Posted on 12/25/2006 6:31:44 AM PST by DouglasKC
It's called the spirit of Christmas—the ringing of sleigh bells on a snowy night, Tiny Tim turning the heart of Scrooge in Charles Dickens' famous novel A Christmas Carol, Santa Claus and flying reindeer.
For many, it seems, the birth of Jesus takes a backseat to mythology, packed shopping malls and greed. Every year, signs in front of neighborhood churches remind people to put Christ back into Christmas—or proclaim "Jesus is the reason for the season."
But is He?
In his book 4,000 Years of Christmas: A Gift From the Ages (1997), Episcopal priest Earl Count enthusiastically relates historical connections between the exchanging of gifts on the 12 days of Christmas and customs originating in ancient, pagan Babylon. He shows that mistletoe was adopted from Druid mystery rituals and that Dec. 25 has more to do with the ancient Roman Saturnalia celebration than with Jesus.
Nowhere in the New Testament do we see Jesus' disciples observing His birthday.
In fact, as late as the third century the early Catholic theologian Origen declared that it was a sin to celebrate Christmas, viewing it as pagan.
First-century Corinth was a Greek city filled with polytheistic religions. Its customs included temple prostitution and priests who performed sacrifices to the pantheon of Greek and Roman gods.
The apostle Paul writes to the Church members there in 1 Corinthians 10:19-21: "What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons."
Paul clearly warns people to avoid having anything to do with pagan religious customs, labeling such actions "fellowship with demons"!
Familiar to early Christians was the Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival celebrated during the last days of December in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. Many ancient religions conducted festivals at that time of year, the time of the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, when days are the shortest, to appease the various gods to restore the sun and bring an end to winter.
The Roman Saturnalia included drunkenness, debauchery and other practices diametrically opposed to the teachings of Christ. Yet this holiday would eventually develop into Christmas. What happened to change many Christians from Paul's practice of abhorring and resisting pagan forms of worship to accepting and participating in such practices in the name of Jesus Christ?
Tremendous forces pressured early Christians away from the apostles' original instruction to avoid mixing idolatry with the worship of the true God. Thousands of pagans, while outwardly converting to Christianity, refused to give up the rituals and ceremonies of their former religious experiences.
Dr. Count sums up this historical struggle: "To the pagans, the Saturnalia were fun.
To the Christians, the Saturnalia were an abomination in homage to a disreputable god who had no existence anyway. The Christians, moreover, were dedicated to the slow, uphill task of converting these roistering pagan Romans.
"There were many immigrants into the ranks of the Christians by this time, but the Church Fathers discovered to their alarm that they were also facing an invasion of pagan customs. The habit of the Saturnalia was too strong to be left behind. At first the church forbade it, but in vain. When a river meets a boulder that will not be moved, the river flows around it. If the Saturnalia would not be forbidden, let it be tamed" (p. 36).
The church adopted Dec. 25—the date of the Roman Brumalia, immediately after Saturnalia—as the date of Christ's birth (even though biblical evidence shows this cannot be the right time of this event).
This date also marked a great festival in Mithraism, the Persian religion of the sun god. In A.D. 274 Emperor Aurelian of Rome declared Dec. 25 to be the "birthday of the invincible sun." In time the Son of God, Jesus Christ, became indistinguishable from the pagan sun god in the minds of hundreds of thousands of converts throughout the Roman Empire.
Instead of standing as Christ's force for change in the world, nominal Christianity was changed by the pagan world it was supposed to transform!
Dr. Count relates: "There exists a letter from the year 742 AD, in which Saint Boniface ... complains to Pope Zacharias that his labors to convert the heathen Franks and Alemans—Germanic tribes—were being handicapped by the escapades of the Christian Romans back home. The Franks and the Alemans were on the threshold of becoming Christians, but their conversion was retarded by their enjoyment of lurid carnivals.
"When Boniface tried to turn them away from such customs, they argued that they had seen them celebrated under the very shadow of Saint Peter's in Rome. Embarrassed and sorry, Pope Zacharias replied ... admitting that the people in the city of Rome behaved very badly at Christmas time" (p. 53).
Over the subsequent centuries, Christmas absorbed customs from German, Scandinavian and Celtic paganism—such as the yule log, the decorating of evergreen trees and the hanging of mistletoe.
In the Middle Ages, Christmas observances in Europe continued the excesses of Saturnalia. Dr. Penne Restad, in Christmas in America: A History, writes of the moral debate that raged during that era:
"Some clergy stressed that fallen humankind needed a season of abandonment and excess, as long as it was carried on under the umbrella of Christian supervision. Others argued that all vestiges of paganism must be removed from the holiday. Less fervent Christians complained about the unreasonableness of Church law and its attempts to change custom. Yet the Church sustained the hope that sacred would eventually overtake profane as pagans gave up their revels and turned to Christianity" (1996, p. 6).
Sadly, it didn't happen. Following the Middle Ages, some Protestants tried reforming Christmas but created little real change. The English Puritans waged a war on Christmas observance as unchristian behavior. In 1659 the holiday was outlawed in Massachusetts, but proved so popular that it gained official approval again in 1681.
A U.S. News & World Report cover story, "In Search of Christmas," states: "When Christmas landed on American shores, it fared little better. In colonial times, Christ's birth was celebrated as a wildly social event—if it was celebrated at all . . . Puritans in New England flatly refused to observe the holiday" (Dec. 23, 1996, p. 60).
In more modern times many Christians have become concerned about the commercialization of the day that is supposed to celebrate the birth of the Son of God. With parades featuring Santa Claus sponsored by department stores, half-price sales, and incessant TV and radio commercials, Christmas obviously has become more about the accountant's bottom line than about worshipping God.
Many people approach the yuletide season with a vague longing for a Christmas that is more spiritual and less commercial. But is our fast-paced, greed-filled rendition of Christmas the real problem, or is there something wrong with Christmas itself?
Christmas has become such a central holiday of American culture that it's difficult to get anyone to step back and evaluate its Christian validity. You be the judge.
Here are the facts: Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 25. Christ's apostles rejected pagan ceremonies and rituals in their worship and told other Christians to likewise avoid them. The early Church didn't observe Jesus' birthday. The selection of Dec. 25 as Christ's supposed date of birth was based on the dates of the Roman Saturnalia and Brumalia—a time for worshiping the god Saturn.
Most Christmas customs—decorating the evergreen tree, use of mistletoe, exchanging of gifts, Santa Claus—come not from the Bible but from ancient pagan religions. For centuries Christianity tried unsuccessfully to rid itself of the paganism of Christmas. Throughout its history Christmas has inspired drunken parties, and the modern holiday is more about convincing children to harass their parents to buy toys than worshipping Christ.
What is your verdict? Some say, "But we can't take Christmas away from the children." Others: "As long as it brings people to Jesus, what does it matter?"
Earlier we saw Paul's instructions to Christians in pagan Corinth. He continues his instructions in his next letter to the Corinthians:
"For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? . . . Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? . . .
"Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you . . .' Therefore . . . let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1).
Paul's point is very pertinent to Christmas. How can we claim to be honoring God with pagan customs and traditions that He forbids in His Word?
The crucial question is: How can we put Jesus back into the season when He was never part of it to begin with? It's a difficult question, isn't it? But it's one that's vitally important for you to answer. GN
So you think he did have a birthday.
However, can you tell me precisely and with absolute certainty when that was?
Nope, because as I said, he did not tell his followers to observe it.
***Nope, because as I said, he did not tell his followers to observe it.***
Any occasion in which the Angels burst forth in song is a special occasion and should be remembered. So the actual date is unsure. Why nitpick.
Luk 2:8 ¶ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luk 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.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Merry Christmas!
Not nitpicking at all. Just obeying Jesus Christ:
Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Fortunately this verse is talking about something other than the holy days that God ordained. A careful reading of the entire chapter will show that it's discussing days devoted to fasting or perhaps to vegetarianism. There are specific Greek words which when used refer to the holy days Jesus created. Those words are not used in Romans 14.
It doesn't matter that he didn't tell his followers not to celebrate his birthday.
He received their worship of Him personally.
Therefore, all aspects of Jesus are open to worship. After all, Jesus is God, the incarnate 2d Person of the Trinity. Luke and Matthew even included the birth narratives in their gospels. Therefore, it is proper to worship Jesus in these as well.
And if we celebrate his birth, and we don't have a precise fix on the date, then ANY date will do.
If we decide to celebrate it at exactly the same time as something else, SO THAT we can destroy that celebration, then we are simply following the bible: "Don't be overcome by evil, but rather, overcome evil with good."
Okay. If all aspects of worshiping Jesus are open, then you go ahead and make a couple of golden calves. Incorporate them somehow into your worship service every Sunday. It would be easy. Gold is the color of streets in heavenly Jerusalem. The calves can be the cattle in the stalls that observed Jesus. Tell your parishioners that you're going to worship Jesus Christ by having these golden calves as a reminder of the birth of Jesus and of his second coming.
And then tell me how you're different from Aaron or Jeroboam.
I have no idea where you came up with that???
Jesus never worshipped golden calves. You know it, too.
Show me the passage...
But what of the Festivals of the Lord? Passover (2); Pentecost; Trumpets; Atonement;& Tabernacles (2)? Oh....God did away with them....somewhere...I'm not sure. But he won't mind us celebrating the birth of His Son....if we don't paganize it too much....will He? Nah! He'll understand we're only trying to be holy.....in our own way.
So what have you got against golden calves??? I imagine you've seen, or even have, a Christmas tree in your church. Jesus never worshiped Christmas trees either, yet there they are, in the churches. So what's the difference between golden calves and Christmas trees?
Yep, I always find it incredible that people are willing to excuse away, disregard, and disobey Jesus Christ so they can keep their own traditions instead.
Colossians says we shouldn't allow ourselves to be judged by others based on our observations of holy days.
I see nothing wrong with keeping trumpets, tabernacles, etc. I see no requirement to do so. I see nothing wrong with celebrating the birth of Christ. I see no requirement to do so.
The only remaining requirements from the law that were advised for Christians are found listed in Acts 15.
It is difficult to accept freedom....but there it is.
It is for freedom that Christ set us free.
You haven't explained yourself about Jesus worshipping golden calves. He did not do so.
Therefore, there is no requirement for me to do so.
There is a whole series of stories in the NT about His birth. Since Jesus is God, there is no problem in worshipping Him at his birth.
So far as trees are concerned, the original Christmas trees are only a couple of centuries old. They began far after Christianity had totally taken over the European continent. They were first decorated with fruit. The idea was to teach the fruit of the spirit in our lives.
They were a decoration and a teaching aid.
I understand that Hindus bow their heads when they pray.
Why do you follow Hindu customs?
Jews.
And the Sumerians, and all other peoples before them lie in the dust, but for ethical monotheism.
You never really answered my "wheel of fortune" question above. Would you like to buy a vowel? The Hillary answer was funny, but try fitting an "O" in there somewhere.
Being you're a Chaplain and all, have you ever wondered what the conversation between Elijah and the Israelites must have gone like when old Elijah told them to pick between God and Baal? I have. I wonder if one or two of them said, "Awww, Eli, you got it all wrong, bro. Those aren't Ashera or Baal poles man, those are Jehova poles"?
***But what of the Festivals of the Lord? Passover (2); Pentecost; Trumpets; Atonement;& Tabernacles (2)? Oh....God did away with them....somewhere...I'm not sure.***
Lam 2:6 And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as [if it were of] a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.
Hsa 2:11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.
I didn't think I really needed to explain this. I'm sure you know I'm being facetious to make a point. I never said or implied that Jesus worshiped golden calves. You said:
It doesn't matter that he didn't tell his followers not to celebrate his birthday.
He received their worship of Him personally.
I say, it doesn't matter that he didn't tell his followers to worship him by using golden calves. He received heir worship of him personally.
You said:
Therefore, all aspects of Jesus are open to worship. After all, Jesus is God, the incarnate 2d Person of the Trinity. Luke and Matthew even included the birth narratives in their gospels. Therefore, it is proper to worship Jesus in these as well.
Golden calves are mentioned a number of times in the bible. Jesus was born in a manger where cattle were no doubt present (after all, every nativity scene shows this), and gold is the color of the streets of the new Jerusalem. Therefore, it is proper to worship Jesus in this way as well.
Face it, my argument makes as much sense as yours.
So far as trees are concerned, the original Christmas trees are only a couple of centuries old. They began far after Christianity had totally taken over the European continent. They were first decorated with fruit. The idea was to teach the fruit of the spirit in our lives.
They were a decoration and a teaching aid.
Well, there's many who will dispute you about origins of Christmas trees. It's really just a recycled pagan custom of putting idols under trees:
2Ki 17:10 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:
But that doesn't matter, because the argument, as I understand it, is that we've taken those pagan customs and "Christianized" them. In that case, you can continue the tradition of the golden calves. Use them as a teaching tool to teach people about the birth of Jesus and his second coming.
I would imagine you are speaking of [Colossians 2:14], are you not? If so....I would offer this as a thought for you.
NIV: "Having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." It does sound like the old commandments have been done away with here...doesn't it? Until you understand that the "Written Code", translated "Ordinance" elsewhere, is from the Greek word Dogma. This gives it a meaning of "MANMADE" laws or traditions. Human decrees, such as we find in [Mark 7:6-9] are the dogma spoken of here by the Apostle. These are the traditions of the Pharisees, not the Laws, Sabbaths and Feast days of The lord [Matthew 5:17].
I'm glad you see nothing wrong with continuing to keep the Lord's appointed times. I'm certain He is happy with your decision.
Acts 15 has nothing to do with the subject at hand.
Interesting verse. God threatens to do this because the people have turned to idolatrous practices, Baal worship, the worship of false gods:
Hos 2:8 For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.
Note also that they are "her" feast days, not "the Lord's". They had corrupted HIS feast days by their idolatrous practices. Sound familiar?
Is this REALLY saying that the Baal worshipers had solemn feast days and sabbaths and observed the new moon?
Hos 2:8 For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.
Hsa 2:9 ¶ Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax [given] to cover her nakedness.
Hsa 2:11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.
Hsa 2:11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.
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