All traditions are not evil. The Apostle Paul wrote, ╥Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle╙ (2Th 2:15). Traditions, however can be evil. Paul again wrote, ╥Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ╙ (Col 2:8). And Jesus speaking to the religious leaders of his day (Mat 15:3): ╥Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?╙ Therefore, we must examine a tradition to see if it is of men or after Christ; whether it transgresses the commandment of God or not. The tradition examined in this article is Christmas. The topics covered are The Mass of Christ; The Birth of Jesus; The Nativity Scene; Christmas Music; Santa Claus; Trees, Gifts, Wreaths, etc.; and The Stress of Christmas.
The Mass of Christ
The word ╘Christmas╒ is not a Bible word. It stands for ╥Mass of Christ╙ or ╥Christ-Mass.╙ Mass refers to the ╥Eucharist.╙ From Webster╒s New Collegiate Dictionary, eucharist is defined as 1. Communion or the Lord╒s Supper; 2. elements of communion, esp. the bread; 3. the giving of thanks. So the phrase could mean the communion, bread, or thanks of Christ.
In The Early Church
Communion (#2842 Strong╒s Concordance) was defined partnership, participation, and social (verbal) intercourse and was also translated communication, distribution, and fellowship. Two of the four times the word ╘communion╒ is used are in 1Co 10:16 ╥The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?╙ The context for communion is set in verses 3 & 4 of the same chapter where Paul says ╥they did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink the same spiritual drink.╙ He goes on to say in verse 21, ╥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.╙ Neither God nor the Devil has a physical table to eat from nor a physical cup to drink from. Paul is still speaking of spiritual eating and drinking or communicating ideas and understanding back and forth to one another. If the ideas are from God, you are eating from God╒s table; if the ideas are from the Devil, you are eating from the Devil╒s table.
Jesus said, ╥I am the living bread which came down from heaven╙ (Joh 6:51). Jesus was not a natural loaf of bread! He goes on in v. 63 to say, ╥the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.╙ The living bread was the words of eternal life that he was feeding out to them. Peter said in v. 68, ╥Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.╙ Paul called it ╥the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth╙ (1Co 5:8).
And who did Jesus give thanks to? ╥I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth╙ (Mat 11:25). How are we to give thanks to God? ╥By him (Christ) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate (#2842 Strong╒s Concordance) forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased╙ (Heb 13:15,16). ╥Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers╙ (Eph 4:29).
So to Christ and the believers of the early church, communion was not a physical, ritual meal of bread and wine but rather communicating God╒s truth back and forth to one another in a grace depth of spirit with much thanksgiving to God. This was not just to be done on one special day, but every time they came together. ╥Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching╙ (Heb 10:25).
The Roman Catholic Church
By the 4th century, the church had fulfilled the prophecy of going into a wilderness condition (Rev 12:6), to the point of ritualizing the communion of Christ as a natural work of eating physical bread and drinking physical wine, repeated daily or weekly. At that time, a special celebration of the ritual was established to honor the birth of Jesus. So historically, ╥Christmas╙ was instituted as a natural feast by the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Encyclopedia , 1911 edition, published by the church includes these quotes under the heading ╘Christmas.╒ ╥Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church . . . the first evidence of the feast is from Egypt.╙ ╥Pagan customs centering around the January calends gravitated to Christmas.╙
In the same encyclopedia, under the heading ╥Natal Day╙ we find a quote from the early Catholic father, Origen: ╥...In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners [like Pharaoh and Herod] who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world.╙ This kind of celebration is a form of self-glory. To glorify Jesus by celebrating his supposed birthday is to reject the very purpose for him being sent. The pictures of a baby Jesus in a manger are definitely graven images that millions of people praise. But all glory is to go to God, the Father. As Jehovah God said, ╥my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images╙ (Isa 42:8). Jesus said, ╥I seek not mine own glory╙ (Joh 8:50).
From the Encyclopedia Americana , 1944 edition: ╥...A feast was established in memory of this event [Christ╒s birth] in the fourth century. In the fifth century the Western Church ordered it to be celebrated forever on the day of the old Roman feast of the birth of Sol, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ╒s birth existed.╙ Sol was the pagan Sun-god.
It was an easy step for the devil to get people to transition over from the birth of the Sun-god to the birth of the Son of God. But the greatest abomination mentioned in the Old Testament was the priests turning their backs on the temple of God and worshipping the sun (Eze 8:16). In prophecy, Jesus is referred to as the Sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2), and this is spiritually applied by Peter as the day star arising in your hearts (2Pt 1:19). Jesus himself said, ╥Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve╙ (Mat 4:10). ╥Serve╙ (#3000 Strong╒s Concordance) was also translated ╥worship.╙ He said ╥the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth╙ (Joh 4:23).
God never wanted people to worship his son or the sun or anything else that He created because nothing else had given people life nor could give them life (Act 17:24,25). It is false preachers and teachers that change the truth of God into a lie and worship and serve the creature more than the Creator (Rom 1:25).
The Birth of Jesus
Finding a Date
The Bible is also silent as to the exact date of Jesus╒ birth. There is a reason for this. As the angels so clearly expressed to the shepherds in Luk 2:13,14 ╥And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.╙ God was to receive the glory, not the little baby Jesus. As was stated above, the ╥self-glory people╙ wanted their birthdays celebrated. Jesus never even hinted of this practice and NEVER took glory to himself (Php 2:7). He always pointed people to God, his Father. For people to give praise and glory and worship to the baby Jesus, is contradicting his teaching and his example. Jesus said, ╥I receive not honour from men╙ (Joh 5:41). That word ╘honour╒ (#1391) was also translated ╘worship.╒ Even when people give Jesus worship, he cannot receive it. So, to believers of Christ╒s words, it is of no concern when he was born. True believers are not going to worship the baby Jesus any day of the year. But to those who continue to hold fast to man╒s tradition of celebrating his birthday, these points should be considered:
Ñ Luk 2:8 ╥And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.╙ SOS 2:11 ╥For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.╙ Ezr 10:9 ╥...It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.╙ V.13 ╥But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without.╙ The Adam Clarke Commentary stated, ╥It was an ancient custom among Jews of those days to send out their sheep to the fields and deserts about the Passover (early spring), and bring them home at commencement of the first rain╙ (Vol.5, p.370, New York Ed.). The ninth month of Marchesvan corresponds to our October and November. The first rain would likely have been in October and the shepherds would already be out of the fields. The shepherds would not have been out in the fields at night with their sheep in the month of December. God did not leave a record of the exact date for reasons mentioned above, but it was closer to October than December. So December 25th could not be the birthday of the baby Jesus. To say that December 25th was the date of his birth is to lie.
Ñ Jesus was baptized of John in river Jordan ╥and Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age╙ (Luk 3:23). Priests under the law entered into their priesthood at age 30 (Num 4:3). Many Bible historians believe that the ministry of Jesus lasted about 3 and 1/2 years. Jesus was killed in the early spring (Passover time). That would place his month of birth in the fall of the year close to his baptism, which was about 3 and 1/2 years before his death in early spring. Six months from Passover would be around September or October. This again shows December 25th to be a false date in respect to the birth of Jesus. No exact date is known, but to say the birthday of the baby Jesus was December 25th is a contrived lie.
Ñ Again from the Encyclopaedia Britannica: ╥Certain Latins, as early as 354, may have transferred the birthday from January 6th to December 25, which was then a Mithraic feast...or birthday of the unconquered SUN...The Syrians and Armenians, who clung to January 6th, accused the Romans of sun worship and idolatry, contending...that the feast of December 25th, had been invented by disciples of Cerinthus....╙ This shows some people of that day recognizing a contrived lie. Any set date for the birth of the baby Jesus would have to be contrived as there is no record left by God to determine the exact date. God did not want people to worship his son any day of the year!!!
Ñ From the New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: ╥How much the date of the festival depended upon the pagan Brumalia (Dec.25) following the Saturnalia (Dec.17-24), and celebrating the shortest day of the year and the ╘new sun╒...cannot be accurately determined. The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence....The pagan festival with its riot and merrymaking was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit and in manner. Christian preachers of the West and the Near East protested against the unseemly frivolity with which Christ╒s birthday was celebrated, while Christians of Mesopotamia accused their Western brethren of idolatry and sun worship for adopting as Christian this pagan festival.╙ The church was fighting over traditions of men and, as Paul said, ╥ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men╙ (1Co 3:3)? ╥The carnal mind is enmity against God╙ (Rom 8:7).
Celebrating Birthdays
Col 2:16,17 ╥Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.╙
Under the Moses law they did celebrate natural feasts on specific days of the month. In Heb 9:10, the writer says those ╥carnal ordinances╙ were ╥imposed on them until the time of reformation.╙ The new covenant brought the reformation and an ending of the carnal ordinances. Heb 10:1 ╥For the law having a shadow of good things to come ...can never ...make the comers thereunto perfect.╙ Heb 7:19 ╥For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.╙ Natural works and carnal ordinances could not make people perfect, but the new covenant could and did make people perfect (Eph 4:11-13; Col 1:28; Heb 12:23). To select a literal day on the calendar as the birthday of the baby Jesus and try to make it an holy day is to degress to carnal ordinances like they had under the law of Moses. But there is one major difference: GOD gave the law to Moses; God did NOT give instructions to celebrate the birth of Jesus regardless of what day people pick.
It is not recorded that Jesus, his parents, the apostles, or believers of the early church ever celebrated his birthday on Dec.25th or any other day. There is no commandment or instruction in the Bible to celebrate anyone╒s birthday. To the contrary, only Pharaoh (Gen 40:20) and Herod (Mat 14:6; Mar 6:21) are recorded as celebrating birthdays. Whose example are we to follow? (1Co 10:6; 11:1; Heb 6:12)
People keeping that natural, man-made feast day are spiritually ╥deformed╙, as they were under the old covenant, and need to be reformed. The time of reformation is once again available. People holding on to a celebration of Jesus╒ birth cannot become perfect as pertaining to the conscience. We will be judged as choosing evil if we hold onto the ╥shadow╙ or traditions of men when the real image of God is available to get in our minds (Rom 8:29; Col 1:15 and 3:10).
The physical birth of Jesus took place by God sending an angel to speak words to a virgin. When faith was mixed with those words, a conception took place in the natural. This did actually happen and a physical offspring was produced (Luk 1:26-38). This was a picture of how believers get Christ in them (Col 1:27). God sends an angel (Heb 1:14; 13:2; Luk 20:36) with words of truth to some ╥virgin╙ or unperverted holy spirit in a person╒s mind (2Co 11:2). When that person mixes their faith with those words of God, a conception of a new creature takes place (Heb 4:2; 2Co 5:17). As Paul said, ╥My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you╙ (Gal 4:19).
Those, desiring to know God, that are enticed by the lie of celebrating the birthday of the baby Jesus, end up conceiving sin when they believe that lie and practice it (Jam 1:14, 15). And just as we are not to celebrate his birthday and worship the son of God; those that are truly born again do not celebrate their own ╥birthday╙ nor do they receive worship from others.
The Nativity Scene
The focus for most of the religious celebration of Christmas is the nativity scene. This scene has been depicted in a variety of ways by art, sculpture, and the ╥live╙ nativity portrayed by actors. However, the Bible record has a very sparse account of the events. Man╒s imagination has gone wild in creating a fantasy scene that plants false images in people╒s minds whenever they look at it, and it╒s on nearly every street corner or under the so-called ╥Christmas Tree╙ or inside most churches year after year. Everyone seems to try to outdo the other. How may baby Jesus╒s are there? Let╒s compare the actual account with all the false images.
The Scene
All we know for sure is that the place was Bethlehem of Jud╛a and not in the inn. How did they get there? It does not say. No donkey or ass is mentioned. Were they in a stable? It does not say they were in a stable. It says there was no room for them in the inn, so they laid the baby in a manger. A manger is a crib, trough, or open box for fodder (food for animals) or a stall for an animal. Considering the time of the year (early fall), the manger could have been outside as well as inside. It could have been under a tree, next to a hill, behind the inn, or just about anywhere. To say it was a whole barn-like stable is to put a false image into people╒s minds.
The Participants
The shepherds found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Although they all could have been resting in a stall, it is more likely that just the baby was lying in a manger to fulfill the prophecy given by the angel of the Lord to the shepherds: ╥And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger╙ (Luk 2:12). There is no mention of other animals being present.
By the time the wise men catch up to the family, Mary is with her young child in a house. There is no indication where the house is. Joseph is not mentioned in this encounter; neither are the shepherds.
How many wise men were there? The Bible does not say! The record says wise men brought gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). ╥Men╙ suggests two or more, but to say ╥three wise men╙ is to put a false image into someone╒s mind. It also does not mention their names or how they traveled. No camels are described anywhere.
What did anyone there look like? No human knows; there were no photographs. Were the people white, black, tall, or short? No humans know; no artist was there to sketch it. What were they wearing? Robes, pants, turbans, sandals? No individual on this earth has any idea; there were no T.V. cameras in those days.
Has God revealed that series of events to someone so they could paint it or make a movie of it? Why would he? God does NOT want people to focus MORE attention on this physical series of events that occurred nearly 2000 years ago. God wants people to get his truth in them so they can have eternal life. A bunch of carnal, worthless, worldly, non-eternal false images will not give life to mankind. Even if someone had a videotape of it, knowledge of the physical events could NEVER give someone eternal life. God left enough, aready recorded in his scriptures, for us to get eternal life and become perfect (1Jo 5:13; 2Ti 3:16,17).
No one present was wearing a halo. A halo is a radiant light, usually circular in shape. Sometimes the sun or moon has a halo of light around it, but there is no biblical record of any person or angel having a halo. Evil angels want mankind to single out certain people and make them so special, so pure, that no one else can be like them. Jesus was a holy child, but so is every other child born into this world!!! ╥In all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren╙ (Heb 2:17). A person has to sin to be a sinner. Joseph and Mary were sinners like every other adult on the face of the earth because ╥all have sinned╙ (Rom 3:23). Certainly Mary and Joseph were chosen for their obedience and humility, but they did not yet have access to the power of grace to become free of sin.
It does not say that angels were present when the baby was in the manger although it does say a star stood over where the young child was and a star is symbolic of an angel (Rev 1:20). The angels that appeared to the shepherds in the field are not described; however, angels are never pictured as babies in diapers. To paint that image into someone╒s mind is to paint a false image. Angels are more often described in the scriptures as warriors because they are God╒s army to fight against evil. They hate evil as much as God hates evil. That is how much we are to hate evil and the evil angels that have perverted our minds by giving us all these false images.
The Real Meaning
Bethlehem means ╥house of bread.╙ Jesus╒ words were the bread of life that he had in his house (mind) and was feeding out to others to get in their house (mind).
There was no room in the inn because there was no room in the minds of the established religions of the day for the coming of Christ, the receiving of his grace and truth into their minds (Joh 1:16, 17).
The shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night picture the ministers in religion that have flocks of people under them, but they are still in the night or in darkness spiritually (1Th 5:4-7). They do not yet have the light of God╒s truth until they are visited by angels (Heb 1:14; Luk 20:36) and believe the words they are given and follow the truth of that angel (star) until they are able to witness the birth of a Christ child in their own minds.
The wise men picture that, anyone in the world that has some wisdom, will seek more of God╒s depths, and bring whatever faith or truth or gift of God they have, on into the Christ depth of spirit.
The babe was lying in a manger (crib for animal food) because Jesus was to feed God╒s word (bread) to other people. He said he was the bread of life (Joh 6:35), and, in the scriptures, people are called sheep (Psa 100:3) and cattle (Eze 34:17) and horses (Zec 10:3).
Christmas Music
The religious music of Christmas is more praising and worshipping the Son rather than worshipping the Father who is the only true God (Joh 17:3). There is no Bible commandment for people to worship Jesus. There are many commands to worship God!! There is no example of a believer after Pentecost worshipping Jesus. There are examples of believers after Pentecost worshipping God. The testimony of Jesus is: worship God (Rev 19:10). Should we follow the scriptures and the testimony of Christ or should we cling to a tradition of men that transgresses the commandment of God? Follow the scriptures and the testimony of Christ!
Many religious Christmas songs actually teach lies. ╥We three kings╙ leads one to believe there were three kings that visited the baby Jesus. The scriptures do mention wise men, but do not call them kings, do not say how many of them there were, and certainly do not give any of them names. Three kinds of gifts are mentioned. Any more ideas than that are ╥old wives╒ fables╙ which we are instructed to refuse (1Ti 4:7).
╥Silent Night, Holy Night╙ makes it sound like a night can be holy. ╥Holy╙ and ╥evil╙ are in the spirit realm. ╥Holy night╙ is not a Bible phrase. That also applies to ╥O Holy Night╙ which goes on to say the night is ╥divine.╙ ╥Divine╙ means Godlike and the night was not Godlike. God is light and in him is no darkness at all (1Jo 1:5).
╥Away in the Manger╙ refers to the little Lord Jesus as not crying. Who knows whether he cried or not? Some babies do, some don╒t. Jesus was a baby boy like other baby boys. He had to eat, sleep, have bowel movements, get changed, get circumcised, etc.
╥Hark the Herald Angels Sing╙ says ╥glory to the newborn King." Wrong!!! The angels said, ╥Glory to God in the Highest.╙ Again, evil angels are trying to get people to worship and give glory to Jesus the Son instead of God the Father. Remember what God said, ╥my glory will I not give to another╙ (Isa 42:8).
In case you did not know what the term ╘Alleluia╒ means in the scriptures, it is a combination of ╥praise ye╙ and ╥Jah.╙ ╥Jah╙ is a shortened form of God╒s personal name ╥Jehovah╙ derived from YHWH (Psa 68:4; 83:18). Jehovah is the Almighty God that Jesus prayed to and gave all glory to. If you are singing ╥Alleluia╙ the understanding should be Praise ye, Jah! or Praise God!
╥O Come All Ye Faithful╙ refers to Jesus as the ╥king of angels.╙ This is not a Biblical title. It also says ╥come let us adore him.╙ ╥Adore╙ is defined as ╥worship.╙ Evil angels are trying to get us to worship Jesus instead of following his commandment to worship God. They inspire people to write songs containing a perverted gospel, falsehoods that people want to cherish more than the truth.
There are many other songs that bring up fantasy people and animals doing fanciful things related to the birth of Jesus (e.g. Little Drummer Boy). They are all putting false images in people╒s minds. God does NOT want his people to fill their minds with false images (Rom 1:23).
The secular music continues to emphasize the name Christmas and parallels it with winter activities, shopping, Santa Claus, and family fun. It promotes the merriment aspect that Christmas is fun, fun, fun, mixed with the sentimental longing for everything to be just right on this special day. The combination of ╥sacred╙ and ╥secular╙ weaves a blend of religious ideas, sentimental looking back, and frivolous abandon. Evil angels have found a way to touch something in everybody. (See the article ╥Christmas Music - False Doctrine╙ for a more detailed exposure.)
Santa Claus
Although the present American tradition requires parents to teach their young children that there really is a man named Santa Claus, the stubborn fact remains that no elf, human, angel, or god has, does, or will exist, fitting the description of an overweight elf with a long white beard that drives a sleigh with reindeer that fly. That makes any image of ╘Santa Claus╒ a false image, a fantasy, an imaginary description.
╥Santa╙ is most often referred to as a ╥jolly old elf.╙ An elf is defined as ╥1 a: a small, often mischievous fairy; 2 a: a small creature; esp. a mischievous child; b: a mischievous or malicious person. A ╥fairy╙ is defined as a ╥tiny imaginary being with human form and superhuman powers╙ (Webster╒s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1973). The present, popular image of ╥Santa╙ was first painted as a Coca-Cola ad in 1931, having evolved over the last few hundred years from the pagan figure ╥Father Christmas╙ and Nicholas, a bishop of the 4th century.
Where did ╘Santa Claus╒ originate?
The Encyclopaedia Britannica, volume 19, pages 648-649, 11th edition, states: ╥St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, a saint honored by the Greeks and Latins on the 6th of December....A legend of his surreptitious bestowal of dowries on the three daughters of an impoverished citizen...is said to have originated the old custom of giving presents in secret on the Eve of St. Nicholas [Dec.6], subsequently transferred to Christmas day. Hence the association of Christmas with Santa Claus....╙ Bishop Nicholas became the patron saint of children and is said to have given his money secretly to the poor. Bishops wore red robes.
Legends of St. Nicholas turned him into a magical figure, embodying traits of the Norse god Odin and of witchlike elfin deities who rewarded good children and punished naughty ones. This image became blended with the pagan figure, Father Christmas, who was closely tied to midwinter celebrations. To Dutch immigrants his nickname was ╥Sinterklaas.╙ The German immigrants had the ╥Christkindl╙ (an angelic child messenger of the new-born Jesus, who often carried the gift of a tree) and ╥Pelznickol╙ (a scary Nicholas dressed in furs carrying switches as well as toys). These two blended into ╥Kriss Kringle╙ and on to ╥Santa Claus.╙ American writers and painters of the 19th century continued to mold people╒s ideas with ╥The Night Before Christmas╙ (1822), ╥A Christmas Carol╙ (1843), and the picture of a rotund, pipe smoking elf dressed in a furry suit and jaunty cap decorated with holly sprigs working at his North Pole workshop or preparing to descend a chimney with a bag of toys taken from his reindeer-drawn sleigh (1863).
Is ╘Santa Claus╒ real?
If you say he is an elf, check the definition above. Elves are imaginary beings. ╥Imaginary╙ means ╥not real.╙ He is certainly not a real, person, angel, or god. Santa Claus is a real idea, an image painted in people╒s minds much like Dumbo, the flying elephant, or Superman. Dumbo is fantasy. Superman is fantasy. Santa Claus is fantasy. Hopefully, parents do not teach their children that elephants or people really do fly. The fact of the matter is, the adult peer pressure is at its maximum, pushing people to teach the lie that Santa╒s reindeer do fly pulling him and his sleigh from house to house all over the face of the globe in one night. No lie is of the truth (1Jo 2:21). Jesus said the Devil was the father of the lie (Joh 8:44).
A grandmother once stood up and addressed 125 adults in a church assembly: ╥My granddaughter came to me not long ago with a question: Gramma, Mommy and Daddy said there was a Santa Claus, and there really wasn╒t; and they said there was an Easter Bunny, and there really wasn╒t; and they said there was a tooth fairy, and there really wasn╒t. Now they are saying there is a Jesus Christ and a God; Gramma, is there really a Jesus Christ and a God?╙ The room was silent. You can feel the same cold chills that were running up and down the back and arms of those present. The point is so clear! Our children are listening to us. What are we teaching them? Are we crying ╥Wolf╙ only to lose our credibility with them? Are we the ╘real╒ wolf?
What does Santa know?
The popular song tells us that he knows when we are sleeping, when we're awake, when we've been bad, and when we've been good. Does Santa really know these things? Does Dumbo know those things? Does Superman? You have to be an individual with the capacity to think in order to know anything. Santa Claus is not an individual with the capacity to think. He is a false image painted in people╒s minds and associated with deep sentimental feelings. Kids are taught to fear Santa, pray to Santa, lie to Santa, bargain with Santa, blame Santa, go see Santa, write to Santa, leave cookies and milk for Santa, love Santa, worship Santa. Worship means ╥to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power╙ (Webster╒s New Collegiate Dictionary ). What is done to and for ╥Santa╙ certainly fits that definition of worship. Who did God say we are to worship? Who did Jesus say we are to worship? Who do the true believers worship? The answer to each question is: Jehovah God Almighty, the Father.
Why do Santa supporters become so defensive?
╥We don╒t want to ruin our children╒s fun!╙ But children love to pretend. They play with their dollies and toy trucks and railroads for hours. They are pretending that the dolly is real. We don╒t tell them ╥that╒s a real baby that will die if you don╒t take care of it.╙ We pretend right along with them and drink the imaginary tea from the imaginary teacup. Why don╒t we teach the kids to pretend about Santa Claus? He is an imaginary figure. The kids will have great fun pretending right along with you. You have fun pretending don╒t you? Why not let the kids pretend with you.
╥What if they go to school and tell the other kids that Santa Claus is not real?╙ A good question. Someone told you that Santa was not real and how did it make you feel? Some of you don╒t remember anything about it, but some of you remember where you were sitting, what you were wearing, who told you, and can still feel how you felt: hurt, betrayed, angry, etc. You realized you had been lied to by your own parents. That did not feel good.
For those of you that don╒t remember, there are people you know and see everyday that still carry those hurts, that still have not been able to fully forgive their parents. Do you want to take a chance with your own children? They are fragile, vulnerable. They need to feel secure with your words, not skeptical. And by the way, it is not the parent╒s fault, they are just doing what they had been taught. But now we have the clear choice: to lie or tell the truth. This discernment understanding makes us accountable for our future choices in this matter.
What is a parent╒s responsibility?
One of our jobs as parents is to teach our kids to discern between truth and error. This is part of our Christian responsibility. We teach them that God gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (Joh 3:16). We teach them the Commandments: Don╒t put any gods before me; don╒t bow down or pray to any graven images; honor your father and mother; don╒t kill; don╒t steal; don╒t bear false witness; don╒t covet. These are just seven of the ten (Exo 20:3-17), but look closely at them: are we teaching our kids to break seven of the commandments by teaching them that Santa Claus is a real man that drives a sleigh delivering toys to boys and girls?
Traditionally, children learn about Santa before they learn about God. They can see pictures of Santa and people dress up like Santa, but God is invisible. Those who follow this tradition are making Santa an idol god that their kids give attention to (worship) before they give attention to God Almighty. They are teaching their kids to break the first commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Sin is a transgression of the law (1Jo 3:5). They are teaching their kids to sin and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).
How many times do we see kids on their knees praying to Santa to bring them something special? They write to Santa, wait in long lines to sit on his lap, and watch big parades where Santa is the ╥king╙ and everybody else works for him. The Hebrew children in the book of Daniel said they would rather be thrown into a fiery furnace than to bow down to a false image (Dan 3:17,18). God honored their faith. The image we know of Santa is just a graven image out of a man╒s imagination in the 1930╒s to advertise Coca-cola. When people give their attention, their adoration, or their prayers to Santa, they are breaking the second commandment: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them (any graven image) nor serve them!! Santa has become an idol god that children are taught to bow down to and fear. Children are being taught to sin and the wages of sin is death (Eze 18:4).
Parents tell their children to listen to them and obey them, but should children obey parents that tell them lies? That commandment, honour thy father and thy mother, was set up so that the parents could teach the children the laws of God and the children could get more life by being obedient. If parents really want their children to honor them, they should never lie to them, NEVER! Remember that Jesus said the devil was a liar and the father of it (Joh 8:44). Parents are a servant of the devil when they lie. They are forcing their children to either break the fifth commandment (honour thy father and thy mother) or to believe lies. The devil has the children trapped on that one (2Ti 2:26).
Thou shalt not kill. The world looks at those parents who physically abuse and kill their kids and say, how could they be so cruel? The question is now turned on any parent or grandparent, teacher or media person, store owner or policeman. How can you be so cruel? Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Pro 18:21). You do not yet realize that you are spiritually killing those children with your traditions and lies. You are forcing the children to break God╒s commandments. That means you are forcing the children to sin. Sin brings forth death, spiritual death to the soul (Jam 5:20). And when those children pass the same lies and traditions on to others, they become the murderers. A lie is a product of the devil and lies kill. Jesus said the devil was a murderer from the beginning (Joh 8:44). Don╒t force your children to serve the devil, teach them to serve God Almighty by speaking out words of truth.
Thou shalt not steal. What is being stolen in this case? God╒s glory is being stolen. God said, my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images (Isa 42:8). Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights (Jam 1:17). What are the children taught? Santa Claus brings the gifts from above. That is a lie!!! That is robbing God of his glory and praise!!! Any gift that is given in love is given by God because God is love (1Jo 4:8), and God deserves the credit for it. Don╒t rob God of his glory!!! Don╒t change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man and four-footed beasts (Rom 1:23). If you don╒t get the connection, Santa Claus is made to look like a man and his reindeer are the four-footed beasts and people give them glory. This is just one more example of how that scripture has been fulfilled.
Thou shalt not bear false witness. Monkey see, monkey do. When our kids are taught that it is okay to lie in certain situations, they will lie in certain situations. They may only be taught by our example, but our example is a powerful teacher. We should never teach our kids to lie, whether by our words or our deeds. Teaching kids to lie is furthering the devil╒s work by teaching our kids to break God╒s commandment and sin.
Thou shalt not covet. Whether we like it or not, we and our kids hve been plagued with covetous thoughts. I want, I want, I want, I want.... Sound familiar? Advertisers know they can play on our desires and they dangle a million-and-one objects out in front of us to entice us. We have been led down the commercial path of ╘covet this╒ and ╘covet that.╒ Our discernment needs to grow so we can recognize when those evil thoughts are at work and learn to stop them in their tracks.
We can teach our kids to be content with whatever they have. We do this by our words and our own example. If we have covetous thoughts, we need to discern them and get rid of them; otherwise, they will manifest out and get planted in our children and soon, they will be full of discontent thoughts, always coveting what someone else has. To covet something is to make an idol out of it (Col 3:5). Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1Jo 5:21). When we teach our kids to covet, we are teaching them to break God╒s commandments and sin. Jesus said, ╥If you love me, keep my commandments╙ (Joh 14:15).
Trees, Gifts, Wreaths, etc.
These are further traditions of Christmas that have evolved to the point of excess in this country. We have no Bible example or command to put up a ╘Christmas tree╒, exchange literal gifts on any particular day, or decorate with wreaths and boughs of holly. True, there is nothing evil in a physical tree or gifts or decorations. What can be evil is our motive.
Why do we do what we do? Yes, tradition is one reason. To please others is another reason. ╥I just like to╙ is another reason. But why? Is it because the tree reminds me of my childhood and the ╥magic╙ of that time of year when there was excitement in the air and anticipation of presents that would prove I was still loved by someone? Is it because our family always had this kind of tree? (And for me to break the tradition would mean I am no longer a part of the family.)
For many people, that is what the tradition of Christmas brings to mind. It gets people to look back, to try to recapture the innocence of their childhood when they had no sinful thoughts to plague them. They want to look back to that time, because shortly after those early childhood joys had passed, they were replaced by hurts and fears and doubts and jealousies. We are instructed to move forward in seeking the kingdom of God, not to look back to moments that will never be again (Luk 9:62).
Some may say, ╥Yes, but we do lots of things that there are no commandments for: there are no commands or examples for driving cars and brushing your teeth. So why can╒t we put up trees and share gifts?╙ God does NOT say we can╒t do those things! But he does want us to check our motives. Why am I doing what I do? If any gift is given out of obligation or with man-pleasing motives, that motive is evil, it is not promoting God. The devil is using that person to give a gift for whatever he (the devil) can get out of it. If a gift is ╥given╙ with ╥strings╙ attached, the motive is perverted and the gift is not promoting God. However, when a gift is given in love (to promote God or the God in someone), God is definitely in that gift, and that gift will not hurt.
Trees, songs, presents, joy, and sharing can be included in anyone╒s personal life. We all just need to check our own motives and examine what example we are giving by our actions. Our desire is to be in harmony with God╒s will (Rom 12:2).
The Stress of Christmas
It has been stated that the Christmas season in America in the most stressful time of the year. There are so many people feeling depressed, pressured, afraid, guilty, phoney, and lonely. Many Americans try to escape or cover up their feelings through drug use, especially alcohol, and over-eating. Why is this supposed "magic" time of year so stressful?
Stress is another word for oppressed.
We may feel pressed upon, forced into things, pushed, nagged, obligated, cornered, trapped. The Bible indicates that Jesus healed people that were oppressed of the devil (Act 10:38). Stress is not of God. It is the devil that oppresses people. Jesus was anointed with the holy ghost (the spirit of God); people under stress are feeling just the opposite, the spirit of the devil (evil spirit). Jesus had God╒s power; people under stress are feeling the devil╒s power. Jesus had God with him; people under stress have the devil with them. People under stress need to be healed by God╒s power that will cast out the devil╒s power (Mat 9:6; 12:28; Luk 10:19). The devil╒s thoughts and feelings are very powerful (Act 8:22).
Stress begins when we are children.
We are enchanted with a beautiful tree and lights and colors and packages and toys. We are instilled with song after song after song of Santa, Christmas, Jesus, merry-making, and ╥love.╙ We are encouraged to write notes to Santa, sit in his lap, pray to him, believe in him, fear him. We are told to be good little boys and girls, because Santa knows if you╒ve been bad and you may not get what you want for Christmas.
We didn╒t always get what we wanted. Our brother or sister got something better than what we got. Mom or Dad got drunk and slapped us around or hollered at us or took our gift away from us. We were poor and presents were not affordable. We were told there really wasn╒t a Santa Claus. We were told we were stupid to believe that kid stuff. We had to do a part in the school Christmas pageant that we didn╒t like. We were always the center of attention at Christmas. And the list goes on of hurt, left out, inferior, superior, jealousy, fear of rejection, doubt, pride, pressure to perform, anger, covetousness, false hopes, etc. Each of these does not fit everybody; but there is usually more there than we like to admit at first. We don╒t try to remember the bad things, but we all had some of them.
As we grew up, those feelings continued to grow.
The dream of a ╥perfect Christmas╙ kept falling short. It didn't snow at the right time or in the right amount for a ╥white Christmas.╙ We couldn╒t control the other people╒s actions and reactions. The ╥magic╙ was so temporary. The build-up, build-up, build-up led to the big let-down. The financial pressures grew. The arguments built as to who was I to be with on Christmas? Mom or Dad, whose mom and dad, my friends, or my job?
I just can╒t be alone on ╥that╙ day!!! This is such a special day! What can I get them this year that they will really like. I really want them to like my present. I hope they like me. Only three more shopping days til Christmas. Shop, shop, shop. I╒m sorry, we╒re out of that item. This one is from Santa, this is from Grandma, this is from me. Who should this one be from? Don╒t you dare look in that closet! Just get to bed, we╒ll wake you up when it╒s time. I said, Get to bed!!! Maybe Santa won╒t bring you anything because you can╒t mind your parents.
Again, all these phrases do not fit everybody; but look in your own life for the ways you were set-up to feel stressed (oppressed by the devil). With the help of God╒s discernment, the evil can be sorted out and then cast out by God╒s power of grace.
The Devil has woven a masterful cobweb of thoughts, feelings, traditions, images, songs, and religious beliefs about Christmas. We get caught up in the traps of false worship, breaking God╒s commandments, family traditions, national holidays, and commercial extravaganzas. The Apostle Paul said, ╥we are not ignorant of his [Satan╒s] devices╙ (2Co 2:11). However, many of us have been ignorant of these traps so cleverly set to take our lives. Without the gift of discerning the spirits (1Co 12:10), we will never know why we continue to feel the plagues of tormenting thoughts and feelings. Without the power of God╒s grace, we╒ll never be free of those plagues (Eph 1:7; 2:8; 3:7; Jam 4:5, 6).
God wants us to be happy and loving and living with him in our minds (2Co 6:16-18). To achieve that, we must keep his commandments. ╥Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and love thy neighbor as thyself╙ (Mat 22:37-39). After all, the whole duty of man is to ╥fear [honor] God and keep his commandments╙ (Ecc 12:13). ╥Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?╙ (Mat 15:3) ╥Do not err, my beloved brethren╙ (Jam 1:16).
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Have You Ever Wondered...
1. Who am I?
2. Why am I here? What╒s my purpose in life?
3. Why do I do things I don╒t want to do?
4. How did this world we live in get into the awful condition it is presently in?
5. Can I ever really know and understand God? or will he always remain a mystery to me?
6. Why does God let bad things happen? Isn╒t he Almighty?
7. Who should I pray to? Am I really praying to the right person? Should I be praying to God, or Jesus? or are they one and the same person?
8. Why do people have to die? Is this what God intended?
9. What happens to us after death?
10. What happens to good people who die having never heard of Jesus?
11. Is suicide really a solution to anyone╒s problems?
12. What happens to the souls of people who have committed suicide? Are they lost eternally?
The above are common questions that most of us have had at some point in our life. These questions deserve to be answered! If you would like answers to any or all of the above questions, call or write to the address below, or circle any or all of the above questions and fill in your name & address on the back-side of page & mail it to us!
If there is any particular Bible topic that you are interested in please feel free to contact us and we will answer your request. Fill out the form below and drop it in the mail to us:
THE WORD church
Outreach Ministry
Route 2, Box 137
Moberly, MO 65270
Please print your name, address, and a self addressed #10 stamped envelope so that we can send you the answers.
