- FULL LIST: Jehovah’s Witnesses, MFM, and Other Churches That Don’t Celebrate Christmas
- Jehovah’s Witnesses are the most well-known group that rejects Christmas
- Many congregations within the Churches of Christ do not emphasize Christmas
While December 25 is widely celebrated by Christian denominations as the birth of Jesus Christ, some groups and churches do not observe Christmas due to theological or doctrinal reasons.
Eko Hot Blog take a detailed look at major denomination that traditionally or officially refrain from celebrating the holiday:
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1. Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jehovah’s Witnesses are the most well-known group that rejects Christmas.
They believe the holiday has pagan origins and note that the Bible does not command celebrating Jesus’ birth or birthdays in general. They stopped observing Christmas in the 1920s after studying its historical background.
2. Armstrongite Churches of God
This includes groups such as the United Church of God, Living Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God, and other branches from the former Worldwide Church of God. Influenced by Herbert W. Armstrong, these groups reject Christmas due to its alleged pagan origins and lack of biblical mandate, instead observing Old Testament holy days.
3. Certain Strict Presbyterian Denominations in Scotland like the Free Church of Scotland, Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Associated Presbyterian Churches, and others historically rejected Christmas. They view it as an extra-biblical “Roman Catholic” holiday without scriptural basis.
4. Churches of Christ (Restoration Movement)
Many congregations within the Churches of Christ do not emphasize Christmas or hold special services for it, seeing the holiday as unbiblical and a matter of private cultural practice rather than religious observance.
5. True Jesus Church
This restorationist group focuses strictly on practices mandated in the Bible and therefore does not celebrate Christmas.
6. Iglesia ni Cristo
The Philippine-based restorationist church does not observe Christmas, regarding it as unbiblical and of pagan origin.
7. Independent or Fundamentalist Groups
Certain Independent Baptists, Oneness Pentecostals, and other conservative congregations reject Christmas on similar grounds of pagan influence or lack of biblical support.
8. Other Notable Mentions
God’s Kingdom Society : Celebrates Jesus’ birth in October rather than December.
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) : Rejects Christmas due to its pagan associations.
Deeper Life Bible Church : Leadership views the holiday as unbiblical.
Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) : Traditionally avoid special religious holidays, emphasizing that every day is holy, though practices vary among individuals.
These groups highlight the diversity of Christian perspectives on Christmas, emphasizing adherence to scriptural mandates or avoidance of perceived pagan traditions.
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