). The Romans were brilliant administrators; they certainly would not have ordered people to journey to be registered at a time of year when roads would have been wet and muddy and traveling conditions miserable. Such a move would have been self-defeating on its face. The belief that Jesus was born on or around Dec. 25 simply has no basis in fact, even if 2 billion people have accepted it without question. As the famous playwright George Bernard Shaw said, If 50 million people believe a foolish thing, its still a foolish thing. Does Christmas really honor Christ? If the Christmas holiday is an important celebration to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, why is it nowhere mentioned in the Bible? Why didnt Christ instruct His closest followers, His 12 chosen apostles, to keep Christmas? Why didnt they institute or teach it to the early Church? Before you answer, consider that Jesus gave great authority to His 12 apostles, assuring them that they will hold positions of great importance and responsibility in His Kingdom (Matthew:18:18; 19:28; Luke:22:29-30 ). But since Jesus never taught His apostles to keep Christmas, nor did they ever teach it to the Church though they had years of opportunity to do so, shouldnt that make us question whether Christmas is something Jesus really wants or appreciates? So how did Christmas become such a widespread practice if the Bible doesnt sanction it, if Christ didnt observe it and if He never taught His disciples and the early Church to celebrate it? True origins of Christmas Most people never stop to ask themselves what the major symbols of Christmas—Santa Claus, reindeer, decorated trees, holly, mistletoe and the like—have to do with the birth of the Savior of mankind. In the southern hemisphere summer climate of December, few people question why they observe a Christmas with northern hemisphere winter scenery! The fact is, and you can verify this in any number of books and encyclopedias, that all these trappings came from ancient pagan festivals. Even the date, Dec. 25, came from a festival celebrating the birthday of the ancient sun god Mithras. (If youd like to learn more about the origins of the many customs and symbols associated with Christmas, request our free booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep? ) Jesus never told His followers to celebrate Christmas, but He did warn us not to adhere to false, man-made religious doctrines: And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men (Mark:7:7). The truth is, Christmas and other non-biblical religious holidays constitute vain or empty worship of Christ. The Catholic Encyclopedia indicates that the Christmas season came from an ancient midwinter festival that occurred at the time of the winter solstice. Interestingly, the previously noted Origen, despite the early period in which he lived (ca. 182-251), never even mentioned it ( The New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967, Vol. 3, 1967, and Christmas and Its Cycle, The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, Vol. 3, Christmas). Tertullian, another Catholic theologian who lived at about the same time (ca. 155-230), referred to compromising Christians then beginning to join in the pagan midwinter festival celebrated in the Roman Empire, which eventually evolved into what is now Christmas: The Saturnalia, the feasts of January, the Brumalia, and Matronalia are now frequented; gifts are carried to and fro, new years day presents are made with din, and banquets are celebrated with uproar; oh, how much more faithful are the heathen to their religion, who take special care to adopt no solemnity from the Christians (Tertullian in De Idolatria, quoted by Hislop, p. 93). In time Catholic religious leaders added solemnity to this pre-Christian holiday by adding to it the Mass of Christ, from which it eventually came to be known by its common name of Christmas. A matter of whether, not what The purpose of The Good News magazine is to share with you the living truth of Jesus Christ. A true Christian cannot decide what he will obey, only whether he will obey Gods truth. We strive to publish Gods pristine truth; people who read that truth have to decide what to do about it and whether they will honor it. Our commission from Jesus Christ is to teach the truth of God and to welcome as disciples and fellow workers those few who hear and obey the truth. We hope the truth about Christmas starts you on the road to true happiness and Gods purpose for you. History shows that Christmas does not represent Christ. It misrepresents sound biblical teaching and is in opposition to Gods truth. God wants us to worship Him in truth (John:4:23-24 ), not fable. In Deuteronomy:12:28-32 , God told His people to worship only in the ways He commanded, telling them Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. He explicitly ordered them not to copy or adopt the religious practices of the pagans, calling such practices abomination [ s ] . . . which He hates. Yet hundreds of millions of men, women and children unwittingly observe Christmas, not knowing or caring from where it came. They assume that 2 billion Christians cant be wrong or that it doesnt matter how we worship God so long as our intentions are good. But why should we think we honor God or please Him when we worship contrary to His commands? Crucial questions only you can answer The crucial question is, do we worry more about what others think or about what God requires? Also, can other human beings give us salvation? If honoring Gods truth determines our salvation, then why honor men over God? Jesus Christ said to those who appeared religious but denied the power of His true teaching, But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say? (Luke:6:46; compare Matthew:7:21). Since Christ is opposed to Christmas, why would any thoughtful Christian observe it? Walking in Jesus footsteps in a world that doesnt is never easy. But it is much better and eminently more rewarding than following the empty ways of the world. God tells us in 1 John:2:15-17 : Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. GN
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 11:32:08 +0000
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