Amen! Bro. Al, Some very good observations as I am not a Christ-mass observer
as well. Sad that the majority of children are raised and lied to regarding
this mystical Santa Claus and when they find out that they have been deceived
it’s a major psychological let down.
Bro. DON
From: forthepoor-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:forthepoor-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
On Behalf Of Alvin Cloud
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2020 3:38 PM
To: forthepoor@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [forthepoor] Re: article by bro. Daniel Parks.
I read Bro. Parks article in defense of Christmas with interest. I have heard
these arguments before and am of the mind that they are irrelevant to the
question of whether or not Christians should celebrate the holiday/holyday. I
personally do not celebrate it, but I also am not a militant crusader against
anyone else’s preference. That being said, I will, if pressed, explain my
reasons. Bro. Mike opened that door.
How do the names of ancient gods/goddesses applied to everything from days to
months to planets to automobiles justify anything? There are things in this
world you cannot escape – even the occasional feasts of the world to which you
may be “disposed to go” – don’t ask don’t tell. This can only apply to feasts
one could in good conscience attend and certainly cannot apply to all. But if
the idolatrous/blasphemous nature of the feast is made known – for their
conscience sake – the believer is obligated to explain and/or abstain.
The names of days/months have no meaning to us (other than maybe a few new
agers) in society as they did in ancient times. So, the argument that you
cannot escape the idolatry that permeates the world is tantamount to saying “If
you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em”. We are in the world not of the world – unless we
indiscriminately join in the worlds vanity and excesses. James doesn’t mince
words when he warns:
“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
There is a delicate balancing act in our relationships with the world as Paul
asserts with a clarification of a previous admonition:
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not
altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or
extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.”
1 Corinthians 5:9-10
Company with the world is not for “fellowship” but is to afford an opportunity
to enrich them with the truth – not pat them on the back in approval.
OK, to the point. What is it about the Christmas celebration I find offensive?
Glad you asked. First, its very foundation is based on a lie. If the
foundation is not sound then neither is the rest of the building (a concept
every child of God should understand). Our heavenly Father knows the exact
date of Jesus birth but has withheld that information. We don’t know exactly
when but we do know it was not Dec. 25th.
Secondly, its very inception was for a devious purpose. Similar in nature to
Israel’s sin at Baal-Peor, emperor Constantine (3rd century) merged a pagan
holy day with the Holy birth of Christ in an attempt to assimilate the church
into the world and vice versa. I have no doubt Satan was behind that idea and
has been promoting it ever since. The church was happy – Jesus now has a
birthday His Father never commissioned – the pagans were happy – their
saturnalia festival now had the blessing of the church.
But, that was then. What about now? Satan’s quest to destroy the people of
God did not end with Constantine but has been an ongoing enterprise ever since
he offered Eve something appealing to her flesh:
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was
pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of
the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he
did eat. “
Genesis 3:6
Christmas, in my humble opinion, is an affront to the Son of God, since it
bears His name then humiliates Him by elevating all manner of worldliness above
Him and then sidelining the One who would have the preeminence to a Creche.
The world does not honor the Savior for bringing the world love, joy and peace
but rather the “season”. It’s magic. It’s the Christmas spirit. It’s that
time of the year.
“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature
are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God,
how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again
to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am
afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”
Galatians 4:8-11
Bondage? Most folks don’t realize the peer pressure they are under to
celebrate the holiday. If you don’t believe that try not celebrating it. You
will be ridiculed and cajoled relentlessly. I speak from experience.
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of
riot, speaking evil of you
1 Peter 4:4
What about the elements that make up the celebration? If it were a truly
Christian holy day there would be one name exalted and one name only. Jesus
Christ. That is not the case. You see, there is this jolly old elf who has
supplanted the Christ child in what is supposed to be His birthday. Sure,
Santa Clause is a myth. But every false god that has ever entered the mind of
man is a myth. Doesn’t stop men from believing in them, worshipping them or
attributing power to them. Old Nick is no different.
His mythology has evolved and been continually embellished over the centuries.
Compare closely: Santa is omniscient; omnipotent; not constrained by time or
space and is reported to judge the hearts of mankind. Is this just a quaint
story – or has Satan a hand in it all. Remember this is the continuation of a
plot hatched in the third century. Men speak of him as though he were real –
tongue in cheek of course. Major industries have learned to tap into Santa’s
power of persuasion over men $$. But the worst is that millions of adults, with
all false sincerity, convince millions of naïve children that the false god
Santa is real, teaching them to make their requests known unto him and obey the
law for reward. Is it any wonder when they are older they doubt our sincerity
when we say “Well, Santa was a lie, but Jesus is real”
This is getting rather long but Christmas has become a complex holiday as man
and spirit alike have tailored it to fit the complex psychology of Adam’s
children. Two more elements are an important, integral part of Christmas. I
don’t care about their origin, that’s immaterial and irrelevant. What are they
now and what does God have to say about them.
It’s not Christmas without a tree. It matters not its pagan origin. What
matters is that the tree is the central icon respecting the holiday. Since the
holiday is spiritual (love, joy, peace, etc.) we need something tangible.
Every false god has to have an image of some sort. Something we can erect in
our home, businesses or places of worship. Something we can give a place of
honor, decorate by the work of our hands. Is it an idol? The word “idol”
simply means worthless and after January they all end up in landfills or
attics, you decide.
Idols today are not what they were in antiquity. Few today worship tiki gods.
But, I can assure you idolatry is practiced routinely the world over and the
problem is we are so ignorant of Satan and his devices we wouldn’t recognize an
idol if we saw one. I find it interesting how God describes the workmanship
that goes into the making of an idol – what is He describing through the
prophet has an uncanny resemblance to our customs.
“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. 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.”
Jeremiah 10:2-5
Now, to be sure, Jeremiah is giving instruction to build the classic idol of
the day, and an idol is simply a representation of what we can’t see by
something we can. It is the customs of the people or “traditions of men” the
Lord takes exception to. One last custom and I’ll shut up. Gift giving. Just
like “love” in the world is confused with the love that comes from above, the
giving the world finds so joyful is not found in the scriptures… except one
place:
“And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their
dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to
be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them,
and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets
tormented them that dwelt on the earth.”
Revelation 11:9-10
Is God referring to Christmas here? I doubt it. It just seems noteworthy to
me that of all the instances of gift giving in the world, this is the one He
chose to put in His word. We all decry the commercialization of Christmas and
rightly so. It is a phenomenon that has been growing and morphing for nearly
2,000 years and exalts the virtues of men while at the same time eclipsing the
name of Christ. I could go on.
So, do the names of the days of the week have anything to do with it? I think
not. Do the origins of pagan rituals matter in the debate? I think not. Does
my puny opinion matter. I think not. All that matters is what God says.
On Wed, Dec 23, 2020 at 10:20 PM franco cafazzo <mrcafazzo@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Appointed route that Christmas is solely a religious day and we’re not called
to associate ourselves with religious days administered over by religious
people who have titles in this world
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 23, 2020, at 9:17 PM, franco cafazzo <mrcafazzo@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Holidays have a legitimate function in the old testament as a redemptive
reminder or actually the part of redemptive history Christmas is not only
imposed upon us by the rum and imperial whore has no basis in biblical
understanding it’s actually to me in the front to the ministry that belongs to
the Jewish dispensation. Also holidays or associate with angelic power in a
form of submission to demons demons
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 23, 2020, at 8:44 PM, John Crowley <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Very good.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
<https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature>
On Wed, Dec 23, 2020 at 9:11 PM, mike mcinnis
<ratmotor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Greetings to all,
I am sending out this article by bro. Parks, which I find a great measure
of agreement with. I understand that this holiday is often the source of much
controversy both for and against. I fully understand the reasoning on both
sides of the issue. We are nowhere commanded to remember the LORD's birth,
most especially not in the fashion in which these festivities purport to do.
I personally try to avoid the trappings of this season as much as possible and
certainly do not promote such things. Having said that, I find no reason to be
on a crusade against the holidays and celebrations of men. We are in the world
but not of it by the grace of GOD. I would welcome anyone with a contrary view
to share it with us since that is why we have a "forum". " Let every man be
fully persuaded in his own mind." (Rom 14:5)
Blessings, mike
MAY THE LORD RICHLY BLESS CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!
I sometimes hear some men say they have nothing to do with Christmas because
idolatry is associated with it.
I applaud any man who has nothing to do with anything associated with
idolatry.
Well, I would if I could find such a man!
Trust me, such a man does not exist!
Every day of the week is named after an idolatrous god: Tuesday after Mars
(through a Germanic translation into Teiwaz); Wednesday after Odin; Thursday
after Thor; Friday after Frigg; Saturday after Saturn; Sunday and Monday after
celestial bodies worshiped by idolaters across the earth. Certainly he who has
nothing to do with any day associated with idolatry has no day!
Every month of the year is intimately associated with idolatry. January is
named after the god Janus. February is named after Februa, the ancient Roman
ritual of ritual purification later personified by the god Februus. March is
named after the god Mars. April was sacred to the goddess Venus. May is named
after the goddess Maia. June is generally said to have been named after the
goddess Juno (hence the popularity of this month for weddings). July is named
after Julius Caesar, who had a statue dedicated to him in the temple of
Quirinus in 45 BC on which was written “To the Invincible God”. August is named
after Caesar Augustus, who was declared to be a god by the Roman senate upon
his death in 14 AD. The fact that September, October, November, and December
are not named after gods, having instead names identifying them respectively as
the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth months, does not make them one whit
holier. Remember that every day in those months is named after an idolatrous
god. Also, those months have “holy days” (called holidays) designated by
idolaters.
Every time you look into the heavens you see planets named after
idolatrous gods such as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune,
also Ceres, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Pluto.
We who are gospel ministers obey our Lord’s commission to “Go into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) even though in so
doing we visit cities named after idolatrous gods.* Such places are no less
idolatrous than Corpus Christi (meaning Body of Christ) or Saint Croix (meaning
Holy Cross).
I will not castigate Paul the apostle for ministering in Athens (Acts
17:15ff), named after the goddess Athena; nor for not deserting that place when
“he saw that the city was given over to idols” (v.16); nor for accompanying
idolaters to the Areopagus (vv.19-32), named after the Greek god Ares. (The KJV
identifies this place as “Mars’ Hill” in v.22, named after the Roman god
equivalent to the Greek Ares.)
I assure you that Christians are at liberty to eat meat that was
sacrificed to an idol (1 Corinthians ch.8). But I exhort Christians to not use
their liberty in Christ in such a way as to offend the “weak” brother (as Paul
calls him in vv.7, 9, 10, 11, 12) who has scruples against such contact with
idolatry. You may remind him that “we know that an idol is nothing in the
world” (v.4).
I assure you that you will not become unsanctified if you travel on a
highway used by automobiles with idolatrous names such as Aurora, Mercury,
Saturn, or Taurus. Nor if you have contact with an ocean, which in Greek
mythology was personified as a Titan and ruled by the god Neptune/Poseidon.
Nor if you use the King James Version of the Holy Bible, in which the Greek
word for Passover in Acts 12:4 is mistranslated “Easter”, named for the
Chaldean goddess Astarte, Queen of Heaven.
I assure you that the Lord Jesus Christ was not tainted by idolatry when
He said “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Mark 12:17) even
though caesars were idolized by Romans as gods.
The fact of the matter at hand is that we live in an idolatrous world, for
“the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19). We must
ever obey the command to “keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). But he who
would have nothing whatsoever to do with anything associated with idolatry must
“go out of the world” – as Paul expressed it (1 Corinthians 5:10). That would
be contrary to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed that His people at
this present time not be taken “out of the world” (John 17:15). Be confident
that you may be “in the world” but not “of the world”, and that many things
idolatrous in name do not require the worship of the gods associated with them.
Therefore, if you are offered “Christmas” as a holiday, enjoy it. If you
are offered a “Christmas” bonus, spend it. If a merchant offers a “Christmas”
sale, shop. If you are offered a “Christmas” gift, accept it – and return the
favor. If you receive a “Christmas” card, read it. If you are invited to a
“Christmas” meal, eat. If you are offered a glass of “Christmas” eggnog, drink.
If you are invited to worship an idol, refuse. And “whether you eat or drink,
or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) – whether
the day be Christmas Day or the Lord’s Day!
If others wish to abominate everything associated with Christmas
(including all things cited in the preceding paragraph), let them. If others
judge you harshly for associating with Christmas, let them. If others do not
feel comfortable with exercising Christian liberty regarding Christmas things,
try not to offend them.
May the Lord richly bless Christmas to one and all! May He not withhold
blessing us during this season simply because it is associated with idolatry!
– DEP (2011.12.18)
~~~
* Cities in the USA bearing names of idolatrous gods include Achilles, Ajax,
Amazonia, Apollo, Argo, Argos, Arion, Athens, Atlanta, Atlantic, Atlas,
Atlasburg, Aurora, Castor, Calypso, Cassandra, Ceres, Clio, Daphne, Diana, Dike
/ Dyke, Echo, Elysian, Eros, Flora, Fortuna, Griffin, Hector, Helen / Helena /
Helenville, Hercules, Hesperia, Hesperus, Hymera, Irene, Iris, Juno, Jupiter,
Luna, Mars, Medusa, Mercury, Minerva, Neptune, Notus, Orestes, Orion, Pandora,
Paris, Penelope, Phoenix, Poseidon, Urania, Uranus, Venus, Vesta / Vestal,
Victoria, Vulcan, Zephyr, and Parthenon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight, O Jehovah,
my strength and my Redeemer.
(Psalm 19:14)
~~~
