By Pamela Rae Schuffert presenting investigative journalism from a Biblical Christian perspective-
Yes, of course I have done my research on this subject of the history of celebrating Christmas on December 25 (and the Orthodox Church a week later.)I realize that there are many articles out debunking "Christmas" and attempting to attribute all of the Christian celebration at this time of the year, to customs adapted from pre-Christian pagan customs.
There are those Christians who, having read such articles, no longer even take the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, neither at Christmas time or any other time of the year.
However, I wonder how many Christians realize that many of these articles actually originate from Christ-hating organizations and even pagans themselves, who hate the Christians celebration of the coming of the Son of God to this world. Such people will do anything to obliterate the name of JESUS CHRIST and His remembrance from the face of the world! And sadly, to eliminate His followers from the world scene as well.
The ACLU is notorious for this in America today. Some Jewish groups also work hard to discourage Christian celebration publicly of the birth of Jesus Christ. Sadly, such groups will attempt to use every tactic to remove the very remembrance of Jesus Christ from society today.
http://beforeitsnews.com/strange/2012/12/society-gripped-by-christ-hating-cult-2446160.html
There is an old expression, "don't throw out the baby with the bath water!" I would like to add to that my own version, "Don't throw out celebrating 'Jesus Christ come to earth' along with pagan traditions commonly associated with Winter Solstice." Don't throw out the Baby Jesus with the bathwater!
Pre-Christian cultures frequently had ceremonies and rituals celebrating the darkest time of the year, Winter Solstice. And there remains those who refuse to embrace Jesus as Lord and continue to follow such abominable practices to this very day. Such practices include cruel human sacrifice and devil worship...sin that Jesus Christ came to utterly obliterate from the world!
I personally find it very appropriate to celebrate the birth of the Light of the World, at the darkest time of the year annually, Winter Solstice. "I Am the light of the world..."declared Jesus the Christ to His followers. Jesus Christ came to dispel the darkness and sin of this world, to bring an end to dark pagan beliefs, and to replace the darkness with the LIGHT OF LIFE.
Typically, in the pre-Christian era, solstice was the darkest time of the year, and celebrated by pagan cults such as the Druids, with horrific human sacrifice rituals. It was a time of death. Sadly, for those who refuse to be liberated from the darkness and continue in satanism and the occult, winter Solstice remains a time of horror and death, as satan is worshiped by his followers with human sacrifice victims to this very day. Jesus Christ was sent in to the world to change all of this.
However, for true Christians, this can be a special time of the year for Christians to shine forth His love and light throughout the world, and to spend much time in prayer against all abominable occult practices and the activities of those who continue to REJECT the light of the world and choose to follow an abomination instead.
Spreading the light of His love throughout the world
This is a time to meditate on the meaning of "Jesus, the Light of the World," and how WE His followers are commanded to shine forth His light, reaching into the uttermost corners of this dark world today. Thank God for missionaries who do just that!
The Bible declares that "Jesus Christ was manifested to DESTROY the works of the devil." The light of Jesus Christ is meant to destroy the darkness in the world created by satan and sinners alike, and to set the lost sinner free. Jesus came to liberate this world from the darkness!
Therefore, how appropriate to glorify and honor Jesus Christ near the time of winter solstice, as the holy Destroyer of the darkness and subsequent Liberator of mankind from that terrible darkness.
I choose to celebrate Jesus Christ's first coming to this world at this time of the year, in a way that glorifies Him and ministers life to others. I have no pagan customs I observe at this season...no "yule log" to burn....no disgusting worldly figure called "Santa" who steals the attention from children at this holy season (how God hates that which is a lie and steals the glory and attention from HIM!)
I have studied pagan and occult customs associated with winter solstice season, and none of those rituals are ever a part of my celebration of Jesus' birth. These are all a part of pre-Christian pagan customs that have no place in the life of a Christian.
None of my Christian associates practice pre-Christian pagan customs, either, when they celebrate the birth of Jesus at this time of the year. Many of their churches glorify Jesus with special music presentations or plays glorifying God and presenting Jesus to their communities. This is well pleasing to God, and brings joy to the heart of Jesus Christ as well! Whenever God is glorified and Jesus Christ is preached, including at Christmastime, the will of God is being done on earth.
Rather, it is what mankind does with God's creation that either sanctifies it or renders it unholy. When a pagan takes a tree and turns it into an abominable idol, that poor tree is then defiled. But when a Christian takes God's creation and uses it for His glory and to remind them of His Son and His gift, this becomes pleasing to God.
Biblical symbolism can be seen throughout God's wonderful creation, just as God intended. At Passover/Resurrection time, people bring the lily in their homes to symbolize Jesus and His resurrection.
For me, the evergreen tree serves as a reminder of Jesus the bringer of EVERLASTING LIFE.
While other deciduous trees appear dead for all practical purposes in the middle of winter, stripped of their once green leaves, the exuberant coniferous EVERGREEN TREE appears living and vibrant, it's sturdy green needles filled with life and exuding that invigorating coniferous scent that thrills our senses.
As the Apostle Paul stated in Holy Scriptures, to the pure, all things are pure. It is what we do with God's creation that either sanctifies it or renders it defiled and sinful.
None of my born-again Christian friends who celebrate the birth of the Son of God, have pagan practices in their celebrations, either. Rather, they are busy ministering in His Name to the homeless and the hungry, showing Christ's love in many wonderful ways to a lost and perishing world today. They are spending time in prayer for the salvation of many.
Last Christmas season, I even dared to brave the cold in Montana and rang bells for SALVATION ARMY. And yes, they DO use their funds to clothe and feed the homeless and destitute and to preach the Gospel. Their winter clothing saved me from freezing one winter in Montana, in fact. Their outreach continues to this day to touch the lives of millions of people in need.
God is always pleased when His children seek to glorify Him and magnify His Son to the world, openly and publicly. God is pleased when His people sing songs of praise to Him, glorifying the coming of the son of God to earth. God cannot never be displeased with a true and holy CHRISTIAN CHRISTMAS season of honoring Him and His dear Son!
Therefore, it is utterly appropriate to choose a special day of the year, in which to celebrate both publicly and privately in our homes the birth of the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, Jesus Christ.
We show honor to earthly beings of note and fame by setting aside their birthdays with which to remember them. How much more should we do so for the Son of God and Savior of the world?
However, I will admit that I personally have zero tolerance for what the business world has cleverly created to promote their disgusting materialism for the Christmas season, "Santa Claus."
Historically, Saint Nicholas was a fine Christian and considered to be a saint. As time went on, his name was reduced to "Santa Claus," an abbreviated form of SAINT NICHOLAS. And of course, big business just HAD to seize upon this traditional figure representing kindness and giving gifts, and turn it into a secular figure to promote materialism and selling/buying at Christmastime.
"SANTA CLAUS" of today has sadly evolved into what must be an abomination in the sight of Almighty God. His word declares that mankind shall have no other gods before HIM.
One popular Christmas song, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town, " attributes to this mythical figure the divine attributes of OMNISCIENCE: "He sees you when you're sleeping...he knows when you're awake...he knows if you've been bad or good....Santa Claus is coming!"
Yet only Almighty God has this divine ability! And the power to eternally reward the good and punish the disobedient.
ALMIGHTY GOD is that true eternal GIFT GIVER! He alone knows if we have been "naughty or nice." Beware of "Santa the deception" and usurper of the glory, attention, and the attributes to Almighty God alone during the Christmas season!
One teacher shared in my Bible college one year, a disturbing account about his granddaughter at Christmastime. She said to him, "Mommy told me Santa is just pretend...not real. Does that mean that JESUS is pretend and not real too???"
How can small children discern the truth about Jesus Christ, if parents lie to them about Santa Claus and HIS alleged magical or "divine" attributes???
Again, does not the Bible teach that "...and ALL LIARS shall have their part in the lake of fire"? We need to believe the word of God, and act on it!
The focus of Christian families and children at Christmas time (and ALWAYS)should be upon JESUS CHRIST, God's greatest gift to the world.
"For God so loved the world that HE GAVE His only begotten Son..."
And Jesus Christ remains the GIVER of eternal life and eternal gifts and graces that can never be taken away. HE is what TRUE CHRISTMAS is all about forevermore!
Satan himself is behind the "Santa" deception. Re-arrange the letters to "SANTA" ...and what do you have? SATAN!
The Communists like this "Santa" deception too. Whenever godless Communists take over any nation, they immediately seek to replace Christian holidays ("Holy days") with secular celebrations mimicking them, BUT deliberately leaving out God and Jesus Christ, and inserting a secular figure in the place of Jesus.
Sure, the Communists will let people celebrate at that time or their religious holidays, but ONLY with secular traditions and symbols replacing the religious. And this is exactly what America's communists and Christ-haters have been working hard to do for decades, non-stop, behind the scenes.
Don't fall for it! Take the time to celebrate a holy,
God-glorifying Christmas
by magnifying Jesus Christ,
"the REASON for the SEASON!"
God-glorifying Christmas
by magnifying Jesus Christ,
"the REASON for the SEASON!"
Let us all go forth at this time and shed His light and His love in your world around us.
Take the time to share God's salvation plan with the lost. Pray for the sick.
Comfort those who are suffering.
Help feed the hungry and the homeless.
Take the time to share God's salvation plan with the lost. Pray for the sick.
Comfort those who are suffering.
Help feed the hungry and the homeless.
Let us worship the Living God
in our places of Christian fellowship,
and thank Him for sending
His Son to this world!
in our places of Christian fellowship,
and thank Him for sending
His Son to this world!
And as you follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, manifesting His love and truth,
you WILL then enjoy a very blessed,
you WILL then enjoy a very blessed,
Holy Christmas Season!
-God's richest blessings to you ALL,
both at this holy Christmas season
and always,
through
Jesus Christ His Son.
both at this holy Christmas season
and always,
through
Jesus Christ His Son.
~Pamela Rae Schuffert~
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