Christians Do Not Celebrate Christmas!

Kirk Cameron can ignorantly attempt to defend his idolatry of Christmas by engaging in proof text methodology, eisegesis, and Scripture twisting, but biblical Christians know better.

Let those outside of true and spiritual Israel have their Winter Solstice and Saturnalia back, which still includes the date of its celebration, the evergreen tree, holly and ivy decorations, yule logs, wreaths, mistletoe, orb decorations, candles and lights, human-shaped cookies, singing from house to house, and gift giving.

Is it not funny how this passage sounds an awful lot like a description of the pagan celebration of Christmas?

"Thus says Yahweh, "Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens although the nations are terrified by them; for the customs of the peoples are delusion; because it is wood cut from the forest, the work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. They decorate it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers so that it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, and they cannot speak; they must be carried, because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, nor can they do any good."" Jeremiah 10:2-5

Jeremiah wrote in the 7th century B.C. Note that cutting down and setting up a tree is termed "the way of the nations [heathen, KJV]." Note also how Yahweh commanded that we are to "not learn the way of the nations." No matter how you attempt to dice it, this is idolatry, which violates the commandment against idolatry.

Not only was Jesus not born on December 25th, but the early Christians of the first three centuries never celebrated Jesus' birth; only His resurrection (which has nothing to do with the pagan celebration of Easter). After the false conversion of Emperor Constantine and his subsequent turning Christianity upon its head, many errors were introduced and pagan practices were adopted by the "Church" in an attempt to "Christianize" them. The idea to celebrate Jesus' birth was first birthed (no pun intended) during the 4th century by Pope Julius I, and was done in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of pagan festivals such as Saturnalia. Pagan elements were supposed to be renounced entirely when people came to Jesus, but the Catholics retained them, and their attempted defenses of this are illogical and weak.

In the Middle Ages, Christmas (Christ Mass) celebrations were rowdy and raucous, a drunken carnival-like atmosphere similar to today's Mardi Gras. In the 17th century, religious reform in Europe and America cancelled and outlawed Christmas. Are you aware that until the 19th century, Christmas was mostly observed by Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Episcopalian congregations? Americans began to really embrace Christmas in the 19th century, Christmas first being declared a federal holiday on June 26, 1870. To fill the cultural needs of a growing nation, Americans re-invented Christmas by changing it from the raucous carnival holiday it had been and turning it into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. As Americans embraced Christmas, old customs were unearthed. Christmas is now widely celebrated by all denominations, and even by atheists and followers of other religions. Its modern popularity is due to its worldly seductions, pleasures of gifts, and entertaining symbols. Let me be clear: The adoption of this practice has nothing to do with the worship of King Jesus!

As someone who professes to be a follower of Christ Jesus, if you are celebrating Jesus, ask yourself why you are doing so by use of pagan elements. Why would you want to associate Jesus with pagan festivals and celebrations? Why would you want to participate in the same decorations that are clearly associated with these pagan festivals and celebrations? Is this how you learned Christ? Is this what you think of Jesus? You are engaging in idolatry and are not even aware of it. Ask yourself if fellowship, prayer, and instruction consume the majority of the holiday for families who celebrate this pagan holiday, or if presents and worldly conversations do.

If you claim to hold to "sola Scriptura," I challenge you to find the word "Christmas," or even the occasion of the celebration of Christmas, in the Scriptures. You will find no such thing! Professing Christians who pose ridiculous questions such as "What could possibly be wrong about celebrating Christ? Isn't it great to want to celebrate Him? Who wouldn't want to do that?" are clearly ignorant of Yahweh's Word and His Commands. They likely do not even know Him. Yahweh determines when and how we worship and celebrate Him. For you to associate Him with pagan festivals and celebrations and engage in the same decorations is to marry Him to pagan practices.

'Christmas' might begin with 'Christ,' but keep Christ out of Christmas as Jesus is not the reason for the season. He was never in Christmas to begin with and it has nothing to do with Him nor His birth!

Two Great Eras

Yahweh's holy Word, the Bible, does not distinguish seven "dispensations," as the cult of Dispensationalism teaches, but two great eras. This is seen in a number of ways:

First, the Bible is split into two great divisions: the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Why did I say 'Covenant' and not 'Testament'? Because not only does the word "testament" never occur even once in the Old Covenant, but also because the correct interpretation for the Greek diatheke (διαθηκη) is "covenant." It should always be translated as "covenant."

Second, a period of 400 years separates these two great divisions, between the last book of the Old Covenant and the first events recorded in Luke 1.

Third, Yahweh's dealings with men in two great eras is clearly witnessed in a number of passages of Scripture. "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached" (Luke 16:16). "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2).

From the last passage, it is clear that there are two different eras: (1) "in time past," and (2) "in these last days." This is verified further from the writings of the New Covenant authors. Observe:

"'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;'" Acts 2:17

"Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." 1 Corinthians 10:11

"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come." 2 Timothy 3:1

"Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!" James 5:3

"For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you." 1 Peter 1:20

"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts," 2 Peter 3:3

"Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour." 1 John 2:18

We have been in the "last days" for the past 2,000 years. The next event to occur is the Second Coming of King Jesus. There will be no "Millennial Kingdom." Everything about this nonsensical belief, and Jewish myth, is illogical. Not to mention that 2 Peter 3:10 completely obliterates the possibility for this belief. When Jesus returns, everything is going to be burned up. So where does it leave this seventh "dispensation"? When Jesus returns to judge the world in sin and righteousness, eternity begins.

As if that was not clear enough, it is acknowledged in Hebrews 9:26 that the period of Jesus' First Coming and of His sacrifice belongs to "the end of the ages": "Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation [end] of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Dispensationalists place in the "dispensation" of law so that they can separate His words (particularly His Teaching on the Mount) from us, Yahweh's children. Perhaps this is why they believe that the believer does not have to repent or be obedient, attempting to label them as "works" because, like most believers, they have no clue what Paul was addressing.

It is time believers started acting like the Bereans and searching the Scriptures, paying attention to what is actually said—in context, rather than blindly believing what some preacher behind a pulpit, or a "study" Bible, has to tell them. Stop outsourcing your intellect and faith and start proving yourself "a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."

Jesus on Non-violence

From the very beginning, Christians had always renounced war, violence, and killing of every sort. However, from the fourth century onward, and especially within American "Christianity," men opposed the teachings of Jesus and attempted to use Scripture to justify their perverse and godless thinking and behaviour. One ignorant clown, Jeffrey Mann, attempts to argue that it is a "myth" that Jesus taught and practiced non-violence. Anyone who thinks this has never read the Scriptures and quite obviously refuses to submit to and be obedient to Jesus' commands.

Jesus said that Christians are to be peacemakers. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matt. 5:9) But He does not stop there. "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kings of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matt. 5:10-12). How were the prophets persecuted? They were violently assaulted and/or put to death! Followers of Jesus are to be peacemakers, following the path of peace (Rom. 12:18; Heb. 12:14; cf. 2 Cor. 13:11; Gal. 5:22; James 3:17).

Jesus' position on non-violence was made abundantly clear in His Teaching on the Mount. "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you" (Matt. 5:38-42). This was not just about one's honour being assaulted. Paul explained this further when he said, "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone" (Rom. 12:17), and then quoted from the Old Testament: "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head" (Rom. 12:20).

Jesus went even further: "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:43-48).

Why were you commanded to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"? The answer is crystal clear: "So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." Scripture reveals that Jesus did not just teach these things, but practiced them (Matthew 10:23; 26:51-53; Luke 4:28-30; John 8:49; 10:39). This operates on the principle found in Romans 13:10: "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

Jeffrey Mann ignorantly argues, "This sweet sentimental notion of love would surely denounce locking people in cells for decades. We could never imprison murderers. Should we all simply forgive them when they do awful things? This clearly cannot be what Jesus intended." This demonstrates his vast ignorance of reality, and of Scripture. He makes a great many assumptions and conclusions drawn from assumptions. Yes, Christians are to forgive. See Matthew 18:21-22. The government, however, is to met out justice. That is their role. The government puts people in prison according to their laws. If someone murders a member of a Christian's family, the Christian is to forgive them while the law is to judge and condemn them. There is no opposition or contradiction here, save for the ignorant and unlearned.

Jesus also said, "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell" (Matt. 5:21-22). Jesus expanded the meaning of this command by revealing the spirit of the law against taking human life. He showed that it is not just the physical act of murder that breaks the command, but inner anger and hostility toward others also breaks it. The apostle John made clear this teaching: "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15; cf. 1 John 2:9-11).

When Jesus was going to travel through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem, a route that would typically be avoided by Jews, the Samaritans refused to receive Him. "When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." And they went on to another village." (Luke 9:54-56). Jesus rebuked His disciples because violence was to have no place in their practice or in their hearts.

On the night of His arrest, "Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus" (John 18:10). What was Jesus response? "Put the sword into the sheath" (v.11). "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword" (Matt. 26:52). He then healed the man's ear.

Jesus taught how to prevent violence and cut it off at its origins by teaching His followers to love their enemies (Matt. 5:43-45). By refusing to see anyone as an enemy, the violence that begins in the heart is stopped before it can fester. If and when violence should break out, Jesus taught how to use practical transforming initiatives that intervene and stop the escalation of violence (Matt. 5:38-42). Jesus taught how to attack and overcome the causes of violence through civil resistance—non-violent direct action. Jesus taught and modeled the way to reconcile a community after it has been ravaged by violence and division in order to bring the community back together again (Matt. 18:15-17, 20; 18:21; Luke 23:14). Jesus demonstrated how to defend both the innocent and guilty with non-violent action instead of violence (John 8:4-10). Jesus taught how to build a community and culture of non-violence as an antithesis to regimes of domination through violence. He taught and modeled how to live a life of non-violence to the full, and to the end. If you love your neighbour and your enemy, you will do nothing but good to him. No matter what he might do to you, you are commanded to love him.

Out of his ignorance, Jeffrey Mann argues, "While the idea of Jesus as the paragon of niceness and non-violence sits well in our imaginations, it is not true to the historical individual; it is not fair to those who serve in our militaries; and it is not helpful in working through the complex ethical questions that we must struggle with in a violent world."

Jeffrey Mann knows nothing of the historical individual of Jesus. Yes, the teaching of non-violence is fair to those who serve in our militaries because those who profess to be Christian should not be doing so! At least not in a capacity where it involves taking the lives of others. The early Christians lived in a world that was more violent than our own and yet they obeyed the teachings of Jesus and did not seek violence against those who sought to violently assault them. Nowhere in the New Testament or the first three centuries of the early Christians will you find advocacy for "self-defense"! Jesus does not differentiate between "being persecuted for your faith" and "being violently assaulted," and neither did the early Christians. All violence was repudiated: "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone" (Rom. 12:17). Jeffrey would do well to educate himself on history instead of spewing his perverse anti-Christ nonsense.

Jeffrey would do well to not only read the Scriptures and pay attention to the teachings of Jesus, but also to pay attention to the first three centuries of Christian believers who took Jesus' teachings literally. Christians refused to serve in the military, and if they were already serving in the military when they got saved, they sought another position within it so that they did not have to violate their consciences. Until the heretic Augustine, biblical Christians who were obedient to the teachings of Jesus would rather suffer a harm than to harm another individual. "Self-defense" was not a legitimate argument! Ignorant people attempt to dismiss the legitimacy of non-violence by asking a person who believes in such ridiculous questions like, "What would you do if someone broke into your house and wanted to rape and murder your wife or daughter? To do nothing makes you worse than the perpetrator, does it not?" They erroneously assume that the only way to protect someone threatened with violence is with intervening violence. They neglect to explain Jesus' intervening for the woman caught in adultery and the multitude that wanted to stone her to death. Jesus did not respond with violence in order to protect her.

Augustine, the Roman Catholics, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and the like are not the authority on this issue. If you desire to understand the biblical truth, you must pay attention to the teachings of Jesus and the actions of His disciples who were the recipients of those teachings. Out of his sheer ignorance, Jeffrey Mann (and those like him) references where Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers in the Temple as his "proof" that Jesus engaged in violence. When Jesus did this, He alluded to Isaiah 56:3-8 to remind the leaders that the Temple was meant to be the city on the hill whose light would reach all nations, and added an allusion to Jeremiah 7:1-14 (itself delivered from the gate of the Temple) to warn against relying on ritual purity if accompanied by social injustice.

Maybe Jeffrey should learn how to read Scripture in context when it is addressing those who wield the sword and met out the justice of God. Paul is writing to Christian believers and telling them to submit to the secular authorities because God has instituted them. People like Jeffrey read into this text what is not there and impose their own godless ideas upon it.

Both the early Christians of the first three centuries and the Anabaptists taught and practiced non-violence, and their numbers grew as a result of the persecution they endured. If you are a Christian, American, America is not your home. You are a stranger and a sojourner here. Your citizenship is in Heaven, and as such you should be behaving in a manner that is reflective of being an ambassador thereof.

Let us review what the early Christians had to say on the issue, shall we:

"Christians … love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life.  They are poor, yet make many rich;  they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonored, and yet in their very dishonor are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless;  they are insulted, and repay the insult with honor; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life. They are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred." —Letter to Diognetus

"We who formerly murdered one another now refrain from making war even upon our enemies" —Justin Martyr

"For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" [Is. 2:3]. And that this did come to pass, we can convince you. For from Jerusalem men went out into the world, twelve in number and these illiterate, of no ability in speaking; but by the power of God they proclaimed to every race of men that they were sent by Christ to teach to all the word of God. Now we who used to murder one another do not only refrain from making war upon our enemies, but also, that we may not lie nor deceive our examiners, willingly die confessing Christ. For that saying, "The tongue has sworn but the mind is unsworn" [a justification for lying used in Justin's time], might be imitated by us in this matter. But if the soldiers enrolled by you, who have taken the military oath, prefer their allegiance to their own life, parents, country, and all kindred, though you can offer them nothing incorruptible, it would be truly ridiculous if we, who earnestly long for incorruption, should not endure all things in order to obtain what we desire from him who is able to grant it." —Justin Martyr

"We who were filled with war, mutual slaughter, and every wickedness have each, through the whole earth, changed our warlike weapons—our swords into ploughshares and our spears into implements of tillage. In their place, we cultivate godliness, righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope, which we have from the Father himself through the One who was crucified." —Justin Martyr

"We have learned not to return blow for blow, nor to go to law with those who plunder and rob us. Instead, even to those who strike us on one side of the face, we offer the other side also." —Athenagoras

"For when they know that we cannot endure even to see a man put to death, though justly; who of them can accuse us of murder or cannibalism? Who does not reckon among the things of greatest interest the contests of gladiators and wild beasts, especially those which are given by you? But we, deeming that to see a man put to death is much the same as killing him, have abjured such spectacles. How, then, when we do not even watch, lest we should contract guilt and pollution, can we put people to death? And when we say that those women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder and will have to give an account to God for the abortion, on what principle should we commit murder?" —Athenagoras

"For we are not to delineate the faces of idols, we who are prohibited to cleave to them; nor a sword, nor a bow, since we follow peace." —Clement of Alexandria

"The Christian does no harm even to his enemy." —Tertullian

"God puts His prohibition on every sort of man-killing by that one inclusive commandment: 'You shall not kill.' " —Tertullian

"They will inquire concerning the works and occupations of those who are brought forward for instruction. If someone is a pimp who supports prostitutes, he shall cease or shall be rejected. If someone is a sculptor or a painter, let them be taught not to make idols. Either let them cease or let them be rejected. If someone is an actor or does shows in the theater, either he shall cease or he shall be rejected. If someone teaches children (worldly knowledge), it is good that he cease. But if he has no (other) trade, let him be permitted. A charioteer, likewise, or one who takes part in the games, or one who goes to the games, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. If someone is a gladiator, or one who teaches those among the gladiators how to fight, or a hunter who is in the wild beast shows in the arena, or a public official who is concerned with gladiator shows, either he shall cease, or he shall be rejected. If someone is a priest of idols, or an attendant of idols, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. A military man in authority must not execute men. If he is ordered, he must not carry it out. Nor must he take military oath. If he refuses, he shall be rejected. If someone is a military governor, or the ruler of a city who wears the purple, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. The catechumen or faithful who wants to become a soldier is to be rejected, for he has despised God. The prostitute, the wanton man, the one who castrates himself, or one who does that which may not be mentioned, are to be rejected, for they are impure. A magus shall not even be brought forward for consideration. An enchanter, or astrologer, or diviner, or interpreter of dreams, or a charlatan, or one who makes amulets, either they shall cease or they shall be rejected. If someone's concubine is a slave, as long as she has raised her children and has clung only to him, let her hear. Otherwise, she shall be rejected. The man who has a concubine must cease and take a wife according to the law. If he will not, he shall be rejected." —Hippolytus

"To those who inquire of us from where we come, or who is our founder, we reply that we have come agreeably to the counsels of Jesus. We have cut down our hostile, insolent, and wearisome swords into plowshares. We have converted into pruning hooks the spears that were formerly used in war. For we no longer take up 'sword against nation,' nor do we 'learn war anymore.' That is because we have become children of peace for the sake of Jesus, who is our Leader." —Origen

"Who among the believers does not know the words in Isaiah? "In the last days the mountain of the Lord shall be revealed, and the house of the Lord on the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills. All nations shall come to it. Many people shall go and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his way, and we will walk in it." For out of Zion shall go forth a law, and a word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people. They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more [Isa. 1:2-5]." —Origen
[The early Christians used Isaiah 1:2-5 so regularly that every Christian was familiar with it, believing this passage to be fulfilled by Jesus and His apostles who brought the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem to the entire world, creating a kingdom that lived in peace and refused warfare.]

"Christians do not attack their assailants in return, for it is not lawful for the innocent to kill even the guilty." —Cyprian

"The whole world is wet with mutual blood, and murder, which in the case of an individual is admitted to be a crime, yet is called a virtue when it is committed wholesale. Impunity is claimed for the wicked deeds, not on the plea that they are guiltless, but because the cruelty is perpetrated on a grand scale." —Cyprian