My family always has a Christmas tree every year because it was popular to do. We have ornaments, holly wreaths, gifts and everything that goes along with the celebration of Christmas. I know I was on the edge, but in which everybody liked it and is supposed to be in honor of the birthday of our Lord went with him all these years. This year I looked at the weight of biblical evidence that has led me to reconsider how harmless and good that this party. Just where in the Bible tells us not to celebrate Christmas?
Christmas is not a biblical doctrine
First, Christmas is not a biblical doctrine. If our blessed Lord had wanted us to celebrate his birthday, he had told us when to hold and how to celebrate. But Christ never told anyone to celebrate his birthday. Moreover, we know from the Bible and church history than ever the apostles and the early church celebrated the birth of Christ.
The Bible is the complete and final revelation of God to man, and tells us all we need to know for our spiritual lives (II Timothy 3:16). We do not have to go outside the Bible at all. The Word of God tells us how we worship, how we give money to sustain the Lord's work, how to evangelize the lost, how to observe the Lord's Supper and everything related to the Christian life. But not once in the Bible God tells us to celebrate Christmas! We are told to remember the Lord's death, but nowhere are we told that to celebrate his birth.
God's people are supposed to biblical characters. Are we supposed to live by the teaching of the Holy Word of God. So the fact that Christmas is not mentioned in the Bible is reason enough for us to have nothing to do with it. But that's not all.
Christ was not born on December 25
The second reason for not celebrating Christmas is that Christ was not born on December 25. Notice:
"And there were shepherds in the same country, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." Luke 2:08
Do not miss the point: the shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks on the night Jesus was born. Like the shepherds watching their sheep, the message reached them of the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is well known that in December falls in the middle of the rainy season in Palestine, and the sheep were kept in the fold at this time of year. The shepherds always corralled their flocks from October to April. They brought their sheep from the mountains and the fields no later than October 15 to protect them from cold and rainy seasons that followed that date. So the birth of Christ could not have taken place in late December.
Second, Luke 2: 1.3 tells us that at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ, it was decreed that "everyone would be taxed ... And all went to be taxed, every one unto his city." This could not have taken place in the winter. Augustus Caesar, the ruler of Rome, certainly not call for such a tax in the dead of winter. The trips in this time of year is very difficult, so it would be virtually impossible for everyone to comply with the decree if given time. The Lord himself said to the rigors of traveling in winter, and that he told people to pray that your flight at the end of this age not in the winter (Matthew 24:20).
Nobody knows the exact day Jesus Christ was born, but in all likelihood born sometime in September. We can be reasonably sure of this because his earthly ministry lasted about 3 1 / 2 years, and was crucified on the 14th day of Nisan, which corresponds to our April (John 19: 31, Leviticus 23:5) . If we go back about 3 1 / 2 years to the time when Jesus was 30 years old - when he began his public ministry - we got to September. This was probably the month in which our Lord was born in the world.
Origin of Christmas
Thousands of years before Jesus Christ was born, pagans in all countries observed December 25 as the birth of a god who was called the sun-god. Semiramis, the widow of Nimrod, was his mother. She claimed to be the queen of heaven. And she had a son who is born on December 25, and his name was Tammuz.
According to all the pagan religions of the era, Tammuz had a miraculous birth, and for centuries his birthday was celebrated with feasts, revelry and drunkenness. Pagans celebrate the birthday of Tammuz by the example he sets for them. It was the world's greatest lover of women, beer, jokes and other sensual fun. It is said that he loved everyone and everyone loved him. It was on December 25 that all pagan religions celebrated the birthday of Tammuz, the sun-god.
This is clearly highlighted in the great book by Alexander Hislop, "The Babylon of two." Any reputable encyclopedia also verify these facts.
It is easy to see, is not it, that Christmas is a pagan holiday that came out of ancient pagan Babylon.
Christmas: a Catholic holiday
The fourth reason is not to celebrate Christmas because Christmas is a Catholic festival. Why should I steal Christmas from the Catholics? They did the heathen, and I'm happy to let it continue.
Note what the Encyclopedia Americana has to say about Christmas and Catholicism.
"Christmas - that he agreed with many authorities not celebrated in the early centuries of the Christian churches as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth A feast was established in memory of the birth of the Savior . in the fourth century. In the V century the Western Church (Catholic) ordered is always celebrated on the day of the Roman feast of the birth of the sun The holly, mistletoe, yule log and the bowl are pre toast -Christians. The Christmas tree goes back to the Romans. It went from Germany to Britain. "
Encyclopedia Britannica has this to say about Christmas:
"Christmas (ie the Mass of Christ) was not among the earliest festivals of the church."
After Constantine became emperor of Rome, forced all the pagans of his empire to be baptized in the Christian Church. Thus, the heathen was far greater than the true Christians.
From the church worshiped the Lord Jesus as the Son of God, when December 25 rolled around and the pagans wanted to worship Tammuz, the sun-god, Constantine knew he had to do something. As the church had combined the worship of Tammuz with the birth of Christ, and a special mass was found to keep everyone happy. Thus, the pagan worship was brought to the Christian church and called "Christ mass."
Every time we say "Merry Christmas", we're actually mixing the precious and holy name of Christ with paganism. This is not correct. God says in Ezekiel 20:39: "Go pollute my holy name no more."
The world and Christmas
This brings me to the following reason for not celebrating Christmas. Christmas is the world, and commanded us: "Love not the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I John 2: 15 The fact that the world hates Christ and His blood to atone for sin more fuss about Christmas than any other holiday shows me that Christmas is not of God. If December 25 were actually the birthday of the blessed Son of God, the world would have nothing to do with it!
You do not have to be Christian to celebrate Christmas. Even non-Christian countries like Japan, Czechoslovakia and Russia, people celebrate Christmas.
People around the world, which mostly have no knowledge of the Bible or Jesus Christ, they eat the celebration of Christmas. To make Christmas in the world would be more difficult to make peace in the Middle East.
Let's face it, the world is married to the idol of Christmas. In fact, more people get drunk at Christmas than at any other time of year. There are games bigger and selfish spending than any other station. The world loves Christmas, but hates Christ. Does not that prove that is not of God?
The non-biblical traditions
Another reason not to celebrate Christmas is that it is filled with biblical tradition. The exchange of gifts, the Christmas tree, singing carols and Santa Claus are of pagan origin. They crept into the church during or after the fourth century.
There are many non-biblical traditions that have hampered the story of the birth of our wonderful Savior. For example, many people believe that the sages of the East and the shepherds were gathered in Bethlehem at the time of the birth of our Lord. But nothing could be further from the truth. The shepherds came to Bethlehem to see Jesus Christ at his birth. The wise men came to see Jesus Christ when he was almost two years of age (Matthew 2:16).
Furthermore, the Bible says nothing about the three wise men, or say that they were kings. The fact is that the Bible gives no number at all, but merely states that they were wise men (magi) men. These men were known to understand the history written in the stars for what King Herod wanted to talk to them and find out why they were traveling on their land. When he learned that they had seen his star in the sky and that meant a big born King Herod decided to kill this new king and asked him diligently when they saw the star. This is why Herod had all male children under two years and sentenced to death in Bethlehem. The wise men or Magi that the Bible calls had taken over eighteen months to prepare and make the long trip and there were many in the caravan that came to see.
Thousands of parents teach their children the falsehood of Santa Claus. Children are taught that Santa Claus has his home in North Pole, and every year his sleigh filled with toys for children who have been good all year round. If they are good, he brings toys on Christmas Eve, and if they are bad, happens. No wonder that many times when children grow and learn the truth, wonder if Christ is also another myth Christmas and throughout his life wondering if heaven or hell will be your reward for the things they have done .
The Bible says in Colossians 3:9, "Do not lie to another." We are commanded in Ephesians 4:25 to put "away lying," and "everyone tells the truth with his neighbor."
Now I know some of you loving mothers are saying, "Do not you think we should give children a good time? Do not understand all the paganism behind Christmas."
Let's teach our children the truth about Christmas. The Word of God says that we must educate the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Why should we dishonor the name of Christ so under the pretext of showing the kids a good time? There are 364 days in the year when we give gifts to our children.
The exchange of gifts and festivities
Undoubtedly, the most important part of Christmas for most people are buying and exchanging gifts. I do not celebrate Christmas because exchanging gifts has nothing to do with the birth of Christ.
Perhaps some of you wonder, "Did not the wise men give gifts to Jesus?" Certainly yes, but do not give each other. And his gifts were not birthday gifts because the wise men did not come to visit Jesus Christ, until it was almost two years of age (Matthew 2:16). The shepherds went to see Jesus Christ as their birth, but the wise men came to see him almost two years later.
Did you know that giving gifts to a king was common custom in the Far East? That is the reason why magicians brought gifts to Jesus Christ - because He was born to be King of the Jews. But they were not birthday gifts. So there is no connection between Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ in this sense.
A final word before leaving the matter of exchange of gifts. Let me note that even this is used by the program Satan's Antichrist. The largest celebration gift to come is during the terrible days of tribulation. During the reign of the antichrist all hell breaks loose. The two witnesses whom God sent to the people of earth life when God is finished with them. Can you guess who is going to kill? The Antichrist will kill them. Listening to the Word of God:
"And when they have finished their testimony, the beast from the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and overpower and kill them." Revelation 11:7
It is under the reign of the antichrist that the greatest gift last celebration and carried out. As a result of the death of these prophets of God, the world will be so happy and excited that gifts are exchanged between them. This is what the Bible says,
"And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and not allow their bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth. " Revelation 11:9-10
Condemned by the Puritans Christmas
Pagan History of Christmas has been well known in history. In fact, in a time of celebration of this pagan custom was banned by law in England. In 1644, Parliament declared Christmas is illegal, and therefore was deleted. English Puritans looked at the celebration of Christmas as the work of Satan.
At one point in early American history, the observance of Christmas was illegal. A law was passed in the General Court of Massachusetts in 1650, which requires that those who celebrated Christmas were to be punished. The statue said: "Everyone who is observing a day like Christmas, or in any other way ... will be subject to a fine of 5 shillings." Preamble of the law, explained that his purpose was "to prevent disorders ... (By) the observation of festivals such as superstitiously kept in other countries to the great dishonor of God and offense of others. "After the Mayflower pilgrims landed in 1620, the first December 25 was spent on work and logging "in order to avoid frivolous in the day is sometimes called Christmas."
The opposition to the observance of Christmas continues right after the second half of the nineteenth century. An article in the December 26, 1855 issue of The New York Daily said,
"The churches of the Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists were not open on December 25, except in some mission schools had a party. They do not accept the day as a saint, but the Episcopal churches, Catholic and German were open. In Inside it were decorated with evergreens. "
The Puritans knew the truth about Christmas and considered it a pagan holiday. It would be nice if all believers followed suit.
What about the Christmas tree?
Another reason not to celebrate Christmas is that Christmas tree is condemned by the Bible. Note: "Learn not the way of the heathen ... For the customs of the peoples are vanity. Gracious a tree in the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax I covered with silver and gold, but with nails and hammers so that you can not move, but they are completely brutal and absurd: the action is a doctrine of vanities ".. Jeremiah 10:2-4,9
Here's a perfect description of the Christmas tree, called by God, "the way of the heathen." We are commanded not to learn that way or follow it! The Christmas tree is also seen in this passage as idolatry. The fifth verse says that these trees can not talk, can not walk, to take place. Some people misread this to make it say that there is nothing wrong with having a Christmas tree, but that's not what you say at all. Rather, the prophet Jeremiah tells us that it is vain and foolish, and says: "Learn not the way of the heathen."
Some people will be working all night in an old dead tree. Going to cut everything and be out in a little and admire his work. Then many of them sitting all night and watch the old Christmas tree.
Did you know that green tree is mentioned 14 times in the Bible, and in all cases compared with idolatry? There is no place in the Bible where God shows the use of "green tree" in relation to the true worship.
Perhaps you are wondering why people have a Christmas tree during the celebration of Christmas. You can search the Bible from cover to cover, but you will not find a reason for that is. The first decoration of any evergreen tree began with the Greeks and the pagan worship of their god Adonis, who was brought back to life by the serpent of Aesculapius, after being killed. And every Christmas crowds to get a evergreen and glitter dressed up with bright lights and tinsel, not realizing that they are following the tradition of a pagan festival honoring a false god!
No doubt there are many sincere Christians who believe they are honoring Christ with your Christmas tree, when in reality, you are dishonoring to have something to do with a pagan festival that God hates.
As you read these lines may say: "I have my Christmas tree, but I do not worship and, therefore, I see nothing wrong with that." Let me remind you, however, not determine what is right and what is wrong. God determines what is right and wrong. If the Christmas tree is not an idol for you, why are they so reluctant to give it up? What are you doing on your knees to place their gifts under it?
Forbidden observe days
Finally, Christians should not celebrate Christmas, because the Word of God forbids the observance of holy days in this dispensation of grace. Listen:
"You the days and months and seasons and years. I'm afraid of you, I have given you work in vain." Galatians 4:10-11
This tells us that the celebration of days is a sign of weakness, children's understanding of the Truth and the lack of growth in it. There are no special days for members of the holy body of Christ. The Lord wants us to worship Him the same 365 days a year.
We do not worship a dead Christ or a helpless baby lying in a manger, but we are worshiping a true living Christ who lives all year.
Sometimes well-intentioned people make the statement, "Let's put Christ back in Christmas." This sounds very good on the surface but how can we put Christ back into something that was never there?
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the famous English preacher of the last century, he said,
"We have no superstitious regard for times and stations certainly do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas ... we find no scriptural word whatever for observing a day as the birth of the Savior. And so is the Respect is a superstition, not because (s) of divine authority ... probably the fact that the 'holy days' (are) arranged to fit in with the heathen festivals ... how absurd to think I could do in the spirit of the world, with a Jack Frost clown, a deceptive world of Santa Claus, and a mixed program of sacred truth with fun, deception, and faction. "
As the world celebrates Christmas with gift exchange and party, what should be our attitude? The Word of God makes it clear that we should have nothing to do with this pagan festival. We must not associate the birth of the holy Son of God with the pagan traditions of men. Heed God's command: "Be separate, my people." II Corinthians 6:17
God bless you now and forever in Christ Jesus the Lord.
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