Truth
and Like Salvation, Each Person Will Either Accept It Consciously Or Do Nothing and Thereby Reject It.
Covenants Of Promise Ministries
P.O. Box 365
Kettle Falls, WA 99141
Should Christians Celebrate Christmas
Believe it or not, Christmas was celebrated 2000 years before the birth of Messiah. However, it was not referred to as Christmas in Jeremiah's day. The origins of what we refer to as Christmas has roots deep in paganism. This "Christmas" letter may offend you but it is not my intent to offend, only to offer the truth as told by devar Yahweh (the word of Yahweh). Let's read and ponder on Jeremiah Chapter 10, verses 1-5:
JEREMIAH CHAPTER 10
1 ¶ Hear ye the word which YAHWEH speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
2 Thus saith YAHWEH, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.3 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.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
(bold and underline emphasis - mine)
Here we are at the crossroads. We have come face to face with
the Truth that comes directly from YAHWEH thru the prophet Jeremiah.
"Learn not the way of the heathen..."; "...the customs of the people are
vain..."; " one cutteth a tree out of the forest...."; "...deck it with
silver and with gold...."; "they fasten it ... that it move not".
What message, my friend, do you think Yahweh Elohim is trying to convey
to His people? Oh, you say, they were talking about "palm trees".
Yes, that is true where the custom originated in Egypt but the Romans adopted
the practice and their "tree" of choice was the FIR! That very Roman
"custom" has been carried down thru the centuries and delivered right into
our laps and we pass that heathen (vain) custom on to our children in a
never ending cycle.
Don't think for a minute that I am pointing a finger. Your looking at where we, as a family, were only 2 short years ago. If the message above offends or bothers you, don't blame the messenger, it is from Yahweh's Word.
My Bible says, in I Kings 18:21:
21 ¶ And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if YAHWEH be Elohim, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
In other words, chose you this day who you will serve. [This Writer says: "... as for me and my house, we will serve YAHWEH."]
But, but, but, Christmas is about Jesus' birthday? And, and, and that is what we celebrate?
Really? The Bible has incredible detail from beginning to the end, but it was never important enough for Yahweh to preserve the actual date of the birthday of His only begotten Son? What does that tell you? The customs of the people are vain. We were never commanded to celebrate His Son's birthday ever!
"The whole concept of celebrating Messiah's birth would have been foreign to His disciples and the writers of the New Testament. To the early Christians the idea of celebrating the birthday of a religious figure would have seemed at best peculiar, at worst blasphemous. Being born into this world was nothing to celebrate. What mattered was leaving this world and entering the next in a condition pleasing to Elohim... ". (Mario Seiglie)
II TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3: 1-7 says in pertinent part:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of Elohim; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ... Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. "
Have you ever been told, "You know better than that!" or "You knew better!"? In James 4:17, the word "good" according to Strong's Concordance also means "better".
"Therefore to him that knoweth to do better than that, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. "
Friends, this is serious business with YAHWEH. Always remember when you see a "Thus saith YAHWEH" in the Bible you better stand at attention and heed what follows! Don't take my word for this. Pray, (beg) YAHWEH Elohim to show you truth that you may gain understanding for such is required of your heavenly Father. II Timothy 2:15 says: "Study to shew thyself approved unto Yahweh, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
To a degree, we'll all stand before Yahweh and be ashamed that we didn't do more or read more or study more or pray more. We'll have a difficult time explaining how much time we wasted in vain things.
Please read the attached articles on "Is Christmas Really Christian?" and "The Surprising Origin of CHRISTMAS!".
Acts: 28:27 says: "For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Let's all open our eyes and ears that we may be healed and stand worthy in His sight.
Because JESUS IS NOT THE REASON FOR THE SEASON OF THE HEATHEN. And, YAHWEH willing, this "season" of the heathen will pass with a few less Christians participating.
Other interesting articles to read so that the truth may be in us as we unlearn the ways of the heathen.