That's Crazy Talk! (Part 2)

As you (my dear two readers) may recall  from my last blog post I explored the definition of tongues as found in Acts 2. A simple exegetical read of the passage shows evidence that tongues is in fact a coherent, established language as opposed to the modern day “gift” of tongue speaking which is usually an incoherent train of repetitive syllables. Also, I briefly touched on the ideas that modern tongues (gibberish) are a necessary sign of salvation, a secret prayer language, and an undiscovered language, and gave a smidgen of evidence as to why none of these theories could be true. In Part 1 I stated that one reason as to why God gave this ability to speak in foreign languages to the apostles and disciples was to witness to the men who had traveled to Jerusalem during Pentecost. This time I would like to explore further what I discussed as well as the second reason as to why God gave this ability. I would ask though, for the sake of space on this blog, that you follow along in 1 Corinthians 14 because I will not be posting the verses here, but will only be referencing them.

1 Corinthians 12-14 gives a great amount of discussion to spiritual gifts with chapter 14 focusing on tongues. Paul begins this chapter by stating that prophesy is a greater gift than tongues because prophesy edifies the church, whereas speaking in tongues only edifies the one doing it. This runs both ways if we view tongues as the biblical “language”, and the unbiblical “gibberish”. If an American was in an American church and say, for example, stood and began speaking Chinese then no one would know what he was saying but himself. However, prophesying is not done in a foreign language and therefore everyone understands what is being said. Therefore, Paul instructs the Corinthian believers that they must have someone to interpret (Vv. 1-5). If someone was to speak gibberish then nobody would understand. If someone was to speak Russian in an underground Chinese church, without an interpreter, then nobody would understand. Based on the understanding from Acts 2 that tongues are an actual language, then it makes sense. If you read through these verses and think “gibberish”, and if you read and think “languages”, then it works for both and you can certainly steer your interpretation in either direction.

However, we have determined that these “tongues” are actual languages from Acts 2. It would seem quite odd that God would have the believers speak actual languages, then have them start speaking non-languages. For what purpose? As Paul clearly states throughout 1 Corinthians 14 it is to edify the church. He says “Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise, you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.” (Vv. 7-9). There is no glory to God given if we speak nonsense to one another. No one will understand. You may say “that’s what the interpreter is for”. True, but in modern tongues the thought is that someone speaks gibberish and then someone else, through the spirit, stands and reveals to everyone else what is being said. That again takes us away from the idea that tongues are an actual language. In this biblical definition if someone was to speak Chinese, then there needs to be someone there to translate that back to English for the English-speaking congregation. If this Chinese speaking person did not have an interpreter then they would worship God in silence, yet speaking to God from within in their native tongue. This would be how the biblical definition of tongues would apply to verses 6-18. Paul also gives credence to the idea of tongues being an actual language when he says “There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.” (Vv. 10-11). There are certainly many kinds of languages because they are defined by their nationality. However, there is only one kind if gibberish because gibberish is a non-language that cannot be defined. It is apparent from these verses that Paul is speaking of actual foreign languages that needs to be interpreted and therefor verifies that the tongues in Acts are actual spoken languages.

Another thought that I would like to toss to this is verses 20-25. As you may recall from Part 1 that the purpose of tongues in Acts 2 was to witness to the foreigners. Here Paul lays out the other reason why God delivered tongues as a sign gift- judgment. Paul quotes Isaiah 28:11-12 when he says, “In the law it is written: ‘With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,’ says the Lord.” (v.21). Isaiah was prophesying the judgment against Israel when they were taken into Babylonian captivity by people who did not speak Hebrew. So why would Paul requote that here? It is because the tongues that were being spoken here, as well as the day of Pentecost, were languages that were unrecognizable to the Jewish people. Therefore, they accused the apostles of being drunk. Throughout this section Paul states that tongues are a sign to unbelievers, because it was a sign that they were being judged for rejecting Christ. Maybe that’s why so many were saved during Pentecost? Because they remembered Isaiah’s prophecy and realized that God was judging them?

A few other nuggets about tongues: Many who speak modern tongue gibberish may defend the transition from languages in Acts 2 to ecstatic language in 1 Corinthians 14 as the establishment of some sort of special prayer language. First of all, that is reading something into the text that is based on an assumption and that is where heresy is born. As I had mentioned before Jesus had spoken against vain repetitive nonsense in Matthew 6. He also said, “not like the heathens do”. What did he mean by that? Well it is well known that since the Old Testament days that paganism existed as it did in Jesus’ time and it does today. One of the things that many pagan religions do is speak in ecstatic languages very much like the gibberish nonsense that modern tongue speaking Christians do. So, if you think that speaking gibberish is in fact some sort of special language that bypasses all obstacles and gets you directly to the feet of God’s throne- think again. You are doing nothing more than what the Satanic pagans do. Second, Paul certainly gives the instruction that there should be an interpreter. In most Charismatic and Pentecostal churches, many people speak out in gibberish without an interpreter, as well as speaking all at once and in a disorderly fashion. This goes against verses 26-33 and 40. Whether you follow the biblical model of speaking in languages, or the pagan model of speaking in crazy talk, there is a good reason why both should be done with an interpreter and in an orderly fashion, otherwise confusion will ensue and no one will be edified. Imagine if an unchurched guest was to walk into one of these churches, not knowing much about church or Christianity. If all verbal chaos broke loose then he would think that we all were out of our minds and probably would think that about all of Christianity. He probably would have nothing more to do with any church or religion. He wouldn’t know any different and would just assume that this insanity is what Christ is all about. “Therefore, if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” (v.23). Therefore, you had lost the chance to witness.

Again, with the last blog, my purpose is not to bash anyone. This is a continuation of my Holy Spirit Hoedown post. The purpose in these last three posts is to illustrate that the work of the Holy Spirit is not anything that would bring about confusion. Modern tongue speaking is viewed as the epitome of the Holy Spirit’s work. However, modern tongue speaking is nothing more than confusing gibberish and has nothing to do with the tongue speaking that had taken place during the early church in the New Testament. What had taken place then was actual true established languages and verifies the work of the Holy Spirit as a “helper”. So, if you choose to speak in uncontrollable nonsense, either with or without an interpreter or in or out of order, then fine. But as I had mentioned before please, PLEASE, do not say that it is the working of the Holy Spirit. Anything of the such is contrary to His work.

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

In Christ Alone.

Decay Pt. 5: The End of the Beginning

I remember it well during President Trump’s inaugural speech. He had mentioned many times the name “God” and even at one time said that God would protect this nation. This, I am sure, threw all of the anti-Christians into an uproar. I am sure that this alone would have spawned many people to call for his impeachment just minutes after becoming president. On the other hand, I am sure that this gave much hope to the many Christians out there who had begun to fear that their faith was going to be outlawed and that full blown persecution was coming to Christian America. I even remember seeing on Facebook a meme that depicted Jesus running down a road, carrying multiple suitcases, saying that He was on his way back to the White House. Many conservative and Christian Americans once again held their head up high with hopes that we would return to the America of yesteryear. But when we put our hopes in man, we put our hopes in a false security. One look at our current President’s past, as well as his current actions, prove that he is no great Christian leader that we should put an iota of faith into.

            In reality this nation needs to repent and turn to Jesus Christ. Not a famous orator, leader, or governing official. Only then would we as people be changed from the inside out. But is this possible? Could an entire nation repent and thwart God’s judgment against them? The mighty city Nineveh repented after hearing Jonah’s prophecy. “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.’” (Jonah 1:1). “And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” (3:4). “So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes… Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” (3:5-6, 10). Not just did the repentance of Nineveh hold back God’s hand of judgement, but eventually Israel repented. If you are familiar with the Biblical history of Israel it was their wicked and idolatrous ways that caused God’s judgement to come upon them and allowed them to be taken into captivity. What many Christians may not realize was that when they returned back to their homeland after the Babylonian captivity, they no longer worshipped the pagan idols and instead worshipped the One true Yahweh. God brought judgement upon them. He smacked some sense into them. They said “God is for real. The prophets weren’t kidding”. It took judgment to wake them up and to get them to turn from idols. Thankfully God remained true to His promises and did not wipe the entire nation clean off the face of the earth. Israel, an entire nation, repented. So yes, it is possible for a city and even an entire nation to turn back to God.

            In just the past two weeks there has been more evidence of a nation of godless, reprobate minds running loose without the restraint of God within their conscience. I happened upon a video of a liberal woman who helped instigate the Berkeley protests and riots that I had mentioned in Part 2. She said that she uses violence to stop others from speaking and that she promoted violence during that riot against the conservative speaker because his views could spark violence. The news program went on to air a video of her arguing with an opposing protester in the street in which a man who was accompanying her pushed the opposing protester down and they began kicking and stomping him in the street. So let’s stop violence by being violent? Another incident involved the conservative speaker (who is also a homosexual male) in question at Berkeley promoting man-boy (pedophilic) relationships. He found himself in trouble and those who usually side with him began to distance himself from him. The third incident involved vandalism to various Jewish synagogues. When the President’s daughter called for religious tolerance, the religious intolerant called her a racist and a promoter of hate. The disturbing part about this typical leftist view is that many who are against religion because of its stance against the LBGT agenda want to be allowed to destroy Christians for their beliefs. That’s why they don’t want religious protection against any religion that opposes LBGT. So therefore we allow them to hatefully destroy those that they see promote hate. These three incidents are just a sprinkle on the icing of the cake that is the current reprobate America. It leaves many to ask “Are these people seriously using their brains?” Sadly, yes. They are using minds that are void of God and are left to their own decaying mind (as I had discussed in Part 3). This is how you end up with a society of cut-throat savages. Every man for himself!

            Jesus said to his disciples “Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” (Mark 14:37-38). The problem with the modern American church is that it too has fallen asleep. Gone are the preachers who call for holiness and repentance. Gone are the preachers who could pull out a convincing “hellfire and brimstone” sermon that would even make saints fall to their knees in repentance. The popular preacher of the day is one who preaches a hippy Jesus that is all about love and happiness. Have you even noticed how big of a following that Joel Osteen has? This “Jesus” gives credence to the sinner for their wicked ways and condemns those who preach against sin and for repentance. The “Jesus” of today would’ve been the one to have imprisoned John the Baptist. The modern church has fallen asleep, and while she was snoring Satan crept in. This is why the modern American church’s gospel is as watered down as skim milk. There’s nothing there but fluff. There’s nothing there to counter balance the godless culture that is spiraling out of control and seeking to destroy the church. The church is no longer the lion, but is now the little lamb whereas Satan is the hungry lion.

            Jonathan Falwell (Thomas Road Baptist Church) has a commercial on our local Christian radio station where, at the end, he says that Christians just want to change the world. It is not our job to change the world because, as we see in the Book of Revelation, there are many unbelievers in the tribulation. It is, however, our job to influence the world with the gospel. We are to be a light in a world of dark as I had mentioned in Part 4. We are to be a bright light for all to see, not a dim flickering light that makes everyone say “Is it going to work or die out?”. But the modern church has lost its influence. It has become complacent in its position of “strength” and “power”.  It has become all about meeting the felt needs of the congregation, entertaining everybody, and receiving the applause and accolades of man. (For more of adescription on the modern church click here).

As I had mentioned in Parts 3 and 4, in regards to the reprobate man and the modern church, respectively, there is hope. That hope is Jesus. I know that that may sound like a cliché, but it is a fact. As Jesus said many times “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2, among others). Just like the men at Pentecost said after being convicted of their iniquities, “’Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’” (Acts 2:37-39). “Repentance” means to turn from your sinful flesh and turn to Christ as Lord and Savior. “…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10). “Confess” means to agree with. If you agree that Jesus is Lord and “If we confess (agree that we are a sinner in need of salvation) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). The hope is Jesus as Savior.

For the church Jesus said to the church at Ephesus “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5). Even the bride of Christ is not immune to judgement. But, despite all of their works and programs, this church had forgotten the basics of their faith. The modern church needs to wake up and clean house like Jesus cleansed the temple of the money changers (so much for that happy hippy “Jesus”, huh?). They need to reacquaint themselves with the God of the Bible, not the god of man.

May we recognize that Jesus is Lord, no matter what side of salvation we may stand on. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

But more on that in my next series…

 

In Christ alone.

Decay Pt. 2: Welcome To Rome

Something remarkable happened since my last blog post (part 1 of this series). At the University of California-Berkeley another riot erupted. This time it was a “protest” in regards to a gay conservative speaker from England. Not just did the students destroy property and try to burn everything down (as they always seem to do these days. It is quite the “in” thing), but there were reports of a conservative woman being assaulted, and another Trump supporter was thrown to the ground. The latter escaped, but the “protesters” grabbed his pro-Trump hat and set it on fire. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if he didn’t escape. Would he have been a human torch? The amazing part about this “protest” was in regards to what it was over. Typically most secular colleges these days lean towards the left. They are for homosexuality and immigration. This is common knowledge. If you don’t believe me and need facts then just put on a “Make America Great Again” shirt, grab a Bible, and go down to your local University and try to discuss with the local students why we need borders and need to eliminate abortion and see what happens. However the speaker was both gay and foreign. So why the uproar? Because whereas they are liberal, he is a conservative. They torched, destroyed, and beat down their fellow man in a rage because they almost had someone speak at their campus who simply thought different than they do. This is a scene that has become almost daily news since the election almost three months ago. Why the hate? Why the divide? Why the complete disregard for humanity and sanity? Why has mankind (particularly in America as of late) become unrestrained savages? It seems as though all of this is over politics. However, you may recall, I ended my last blog post by saying “this isn’t about politics”. So what is it about?

            In June of 2015 the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage across the board. Nobody could deny the rights of marriage to same sex couples any longer. Many Americans celebrated this victory. I remember reading that one of the most searched topics from that day online was Romans 1. I don’t remember the exact details. Could it have been non-believers searching in order to see whether God’s Word does in fact condemn this sin? Could it have been Christians seeking ammunition for their argument now that they were going to be vilified? No matter who it was we know that a great deal of people recognized that Romans 1 has something to say about it.

            Paul’s epistle to Rome was written to a church that he had never set foot in, which explains why it is such a theological masterpiece. In Chapter 1 he goes into great detail about the sinful state of man and God’s wrath. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). But what wrath are we speaking of here? It is the wrath of stepping away… of turning away from man who has rejected and turned away from God. When Paul writes “Therefore God also gave them up… (v.24), For this reason God gave them up… (v.26), God gave them over… (v.28)” he is basically saying that because mankind wants nothing to do with God, then God gives them what they want. He walks away. In context it looks like this:

Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (vv. 19-23).

            What the apostle is saying is that mankind knows of God through natural revelation, as well as an inward knowledge of a “higher power”. This is why man has followed religion since the beginning of time. This is why as far back as the Old Testament times there was paganism. Man knew of a god, they just didn’t know Who was God. This is illustrated in Acts 17 when Paul addresses the philosophers at Athens: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD…” (Acts 17:22-23). The men of Athens certainly knew of a god.

            However, in America and the world over, mankind has rejected God. Mankind has fallen in lust with darkness and thus has suppressed the inner and outer knowledge of any higher power or god. To them religion is for the weak and foolish. As our above passage in Romans states, they believe that they know better than God. They believe that they know right from wrong better than God and His Word. In doing so they believe that truth is not absolute, but whatever you perceive it to be. This is known as moral relativism. This thought pattern crates a new god. But instead of it being birds, animals, and creeping things it becomes something else… MAN.

            Man is now the new god. He knows what is best. He knows what is true, right, and wrong. And the standard is not set by any law, but by each individual. But is this why we are in the state that we are in? Paul goes on to state “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 1: 24-25). In turning away from man and giving them what they want, God’s moral compass within man decays rapidly. This is why our society is going into a tailspin at breakneck speeds. Man follows the lusts of his heart and when left unrestrained to his own vices, man can do some seriously vile things. Things that are morally grotesque and unnatural, yet so beautiful and natural in his own eyes. Things that are even harmful to those around him. Yet who are we to condemn man for him pleasing his own flesh as his selfish desires consume him like cancer? After all, he knows best. Billions of different little “gods”, with their own different views, with their own different ways, and with a desire for everyone else to see it his/her way.

We shouldn’t be shocked when there is an explosion on the six o’ clock news…

Decay Pt.1: The Beginning of the End

No time in the history of American civilization has the depravity of man been on display as the most recent election year in 2016. When I was growing up I remember men with integrity and character being the nominee of their respective party and I am certain that it had been that way since the beginning. I remember a big tantrum being thrown during the 1992 presidential race because both George Bush and Bill Clinton were accused of having affairs. As a matter of fact, we all know what became of Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. An adulterous affair and the following cover-up were certainly the black cloud that threatened Clinton and his presidency. America wanted honest men. Men who stood for something and were faithful to their country, their families, and their God.

However, 2016 was different. The decay became evident, yet many Christians and conservatives couldn’t see it, and many anti-Christians and liberals failed to believe it. The sphere of decay was evident before the nominees were even named for the Republican and Democratic parties. Marriage had slipped into nothingness as men began marrying men, women began marrying women, pedophiles began to cry out for the same privileges, and men and women continued to treat the sacredness of their marriage as if it was just some passing new flavor at Starbucks. You don’t like it? Throw it out and get something else! The innocence of the children continued to dissolve as they grew up too fast on Twitter. And a million innocent babies never got to see the sunshine, stars, and moon.

These things shouldn’t have surprised anyone because we knew that eventually we would get there. The most baffling, however, is that the police became the enemy. Black lives were the only ones that mattered as officer after officer took a bullet and left behind children and wives. As a matter of fact, if you even said that “all lives mattered”, you ran the risk of being assaulted because to state such obvious truth was “racist”.

If you disagreed with the left, you were a foolish bigot (especially if you were a Christian who disagreed with homosexuality). If you disagreed with the right, you were called a “libtard”, among other things. Hate became redefined as simply disagreeing with or questioning someone else. More and more mankind split itself right down the middle in America. We became a nation divided with wounds split wide open for the whole world to see and the blood flows like the Nile.

Then came the election. There were many to be chosen. Men of honesty, integrity, character, and faith. However, on one side, we chose an angry, foul-mouthed narcissist with multiple marriages who, despite his “Christian faith”, has nothing to repent of. On the other side we chose a woman who has a track record of dishonesty and lying and had ample evidence stacked against her before she even became the nominee. And she won!?! Even though socialism has failed every nation that has tried it, there were a lot of people who really wanted the socialist to take her place as the nominee. This is what we wanted as leaders. Despite our choices this is what we chose to lead us. This has become the American people’s idea of good leadership.

During the debates both candidates fought and spewed insults that were even below that of two fifth graders fighting by the monkey bars during recess. And their supporters followed suit against the other side. It became a contest as to see who could insult the other the worst. But the worst of the worst came after the election. Trump supporters were beaten in the streets by Clinton supporters. The insults increased and people were smeared just as much as the blood that was in the streets. Rioters looted and destroyed property because the election didn’t turn out the way that they wanted. Hatred reigned supreme. Over two months later, the day after Trump’s inauguration, the fires still burned as many women marched in the streets, dressed as their own perverted genitalia, holding signs spewing hate, rioting still, and cursing those who they had seen as a threat to their cause. But how can we call the mass murdering of unborn children a “cause”?

I was once a “metal head” and one of my favorite bands then was Tool. On one album they have a song called “Right in Two” and there is a lyric that has returned to my mind in these recent days:

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey.
Over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs.
They make a club.
And beat their brother, down.
How they survive so misguided is a mystery.

            How did we get here? Men exchanging sexual relations and vows with the like, women as well? Brother killing brother over political differences? Christians being persecuted over their beliefs that have been intact since the beginning of creation? Bullies bullying bullies over their differences of opinion? Crimson rivers flooding their banks? Eyes fixated upon darkness in lust? God in the grave and mankind upon the pedestal?

And society calls it good!

How did we, as the evolutionists would like to say, become like the Neanderthals?

Black vs. white vs. citizen vs. non-citizen vs. gay vs. straight vs. woman vs. man vs. family vs. urban vs. rural vs. upper class vs. middle class vs. lower class vs. veteran vs. pacifist vs. well off vs. welfare vs. you vs. me vs. America vs. everyone else vs. thugs vs. police vs. media vs. truth vs. common man vs. Hollywood vs. Christian vs. atheist vs. my rights vs. your rights….

Republican vs. Democrat…

Conservative vs. Liberal…

Trump vs. Clinton…

But…

THIS ISN’T ABOUT POLITICS.

The Christmas Chronicles: Is It A Sin To Celebrate Christmas? Part V

The Conclusion
Finally! We are at the end. So, after reading through Parts I-IV of this series, what have we learned?

First of all we need to understand that Christmas is nowhere in the Bible and doesn't say that we must celebrate it, nor does it say that we are wrong for not celebrating it. It is simply not in there. So we can determine that Christians who celebrate Christmas are no better than Christians who don't. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God (Romans 14:4-6). It is a matter of choice on whether or not we choose to honor the birth of our King at Christmas time. Second, we need to recognize that December 25^th is more than likely NOT the actual date of Christ's birth. I don't believe that this really matters, seeing that the Bible doesn't even recognize holidays or dates of important events to begin with. So are you in judgment of hellfire for celebrating Christmas? From all the evidence that I have gathered and reported on, I don't believe so. As long as we keep focus our honor and celebrations on Him and not worldliness.

Now, please allow me to address my target audience. To say that it is a sin to celebrate Christmas because it isn't mentioned in the Bible, because we don't know the date of Christ's birth, because it was paraded on top of or with paganism, and because it shares customs that pagan holidays once had is called legalism. Because something is not in the Bible does not mean that it is a sin. Christmas is not in the Bible, but honoring our Lord IS and is in more scripture references than I can afford to quote. I would basically have to copy and paste the entire Bible to this blog in order to do it. Driving cars is not mentioned in the Bible. Are we wrong for that?

But again, you are not wrong in your choice either, because we are not commanded to celebrate Christmas. However, no one is going to burn for honoring Christ. But remember this: No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light (Luke 11:33). This time of the year Jesus' name is out there. We, as Christians, should take His holy name and magnify it before the world for all to see. What you are doing is running into your home, shutting all your blinds, locking your doors, and putting The Light under a basket in your cellar because of assumptions in God's word. This time of year is the perfect opportunity to witness before a world that hears His name, and sees His name, but does not know Him. Let us show this world that Jesus is more than just a name above all other names. For this season, and this season alone, the world opens the door to Him because of this holiday. Show them The Light that is on the other side of it. And no, you don't have to partake in the commercialism part either.

Let us celebrate His birth and reflect of the greatest gift that has ever been given. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). One day The King left His throne and came down to be with us. We praise you Emmanuel! We need to remember this year round, regardless.

I would like to thank you five readers for following this blog series to the end. I hope that it has been informative, inspiring, and maybe even a blessing. To all my Christian friends, both Christmas and non-Christmas celebrators, I wish you a Merry Christmas, Peace on Earth, and Grace to you. Until next time...if there is a next time...

Love In Christ

P.S. I know I said in Part IV that there would be no more links, but here is one more that I came across at the last minute. From R.C. Sproul, Jr. ...http://highlandsministriesonline.org/ask-rc/ask-rc-is-it-a-sin-to-celebrate-christmas/

The Christmas Chronicles: Is It A Sin To Celebrate Christmas? Part IV

Well, if you feel like I have been biased in my opinions in Parts I-III, then you are right. Shame on me! I have been on the side of all the Christians who celebrate Christmas this entire time. Guess what? Now it's time to change teams. Now it is time to attack Christmas. I feel that I have provided sufficient opinions by other websites in the first few parts of this series, so if you need to know where these arguments are coming from then please refer back to those links. From this point on I will not be providing any other links. So without further wait...

To Buy Or Not To Buy

As we may recall from Part III, it doesn't appear to be a sin to buy gifts for one another. However, we need to understand that it is not advisable to go overboard. Do you really need to rack up thousands upon thousands of dollars in credit card debt to buy Christmas gifts? Only to go back into it the next Christmas just after you paid last Christmas' debt off? Be not one of those who give pledges,
who put up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you? (Proverbs 22:26-27). The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender (Proverbs 22:7). Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8). The bible advises against going into debt. Imagine if you will saying “I will spend $10,000 this Christmas on gifts and pay it all off throughout next year” and then you get laid off from your job in February. You cannot foretell what you will be able to do next year. Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin (James 4:13-17). It would be a shame to be left with such a massive debt that cannot be paid. It is best to be within your means. I know you may be saying “It is my money. I can do what I want with it!”. Our money belongs to God. He can make or break our wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). So your money truly does not belong to you, which is why we are asked to give back a portion to God in tithes (2 Corinthians 9:7). We also need to not be greedy either. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24). Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”(Hebrews 13:5). For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs (1 Timothy 6:10). Greed at Christmas time can also breed materialism, and then we lose our focus on the real reason for the season. But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful (Mark 4:19). We need to focus on giving joy, peace, and love in the name of Jesus and not dance with the evil child of greed and materialism, which is named “commercialism” (Luke 12:15, Matthew 6:33). Commercialism is at constant battle with Jesus Christ as being the focal point of Christmas. It is not wrong to buy gifts, but remember when you spend thousands of dollars on loved ones, you are welcoming debt and creating a breeding ground for greed and materialism just like cold damp places provide a breeding ground for mold and Christ being the focal point gets distorted or lost completely.

Also the materialistic and greed plague can offer failed attempts to show the love of Christ when we forgo Thanksgiving evenings with our families to attend various stores for their now “Black Thursday Evening” deals. Rushing through the doors like a stampede of mad cows, running down little old ladies to get the newest Smack Me Around Elmo doll. Is this showing Christ is Christmas?

To Lie Or Not To Lie?

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (Exodus 20:16). If I was to walk up to anyone of you Christians and ask you “Do you lie?” I am sure you would reply with “No!”. Now if I asked you “Do you tell your children all about Santa?” and you answered “Yes”, then does that mean that Santa is real? He isn't. Therefore when you play up the hype about Santa, you are lying to your children. How sad it is when your child learns that there is no such thing, and they look to you wondering what is true. All you can say is “That's right, he isn't real”. Which translates to “That's right, we have been lying to you this entire time”. And then we expect them to believe in Christ after they have already been lied to? They see Santa at the mall, in the parade, on street corners, in Christmas movies, etc. But they do not see Jesus walking around. It is easier to believe in that which you see. So if we tell our children to believe in something they can see, but are deceived, how much harder will they trust in something that they cannot see? Not to mention we take away from Christ at Christmas time when we give Him competition. Do you think a child will be more enamored with a colorful jolly guy with flying reindeer, who travels the world an visits every child in just one night and gives them everything they want, or with the birth of a Savior? I think in given the option Santa sounds more appealing to the ears of a child who is filled with imagination and wonder. St. Nicholas was real and gave with the love of Christ, but he wasn't magical and had any flying animals. So we cannot defend Santa by saying he was St. Nick. Two completely different people.

Santa and commercialism, greed and materialism, are the tag team partners that have left a sour taste in the mouths of those who prefer to honor Christ at Christmas time. They are the ones who have driven Christians away from Christmas all together. When Christmas started out it was intertwined with paganism. The paganism is gone and now it is intertwined with fairy tales and money. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24). This has also meshed honoring and glorifying Christ with worldly passions and ideas. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:3-4).

However I am not telling you what to do. This is just a thought.

The Beast That Christmas Has Become

O Holy Night! The star gods are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Mithra's birth.
Long lay the world, incense and every pine tree.
Till he appeared and the soul felt the Earth.

Most people have probably never heard of that version of "Oh Holy Night". I would hope so seeing that I just made it up. Here in the city I live in we have two secular radio stations that switch over and play nothing but Christmas music. For a whole month you do hear about snow, gifts, and that minion Santa Claus. But you also hear a lot of songs about the birth of our Savior. Christ's name is rampant in a market that otherwise never mentions His name. O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord (Psalm 68:32). So what is so wrong with that?

The eradication of paganism at this time of the year has led to the name of only One to be proclaimed: Jesus Christ. It is only this time of the year that He has the floor. The rest of the year secular folks don't think or mention much about Him. Secular radio stations wouldn't be caught dead playing songs that have the line “Christ is the Lord”. Atheists would get by with putting down Christ without much opposition. But this time of the year belongs to Him. Granted, Santa may “posses” the same all-knowing, all-seeing attributes of God, but you never hear the phrase “Santa is the reason for the season” or “Let's keep Santa in Christmas”. Santa is there, yes, but this season is Christ's. That's why it is called CHRISTmas, not “Santamas”. So what are we supposed to do about this? You will find out in Part V when we finish this series once and for all. Until then...

Love In Christ

The Christmas Chronicles: Is It A Sin To Celebrate Christmas? Part III

Sooooooooooooooooo...where was I? It has been a year since my last blog post and since I left all five of you readers wondering if it was a sin to celebrate Christmas. So let's shake off the dust and pick right up where we left off, shall we? We went over the arguments on why Christmas is viewed as a sin in Part II. This time around we will discuss the customs that are in Christmas but were carried over from paganism. These include decorating trees (or decorations in general), feasting, and gift exchanging.

To Decorate Or Not To Decorate
CHRISTMAS TREES. I know there are many other pagan based customs out there. The yule log, mistletoe, etc. But I choose to pick on Christmas trees because they are the most common decoration and the biggest scapegoat for the whole "former pagan anti-decoration" movement. Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good. (Jeremiah 10: 3-5). Even though this passage is not talking about Christmas trees, or what kind of trees or decoration, it is talking about bringing in some form of plant life and decorating it. So how can the simple act of bringing in a tree from outside and decorating it be a sin? Well let's look at the big picture first. Most of us know that pagans worshiped the creation, not the Creator. They either adorned trees with decorations in celebration towards a god, or they carved the tree into an image of a god and decorated it. Nonetheless, they brought in a tree and decorated it and idolized and worshiped it. One can believe that this, plus the scripture that is in Jeremiah 10, is evident that anyone who puts up and decorates a Christmas tree is in danger of God's wrath. But, the sin does not lie in the act of bringing in greenery and decorating it. The sin was that they worshiped and idolized the tree that they brought it to their homes. You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). Most modern people who put up Christmas trees do so as either family tradition, or decoration, or both. Most do not do it to honor another god or do they worship the tree. Granted, some people may admire their tree too much, but they do not worship it as a god.

So if you bring in a tree and decorate it this Christmas season, will you be guilty of sin? What about the family down the street who have a fake tree in their dining room adorned with lights as a year round decoration? Are they guilty too? What if one brought in a fern and hung it in their living room and decorated it with a fake cardinal?Are they destined for Hell's fire? The customs of the pagans were evil because they involved worshiping other gods and God's creation. If the pagans had never done this, but God's people did and they did it to honor God because they appreciated His marvelous works, would it still be a sin?

As you may recall from David Black's blog post from Part I on this series (it was one of the links that was against Christmas), they, as also others, believe it is also a sin to put up a nativity display. Sorry. Did I make you spit your Cheerios out all over your laptop? You will have to excuse me. Please forgive me. The reasoning behind this idea can be found in Exodus 20:4: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. What this is saying is that we are not to conform God into any kind of physical image. Why is this? Because the ancient Jews did not have a visual image of what God looked like. So they made statues of what they believed God looked like and eventually worshipped the statue. They made God into the image of bulls, rams, crickets, whatever. This commandment was set forth not just to protect the Holy image of God (by not reducing Him down to an object), but to keep us from inadvertently worshipping an idol.

However, God made Himself into a physical image when He left His throne and came to earth in the form of a man, Jesus Christ. We no longer had to wonder. He was here in the flesh..and people worshipped Him. They worshipped the physical "graven" image that God had become. So does that make all of Christ's disciples, and all of us Christians, sinners because we worship The Lord Jesus Christ who was a physical image of God? If it is wrong for us to worship God in the physical image He had become, then it is wrong for us to worship Jesus. That isn't so, is it? So any kind of carving or painting of Christ should not be blasphemous (as long as it glorifies Him) because He was a real man. A nativity is a depiction of something that happened and was real and honors the birth of our King.

Eat Up!
I am not quite sure where in the Bible it says that it is a sin to get together and enjoy a meal with loves ones. It almost sounds ridiculous to say that dining and fellowship is a sin. Some scriptures in reference to fellowship with others and eating include: And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he given you (Deuteronomy 8:10); And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do (Deuteronomy 14:29); That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ (a good reference for getting together to honor Christ at Christmas)(1 John 1:3); When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up (1 Corinthians 14:26). I can only imagine that coming together in honor of Christ with loved ones and enjoying food together would actually be a pleasant and enjoyable blessing to one. If you don't agree with that, then your church needs to cease from having any after church potlucks. Because you are doing nothing any different than if you were getting together at Christmas.

To Give Or Not To Give
Is it a sin to give gifts to one another, just because pagans do it? Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity (Esther 2:18). Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another (Esther 9:19). ...as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor (Esther 9:22). Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you (Psalm 68:29). Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts (Proverbs 19:6). And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11). I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18). Hmmm, I think not. Even God's people (and His own Son) received and gave gifts.

Well. It seems we have covered alot so far. The roots of Christmas in Part I, the sinful viewpoints of Christmas in Part II, and the sinful customs and traditions of Christmas here in Part III. In Part IV we will discover the beast that is Christmas. Also, if you feel that I have been siding with the pro-Christmas crowd thus far (which it seems that I have been), we will discover the negative and true sinful nature behind this holiday. Until then...

Love In Christ

Is It A Sin To Celebrate Christmas? Part II-REPOST

The following post was Part II from the series that asks if it is sinful to celebrate Christmas. It is where I left off last year and was my final post for an entire year. Originally posted December 7th, 2011.

As you may remember from Part 1 in this series I introduced you to a brief history in Christmas and where it draws it's pagan traditions. The pagan holidays honoring their gods during the winter solstice existed before the birth of Jesus Christ. However, in efforts to "Christianize" this pagan holiday (in hopes of complete conversion or meshing Christianity with pagans) Constantine and Pope Julius I established December 25th as the birth of our Savior. There was definite infiltration of paganism in the Christianity, and vice versa. What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:15). In this "gain", Christmas adapted such pagan customs as feasting with family/friends, gift exchanging, and bringing in trees from outside and decorating them. So you would think that even doing these things would be sinning and we should abolish Christmas altogether, as the "Anti-Christmas" Christians would have? As you may recall from Part 1, the Anti-Christmas crowd argues that Christmas is a sin because it shares pagan customs, originated and is celebrated on a pagan holiday, and because the Bible doesn't say to celebrate it. Let's explore these arguments, shall we? (PLEASE NOTE: If you haven't read Part 1 in this series or haven't reviewed the links that I have posted in Part 1, please do so at this time. Otherwise this will not make much sense).

Christmas Is A Sin Because It Originated (Celebrated) From Paganism
Well, we can already determine this myth as busted, because if you may recall from it's history, Christmas did not morph from paganism. It basically was painted over it. It only shares pagan customs. But is it a sin to celebrate Christmas because it was thrown on top of a pagan holiday? I am reminded by the story in the Old Testament when God commanded the Israelites to bulldoze the Canaanites and claim the Promised Land (see the book of Joshua). Here you have something that belongs to God's people, and God if you will, being claimed (back) from those who do not belong to Him. Hmmm! Sound familiar? The same thing happened when Constantapopejul1 (combination of Constantine and Pope Julius 1, kind of like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's "Brangelina") declared the celebration of Christ's birth at the same time as the celebration of the pagan gods. Who won? Let me ask you this: How many people do you know who still honor the pagan gods at Christmas time? Pagan who? Most people couldn't even tell you what paganism has to do with Christmas. In other words: the birth of Jesus dominates paganism. And may I remind you as to what came first? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5). Would you believe that Christ existed before His own existence? According to Bible scholars and this verse in John 1 this is so. Also God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so. (Genesis 1:11). So the reason for the season, Christ, existed before paganism, and the idols of paganism, nature (trees/Christmas trees), existed before they became pagan idols. In other words pagans took what God created and began to worship it. They worship the creation, not the creator, as it is meant to be. When Christmas bulldozed and buried the pagan holidays, we took back what was rightfully ours. Our Savior, and a creation that is seen as just that and not a god.

Christmas Is A Sin Because It Shares Pagan Customs
So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God (Leviticus 18:30). And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detested them (Leviticus 20:23). What customs are we talking about here? As you may recall from the links I posted in Part I on this series, the pagans feared spirits, unseen gods, weather, and they worshipped them, trees, rocks, acorns, etc. Some even offered sacrifices to trees and so forth. However, we carried the customs of feasting, gift exchanging, and tree decorating over from paganism to Christmas. I know many may say "that is wrong". True. But what is lacking now that was back then? Idol worshipping. Most people these days partake in these customs because it is family tradition and they still honor Christ as the reason for the season, not Saturn. But I will elaborate more on the customs in Part III of this series.

Christmas Is A Sin Because The Bible Does Not Command It's Celebration
This is actually the biggest reason why many say we should not celebrate Christmas. As a matter of fact, we used to receive a Christian magazine from England that basically said that we should not celebrate ANY holiday because it is not mentioned in the Bible. And if you did you would go to Hell. Notice I said "used to receive". I can't give you any scriptures to back this claim, because, it really isn't in the Bible. The only thing that the Bible says that we should "celebrate", or remember, is communion. And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). Now what I wonder is that if the Bible does not say to celebrate a holiday, does it make it a sin to do so? It doesn't say that you can't celebrate a holiday. But if you are on the fence of "you can't celebrate Christmas because it isn't in the Bible", then you need to put down your fork at Thanksgiving, not make any "resolutions", not attend a 4th of July firework display, and don't even think about grilling a hot dog for memorial day. Also don't even think about celebrating a "personal holiday". What could that be you ask? Yours, or anyone else's, birthday. No more birthday parties for you or your children. Hey! Not a single one of these is mentioned in the Bible. You may be saying to me "Man! You are sounding legalistic". My point exactly.

Christmas Is A Sin Because It Is Celebrated On The Same Day As Pagan Festivities
Good argument! But if that is your stronghold, then you need to give up being a Christian. Why? It is true that the pagans claimed December 25th as the birth of Mithra first and that Constantine claimed it as Christ's birthday second. But did you know that all seven days of the week were named to honor pagan gods? As we all know pagans worshipped the sun and moon as well, which is where Sunday (sun) and Monday (moon) come from. Tuesday is named after Tiw, the Norse god of justice. Wednesday named after Woden/Odin, a powerful Norse god. Thursday is named after hammer slinging Thor. Friday is named after the Norse god Frigg. And for all you Seventh-Day Adventists out there who think you are safe: Saturday is named after who? The Roman god Saturn (http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/funfacts/daysoftheweek.htm). So if you can't honor Christ on December 25th because it "belongs to the pagans", then you cannot honor Him any day of the week because those too are in honor of pagan gods and idols. So I guess you will just have to stop worshiping Christ, right?

Final Thoughts On Part II
So what have we gathered here? Yes, I said "we" because this is a learning process for me as well. We have learned that Christ existed before Mithra and any other false pagan god. We have learned that the pagans stole God's creation and used it as idols for worshiping (hence causing Christians to think that it is an abomination to God to have anything to do with His creation). Sort of like when the homosexuals hijacked the rainbow for their gay symbol, even though it was God's promise to Noah to not wash earth away with a massive flood again. We have learned that the Bible does not say that it is a sin to celebrate holidays or birthdays. Therefore we cannot say that it is offensive to God to do so, because no one ever said it was. We just need to steer clear of any celebration that is ungodly. We also learned that the seven days of the week "belong to the pagans", as "does that pagan Christmas holiday", rendering Christians who will have nothing to do with a pagan honored day without a single day to worship Jesus Christ. Sad. But there will be more on this in Parts IV and V. Yes... this blog post is a beast. Until then...God bless.

More links that I have found that may be of interest:

No Christmas: http://thebibletruthsite.tripod.com/whynottocelebxmas.htm

Go Christmas: http://www.equip.org/articles/should-christians-celebrate-christmas-

Is It A Sin To Celebrate Christmas Part I?- REPOST

In November of 2011 I had come across an argument on whether or not celebrating Christmas was a sin. The evidence was great on both sides. So I decided to do my own research and too look at the argument from an unbiased and logical view. However, due to time restraints, I was unable to finish the blog series and ended it on Part 2 of the series. However, as promised, I am going to finish this. So here it is: The re-posting of Part 1 from that series. Originally posted December 4th ,2011.

The title of this blog may have gotten your attention. We all are more than familiar with the constant battle during the Christmas season. You know, the one where the Atheists are offended and want "Christ" removed from Christmas, and the Christians fight to keep it CHRISTmas. Of course, how silly would it sound when you shout "Merry Mas"? But you may not be aware of a new battle on the horizon. This is actually the first Christmas that it has shown up on my doorstep. And no, it wasn't caroling. Would you believe that there are Christians out there who want to remove Christmas from Christ? Yes, I know it sounds hard to believe. But there are many devout Christians out there who proclaim that celebrating Christmas is a sin and Christians should have no part of it. I know you may be saying "Do what now?". I have had a convincing argument come before me that has told me that it is sinful, and then a convincing argument right behind that one that says it is not. So I have been rendered neutral on the battleground. Therefore, with much research, let me do as a good blogger does and put in my two cents. Please note that following this blog post I will have the links for the two arguments so that you can see where this is coming from.

The History Of Christmas
Well, it seems fitting that before I begin to open this crater of worms, I give you a background to Christmas and it's origins. As we all know, Christmas was a pagan holiday before it became Christmas. But in my research I was amazed to find that there were more than one religion that was partaking. The Mesopotamians reigned in the New Year with their god Marduk. The Persians and Babylonians got rambunctious with the Sacaea festival. Scandinavians celebrated the Yuletide by burning a Yule log. The Romans celebrated their god Saturn in a festival called Saturnalia which had traditions and festivities that closely mirrored that of modern day Christmas. (information found at http://www.holidays.net/christmas/story.htm). Romans also believed that their sun god Mithra was born on December 25th in a way similar to Christ's birth. We also need to give a shoutout to our crazy friends over in Germany for honoring their pagan god Oden. (information found at http://www.history.com/topics/christmas). Most of these pagan holidays have something to do with the end of the winter solstice and the slow crawl back to spring, or the death of the sun, or some other weird weather/season related phenomenon.

So now we have just a massive festival of multi-god worshipping and debauchery in the streets throughout many different lands. So how did Jesus get mixed in with all of this? The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336AD in the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor). A few years later Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on the 25th December. There are many different theories as to why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. A very early Christian tradition said that the day when Mary was told that she would have a very special baby, Jesus. (This is called the Annunciation) was on March 25th - and it's still celebrated today on the 25th March. Nine months after the 25th March is the 25th December! March 25th was also the day some some early Christians thought the world had been made and also the day that Jesus died on when he was an adult. (http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/25th.shtml).

In various findings I had found that creating Christmas at the same time as these pagan holidays had caused a "meshing" of traditions. Many of these included pagan traditions of feasting with family and friends, gift exchanging, carolling, and eventually tree decorating.

So what have we learned by far in the "Reader's Digest version" of the history of Christmas? We have learned that before Christmas, the winter solstice/December 21st was celebrated by pagans as idol/false god worshipping using customs that are still celebrated today at Christmas. A couple of guys got together and said "Hey, they have a big celebration honoring all their gods. Let's have one too!" And so Christmas was born on December 25th to honor the birth of Jesus Christ. The only problem with this is that the real birth of Jesus was never recorded, and so therefore probably was never on or around December 25th. It was just a tactic to "join in the crowd" with all the festivities and even try to mesh Christianity and paganism. Some scholars say this was in effort to convert pagans, some say it was to please them so that they wouldn't have to give up their practices for Christ. This is one argument that the Anti-Christmas Christians stand by. The other arguments are that Christians shouldn't celebrate on a pagan holiday, they shouldn't acknowledge anything that originated in paganism, and that Christmas is a sin because the bible does not command us to celebrate it.

This post is only the can opener to the can of worms. It's all downhill from here! Before we move on, I urge you to check out the above links on the origins of Christmas, and the following links on the arguments from both sides that has inspired me to write on this topic. In just a few days I will be posting Part 2 on whether it is a sin to simply say "Merry Christmas". Until then...God bless!

The link that inspired me to throw away Christmas: http://www.daveblackonline.com/why_we_no_longer_celebrate_chris.htm

The links that inspired me to continue to celebrate Christmas:
http://americanvision.org/3866/of-christmas-and-christmas-trees/
http://americanvision.org/895/pagan-roots-of-christmas/