The deception that is Christmas.
 

Hey Brethren
In light of a recent post George wrote on rightly dividing, I noticed he had written a statement about the 25th of December NOT being anything to do with the LORDS birthday. let me further explain this if I can.

Society had had the 25th Dec drummed into them as Christs Birthday, they have been led to believe we exchange gifts because the 3 wise men brought Gifts to Christ.
Lets look into the Bible on these matters and bring to light the Word Of God on the subject (I appreciate many brethren on the forum know this already, but I would like to expel the myth of Christmas to new believers or those who simply didn't know the truth)

The word "Christmas" means "Mass of Christ" or "Christ-mass". It was a Roman Catholic mass and the 25th December is the Pagan birthday of sol the sun god. This was an ancient rite to do with Baalam and is the grossest form of Idolatry that we read about in the Bible.
Christmas is NEVER mentioned in the new testament by anyone, Not Paul, not Peter, Not John Not Matthew, no one.
Christmas is a fable!
2 Timothy 4:4
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Christ was NOT born on the 25th December

Luke 2:8
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Shepard's brought their flock in from fields no later than the first couple of weeks in October, to protect them from the cold and the rains following in those months.
Song of Solomon 2:11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
Ezra 10:9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.

If we were to take a particular date to celebrate the Birth of Christ it would be clearly marked in the Bible!

You're right, brother Steve. I am a born-again, bible believing, follower of Christ who says, "Happy Holidays!" We try to love and celebrate the Lord Jesus every day!

We do love the holiday season though, when family is able to get together we haven't seen in a year, for good food, fellowship, lots of laughter, and coffee of course! (I'm looking forward to it just thinking about it.) Come to think of it, we do that as much as we can here in Texas...without the observance of a national holiday!

Anyway, thanks for the reminder and exhortation.

Are you suggesting it is evil for Christians to get together on a day our country (the United States of America) has set aside as a national holiday, for food, fellowship, and generosity?

Of course not, brother. I'm just saying that we enjoy holidays which have absolutely no "spiritual" or "biblical" application to me or my family. Some people get drunk on their birthday, we don't, but we still have birthday parties.

I just wanted to expel the myth that Christmas is Christs birthday, not delve into occult nonsense about elves and vampires.
For one I enjoy the dinner that my mother prepares on the 25th very much so, does that make me evil.
I wouldn't get to carried away with elves and goblins either...that is another fable that Paul write to Timothy concerning.

1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

I agree. I don't celebrate "christmas", but I enjoy the holidays.

A few things that worry me about your statements Levite

Salvation cannot be given away, as It is not ours to give in the first place.

I have never heard of one Christian who has been approached by an elf, offered gifts and then asked to deny their faith.
Peter denied the LORD 3 times, but I seen no mention of elves in the bible offering him Gifts for doing so.

To include comments from occult books on the subject in my opinion is wrong, a Christian should not even be dabbling in anything relating to the occult, even if its supposedly to "warn us"

The only Information a Christian needs regarding devils is the Word Of God

Amen Bro Forrest....I do enjoy the holidays. Sharing Christ with the lost at Christmas is a great way to celebrate the holidays.

I never said I was worried about you, I said I was worried about the statements you posted about elves and fairies and vampires. What have occult books and Dictionaries got to do with the Truth of a matter that Christ taught?
When Christ rebuked spirits, he did just that rebuke spirits, not fairies, elves and vampires
I never judged nor did I condemn, I simply stated the obvious, A Christian has NO BUSINESS reading into anything occult.

You cannot see that the truth is not welcomed here, you can see that occult nonsense is not welcomed here. As for you "answering" "my inquiry" I never inquired, I posted Holy Scripture to back up the fact Christ was not Born on the 25th December.
I will actually gleefully ignore everything you typed and I certainly wont worry myself to much about the Goblins :eek:while I'm eating dinner with my mother


I really wish I hadn't posted this topic as its gone into the silly zone now

Dear, brother Levite, the truth is always welcomed here. We are simply saying the 25th of December is not the official day to proclaim that Jesus Christ was born. It is a day that many, not all, people simply get together with family, eat, enjoy each others company, pray, read scripture, play games and drink coffee! Many of us do not attempt to turn it into a "traditional religious experience" where we praise and adore Jesus once per year.

Again, I personally do not celebrate "Christmas", but I do enjoy the holidays. You can certainly do what you are directed by Christ to do. I do not condemn or judge you for doing that. I love you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and, yet, I don't even know you, except that you confess Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour!

I agree with the 25th not being Christs birthday,a misconception,a Pagan Holiday,also there was no mention in Matthew chapt 2v11 about 3 wise men,it didn't say,the world has assumed it was 3 because of the gifts presented, Gold,Frankincense and Myrrh. Christmas has always been a day set aside representing our Lords Birth,not to say it was that particular day. (December 25th). I will not be a conformist and switch to happy holidays just to appease the world,to me it is still Christmas. How many merchants make there biggest profits during a christian holiday? they make money off of Christs name,yet,people want to get rid of Christ and install there own thinking with Happy Holidays,just so someone will not be offended. Well, i am offended when i am told that it is not Christmas, but, X-mas or Have a Happy Holiday, the Hindu's love it. Just one more way to get rid of Christ.

I look at the Christmas tree as a representation of the Gift of God to us.
The Star on the tree pointed the wisemen to were Jesus was. The tree itself(triangular in shape) represents the light from the star pointing to Jesus,and the gifts under the tree representing Jesus,our gift from God. When i look at a Christmas tree, this is how i see it,Just my thoughts.
What do elves have to do with the Bible? Someone has been watching to much Lord of the Rings.:D

Guys,


While we on the topic of Christmas, shall we talk about Christmas trees anyone?


:D

Atlas

Levite

Listen friend before you get way ahead of yourself here and call me ignorant to satans devices stop right in your tracks. I have no need, I repeat NO NEED to look in occult books to know that the devil is a roaring Lion waiting to deceive, I have the Bible

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; )

Occult Books are Carnal, a Christian has no need to dabble in anything occult even under the guise of "getting to know your enemy"

Secondly, Christians have more to deal with in this world from men, than they do elves, fairies and vampires (apologies for adding in Goblins that would be taking it too far)

I completely agree that there are devils and spirits, but I don't not believe that they manifest themselves physically and are portrayed like elves and fairies. Drink (alcohol) is a devil, drugs are a devil (and co-incidentally I used to be enslaved by both) there are enough evil spirits among men to worry about without adding to that elves, fairies and vampires.
Please in no manner think I am "ignorant" as when I was not right with God there where several occasions that I was so far out of my mind that I was almost persuaded by "spirits" to end my life and on any of those occasions the spirit was "within me" not appeared like an elf.

I take comfort in Holy scripture concerning these things of "occult" nature

Romans 8:38
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
9 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Hey listen, thanks for forgiving me, but I have no need of forgiveness for admonishing occult dabbling with the Word of God.

Lastly brother, please bring your own opinions on the subject to the topic, not Terry Watkins.

Troublemaker! :rolleyes:

HAI,


I thought Christmas trees would fit right in with this Christmas topic.

I have been known cause a little trouble from time to time.


:D


Atlas

Levite,

I thought your whole tribe was lost?

:D

The Jews were forbidden from having tress with gold, silver an other such things on them. This is plain and simple my friend.


Atlas

From Logos Resource Pages.org

* THE CHRISTMAS TREE

An early Roman ritual was to exchange green tree branches on January 1. They believed this would bring them good luck.

The Scandinavian people once worshipped evergreen trees. They believed godlike spirits inhabited them so people brought trees into their homes to please the spirits and seek their blessing. When the Gospel of Christ reached the Scandinavian people they made the evergreen tree part of their Christian Festivals.

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah also mentions ancient pagans making idols out of trees and worshipping them. in Jeremiah 10:3-5. This is a reference to Asherah poles, not the "Christmas" tree.

But how did the "Christmas Tree" get to where it is today? Germans are responsible for bringing the Christmas tree to the New World. The German theologian and reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) was perhaps the one who popularized the "Christmas Tree" as we know it. The tale goes . . . One clear, brisk Christmas Eve, Martin Luther was walking home under the starstudded sky. It was so wonderful. As he walked he tried to think how he could catch the beauty of that eve and bring it home to his children. Suddenly he thought of a large evergreen tree gleaming with candles. He proceeded to find a tree, cut it down and take it home to decorate it. His children were delighted.

Hence we have the beginnings of our modern day "Christmas Tree" with all the trimmings.

As interesting and beautiful as Christmas Trees are, they are NOT the reason Christmas is important!
*********************
Don't abandon Christmas & don't be overcome with the evils of its abuse, rather overcome the evils with good (Romans 12:21). Look at Christmas as an opportunity to EXALT CHRIST. I am reminded of Paul's letter to the Roman believers dealing with "special days --Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

It is not the day that is important, nor the customs that are observed. What IS IMPORTANT is revealed in the next verse, He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it...Romans 14:6 If we are going to celebrate Christmas, we are to celebrate it in a Christ honoring way! This is what has happened much of the time concerning Christmas. When the Gospel of Christ reached pagan people they "Christianized" their traditions and redirected them to point to Christ. I do not necessarily agree with the reemphasis in some cases but I do know Christ is to be lifted up, magnified & exalted. Today we need to do the same...PUT CHRIST IN FIRST PLACE. Make HIM preeminent. because HE IS WHAT MAKES CHRISTMAS IMPORTANT.

http://www.logosresourcepages.org/Ho...HE%20CHRISTMAS

Sister Linda,

That's a neat story. Personally, we love the aroma that feels the house, sitting around looking at the lights as we enjoy good Christian music, and sipping on some coffee while eating a piece of Grandma's pumpkin pie!

Amen! Save me a piece of that pumpkin pie!

I think you are pokin fun at me.:D

I was never shown those scriptures before,they are interesting,didn't know there was that much to it.

Yeah!Pumpkin Pie! I am an avid Tea drinker. Oolong,english breakfast,darjeeling,Chocolate and hazelnut,good stuff. Hot tea on a cold day.
Tea drinkers drive Hot Rods too.:D

Amen Linda! We celebrate Christmas and have a Christmas tree. I see nothing wrong with it, as we don't worship any pagan gods, or the tree. We celebrate Christ coming to this wicked world to die for our sins!

Jeremy,


I'm not making fun of anyone buddy. I also have a tree every year. If I were a Jew in the O.T. there would be no tree for me. That would be 100% wrong.


The Christmas tree Issue is always fun to bring up, I have seen a few get real mad over this and it's kind of funny. They start defending their Christmas tree and get real upset with me very fast. People sure love those Christmas trees.

Verse 1 is key to see who is told not to do this.

" O house of Israel " says it all my friend.

Atlas

On a lighter note: What about a Channukah bush? Growing up in a Reform Jewish home, we celebrated Channukah...but were still wanting to get into the Christmas spirit, so we had a Channukah bush..or a Jewish Christmas tree!;)

Wait a minute, its October folks. The Christmas/Santa/Tree thread is not suppose to start until the day after Thanksgiving. :D For October we have the Halloween/Fall Costume Festival @ Churches thread scheduled. ;)

As to Coffee vs Tea. We drink both in this house. Coffee in early part of the day and tea in the latter part.

Coffee = vigor and vim
Tea = soothing and calm

Both are warming on a cold day/night. Both are equally good over ice. Sweet Tea is VERY popular around these parts.

Okay, back to the thread in progress. :)

My forefathers dumped tea into the sea and then declared independence from England. I think tea is just unpatriotic, so I drink coffee.

:D

Brandon, I drink tea, but refuse to pay the sales tax! :)

Christmas tree:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Hv9YmhGpw

Since someone mentioned halloween (or Costume festival, or what have you), I will say that I will NOT be having anything to do with halloween, except to preach on the streets and pass out tracts.

I also don't get involved with Christmas trees, easter bunnies, etc. Oh and I work on Labor day! Haha.

I don't mind the holiday for the reason of family and gift giving etc, but I refuse to go to special church services on Christmas and am uncomfortable with Christmas trees. My mom and dad still set one up, but I won't take part in decorating it when they invite me. They know how I feel.

And on a final note, I LOVE my coffee!

Peace and Love,
Stephen

I drink tea! I pay the tax too. oh no:rolleyes: