“Christmas”
As is evident below, William Branham's teachings about Christmas were contradictory and flawed. Although he led people to believe that many of the common traditions of the holiday are erroneous and should not be practiced, he actually practiced them himself with his family and church associates.
Christmas is a Catholic day and pagan, devil-worship
William Branham specifically taught that Christmas originated from pagan dogmas of the Roman Catholic church and is a form of devil-worship, as follows,
“Now, the Christmas is not a Protestant holiday. It’s a Catholic day. The 25th of December was months and months before our…after…or before our Lord was born. Our Lord was born in April. But He wasn’t born in December. If you’ve been in Judaea, in December, it’s colder than this, so—so you know He wasn’t born in December. And it’s spelled, it’s C-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s, a mass for Christ. It’s the Christ-mass.” “Divine Healing” (54-1219M).
“Now, the historian says that “All evidence that Jesus was born in the month of April when all other life comes forth.” But they’ve changed it back to the 25th day of December, five days after (see?) after the pagan god, so they could put their ceremonies together: paganism and Christianity. And Catholicism is nothing in the world but a bunch of pagan superstitions and Christianity’s off-casts put together. That’s right. That is true. And the Protestants that knuck’ to it is just exactly the daughter of the mother prostitute. That’s exactly.
Now, God help us to be real protestors against anything that’s not godly. See? Oh!”
“The Pergamean Church Age” (60-1207).
“Studying on mythology and all these myths, Christmas itself is a myth. It’s not no…Nothing real about Christmas. Christmas wasn’t even mentioned in the Bible, they never worshipped the birth day of Christ. Wasn’t no such a thing. That’s a Roman Catholic dogma and not a Christian teaching, no Scripture for it nowhere in the Bible and for the first hundred years after the Bible, see, nothing of it. It’s just a myth. Santa Claus, commercial, everything, the whole thing is wound up into a big conglomeration.” “Christianity Versus Idolatry” (61-1217).
“You know where you got Christmas? Christ was born in April, but what did they do? The solar system is slowing up now as it gets away, each day getting a little long, or a little shorter, and a little shorter, and from the twentieth until the twenty-fifth is when the sun-god had its birthday. Just is about five days there, that’s when they had the Roman circus in that time, the celebration of the sun-god’s birthday at that time. And now you see what you got now? “They said make it the ‘sun-god,’ let’s take it ‘Son of God.’” And the whole thing is pagan to begin with! And the people on the streets with their high-heeled shoes, and they’re twisting up and down the streets, and running into stores.
And here the other day my wife was telling me, “Someone said, ‘I don’t know what to get Daddy.’ Said, ‘Brother is going to get him a quart of whiskey, and the other one said he was going to get him some champagne.’ And one said, ‘Well, I’m going to get him a—a poker set.’” Celebration of Christmas, pagan, devil-worship! All right.
But Augustine sanctioned it. If you want to refer to this in Schmucker’s, the writing of Schmucker, S-c-h-m-u-c-k-e-r-s, Schmucker’s The Glorious Reformation, here’s what it stated, that “From the time that Saint Augustine of Hippo passed this verdict to the Catholic church, it throwed the doors wide open for them to kill anything they wanted to then, that denied that pagan church. And from the time of Saint Augustine, about three hundred years after Christ, until 1850, the great massacre of Ireland, there was eighty-six million Protestants killed by the Catholic church. That’s on the Roman martyrology, ‘Eighty-six million.’” Now fuss with the historian, he’s the one that said that. I’m just repeating his word. “Everyone that disagreed with the Catholic dogma!”
Not catholic, the word catholic, they don’t—they don’t deserve that name. They are Roman pagans.
Not those precious people. There’s tens of thousands of them people out there, just as sincere as them…any other idolater is. They think that they’re worshipping God, when (back to the Word) they’re in an idol with idols all over the place. See!
All right, it was a dog-…dogma, Roman dogmas. And, listen, I want to state something here. I was past that.” “Christianity Versus Idolatry” (61-1217).
“That’s the Message to get to people; not a cradle, not a manger. Christmas is not mentioned in the entire Book of the Bibles. Never one time did Jesus refer them to His birth, but to His death.” “Sirs, We Would See Jesus” (61-1224).
“There is that Roman empire, bound there by (what?) the ecclesiastical powers. Which, Rome, pagan Rome become papal Rome, and was bound there in its traditions of Christian. What part of Christian, and—and superstitions it had of Rome putting together all these; worship of women, and all these other kind of stuff, and Christmas days, and holidays, and holy days, and things. It’s been bound with that tradition that it cannot let loose, because it’s against Christian principles. Still the same ungodly, pagan spirit! And that spirit caught into the nations of the world, according to the prophecies of Ezekiel and the rest of the them. “The Feast Of The Trumpets” (64-0719M).
“How I can’t understand where a rabbit has anything to do with the resurrection, see, (no, sir) how a Christmas tree has anything to do with the birth of Christ. It’s pagan, friends. We’ve got off the path somewhere.” “The Cruelty Of Sin, And The Penalty That It Cost To Rid Sin From Our Lives” (53-0403).
All who tolerate Christmas tinsel and things
will be burnt with unquenchable fire
William Branham not only taught that there is “nothing real about Christmas” and the “whole thing is pagan to begin with”, but he taught that “all those who are intolerating with it, will be burned with it”,
“Say, 'I want to follow. . . . I want to follow the morning star, Christ. I want to follow and find my Jesus this day. I want to get away from all this here Christmas tinsel and things, because some day it's going to be burnt with unquenchable fire.' And all those who are intolerating with it, will be burned with it. The world, the sinner, will punished be . . . they will perish with the world. The worldly-loving people will perish with the world. And if you have, still the love of the world in you, and you want to sell yourself completely tonight to Jesus Christ and His Word, raise your hand. Again now, anybody that hasn't raised. God bless you. Bless you. I just say that. God bless you, lady.”
“We Have Seen His Star And Have Come To Worship Him” (63-1216).
Christ needs to be put back into the pagan holiday
Even though William Branham asserted that Christmas originated from pagan “Roman Catholic dogma” and is “not a Christian teaching”, he contradicted himself by asserting that Christmas is instead real, but Christ needs to be put back into it,
“But the thing of it is, it’s so easy to fall in that rut on the other side, and push out Christ, the real fundamentals of Christ, of Christmas. And man take Kris Kringle instead of real Christmas, that’s right, 'No room for Him in the inn.'” “The Deity Of Jesus Christ” (49-1225).
“Now, as we’re approaching Christmas time now, and here the things are decorated all up with Santa Claus instead of Jesus. They don’t even spell it anymore. “X-m-a-s.” They don’t even spell “Christ” in Christmas anymore. They put up…Why, the people never—never even think about the birth or anything, of Christ, what it’s really for. Only thing they think about, is, Santa Claus took Its place. And instead of rejoicing under the Spirit of God, they go out and get drunk and rejoice. See? That’s what makes the difference.” “Acts Of The Holy Spirit” (54-1219E).
“So as we, this time of the season, as we focus our thinking towards Christmas, it’s too bad that we have to lot it to a myth called “Santa Claus,” in the stead of the real Christmas that it’s supposed to be.” “The Great Shining Light” (57-1222).
“It’s Christmas. All the tinsel, up-and-down the street, of Santa Claus, a German fiction, a Catholic dogma, there’s not one ounce of it true. And it takes the place of Jesus Christ, in the hearts of too many Americans. Christmas don’t mean Santa Claus. Christmas means Christ. Not some man with a pipe in his mouth, and coming down a chimney! Teaching your children such as that, what do you expect them to grow up to be? Tell them the Truth, not on some fictitious story. Tell them, 'There’s a God of Heaven Who sent His Son, and that’s what Christmas means. And He is near coming again.'”
“Where Is He, King Of The Jews?” (58-1221M).
Remember my saying, this is not Santa Claus, this is for Jesus. You see? Christmas means “Christ.” And we were riding last night, showing the kiddies all the houses decorated and everything, which is awful nice. But I thought, if I ever on—anything on my house, that I ever wanted to write, would be a neon sign: Trusting Christ Will Be In Your Christmas. That’s right. Put Christ back into Christmas.” “Questions And Answers” (59-1223).
Christmas is a great, holy day
Despite his teachings and beliefs that Christmas is a pagan myth and Catholic day, William Branham regarded it to be a great, holy day and enjoyed the spirit and feeling of Christmas,
“And so, good, how many feels good for Christmas? Say, 'Amen.' [Congregation says, 'Amen.'—Ed.] Oh, my, my! Look! This is a time of rejoicing, the time of when all of us can come together and worship Christ.” “The Deity Of Jesus Christ” (49-1225).
“On the eve of this great Christmas, when, little do we know but this may be the last one of these we’ll ever sit together in. And we would ask that the Son of the living God would dwell in our midst this morning, and speak to us His kindness and His mercy, and give unto us pardoning of our sins.” “Where Is He, King Of The Jews?” (58-1221M).
“It’s always good to come to the House of the Lord, but much better, seem like, in these, is Christmas and New Year’s and holy days. Seems like it has a special little blessing left for us. And as we…It’s just too bad we can’t have this Christmas feeling all the time. People waving at you, and saying, “The Lord bless you.” That’s good. I like that one thing about Christmas.” “God's Wrapped Gift” (60-1225).
“Now, another thing I would like to say. As Brother Neville has so well said that, we wish you the best in these yule tidings in this time of—of fellowship around these holy days, and so forth.” “God's Wrapped Gift” (60-1225).
Wishing others “Merry Christmas”
William Branham even frequently wished people “Merry Christmas”,
“Brother Graham, thank you. Morning, everyone, and a merry Christmas to all of you. We’re so happy to be back again this morning, here at the Tabernacle, to be with this lovely little group.” “The Deity Of Jesus Christ” (49-1225).
“We want to say we appreciate you, so much. And we want to wish you a merry Christmas and the best of the New Year. God be with you and give you new things, more of the new Life that you’re seeking and hungering for.” “Conference With God” (59-1220M).
“So I appreciate your all’s prayers. And by God’s help and grace, a very Merry Christmas to every one of you.” “Questions And Answers” (59-1223).
“Let’s bow our heads now, and sing. [Brother Branham begins humming, I Surrender All—Ed.] Now just get your mind on Him. 'I…' I’m wishing you the very merriest of Christmas, that God will send His Star from the East, that rose in the East, nineteen hundred years ago, and will guide you to the Word made flesh. [Brother Branham continues humming, I Surrender All.]” “We Have Seen His Star And Have Come To Worship Him” (63-1216).
“Evening, friends. I just got in, a while ago, and I thought I could come down and wish you all a “Merry Christmas.” “God's Gifts Always Find Their Places” (63-1222).
“Now, if you’ll bow your heads again, I want to wish each one of you a very merry Christmas:” “God's Gifts Always Find Their Places” (63-1222).
Christmas Trees
In 1953, William Branham specifically taught that Christmas trees are pagan and have nothing to do with the birth of Christ,
“How I can’t understand where a rabbit has anything to do with the resurrection, see, (no, sir) how a Christmas tree has anything to do with the birth of Christ. It’s pagan, friends. We’ve got off the path somewhere.” “The Cruelty Of Sin, And The Penalty That It Cost To Rid Sin From Our Lives” (53-0403).
Seven years later, in 1960, he nevertheless made it known that
he had a Christmas tree in his home with gifts under it,
“And then I want to take this time to express, to each and every one of you, how grateful I am to you, for your Christmas cards and gifts, and things that was received at our house. I certainly thank you, with all my heart. It certainly did us good, this morning. When…I got a little boy, small enough yet to kind of want a Christmas tree, and we had it in the room. And this morning, go under there, I found several gifts from my church here, and my friends from around different places, that had come in, laying under the tree. And I don’t have words to express to you what I…how I appreciate every one of them.” “God's Wrapped Gift” (60-1225).
After having a decorated Christmas tree in his home, he contradicted himself further by asserting in 1964 that it is “a heathenism” to “decorate trees”,
“And every one of us play Santa Claus, and decorate trees, a heathenism, and things like that, and then call ourselves Christians? What's the matter with the Christian church? Will there ever rise somebody among us, who can preach the Word and tell the Truth, and God vindicate it, and prove to the people that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever? We don't need a seminary. We don't need a theologian. We need a prophet. That's right. God promised it too.” “The Harvest Time” (64-1212).
Buying Christmas presents is a heathen trait and ungodly
William Branham also taught that buying Christmas presents is a heathen trait and nothing about it is godly,
“Why, they started buying Christmas present months ago, and what is it but a heathen trait! There’s nothing about it godly. Oh, they try to say, “Give gifts, to the wise men.” That’s just an—an oasis for a devil’s excuse. You want to give something, it’s your life to Christ. Don’t give to one another, give it to Him. That’s what He died for. That’s His purpose of coming. See?
But it’s got to be a place where it—it’s—it’s a curse to little children. Some little neighbor down the street can have plenty, and the other little fellow don’t have nothing, and they look. And it’s—it’s just the whole thing is altogether wrong. That’s all. And merchants raise their merchandise at these places. They…Why, my wife went in to get something for some little fellows, and about three weeks ago, said, “Oh, we done sold out. All the stock. We made a double order of stock this year, done sold it all out.” Three or four weeks before the time to start shopping. Oh, what a big commercial setup it is!” “The Falling Apart Of The World” (62-1216).
Swapping Christmas presents is pagan
He also taught that “swapping presents” is pagan and done by people because they “follow the traditions of men instead of the commandments of God.”
“In a few weeks, or even right now, there’s reindeers and Santa Clauses and—and jingle bells and all kinds of things hanging up, which is pagan ceremony. It’s an article of the Catholic church. People paying great prices and swapping presents and things like that, pagan! Christmas is a day of worship.
And by the way, Christ wasn’t born on the twenty-fifth day of December either. He couldn’t have been. If you’d ever been in Judaea, the hills are full of snow, worse than it is here. Born in April when all nature comes forth.
Now, but it’s their tradition. And why—why do we do those things? Because we follow the traditions of men instead of the commandments of God. Them…Something like that wouldn’t matter, but they just make a commercial day out of it. It’s a disgrace, a shame for them to do such things as that. A pagan ceremony!” “The Patmos Vision” (60-1204E).
Receiving Christmas presents is also good
Giving Christmas presents is actually good
William Branham's teachings against buying and giving Christmas presents are completely contradicted by the following statements of his in which he actually said that giving Christmas presents is good,
“It’s the greatest present that was ever give. Oh, of course, you give your friends Christmas presents. That’s good. That’s token. But, brother, there’s a Present offered you, tonight, that no money could ever buy. It’s a free gift come from God: His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.” “The Unity Of One God In The One Church” (58-1221E).
Not only was he for giving Christmas presents, he even asked his wife to buy him a book as a Christmas present,
“Just right after that, the 1937 flood come on. And when it did, the… I was—got a job then. I went to working for the conservation. And I was patrolling out in the… So when I—the floods begin to come up and you remember hearing it here. Many of you was there, and how people being washed away and things. And Hope taken sick. She was going over to get me a—a Christmas present. And… the Foxe’s “Book Of The Martyrs,” is what I wanted for a Christmas present. And she got me a little fish box.” “Life Story” (51-0415A).
In addition, both he and his wife bought Christmas presents for their children,
“And little old Brother George, the night come, I remember it was just day before Christmas; wife went over the river to get the kiddies Christmas presents. During that time, been another year, and a little over a year, about a year—year and eleven months it was, between… It was eleven months between the—the two children; a little girl was born. I called her Sharon Rose, after the Bible, the Rose of Sharon. Sweetest little thing, she just got big enough till she could just goo, and she was so sweet. And I just love little kiddies.
And then, I remember the flood came along, and—and she went over the river to get some things for the kiddies for Christmas, and I was working. And I come home, and there she’d fainted on the street and they’d brought her in. And I rushed in, looked at her, and I… Little friend of mine, Doctor Sam Adair at Jeffersonville, I thinks one of the best doctors in the world. We were schooled together, and buddied together, fish together, and you know. We did run around together. Live neighbors right now. And he… I called him; I’d just taken him down one of those—a lamp for Christmas, for a Christmas present; it was night, day before Christmas.” “Life Story” (51-0722A).
“People are born to be singers. Some time ago I was buying my little girl a little piano for Christmas. She, seem like, she’s kind of inclined to be… play music. And I was standing… And my wife cannot play either. And I was trying to pick out a chord on the little thing.” “Deep Calleth Unto The Deep” (53-1104).
“Here some time ago I was buying my little baby one of those little pianos for Christmas. Oh, I think it cost a dollar and a quarter or something. It’s about that big, and I was… Had my finger trying to pick out a tune on it, you know.” “At Thy Word” (53-1204).
Both before and after he asserted that buying “Christmas presents” is a heathen trait and ungodly in 1962, William Branham gladly accepted and received “Christmas presents” from many different people.
Such presents included money, an overcoat, suits of clothes, personal things, a movie camera, different guns, a pocketbook, Bibles and candy, as is evident below,
“And he said…I had just a little thin coat on because it was early fall, and warm here yet. And it’s pretty cold in Canada. He wanted to give me that overcoat. The man has never failed in the last seven years to send tithe money to support the missionary program that I’m supporting, never. He’s been a loyal man, a good man. And he…And standing there that night he wanted to take off his coat and give it to me. I said, 'No, Brother Gobel. Bless your heart, certainly not.' And then, at Christmas time he always sends a nice little cake or something to the kiddies, or little dolly or something, just to be nice. Not because, just no other way, but he’s just that kind of a man.” “Elisha The Prophet” (56-1002E).
“God bless you. Mattsson Boze, for the next thing, he said he taken up a love offering for me. I didn’t expect that, friend. No there’s some little lady or man, set back there the other night and give my wife a Christmas card, the person may be in here now, that had enough money in it to pay my expense up here and back, which would’ve took care of the whole thing. And I—I just appreciate that. [Congregation claps—Ed.] Thank you kindly.”
“Faith” (53-1213E).
“I am just like Brother Neville, I got…just couldn’t wait till Christmas, to open up that present. And, you know, once the man and twice the child. As…But I certainly think Brother Neville looks real nice in his new suit.
And I got one of the prettiest overcoats I ever seen in my life, from this church down here, and I certainly appreciate it.” “The Unity Of One God In The One Church” (58-1221E).
“Now, as Brother Neville has said, and so do I want to thank each one of you for the remembrance of Christmas, your cards. Brother and Sister Spencer, I got yours. And all the different ones here that sent me your cards, around, I do appreciate them and the gifts and things that you sent. We certainly do appreciate it. From—from my wife, and I, and—we—and the children, we thank you. We would like to be able to send a Christmas present to everyone, but that would sure be a hard thing for a preacher to do, wouldn’t it? Well, maybe around as many as there is to go to, I just wouldn’t be able to do it. You see? I just…But I wish I could even get the kiddies, every one, something. I’d sure like to do it, but it’s not just…Ministers can’t do that. See? There’s just too many to go buy. But we’re all, I’m sure, myself and others too, that we appreciate our congregations. One of the greatest things that I think that you’ve done, is your love and your undying faith that you have placed in me as your—one of your pastors here, and—this year.” “Questions And Answers” (59-1223).
“I received some mighty fine Christmas presents, a movie camera, and many other things, guns and things, that people love me, they give me. How I appreciate that!”
“A Super Sign” (59-1227M).
“Now, another thing I would like to say. As Brother Neville has so well said that, we wish you the best in these yule tidings in this time of—of fellowship around these holy days, and so forth.
And then I want to take this time to express, to each and every one of you, how grateful I am to you, for your Christmas cards and gifts, and things that was received at our house. I certainly thank you, with all my heart. It certainly did us good, this morning. When…I got a little boy, small enough yet to kind of want a Christmas tree, and we had it in the room. And this morning, go under there, I found several gifts from my church here, and my friends from around different places, that had come in, laying under the tree. And I don’t have words to express to you what I…how I appreciate every one of them. And may the God of Heaven bless you richly, is my prayer. And now…
And us, you know how it would be, we cannot send back gifts, because that I just wouldn’t make that much money, you know. I—I make a hundred dollars a week, and I got a big family, and about ten million friends, and it would sure be kind of hard to go around them. But we—we are grateful to you and your thoughts. And I’m sure you understand.
Now don’t forget this—this coming New Year’s night. Oh, I remember the first Watch party I ever had here in this tabernacle. I don’t guess there’s anyone here remembers it. But that was one night the Lord took plenty of starch out of your pastor. So, we’re looking forward for a great time then.” “God's Wrapped Gift” (60-1225).
“Well, I want to take this opportunity to thank this church and its members, for the nice things that you gave me for Christmas. A while ago, my son came in and gave me a great big box. And I was in the…my study room, studying. I opened it up, and found a new suit of clothes from this tabernacle. And little personal things that people has sent me, just up there, which I haven’t opened up until Joe comes in tonight and opens up his. And then, I—I certainly appreciate that. The Lord bless you. I wish I could give Christmas presents to everyone. I can’t do it. You know how it is. You just can’t do it. That’s all. If you—if you give to one, it shows respect like that. You just can’t do it. A minister just can’t do that.” “Sirs, We Would See Jesus” (61-1224).
“Brother Way, I…that fine Bible that you and Sister Way gave me for a Christmas present, that’s just going to be a good thing to keep my notes in instead of a book like this, when I get a chance to type it out. . . .
God bless each one of you. I want to say again for the nice Christmas presents that each one give me. The church give me a new suit, oh, how I appreciate it! And I got two new suits for Christmas. My brother, the little church down in Macon, Georgia, down there, Brother Palmer, sent me a new suit. And the tabernacle give me a new suit, and there’s so many nice things give in, and—and Christmas gifts in the line of money. Which, the division of income tax tells me that if it’s a Christmas present and wrote “Christmas present” or a “Birthday present,” anything, you can accept it; otherwise that I have to…it—it goes into the work, which is all right. And I sure thank each and every one of you, wife and I, and the children, and all of us express our gratitude to each, every one of you, so nice. We wish we could go back and give each one of you a present back, but you just can’t do that, you know, you just…My, I—I couldn’t do that. I wish I could, but I—I just couldn’t. I’m sure you understand. And I know that’s the feeling of my precious brother sitting here, too. We just feel the people love us like that, we appreciate them.” “You Must Be Born Again” (61-1231M).
“Well, I thought I would come just a—a little early. And I wanted to go over in Mexico and get me a suitcase I was badly needing. That, someone give me the money at Christmas time, to get it, and I could get it for about half the price I get it here for, and about twice as good, across the border. I thought, “Well, I’ll go down around Texas, so I’m going to allow myself about three extra days so I can shop out and get a good one, so rest a little while on the road.” And I was going to start on a Thursday.” “Presuming” (62-0117).
“Now, before we approach the Word, I want to say this, too, that I certainly thank this church, its members, for this fine suit of clothes that you bought me. Thank you, very much. That’s so much to me. All your cards and things through the—the—the Christmas seasons, and gifts that you sent to the family, and, oh, I, they were innumerable to me. And little spots that cannot touch the spot in my heart, nothing could do it like that, to know that it come from you. And so some of them sent me some of their Christmas gifts in money.
And some of them sent such. One brother sent me a pocketbook, and he had made with my name on it. A little pin that you look through; it’s got the Lord’s Prayer in it. And, oh, things like that, it just, we just treasure. Wife and I, and the children want to tell you, 'Thanks, so much.' It’s so little. But I’ll say this, this is the greatest word I think that anyone could say, 'God bless you.' There’s nothing could be any greater.
Now, and to these brethren here at the church, who bought me that rifle, I—I wore my suit, but I—I couldn’t bring the rifle to church. But it was…They really would have something against me then, wouldn’t they? So I—I—I certainly thank you, my brethren. And I was going to read their names on a little…But one of the brethren was up yesterday, said, 'Oh, don’t—don’t—don’t thank me, Brother Branham. It would just take all the joy out of it.' See? So I thought maybe the rest of them might think the same thing. But I got your name. They typed it out. I’ll always remember it. And the Lord bless you greatly.
And you know what I relax at, and is go in that den room and set there, and live all over. When I get so wound up, I can’t go no farther, then think about some hunting trip I took somewhere, or somewhere went fishing. I appreciate that. God bless you.” “Absolute” (62-1230M).
“So I want to thank each one of you for your fine things that you did for us through Christmas. And you women who went up there and put food in the house, and things, for us, that when we got there, there were…stuff was already cooked and was ready to eat. I certainly thank you for that. May God ever bless you.
And the church, for their little ticket, that I could go over here and—and get some clothes if I wanted them, for a suit. They give me a suit each year. And some kind friends of mine just got me a suit. So I think, if it’s all right, I need some other things like shirts and undershirts, and things, I’d like to take the money up in that if it’s all right with the church. I need that better than I…worse than I do the suit, right at the time.” “Look Away To Jesus” (63-1229E).
“Now, that certainly is a misprint here in the Bible; page has been put in wrong. And I just found it on my old Scofield Bible, and picked up this one and run up here with it, just a few moments ago, ’cause my wife just give me this for a Christmas present.”
“Birth Pains” (65-0124).
“But it was hard for me to believe that, yesterday afternoon, when I lost my text up here. I—I tell you, I never was so gotten in my life. And, then, my—my wife gave me a new Bible for Christmas.
My old one was just worn out. I’ve had it almost twenty years now, was give to me by the Houston Gospel Tabernacle people, many years ago, when I started out on the campaigns.” “This Day This Scripture Is Fulfilled” (65-0125).
“And my wife had just given me a new Bible, for Christmas. My old Bible is about fifteen years old, and the thing was just about tore to pieces. The pages, every time it’d open up, would fly out of it. And, but I knowed just where to find every Scripture, so I study close in that Bible. And I just picked up the new one, because the other one looked so ragged, to go to church with.” “This Day This Scripture Is Fulfilled” (65-0125).
“And Meda just got me a new Bible; and Brother—Brother Brown, from up in Ohio, got me a new Bible; both of them at the same time, at Christmas. I went and got one of the new Bibles. I said, 'Lord, in the days gone by, You had a Urim and Thummim.'”
“Ashamed” (65-0711).
“And I—I want to thank that lady, I can’t think of her name, Billy just told me, that had give me a box of Christmas candy, and just brought it out to the car a few moments ago. The sister, I can’t think of her name, she’s from here in California. That was my first Christmas present. So I—I thank you for it.” “Leadership” (65-1207).
His books were acceptable to give as Christmas presents
William Branham said his books were acceptable “Christmas presents” to give to people:
“And here not long ago, two years before it come to pass, told of a little boy being raised in Finland, you read the story of it in the book. And by the way, now we’re… as I say, we’re not book selling, because we don’t… we just let you have the book. But if you want one for a Christmas present, or some of your friends, tonight’s your last chance because we don’t sell on the Sabbath. And any of the pictures, take one of them home with you, we’d be glad for you to have it; just at the cost, it’s just at what it cost us to get it and get it here to you, you’re welcome to it. And we don’t commercialize on anything at all, not a thing.” “Africa Trip Report” (53-1114).
“And by the way, tonight is the last, of books and of the pictures. We do not sell on Sunday, we don’t believe in it. So, we… they’ll be… Brother Wood will be leaving tonight, immediately after the service. If you care for our books, for the Christmas present from someone, or something, pick them up at the stand.” “The Unconditional Covenant That God Made With The People” (54-0814).
“Brother Wood, if he’s here, did he… Do you have some more of these pictures? They do. Some more pictures and the books… And that’ll be right away now, it’ll be finished. Then coming back, this book will be out of print. If you want to give someone a Christmas present, something, send it to them.” ’Cause we’ll have a new book from overseas after this next trip.” “South Africa Testimony” (54-0902).
Celebrating Christmas
William Branham taught that we should never celebrate Christmas because it's a day of worship,
“But here is what it is. They have taken the sacredness from Christmas, to make it not a Christmas but, a worship day, but a celebration. See? We do not…You hear people say, “We’re going to celebrate Christmas.” That’s wrong. We should never celebrate Christmas. Christmas is a day of worship, not a celebration.” “Sirs, We Would See Jesus” (61-1224).
However, he contradicted that teaching by making it known that they were celebrating Christmas,
“We are celebrating the Christmas, birth of the Lord Jesus. Which, it isn’t just exactly His birthday. His birthday was in April.” “Joseph Meeting His Brethren” (56-1230).
“If we would start to follow Him for a little bit, then we would know more about what type of Person we would look for. Well, we know His birth as we’re going to celebrate that soon, the Lord willing, at the Christmas time, how He was born in a manger and so forth. But then we find out that that wasn’t just exactly the Christmas story. Many times if you read the Bible, we find out that this Christmas story have going to Mary at the manger, and a little baby. That’s fiction.” “Sirs, We Would See Jesus” (57-1211).
“Forgive us now of what’s happened through the year, that we have did that’s wrong and where we failed in so many places, and strengthen us, Lord. And may we, at this time of celebration of Christmas, may we open our hearts to the Messiah, the anointed of God. May He come into our lives and anoint us, and live His will and bring His Kingdom to pass through our lives. Keep us well, healthy.” “The Falling Apart Of The World” (62-1216).
“Don't be afraid of your testimony for Jesus Christ! Shed forth your light! Stand for your convictions, that 'He is the Son of God. And this is not a night of visit of Kriss Kringle, but it's the birth of Jesus Christ that we're celebrating.' Now we find those things that it's done.” “We Have Seen His Star And Have Come To Worship Him” (63-1216).
Christmas is a very appropriate time for dedicating babies
Although he taught that Christ was not born in December and December 25 originated from
the Roman sun-god's birthday, William Branham regarded Christmas to be a “very appropriate time” to dedicate children to the Lord,
“Now, I believe someone told me we had some little babies here this morning to be dedicated. Is that right? Has some mother got a baby to be dedicated? Something Doc told me. Well, maybe I was wrong. Oh, yes. Yeah. Yes, sir, these. All right, would you sisters or brothers bring your little ones up? Thank you, sister. Think this is a very appropriate time to bring children, it’s Christmas. Brother Neville, would you? Now, as these loved ones brings their little ones this morning, it’s—it’s just…” “The Falling Apart Of The World” (62-1216).
“Let’s see, I believe we’ll start over here, with this little, black-headed fellow looking at me so much. Just kind of…Oh, my! My wife ought to be here to hold this little one. Always afraid I’ll break them, you see. My, what a pretty little fellow! How do you do? What an appropriate time, when, “In the manger, there was found a Baby,” a Christmas time, for dedication of babies back to God. What’s his name? Samuel Thomas. Now, that’s a very good name.” “The Falling Apart Of The World” (62-1216).
Christmas plays in the church
In reply to the following question that was asked of him, William Branham said that having a Christmas play in a Holy Ghost church “might be” all right.
99. What about a Christmas play in a Holy Ghost church?
Well, if it’s about Christ, it might be all right. But if it’s about Santa Claus, I don’t believe in him. I—I done growed—I done growed away from that. I don’t believe in Santa Claus at all. See? And some of these little Christmas things they have, I think is ridiculous. And…But I think they’ve took all Christ out of Christmas and put Santa Claus in it.
And Santa Claus is a fiction story. (I’m not hurting any of your feelings, I hope, about the children.) But I’ll tell you. Here not long ago, about twenty-five, thirty years ago, when a minister here in this city, the pastor of—of a certain big church here in the city, that I knowed real well, a bosom friend of mine, he walked to me. And Charlie Bohannon (Brother Mike, you remember Charlie Bohannon, a good friend of mine)…Set there in his office and said, “I’ll never tell my kids or have my grandchildren told that lie no more.” He said, “My own little boy walked up to me after he got about twelve years old, and talking about Santa Claus…” And he, said, “Why…Honey, I’ve got something to tell you,” Said, “Mommy…” You know, and go ahead telling him what he did. Then after he come back, said, “Then, Daddy, is this Jesus the same thing?”
Tell the truth. Santa Claus is a Catholic getup about a fellow, a Kriss Kringle or Saint Nicholas, an old German Catholic saint of many years ago who went around doing good to children. And they’ve carried it down as a tradition. But Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He’s real, and He lives. Now, here’s a question, the last one, which is a very…
Now look. You might disagree with me at that. But if you do disagree with me, remember, let it be friendly, will you? I love you, and I don’t want to—don’t want to hurt you. I’m just, I’m wanting to be honest. If I can’t…if I tell my boy a lie, then I’m a liar. See? I want to tell him the truth.
Now, I tell him about Santa Claus, I say, “Yeah, sure, there’s Santa Claus. Watch Daddy on Christmas night.” See? Yeah.
You know, the other day I was down there, and I tried that on a little girl just to see. I sure got paid back day before yesterday. I was in the building. And they was standing there, down here at the Quaker Maid. And I went down there to get the groceries. And so we, wife and I, was in there. And there was a little bitty girl, wasn’t over about eighteen months old, and she was standing there, going, singing, “Dingle Bells, Dingle Bells…” And I said…In her little stand, you know, setting in the back of the little cart.
I said, “Are you looking for Santa Claus?”
She said, “That’s my daddy, Mister.”
I said, “Bless your little heart, Honey. You got wisdom.”
Now, here is a real sticker, friends. And in this…Then I’ll close. Oh, it’s—it’s a dandy Scripture, but it’s a sticker to every person that seems to be. And it stuck me for years and years; and only by the grace of God…And my precious wife, setting right back there now, when she heard that I had that question this afternoon, she said, “Bill, how do you answer that?” She said, “I’ve always wondered that myself.” Said, “I never could understand it.” And said…
I said, “Come down tonight, Sweetheart. I’ll do my best by the help of God.”
“Questions And Answers On The Holy Ghost” (59-1219).
Not only did William Branham state that a Christmas play “might be all right”, but he actually had a Christmas play in his own church,
“Now, next coming Sunday, if the Lord is willing, Brother Neville and none of them has anything special, I thought next Sunday morning I—I’d bring my Christmas message to the people, because letting them—letting them…Some of them come from far away, you know, and like Georgia and different places, and that’ll let them get back in time to do their Christmas shopping and things.
And Billy just come out and told me, said my sister, Delores, next Sunday evening just before service, has some kind of a little—a little gifts for the kids, a little program here they’re going to, you know, a little Christmas play that they want to put on before the services start.
And I said, 'Well, that’ll be in the Sunday evening won’t it?'
Said, 'Yes.'
I said, 'That won’t interfere a bit, then.'” “Remembering The Lord” (62-1209).