“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” -John 1:10.
Every year at this time millions of those who profess Jesus Christ seek to prove their love and appreciation for Him through a variety of “good works” done in His name; never considering that their love may better be proven by what they are abstaining from: that just wouldn't be popular. Yet didn't Jesus also speak of self-denial, and the daily crucifying of the flesh?
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” -Luke 9:23.
“Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:” -1 Peter 4:4.
Yet if we really love the Lord Jesus, we will keep His commandments (John 14:21,23); we will obey them gladly, and they will NOT grieve us (1 John 5:3). And so I propose to you that the only way to honor our savior at Christmastime is not to observe it, for the holiday itself isn't instructed in the Bible, and many lies are associated with it.
“For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.” -Isaiah 63:8.
“For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” -2 Corinthians 13:8.
The December 25th holiday was established in the centuries that followed the Flood, and it was held in honor of the Sun God BAAL. December 21st is the shortest day for daylight in the year, and it was said that on this day Baal died. But by 3 days later you could tell the days were getting longer, and it was said that Baal resurrected; and then the 25th was observed as his birthday! Do you smell a rat? Baal is, of course, the arch foe of God in the Bible.
This is the religion of the Sun God, which was Emperor Constantine's religion, who became the first pope. By 350 A.D., the pope (not Constantine) had declared December 25th to be Jesus' birthday; that is how it became passed down through time to our day, although there are records of numerous Christian groups abstaining from this holiday, mostly before the 20th century. It isn't possible to make this unclean holiday clean (Job 14:4), and the following are some of the many lies that go with it;
First of all, the Bible never instructs us to keep such a day (Acts 15:1-31, Galatians 4:9-11), and to do so is a pollution of the world (Haggai 2:12-14, 2 Corinthians 6:14-17). Secondly, we know that Jesus was born near the beginning of October, and there's plenty of evidence; a) We know from the timing of Zacharias' service (Luke 1), and the birth of John the Baptist, who came 6 months earlier. b) Jesus was 30 years old beginning His ministry, and He served 3.5 years; being crucified at the Passover. 6 months before that brings us to the first half of October.
Third, scripture records that the shepherds were in the field with their flocks, and that wouldn't have happened after October 15th, for then it is rainy season. Fourth, Caesar wouldn't have called for a taxing in the winter, because travel was too dangerous. Fifth, 2 holidays near the beginning of October, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur would explain why the inns were too full to house Jesus' family.
Other lies held to revolve around the wise men, whose account is in Matthew 2:1-18. The Bible lists 3 types of gifts that were brought, but never tells us how many wise men there were. What it says is that “all Jerusalem” was troubled by them, so it must have been a large company to disturb a city of between 50-60,000 people.
-Also, the wise men were not present when Jesus was born, but arrived almost 2 years later.
-When they arrived, they gave gifts to Jesus as a new-born king; no gifts were otherwise exchanged.
-No Christmas trees were set up, this was a Sun God practice. The Bible seems to speak against it here;
“Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.” -Jeremiah 10:2-5.
It is late in the year as we approach this Christmas season, now just over 3 weeks away. But I beseech you as brethren in Christ to put away this lying, ungodly holiday from your lives; if it's too late for a change now, commit it to the Lord for the years that will follow, and honor Him by abstaining. It will not be easy here in America. This is the 17th year my wife & I are abstaining.
From what I see in scripture, there is NO WAY we can honor God by claiming to observe this day “for Him.” The Christmas holiday is too filled with lies to bring glory to the almighty! Didn't you know that God is seeking those who will worship Him in truth? And how can we be joined together with those who hate God, yet still celebrate this day?
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” -John 4:23,24.
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” -James 4:4.
This world is entering the “days of vengeance” that Jesus spoke of in Luke 21:22; and because of mankind's great affinity for LIES, God has said He will bring strong delusion to mankind-that we might be rightly judged for our infidelity to Him. Christmas is a great example of how far lies have penetrated even the professing church of Christ, so let us examine ourselves carefully to be sure we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5), and consider the Bible's sobering words on the delusion to come;
“I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” -Isaiah 66:4.
“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12.
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