Christmas, Christmas, Christmas

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. It is a very popular worldly holiday celebrated by people the world over. It doesn't matter whether you believe in Jesus, or His heavenly Father or not. In each home throughout the globe, families tend to use the same customs in their celebration of this holiday. 

It seems odd that an unbeliever and a believer in Christ could celebrate a religious holy day since their ways, manners, customs, etc. are polar opposites as 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 clearly show, for example:

 14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

 17 "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.

 18 "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.

 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Yet, followers of Christ, whether they be pro-Christmas or not, both twist and pervert their pets verses to support their views. For instance, those opposed to Christmas often use Jeremiah chapter 10 as reference to a 'Christmas tree', yet the context is clear with other Scripture passages that it speaks of making idols out of a stock of wood. Then those in support of celebrating Christmas often use Romans 14 to comfort their consciences to observe this day, though Paul is speaking specifically of the Jew's various days they observe and the foods they eat. As this was always a stumbling block for early believers as not only the letter to the Romans shows, but as other letters also reveal.

God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (Jn. 8:12; 12:46; Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13; 1 Pet. 2:9) that we should be a people separated from the world and the things of it (Dt. 7:6; 14:2; Jn. 17:19; Rom. 12:1-2; Gal. 1:4; 6:14; 1 Cor. 3:17; Jam. 1:27; 1 Jn. 2:15-17, 1 Pet. 2:9), in entire and complete surrender to do His will (Mt.4:8-10;  6:24; 10:37-39; 16:25-26; Jn. 12:25; Rom. 6:6; 12:1-2; Gal. 2:20; Col. 2:20; 3:3) and to worship Him as a holy, set apart people. 

It's like the 'church' doesn't understand what it means to be a holy and set apart people to the Lord alone! To wear God's holy name (2 Tim. 2:19; 1 Cor. 1:12; 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21-22; 3:15) and be viewed as 'common' by the world is to profane God's holy name (Lev. 20:1-8; 22:2; 2 Chr. 36:14-16; Jer. 2:23-33; 7:18-34; Ez. 20:30-49; 23:39-40; 2 Pet. 2:20)  Study the Word for yourself and see! We are to be the people of the Lord, yet why do we not look any different in our celebration of Christmas than unbelievers? He called us to be a people above all others on the face of the earth (Ex. 19:5;  Tit. 2:14). God is a jealous God; calls us to prove our love for Him by obeying His commandments (that if we don't obey, it proves that we hate Him and are, in fact, His enemies and that He will be against us!) (Ex. 20:3--6; Dt. 5:8-10; Jos. 24:14; Ps. 81:15; Rom. 1:28; 1 Cor. 10:19-21; Jam. 4:4). These are very serious things beloved! We cannot engage in any form of religion that derives from something other than the Scriptures. That's a compromise! It's what is known as pagano-Christianism - a blending of pagan customs with Christian customs. That Christmas and Easter and others are not of Christian origin, but rather of pagan origin is common knowledge, that can even be found in an encyclopedia. 

Let me put it another way - we have what is known as syncretistic religious holidays - that is, a merger, a combining or a bringing together of two or more different philosophical, religious or cultural principles, practices, or ideas into one. Where did the Israelites get the 'golden calf' from? Where do we get Christmas or Easter from? Not from the God of the Bible, but rather from others that we are commanded not to copy and follow (Lev. 18:3; 20:23; Dt. 12:30-31; Jer. 10:2-3; Ez. 20:32; 1 Cor. 10:19-22)! We cannot take the truth of God's Word, we cannot take Christianity and join it, or mix it to what is worship of a false, damnable, demonic doctrine of lies! We cannot do this! We are called to separate ourselves from such things (Lev. 20:26; 2 Chr. 29:5; Ps. 4:3; Rom. 6:13, 16, 19; 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Cor. 617, 7:1; Php. 2:15; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; 2:5, 9; 4:1-2; 2 Pet. 3:11, 14; 1 Jn. 3:3)! If unbelievers see compromise in our life, they will be strengthened in their folly and rebellion. They will be comforted that we are not much different from them, so they will continue on in their evil course without any check of conscience.

God has commanded us not to learn the ways, customs and manners of others to worship Him as they do their gods and idols (Ex. 23:23-25; Lev. 20:23; Dt. 18:9-14; 2 K 17:7+; 21:1+; 1 Cor. 10:19-21).

As mentioned earlier, Christmas is derived form the worship of other religions is commonly known, yet preachers, elderships, etc. continue to lie to themselves for one (Dt. 11:16; Jer. 16:12; 17:9 Prov. 28:26; Heb. 3:12), and the flock as a hole (Is. 9:14-17; 28:14-15; 30:9-11; Jer. 7:4-15; 9:3-16; 14:14; 23:14, 25-40; Ez. 13:8-23; Amos 2:4), comforting them in their false worship of God (Is. 30:9-10; Jer. 9:3-6; 14:14; 23:25-26; 32; Ez. 13:8-9; 2 Tim. 4:3-4) in which He takes no delight in (Prov. 15:8; 21:27; Is. 1:10-15; 66:3; Jer. 6:20; Ez. 20:39; Amos 5:21-27; Mt. 15:7-9; Tit. 1:14).

Satan's primary goal in his war with God's children is to infiltrate with error, to get in His called out assembly and teach lies, errors, poor theology - to bring in stuff that sounds good and even tickles our ears, yet are doctrines of demons (2 Cor. 11:3-4; 13-15; 1 Tim. 4:1)

The result of mixing and blending the ways, manners and customs of the world and their many forms of worship with the purity and truth of God's Word is that the pure and true worship on the one and only true God gets perverted, polluted and corrupted by compromise and His people become useless and shameful and blasphemous (Lev. 24:16; Ez. 35:12; Col. 3:8; 2 Tim. 3:2) in mocking the truth before the world that we are to be a light, a witness and salt that will bring them out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Think about it. How can we worship God in an unacceptable manner? 1) to worship a false god; 2) to worship the true God in a wrong way; 3) to worship God in a self-styled manner; or 4) with a wrong attitude. 

Are you one who has chosen to follow the original teachings and practices and patterns and customs of the first century NT Christians? If so, it is known that they didn't celebrate Christ's birth. Therefore, are you a hypocrite? 

Examine yourself concerning your worship, to see whether you and your worship is reprobate, not approved, not standing the test of God's Word (2 Cor. 13:5; Jer. 6:20; Rom. 1:28; 2 Tim. 3:8; Tit. 1:16) which is truth (Ps. 19:7; Jn. 4:24; 17:17) and taking the appropriate actions necessary to be approved and pleasing before God. As a popular mantra among Christians today taken from Joshua chapter 24:15 says- "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Will you choose to worship and serve others gods along with Jesus? Or will you worship and serve Christ alone? Choose this day whom you will serve.