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THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS Christmas, A Heathen Celebration or A Season of Christian Remembrance?
Considering Both Sides Is Christmas simply a heathen holiday with a new name? Today, true Christians are lead to question the righteousness of being a part of this ancient season of celebration.
We have head commentators site historical facts about the heathen origins of Christmas. These bits of knowledge are not very friendly to those that would take part in a season of peace and good will.
WHY IS THERE CONFUSION? Answer: Because all of humanity and every culture is born away from God and in sin, we find it no surprise that ANY given season or day will in some way have a connection to some heathen institution of the past. Consider how that we can easily connect fallen humanity to every season and every given day of the year. This world has a long and evil history. Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Everything that fallen man touches turns to evil and idolatry. Consider that the prophet Jeremiah even rebuked the use of the innocent tree. Was he speaking of the Christmas tree or something more?
WAS JEREMIAH CONDEMNING THE CHRISTMAS TREE or SOMETHING MORE? JEREMIAH'S TEXT APPEARS IN RED 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 ax. (AX AND ALSO TONGS)
THE NIV SAYS VR 3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. WORKMAN OR CRAFTSMEN -- Hebrew word 2796. charash, khaw-rawsh'; from H2790; a fabricator of any material:--artificer, (+) carpenter, craftsman, engraver, maker, + mason, skilful, (+) smith, worker, workman, such as wrought.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Isaiah also says: IS. 44: 13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. 14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the
Matthew Henry adds: "It (the tree) was fitted up by the hands of the workman, squared, and sawed, and worked into shape; But, after all, it was fitter to make a gate-post of than any thing else. To hide the wood, they deck it with silver and gold, they gild or lacquer it, or they deck it with gold and silver lace, or cloth of tissue. They fasten it to its place, ..."
THE IDOL STANDS UP AS IF IT WERE GOING TO SPEAK TO YOU, BUT IT CANNOT SPEAK 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. THE NIV SAYS, 5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."
The above text answers the argument for many. Because of these sharp rebukes many believe that having a Christmas tree is equal to idolatry. Could this be true? Might the whole season and its celebration also be evil?
It is almost certain that Jesus was not actually born in December. However, no one can truly be sure of when he came. Is this lack of knowledge reason enough to stop all celebration?
WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT CELIBRATION? What many do not understand is that SINFUL MAN corrupted even the innocent tree as we read above. However the righteous man is commanded to use the tree and make great celebration when remembering what God has done. Leviticus 23:40-43 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and YE SHALL REJOICE BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD SEVEN DAYS. . . . 43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. WE SHOULD HEAR THE ANGELS AND SEEK THE BABE WITH A JOYFUL HEART!!!! Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. PALM TREES AND ANGELS -- ON THE WALLS AND ON THE DOORS OF GOD’S TEMPLE (Who would have thought?) Ezekiel 41:25 And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubims and palm trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without. PRAISING JESUS WITH A TREE John 12:12-13 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
BACK TO THE TEXT THE GREATNESS OF GOD Jer. 10:6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. 7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. 8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. THE NIV SAYS: 8 They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols.
THE DRESSING UP OF AN IDOL 9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men. SILVER AND GOLD PLATED IDOLS -- It is probable that the idols of gold and silver had wood underneath for the substratum, and then silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, 10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 14 Every man is brutish (FOOLISH OR CONSUMED) in his knowledge: every founder is confounded (ASHAMED DISAPPOINTED) by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. 16 The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name. AGAIN WE REJOICE IN GOD’S GREATNESS Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!
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