Christ-Mass: Come out from among them and Be ye Separate!

Before I begin I want the readers to know, I do not judge you wherever you're currently at in your walk with Christ. We are all at different stages in our walks with Jesus and will all be judged according to the different circumstances of our unique individual lives. My goal here isn't to attack anyone for partaking in these traditions. Most of us all have. I totally get it, I do. I do not believe one is going to hell strictly because they celebrate Christmas, but I would argue God is not pleased with it and I'll explain why. My only desire is to bring forth some Biblical perspective and raise awareness about a controversial topic many are oblivious to and many Church's turn a blind eye to. I only wish to prove that which is good and acceptable to God and give my reasons why I believe Christians should have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. This is a very serious matter and people must be warned. My opinions are my own. I would urge you to do your own research and pray on this. If you should choose to continue in such practices after receiving much new information, that is between you and God. I pass judgement on no one.

Every year shortly after Halloween the world begins to kick into Holiday Christmas mode. I don't think I was into the 2nd week of November this year before I received my first "Merry Christmas". We are now a month away from Christmas day but the Christmas music carols are already in full swing... at work... in the stores... "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, How lovely are thy branches"... The streets are being lit up with lights of bow's and evergreens and the "Christmas spirit" is upon us. In writing this, I haven't partaken in these customs and traditions for 12 years now. It's always a really awkward conversation when I confess this to most people including Christians as I'm looked at like I'm not from this world. Most don't ask why, They don't get it, most don't want to understand and never will. Believe me when I say, sometimes a small part of me misses it. I still get nostalgic feelings about this time of year with some fond memories from the past and sometimes still fight the urges of participation while alienating myself from friends, family members and the rest of the world. There's a very powerful lure behind the celebrations: good food, pretty lights, family reunions, gift giving, charity, people are often drawn to Church's that regularly do not attend, so what's not to love? My flesh wars against my spirit as it lusts after the dazzling spectacle of Christmas. I still sometimes catch myself humming along to the many songs I grew up listening to every December. But my eyes have since been opened to a whole other perspective of reality I cannot overlook. I've looked beneath the surface of Christmas and it's not pretty. There is certainly a real darkness present masquerading as light.

More people commit suicide during the Christmas season than any other time of year. That is a fact. For many people this can often be one of the most difficult, sorrowful, depressing and painful times of the year. It is a spirit that multiplies the depression, anxiety and desperation of those living with difficulties, poverty or loneliness. Hollywood has ingrained in us an artificial expectancy of how things ought to be but reality is quite often far from it. I think of this time of year as a time where drunkeness, gluttony, greed, jealousy, desperation, covetousness, foolishness and dark demonic forces are at their peak. But what is the origins of Christmas? Where does it all come from? Have you ever even asked yourself why people feel obligated to spend money they cant afford on all those Christmas gifts or why you put up a Christmas Tree in your home, top it with a star or 'light-bearing' angel along with home decor of boughs of holly, wreaths and mistletoe's? What is it really all about? Why do so many purposely lie to their children about a fictitious all-knowing deity named "SANTA", some counterfeit that robs God of his glory only to crush their hope, faith and trust years after?

Why do we do all this? For many the question of why has never even entered their minds. Many professing Christians who are aware of some of the roots, origins and hidden meanings behind Christmas traditions just shrug them off as harmless fun and will often say "the Lord knows my heart" but the Bible says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? - Jeremiah 17:9. Are they actually putting the Lord first or their own lusts? Don't kid yourself, Anything that is put first before God is an idol.

Growing up I was taught Christmas was about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That we were commemorating his birthday. For me at least, Jesus, as I was taught, was "the reason for the season", as they say. Or as you see on many Christian bumper stickers, "Keep Christ in Christmas". And if Jesus was the reason who were we to question it at all? Most people never question the why? Their parents did it and their parents before them and their parents before them. It becomes just one of those things you do because everyone does it and it seems good and reasonable on the surface. We are social creatures with a natural instinct to want to fit in. It's an exciting time, paid government holiday time to spend with the family and after all, what child doesn't love to wake up Christmas morning to presents under the tree? What parent doesn't love to see the look on their faces as they open them. And on and on the circle goes. Regardless of the unfortunate tremendous baggage attached to this holiday I had never even considered the thought of letting it go. It was just an accepted and expected part of life. I pressed on with the traditions I had grown accustomed to until one day things all came crashing down and not long thereafter things came to a grinding halt.

It was the day Jeremiah 10:2-4 was pointed out to me. It reads...

"Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain:

for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."

Now I know where some of you may try to stop me right here and say Jeremiah isn't speaking of a "Christmas tree" at all but graven idols. While that may very well be the case, certainly things are not exactly as they were once so long ago, but the parallels are uncanny. I hate to use the term "evolve", but that is exactly whats happening here today. "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. " - Ecclesiastes 1:9-10. While Christians may now quickly point out that they are not literally praying to their xmas trees and I am not suggesting they are, I would sure hope not, they are still steeped in a form of idolatry and worldliness that many do not even know or want to recognize. Many Christians are so willfully ignorant and stiff necked to the truth that they refuse to heed the warnings of others because it rains on their parade. They don't stop to consider what does God think of all this? We now live in a time where knowledge has increased and so we are left with little excuse for the ignorance of times past. But did you know not that long ago Christmas in America was forbidden and illegal? Many Christian groups like the Puritans knew exactly what it was all about.

I resisted for a time delving into this subject myself or went along with what I wanted before really digging for the truth as I drew closer to God. My research then consisted of many long days and nights researching everything I could find on Christmas and it's origins from multiple perspectives and the more I dug the more shocked I became. This whole thing reminds me of the words found in Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee". As followers of the Truth we should seek after knowledge and truth with our whole hearts and not being lazy either but taking the time to prove all things. I would rather embrace a hard truth difficult to receive then comforting lies.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

So what is the truth? Well December 25th is not Jesus birthday lets start there. This is no longer one big secret anymore but at least on this one point everyone can agree. Nowhere will you find any historical evidence for this. It is extremely unlikely shepherds were keeping watch over their flock by night in winter when the days are shortest. So why should we celebrate a tradition that was based on a lie? And where do we get December 25th. Many have linked this to the celebration of the return of the Sun and winter solstice Dec 21st and the birthdays of foreign false gods of the past (Sol Invictus, Saturn, Mithra and many more) going all the way back to ancient Babylon (Nimrod/Tammuz). A date that in times past many have linked to human sacrifices and shedding of the blood of innocent children. It has been a time of celebration for many civilizations over many centuries with it's origins and roots deeply embedded into paganism and the worship of false gods. Not only did the Catholic Church adopt many of the practices of Saturnalia from Rome for their Catholic Mass of Christ or "Christ - Mass" but then passed them onto Protestantism. You will also find many direct parallels to that of Yule, a Wiccan and Druid festival of Celtic origins observed today which you can find in the Witches Wheel of the year.

Do you really think all those trees, mistletoes, hollys and wreaths have no significance? Well you may not know what that significance is, but real practicing Pagans sure do! All of the elements and symbols commonly associated with Christmas have pagan roots and idolatrous significance. Don't kid yourself no matter how you spin it, no matter how much you try to convince yourself and justify it, there is nothing Christian about Christmas. Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer is apparently accredited with the first "Christmas tree" however the significance of trees goes back way further. There's no denying it, Christianity has adopted the ways of the heathens and no surprise as these snakes have been infiltrating the Christian Church's for 2 millennium. Some even putting it right out into the open for those who look.

Many Christians are fully aware of the Pope's and the Roman Catholic Church's wickedness. They would in an instant call them out for their heresies, blasphemies, wickedness and false teachings. Being looked at by many Christians as an anti-christ, beast organization for centuries, most understanding the evil directing the RCC and yet these same Christians are being yoked up with the RCC in the exact same vain traditions! But it doesn't stop there nearly every atheist I know loves Christmas. They adore it! Murderers, Homosexuals, Whoremongers, B'hai's, Sikhs, Christians, even practicing satanists, people of all backgrounds, they love Christmas. It's a time where people from every background all over the world can be united under a common interest. Jesus taught love right? So why wouldn't he find such celebrations acceptable for his people? Jesus said...think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword!

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. - James 4:4

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, - 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

"...God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." - Luke 16:15

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. - Colossians 2:8

The carnal mind is enmity against God! I personally cannot think of any day, celebration, tradition the wicked ungodly inhabitants of the World love more or that which is esteemed any higher among men in this current age then the so-called Christmas holidays (holy-days). It was the Pagan Roman Emperor Constantine in the 3rd century who was successful in merging paganism and Christianity into one new religion and counterfeit Christianity. They essentially took an abhorrent pagan celebration and tacked Christ's name to it. Meanwhile, Jesus was reduced to a helpless baby in a manger rather than the risen King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Nowhere in the Bible anywhere will you find such a commandment to commemorate the Lords birth. The only people found in the entire Bible who even observed annual birthday celebrations was that of Pharaoh and King Herod, both idolaters. We should honor Christ everyday rejoicing in his death, burial, resurrection and victory over sin and the devil. It seems so much of what we've learned to accept regarding this time is wrong. How often do we see the Nativity depiction of Jesus laying in a manger and three wise men present? Now try finding that in the Bible! How has this even made it this far unnoticed by so many? According to scripture, Not only do we not know how old Jesus was when they visited him but we also don't know how many Wise men there were. Nowhere does it say 3. The ties to Babylon, Mithra, Saturnalia, Paganism and so many more ungodly ties are so easy to verify. The internet is absolutely loaded with mountains of sources and valuable information of extensive research proving this from both atheists to God-fearing men and women that have done an incredible amount of research. I could spend alot of time doing that but I'll leave the leg work up to you in that department. What I want to present is more biblical reasons why we as followers of Christ should leave this tradition to the world.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - Romans 12:2

"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." - Matthew 15:9

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

We as Christians are called to separate from the world. A peculiar people, in this world, but not of this world. We should abstain from vain traditions of men, especially those that so clearly have Satans filthy fingerprints all over them. The Bible teaches us that God does not change, he is the same yesterday, today and forever. So let's take a look at some Old testament scenarios that might shed some light on this subject. The first being God does not take too kindly to those that offer up to him "strange fire"...

Leviticus 10:1-2 "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord."

Some may say this is not the same thing, but is it really? We can learn much from Deuteronomy 12,

1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.

2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.

...29 When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;

30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

We are clearly not to adopt the way of heathens. God hates this! It is clearly found in scripture. You will notice I highlighted the word Groves and under every green tree. You may be surprised to find a common theme all throughout the old testament if you look for it...

..."are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?" Isaiah 57:4-5

He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 2 Chronicles 28:4

Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. (Jeremiah 3:6

Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 3:13

And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities. - Micah 5:14

And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: - 2 King 17:10

Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills. Jeremiah 17:

Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.- 2 Chronicles 19:3

For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. 2 Chronicles 33:3

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. - Judges 3:7

For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.1 Kings 14:15

These kinds of verses are found all throughout books of the O.T as you can see. If you look up this hebrew word in a concordance you will find it has something to do with a Asherah/Ashtoreth/Ishtar/Easter a phoenician godess. However there seems to be a link to green trees and these idols...

This the same word Hebrew word H842 used in Deuteronomy 16:21 "Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee."

I think there is a direct correlation between these idols of the past and what we put in practice today each December.

Now with that in mind here's something to ponder...

That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. - Isaiah 14:4-8

For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. - Jeremiah 2:20

“As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.”- Ezekiel 20:39

If these obvious clear links and scriptures don't scream out to you I don't know what would...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord... Repent.