Our response to one of those never ending questions,
"When do we honor the birth of Christ?"
----- Original Message -----
----- Our response -----
Hello April,
Glad to hear you're having a peaceful month.
Mine has been that way too. I've been blessed by keeping myself out of
town the last several weeks, only going to the market when necessary...and
during the morning hours so it hasn't been crowded.
You asked when do I honor Christ's birth since we do
not celebrate christmas. The answer to that is every day! I honor Him
by my obedience to His written Word and His Holy Spirit that dwells within
me. I do not need a specified day, once a year to recognize the fact
that my Savior came into this world. That is manifested to me daily
by the mercy, love and grace He shows to me! Besides the Bible never
commands us to remember His birth, but we are commanded to
remember His death til He comes!
Pastor Owen told us that christmas had
nothing to do with holiness or doctrine but I strongly disagree. The Bible
teaches, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold
the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle
(2Th 2:15) Now, since christmas is
nowhere taught in the Bible to be observed (because it wasn't celebrated
by anybody until 336 A.D.), we do not consider it
Apostolic doctrine for the church of Jesus
Christ! It is not part of the "faith once delivered to the saints."
But it is a mixture of heathen practices from all over the world, cleverly
disguised by satan to deceive the church of Jesus.
Now, you surely know that the Bible teaches we are
to flee idolatry, fornication, and covetousness. We are not to love
the things of the world or be like the world...and the "christmas spirit"
promotes all these sinful things that God told His children to abstain from.
We are commanded to worship God in spirit and in "TRUTH."
Tell me what is true about christmas? Ok, maybe there's one
point... that's right....Jesus was
born into a body of flesh! But, He was
not born Dec. 25th... there were no
wise men at his birth... the people never gave presents to each other to
honor the birth of Christ... there were no decked-out evergreen trees... no
poinsettias... no holly hanging or mistletoe over the door... no flashing
lights decorating the place where He was born... no one maxing out their
credit cards to fulfill the lusts of their flesh... no one teaching their
children to be covetous brats who don't appreciate one gift they received
from under the pine tree that's safely secured in their living room! (Jer.
10)
Now, I can tell you some "TRUTH" about christmas,
and I pray you will receive it and you will open your heart and eyes. (apply
some eyesalve!) Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy
of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment,
that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not
appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
The celebration of christmas was instituted by the
Roman Catholic church, admitted by Pastor Owen(who is also biased by his own
beliefs) in "Is It Right to Celebrate christmas" preached in 2004, to offset
the pagan celebrations on Dec. 25th during their winter solstice. Just
do an internet search on the origin of christmas...plenty of information on
it out there if you're truly interested.
The words
clearly reveal it's link to the Catholic church, which preaches another
Gospel and the words mean, "Christ's
Mass" or "the mass
of Christ" hence it's Catholic origin...(kinda
reminds you of the term "saved
sinner" doesn't it?) The same Catholic church
where "satan's seat" is. (Rev 2:13) It was
not celebrated by the Apostles or the early church,
nor were we, as God's children, instructed on how or when to celebrate
Christ's birth. Therefore, I fear taking up a practice to worship God that
was instituted by an ungodly man (Constantine) and celebrated by heathens
all around the world who deny Jesus in their works all year long! It
is clear that its origin is from an unholy source
and we are commanded to try the spirits
to see whether they are of God or of the world! Prove
all things; hold fast that which is good. 1Th 5:21
We are commanded, "Learn not the way of the heathen"
(Jer. 10) or take up their practices of worship. Now, christmas is clearly a
conglomeration of heathen customs and practices that have been
"Christianized" by man and not by God. Remember the story of Aaron and
the golden calf? Aaron thought he was worshipping God! He even
said,
"To morrow is a feast to the LORD." But,
God wasn't pleased with their worship service.
And the LORD said unto Moses,
Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of
Egypt, have corrupted themselves: Exo 32:7
I fear this is God's conclusion concerning christmas
also.
You mentioned that you could relax this
month. Why wouldn't you be able to relax if you were simply honoring
your Savior's birth? See April, I've been there too. I know the
bondage you are in because of christmas! The whole thing is not
only about celebrating His birth. It is a clever deception of
covetousness and idolatry, a stumblingblock for the children of God, put on
the narrow road by satan! It is truly an
idol
in the church because they can't give it up and simply honor Jesus with a
life of obedience!
He doesn't need a birthday party! He's always been and always will
be. He is greater than a once-a-year "christmas" celebration. He
deserves a
living sacrifice from
us...that's the best gift you can give HIM.
Now, the birth of Christ was truly a wonderful
thing, for which I am most grateful, but it was His atoning Blood that I
glory in. (In whom we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:7) It is His sinless Blood that cleanses
me from my sin, if I confess it, repent of it and forsake it.
We have never denied the birth of Christ; quite the
contrary. We have been a living, visible testimony of His birth, His
death and His resurrection. Our faith is evident in our changed lives
through His teaching grace that can only come from a Savior who was born,
died and rose again! We just fear God and do not wish to be yoked
together with unbelievers on a day that
they say
is honoring my Savior's birth. Ye cannot drink
the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the
Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 1Cor
10:21
I hope you now understand that our desires are put
aside for the glory of God. We believe this testimony, that we have given up
idolatry, covetousness and pagan practices will glorify God and we know that
He is pleased with our sacrifice.
I have always tried to give you the truth and pray
that you receive it and obey it. But, I do not answer to God for you,
only for myself. Bill has led our family with the light that he has
received through the Word and the Spirit of God. We are not a Jehovah's
Witness or involved in the World Wide Church of God movement. We are
simply a Bible Christian seeking to please our Heavenly Father! Why do
we need human traditions to worship God? We just want to keep it
simple and worship in spirit and in truth. We don't need the world's
holidays to keep us happy and serving God.
You have to understand something. Jews had
celebrations that were commanded from Moses' Law and they
were not from pagan holidays that
included devil worship! We are not against the giving of gifts to
loved ones or family gatherings and such. But it would be sinning
against our conscience and God to celebrate christmas ever again.
I don't want to judge your motives for asking me
this question 2 days before your christmas celebration. I hope you are truly
interested in my answer. There's tons more I could write but my legs are
going to sleep!
Are you inviting us for Pastor Owen's Sunday
christmas message again like you did last time? Which he said he
wished we had never came that night. We have never tried to be
mean or hateful over this matter, but we will stand firm and not be moved
over what we know to be freedom from sin. I pray you would be free also.
If the Son therefore shall
make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36
Amen!
Striving to enter in,
Donna
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Scripture Song "Love Not the World" ( 481 KB )
See also: Why I don’t celebrate Christ-Mass
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