Speaking with some people on Holidays, so I thought I would repost this post from a while ago. I do encourage you all to read it, to hear about traditions, good or bad, and where they come from. And what the scripture most of all, has to say on these issues. Let us talk on the issue of Holidays and if decorating is good or evil. Or if plainly it just does not matter. Around this time of year, we hear many things, that many holidays are bad, with people often saying things that are quite plainly untrue. The scripture shows us many things on this issue though. Romans 14:5-6 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. ___ Pretty clear, it does not matter. Rather it would be more important about what you are doing that holiday. And if you are honoring the Lord or not with it. But is it okay for men to make Holidays? Or is it a sin to declare a holiday? And only the Lord is able to make it? God has shown us through scripture again, this time with the book of Esther. Esther 9:26-32 26 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them, 27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year; 28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed. 29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim. 30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry. 32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book. ___ Purim unlike many other holidays in the Bible, this was not ordained by God, God does not say it is a sin though, and there is no condemning of the Jews doing it. God shows everything the Jews do wrong though in the old Testament, and has no issue telling something is a sin. If it was a sin for us to make a holiday, then this should be a sin too, but no where in scripture is this call a sin, and this holiday ordained by men, is still celebrated by Jews to this day. Another great example is the Feast of Dedication, or rather as it is known, Hanukkah, is mentioned only one time in the Bible. This is in the New testament. John 10:22-23 22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomons porch. ___ Jesus is confronted about if he is Christ or not here (Yes He is) however, we do not see him condemning the Holiday. This is unlike Jesus if Holidays were evil, especially man made ones, He would have condemned the practice, because he commonly condemns practice that is against God. Yes, Condemns it. He came to Save, He told to repent, because his second coming will be to Damn things to hell that do not follow Him, who enjoy evil. So if this holiday, a man made holiday, Hanukkah, was indeed evil, he would have said so! Looking at the History of Christmas is important to decide if you will or will not celebrate it. I would like to point out a few things among it that were later added though. Christmas is a compound word, it means Christs Mass. This is indeed a very evil thing. Mass is an abomination and mocks the Lord Jesus, in that it is suppose to be a Sacrifice again of Jesus every time it is done, and this contradicts so many scriptures in the Bible and the whole doctrine of Jesus coming and dying for us. Hebrews 10:10-12 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; ____ Most people do not realize this. However, if there is not a Mass once every day on this earth, I would be shocked. So then, how about celebrating the day of Jesus birth? Is this a sin? Not in the least bit. There is evidence of the early churches celebrating the Birth of Christ, normally around in December, and to January, this can be seen even as far back as 354 A.D. This does not make it Mass, this is just saying this is the day we celebrate that Jesus was born. There is nothing wrong with that. So then, perhaps you do not want to do what the Catholics do, and would like to celebrate the birth, well besides banning the holiday, why not just change the things and have your own holiday? In fact a little search on wikipedia can show some examples of this. From the Wikipedia: Christmas during the Middle Ages was a public festival that incorporated ivy, holly, and other evergreens.[68] Christmas gift-giving during the Middle Ages was usually between people with legal relationships, such as tenant and landlord.[68] The annual indulgence in eating, dancing, singing, sporting, and card playing escalated in England, and by the 17th century the Christmas season featured lavish dinners, elaborate masques, and pageants. In 1607, King James I insisted that a play be acted on Christmas night and that the court indulge in games.[69] It was during the Reformation in 16th–17th-century Europe that many Protestants changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl, and the date of giving gifts changed from December 6 to Christmas Eve.[70]... 68 ^ a b McGreevy, Patrick. Place in the American Christmas, (JSTOR), Geographical Review, Vol. 80, No. 1. January 1990, pp. 32–42. Retrieved 2007-09-10. 69^ a b c Restad, Penne L. (1995). Christmas in America: a History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-510980-5. ^ a b c Forbes, Bruce David, Christmas: a candid history, University of California Press, 2007, ISBN 0-520-25104-0, pp. 68–79. Now King James is an interesting one, and there is hardly a man one can find Closer to God, for him to celebrate it, when he had no problem denying many other abominations in that time, is a good sign he found no scriptures saying they could not celebrate Christmas. This is also where the name Kris Kringle comes from, it is Christkindl but deteriorated over time. And is the Protestant thing rather than the Catholic thing. So why do protestants still call it Christmas though? Simply because that is the name everyone knows it by. Same as with Easter. How about Decoration? Is it good or bad? Let us examine where it comes from, and again, this is as simple as reading the wikipedia on the matter. from the Wikipedia :The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. In the 15th century, it was recorded that in London it was the custom at Christmas for every house and all the parish churches to be decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green.[117] The heart-shaped leaves of ivy were said to symbolize the coming to earth of Jesus, while holly was seen as protection against pagans and witches, its thorns and red berries held to represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus at the crucifixion and the blood he shed.[118][119] from the Wikipedia : The traditional colors of Christmas decorations are red, green, and gold. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus, which was shed in his crucifixion, while green symbolizes eternal life, and in particular the evergreen tree, which does not lose its leaves in the winter, and gold is the first color associated with Christmas, as one of the three gifts of the Magi, symbolizing royalty.[119] Interesting to know, that so much of this started in the 15th century. And what these things represent. How about the Tree? some argue there is scripture about decorating trees being bad. Lets examine shall we? Jeremiah 10:2-6 2 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. 3 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. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 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. 6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. ___ A lot of people only use verse 3-4. This is important to read verse 5 and 6 too though. Because it shows the Heathen was worshiping the tree, if we decorate something, that does not mean we are worshiping it. Rather, can we not be doing something to make it look nice for our Lord? The Lord tells us plainly not to fear these trees, because it is not in them to do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Now let us look though at what the wikipedia says again about the decoration of a Christmas tree. From the wikipedia: The Christmas tree is considered by some as Christianisation of pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree worship;[131] according to eighth-century biographer Æddi Stephanus, Saint Boniface (634–709), who was a missionary in Germany, took an axe to an oak tree dedicated to Thor and pointed out a fir tree, which he stated was a more fitting object of reverence because it pointed to heaven and it had a triangular shape, which he said was symbolic of the Trinity.[132] The English language phrase Christmas tree is first recorded in 1835[133] and represents an importation from the German language. The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century[131] though many argue that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century.[134][135] The thing is this, Pegans do a lot of stuff, they eat pizza, they eat burgers, they eat vegetables, they take baths, and some celebrate thanksgiving. Just because they do something, does not mean we can or can not do it. Rather, we have to look at it, and what they are doing, I have no doubt some worshiped trees, rather I know many did, however that does not mean that is what we are doing. And many still yet argue Martin Luther is the starting person of the Christmas tree, this is far from Pegan origins if so. I would rather argue having a Nativity scene is worse, and is a sin though compared to the tree. Now this shocks many people, how can I say this? I think of earlier scripture and the Ten commandments on this issue. Exodus 20:3-5 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; ___ How does this apply to a Nativity scene? Because it has a depiction of Jesus, whom we have not seen, and whom we do worship. Who is even in Heaven. I do not agree with drawing angels either and certain things. So if one does decorate or not, let it be to the Lord. Scripture can not be broken, and we have shown many scripture here that shows it is okay to make holidays, and to have traditions, we just must not let it get in the way of following Gods rules first. If you would like to add anything, or have questions, feel free to ask them here. And do not worry if someone celebrates Christmas or not. If they have an elf out on their front lawn, most know it is fantasy, I assure you, they are not worshiping it, nor are they going to hell for watching the Christmas specials that come on each year. If a child ask you about Christmas, tell them the truth, tell them why you celebrate it, if they ask if Santa is real, tell them the truth, and how he was based on a person, and what that person did, if they are old enough to ask, they are old enough to know. And do not be quick to believe old Russian and Jehovah witness Propaganda, which says that this or that holiday is pegan, check if these things are true or not from multiple sources, and compare to scripture.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 03:47:10 +0000
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