus has authorized to help us to remember him
a. To come to know him as Lord John 17:1-3, "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

b. Baptism to share in his death burial and resurrection Rom 6:3-5, "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"

c. The Lord's Supper (Communion) every Sunday 1 Cor 11:23-33,"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

Acts 20:7, " And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."

It seems clear from God's word, that the celebration of Christmas is not of him but of man. God has authorized no celebration of his birth. He has authorised the celebration of his death, burial and resurrection, when Christians partake of his Supper every week. We are commanded to love each other daily, and to give freely and with an open heart, not to receive, as the scriptures teach in Acts 20: 35, "I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Let us all seek to love each other each and every single day.
Some points adopted from Original Article by Roy Graneau.