The General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle, Pastor Daniel Olukoya, has said the church does not celebrate Christmas because it (Christmas) has no place in the Bible.
“If you really study the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, there is no word like Christmas,” Olukoya said during the Manner Water Service of the church in Lagos.
“The Bible only recorded that the that the Shepherds were taking care of their flocks during a very cold season when they sighted the star that announced the birth of Jesus Christ. The cold period could be around April or May.”
Olukoya explained that the December 25 which is observed worldwide as the birthday of Jesus Christ, was a date set aside by the ancient Romans for Mars festival by worshippers of the sun.
He added that Jesus’ birth was subsequently incorporated into the date merely to make the Mars festival popular thus it was renamed Christmas.
The MFM leader asked Christians not to promote celebrations that are not biblical.
However, a Catholic priest, has criticised Olukoya for describing Christmas celebration as unbiblical.
Reverend Chinenye Oluoma, in a Facebook post, said there are many Christian practices that are not recorded in the Bible but which the scripture is not against.
He listed some to include Easter, Crossover vigils, Mother’s Day, stressing that the scriptures were not against them.
“Easter as a term is not in the Bible but we celebrate Easter because it is an event and a mystery recorded in scripture. Same with Christmas. It is not the term or calendar date we celebrate but the event and mystery,” Oluoma said.
The priest also said there are many things Christians do that are not in the Bible and “God isn’t angry at all.”
He listed such practices to include birthday parties, wedding anniversaries.