Monday, December 25, 2023

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!