about this week's Newsletter.
|
|
For those that are unaware, Pagan are Sun worshippers. The Sun god they worship has many names just as the Christian God has many names. Satan mimics the God of creation this way to effectively draw away His people. But the Pagan god's main title is as we all know, "Baal." Does the Word declare this false god to be worthy of worship? Or is this the very false god that angers the True God?
Since the Christian is prophesied to stand firm in the same Spirit of Elijah in these last days, it is only fitting for the same question to be asked of the church. "...if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him." So, which is it? Below is a condensed version of my "Christmas" page on the site. I pray you are blessed by the facts contained therein.
As Christians are we ok with performing such evil acts before the ever watching Christian God? Such "commandments of men" are forewarned by our Lord Jesus Himself in Matthew 15:9, "But in vain ye do worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men." The Christmas season with all it's merry making and Pagan rituals can in no way be associated with the Christian God. It's all a mockery of idol worship against the very Lord we as Christians declare to be God. If we continue to follow the lead of the world, will we not be among the number that says "Lord, Lord" on that very day Jesus says, "...I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." -Matthew 7:23 The Word of God is quite plan. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." - 1 John 5:21
Every tree
in Satan's garden hangs laden with the fruits of vanity, pride,
self-importance, evil desire, extravagance,--all poisoned fruit, but very
gratifying to the carnal heart. Let the several churches present to God
Christmas trees in every church; and then let them hang thereon the fruits of
beneficence and gratitude,--offerings coming from willing hearts and hands,
fruits that God will accept as an expression of our faith and our great love to
him for the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. Let the evergreen be laden with
fruit, rich, and pure, and holy, acceptable to God. Shall we not have such a
Christmas as Heaven can approve? Thousands of dollars are needlessly
spent every year in gifts to each other. That is means lost to God, lost
to his cause. It pleases the vanity, encourages pride, creates all kinds
of dissatisfaction, murmuring, and complaints, because perhaps the gifts are
not just what was desired, not of the high value wanted or expected.
Christmas is not observed as its name implies it should be. Man has forsaken
God in almost everything, and has turned the attention to self. {RH, She also stated quite plainly, Shall we have a Christmas tree? Will it not be like the world? We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen (like a potted plant today) and placing it in our churches, but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree. {AH 482.1} What we see today in Christian homes, both SDA and other denominations is a celebration “like unto the world!” The enemy of all souls has crafted such a day that is so filled with temptation that it does indeed generate quite an effort to avoid. For example, for those of us that understand how evil it is to have a Yule tide log in our home may not see as much danger in a wreath. For those that see sin in the tree itself, Satan has offered the mistletoe instead. And for those that can’t even bear to look at Santa Clause on their front lawn, he gives them plastic snowmen bearing gifts. "
In his wisdom, the Lord concealed the place where he buried Moses. God buried
him, and God resurrected him, and took him to heaven. This secrecy was to
prevent idolatry. For the very same purpose he has concealed the precise
day of Christ's birth; that the day should not receive the honour that should
be given to Christ as the Redeemer of the world, - one to be received, to be
trusted, to be relied on as he who could save to the uttermost all who come
unto him. The soul's adoration should be given to Jesus as the Son of the
infinite God. "There is no divine sanctity resting upon the
twenty-fifth of December; and it is not pleasing to God that
anything that concerns the salvation of man through the infinite sacrifice made
for them, should be so sadly perverted from its professed design. Christ should
be the supreme object; but as Christmas has been observed, the glory is
turned from him to mortal man, whose sinful, defective character made it
necessary for him to come to our world." -R&H
|
As professed Christians the question needs
to be asked, "do we truly love the Lord?" In today's
world most Christians have been convinced that modern
times has somehow caused the timeless God of creation to change
our duty, or bow to the church's "new and improved" method of
worship. Is this true? Or is the Word of God plain when it states
"Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, and
to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8) Has our Lord really changed His Word?
Or
does it stand forever as Hebrews declares? Take His Law for example, did it ever
change over all the thousands of years? Or do we still have 10 complete commandments
that are summed up by Jesus in Matthew 22:37 where He said,
"...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Commandments
1 -4) And Matthew 22:39 where He says, "...Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself." (Commandments 5-10) Is Jesus
really confirming His unchangeable Law when he says that? Or
was He kidding when He said in Matthew 22:40, "On these
two commandments hang
all the law..."
So as we can honestly see, He was serious when He said back
in Malachi
3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not..." With that
said, what does our Lord in heaven say about the well known
Pagan rituals of Christmas?
For
the Seventh Day Adventists that believes Sister White approved
Christmas, see the following quotes...