Christ-Mass Is It Scriptural

Originally blogged 11/21/11 on Melissa’s Musing – edited for errors and/or link malfunctions.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. ~ John 4:24

I had been sent to Sunday School as a young child up until about the 3rd grade.  Then my family took up with the Jehovah's Witnesses (egads!) who said all the holidays were pagan.  Imagine!

Needless to say, I was quite distressed to learn I had been lied to!  December 25th was not the birth of Christ Jesus?

As I grew into adulthood, I *celebrated* the *holidays* not for any particular religious reasons, simply for the fun and idolatry.  I enjoyed the music, the mood, the secrets, the gifts.

When Father caused me to be born again, I wanted to know what the *holidays* were about, where they came from, and more importantly, what did HE say about them and how did HE want them done.

No where in Scripture could I find any definitive date, nor instruction on celebrating Jesus' birth.  I was shocked!  What?!?! Nor any of the other *holidays* that are commonly thought of as *Christian*.

I have been studying this topic since becoming a Christian (1990).  I have to confess that originally my mission was to discover what *holidays* were outlined in Scripture, how they were celebrated and then *perform* to the standard.  I had a very Pharisee based attitude.

I read the Word, I searched, I studied, I researched, I prayed - a lot.  I found nothing in God's Word indicating that He wanted the birth of HIS son celebrated.  Nothing about Easter, Good Friday, etc. etc. zip, zilch, nada, not one iota.

(As a note, Easter is NOT commanded in the Word...nor is a continuation of the Feasts which Jesus fulfilled.  We are to remember Him by breaking bread as oft as we come together.  Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast of First Fruits might be done in remembrance, as long as one does not think they must be done in order to establish and/or secure their salvation or sanctification.)

I had to then grapple with the thought (gag) surely the JW's were not correct?  I staunchly affirm that the Jehovah Witnesses are a cult.  That they have and continue to pervert the Word of God.  They use 'scare' tactics to keep their 'people' in line. 'Nuff said.

I am including some information that I have gleaned over the years as I researched and studied the issue.  My prayerful request to any reading.  Pray.  Read the Word.  Do not 'stick' with your denominational teachings (on any subject if you cannot substantiate it in the Word of God), what you were raised with, or that is what we have always done.

Truly, please pray about the issue, seek HIM and HIS wisdom over the issue.  Praying for the Bride that she will come out of 'her' and be set apart and holy unto Him.

Xmas

10 Reasons Christmas is Unscriptural

Previously Chapel Library offered these tracts as well (currently unavailable):

Is Christmas Christian
The Truth About Christmas, Lent, Good Friday and Easter


I browsed through this blog post...it has some interesting information, specifically about Roman Catholicism.

What Is Christ-Mass and Should You Be Merry About It?

Untainted Offerings/Sacrifices

Leviticus 22:18 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering; 19 Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.   20 But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.

This reading came shortly after the issue about the Blessingway party and reverberated with me.

Blemish:

H8549 - From H8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth.

·         H8552 - A primitive root; to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literally or figuratively, transitively or intransitively.

Any offering we make/give unto God should be without blemish.  Dwell on that for a moment.  Roll it around on your ‘mental tongue’ – do you ‘feel’ the fibers, ‘taste’ the nectar?

So, what are we ‘offering’ unto God believing (or rather deceiving ourselves) to think it’s holy.  Which makes me ponder on previous posts such as these:

Day 315 – Do we care about the origins of what we’re participating in?

And because there is a ‘holiday’ upon us, here are a few more for perusal, prayer and, hopefully shucking of bad theological practices.

The Fallacy of Good Friday – where is this ‘practice’ given for us to follow as a ‘holy day’?

Jesus Wasn’t Crucified on Friday or Resurrected on Sunday

So saints, whatever we’re ‘offering’ to God, is it without blemish?

According to HIS standards?  Father, help each of us to examine our lives, to see what we are doing, participating in, to desire to offer unto You all of our time, being, resources as unblemished as possible.

Born to Die

John 18:
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Born to die...to bear witness of the truth...to those who will hear.

Are you truly a truth seeker? Or, as the Jews, caught up in your tradition? Crucifying truth (Jesus) by supposedly honoring His birth?

Or as Pilate, do you 'gloss' over "what is truth" because it feels good, doesn't cause waves, let's you fit in?

If christ-mass is really of God why is the world so eager to embrace and promote it? How different, and Biblically relevant are you?

How fervently do we stand for truth? Who do we resemble more?

Peter denying, wanting to NOT stand out?

Pilate, supposed to judge right, but compromising to keep 'peace'?

Crowds/world who want to 'feel good'?

Barabbas, pardoned, as a robber (stealing truth)?

Christ, willing to give all, integrity, truthful, honest. Sacrificial for truth.

So who do you look most like?

A Little Dress Up

A little dress up...I've pondered upon that title for a bit.  When I think (or hear) that phrase it throws me back to my childhood...those idyllic days which the haze of years softens and makes poignant.  I think about my grandmother and the shoes and clothes which she allowed me to use to play dress up.

I began percolating on the idea for this blog a few weeks back...someone asked me about attending an event which would be on October 31st - and dressing up.  "Don't you want to let your counter-self come out?"

Counter self?  Or alternate?  Or pretend to be someone I'm not?  I'm having a hard enough time trying to be Christ like!

I've posted in the past about the paganism of halloween - I could list a plethora of sites which are either for or against or, God help us, complacent about the issue.  However, as I researched, I believe the Lord took me in this direction.  To challenge myself and others about how much we are (or sadly, are not) reflecting Him to a lost and dying world.

The real question becomes, as Christians, and as those who are seeking to set an example of Christ, to follow in the footsteps of the disciples, are we giving a proper example of Him?

Some try to pooh-pooh the 'wickedness' of the day/night, stating we are to 'claim' or 'reclaim' and 'Christianize' and use every opportunity to present the gospel.

I agree with using every opportunity to present the gospel, calling people to repentance and belief in the Lord; however, looking like, mimicking the world to 'win' souls isn't what the early church folks did...they were set apart.  They were, are you ready?  Persecuted for being different.

Not just persecuted (you know, loose your family, home, work, etc.), but they gave their lives for the sake of the Gospel.  They didn't join in on the pagan holy days, they were set apart.  If they had participated previously, they renounced and repented and forsook their previous ways.

So...how different does the 'church' look today?  The bride is hosting trick or trunk days, dress up as your favorite Bible character, have a fall festival.  We aren't being very set apart or different.

We all are works in progress and God works dross out at different levels, speeds in each vessel He's chosen...the question becomes, are we truly seeking to reflect Him?  To pray about what we're doing?  Whether or not our actions, behavior, words, etc. really represent Him?

Or are we rather, white washing practices, behavior, etc. in an attempt to make ourselves 'feel' better so we can participate?  Does the 'world' really see much difference in us?  How salty are we?

As a note...pagans, and yes there really are folks out there who claim 'pagan' as their religion (the military now recognizes halloween as a 'holy day' for them), not to mention witches, etc. which claim 10/31 as a high holy day.  There is a lot, and I mean a LOT of wickedness which is perpetrated during those 'special days.'

I exhort you brethren, search out the Scriptures, test, check and see if He has given you liberty to look like the world, to masquerade about during particular times of the year looking no different from those who are lost and dying.

Lord, open our eyes and ears to see and hear where we compromise with the world, the times and places, where we, in an attempt to gratify our flesh (or others) capitulate and join in.  Lord, you've called us to be set apart and holy unto You...chosen vessels, fit for heaven.  O' Lord, cleanse us, Your bride, help us to turn from our complacency, our willful disobedience, our lazy ignorance of You and Your Word.  Cleanse us O Lord, help us to be Your light set on a hill, reflecting You in truth, honesty and integrity in every area of our lives.