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Hello, this is my first December season after having read the Bible and I am unsure about celebrating Christmas. Isn't it a pagan tradition? I remember reading Jeremiah 10:3-4 and thinking about this issue.
Personally at this moment, I feel christmas has nothing to do with Jesus and according to Jer 10, a christmas tree is a pagan practice that gentiles practice.
What are your thoughts on Christians celebrating this day?
Great question!Hello, this is my first December season after having read the Bible and I am unsure about celebrating Christmas. Isn't it a pagan tradition? I remember reading Jeremiah 10:3-4 and thinking about this issue.
Personally at this moment, I feel christmas has nothing to do with Jesus and according to Jer 10, a christmas tree is a pagan practice that gentiles practice.
What are your thoughts on Christians celebrating this day?
Great question!
Deuteronomy 12:31 - "You must not worship the LORD your God in their (pagan/Gentile) way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods."
Deuteronomy 12:2-4 - "Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills and under every spreading tree, where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. Break down their (pagan/Gentile) altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places. YOU MUST NOT WORSHIP THE LORD GOD IN THEIR (pagan/Gentile) WAY."
Many will say that it's okay to observe Christmas because "God knows the intent of my heart". But, consider: Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?".
Here's a video that I would highly recommend watching that may help shed some new light on whether to observe Christmas or not. It makes a very convincing case, in my opinion.
Who says you need to have a Christmas tree to thank God for his birth?
The paganism of Christmas goes far beyond the Christmas tree.
1) the Winter Solstice - Christmas grew out of Saturnalia which grew out of the Winter Solstice.
2) the false god Saturn - Santa is very similar to depictions and characteristics of Saturn.
The Roman Catholic Church was the one who created Christmas (the Christ-mass) by blending pagan Winter Solstice traditions with the Son of God.
Here's a video that I would highly recommend watching that may help shed some new light on whether to observe Christmas or not. It makes a very convincing case, in my opinion.
It is true the date has its pagan beginnings. however when scripture tells us not to worship Our God in the way the pagans worship their gods it is talking about detestable practices such as sacrificing your children or wedgies on the temple steps. It is not talking about honoring the birth of our Lord and savior.I'd like to add here. A few years ago I wondered the same thing but for different reasons. I prayed and asked the Lord how I could observe the day in a way that honors Him. Then I found out what the day is about. It comes from the pagan worship of Saturnalia. The Roman Catholic Church made this a "Christian" holiday so that the pagans could "convert" but still keep their days. So no, we should not celebrate this day. When the pilgrims first came to America, celebrating the day was outlawed. Gradually, it came back into practice.
The Lord tells us not to learn the way of the heathen/pagan. But our country is in a state of declension and backsliding from the Lord, just as ancient Israel was. Yes, God DOES care about these things. The Lord does not take kindly to us bringing pagan symbols into our home, and it's not about "what's in our heart." The Old Testament gives very specific details about how the Lord is to be worshipped. Nadab and Abihu were killed for offering "strange fire." Our God is merciful, but He has not changed. I believe there are many who are ignorant about this day and its roots. But once you know, I believe there is a choice to be made - the world, with its pagan and worldly celebrations and customs, or Christ and worshipping Him rightly.
I had to tell my family I wasn't celebrating a few days before Christmas a few years ago. They thought it was weird. But they are respectful now. But mostly, I want to be pleasing to the Lord. I fail miserably everyday because of sin, sadly, but I am hoping in His grace.
Hope that helps.
The True Origin of Christmas
That should say "orgies" on the temple steps not wedgies, lol.It is true the date has its pagan beginnings. however when scripture tells us not to worship Our God in the way the pagans worship their gods it is talking about detestable practices such as sacrificing your children or wedgies on the temple steps. It is not talking about honoring the birth of our Lord and savior.
Below I have quoted 3 secular(unbiased) sources that confirm the Pagan roots of Christmas- I do not believe people are spreading false information they are just trying not to be deceived or allow other Brothers and Sisters in Christ to be deceived.Fact check:
False. The Christmas tree is a germanic Christian custom of charity. Originally the ornaments were edible alms for the poor, with a few gold-colored ones to remember St. Nicholas (more on that below). Before there were trees the custom was to leave alms or gifts in untended shoes or socks (which later evolved into stockings [drying] on the hearth).
False. Christmas was never on the Winter Solstice (which is December 20-23 depending on the year), and the earlier date for it was January 6th. The date was calculated relative to Pascha/Easter and it is completely unrelated to Saturnalia.
False. "Santa Claus" is a Germanic folk depiction of St. Nicholas of Myra, a Christian Bishop who was present at the Council of Nicea, known for his acts of Christian charity and gift giving. He was a real person. We have his remains. Here is what he looked like based on a forensic reconstruction of his skull:
Part of his story was that he paid the dowries of poor young women so that they could marry. In some depictions the gold coins of the dowries were replaced with (or just misinterpreted as) gold balls – and that's where Christmas ornaments, especially Christmas tree ornaments, originate from: An act of Christian charity.
False. Christmas was celebrated way before the schism that made the Catholic and Orthodox churches and eventually fractured Christianity into its modern denominations. The Church celebrated Christmas. It was and is a Christian practice.
Please do not spread false information.
Eaxactly. Are we only allowed to celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior on any day other than December 25th? Are we giving up and giving that day to the pagans? I don't think so. We use it that day because "what you meant for evil God meant for good." We are told in scripture not to honor our God and celebrate our God in the way the pagans do when we take over their lands. But if you read all those ways are the detestable ways to God such as orgies on the temple steps and such as sacrificing your children. It's not talking about giving Christmas presents to your loved ones. Gresham, get a grip people and relax.So, according to your understanding, we Christians are not allowed to celebrate the birthday anniversary of our Savior Jesus Christ because some pagans celebrated the supposed birthday(s) of their god(s) on this same day of the year, in this case, December 25th?
Do you celebrate your birthday anniversary or the birthday anniversaries of any of your family members? If so, what if their birth dates were on the same dates as some ancient pagan deities' birth dates or feast days? Are you thereby guilty of celebrating the fake gods' birthday anniversaries or feast days because you are celebrating on these days? I don't think so! There are only 365/366 days in every year and all events in every year have to happen on one of these days.
Every day is created and owned by God. What a person does on each of God's days is what is important. To worship the True God on each and every day is very good. To worship a fake god on even one day is evil.
Romans 14:5-6I will celebrate the feast days of Christmas and Resurrection Sunday each year until I die. This will be pleasing to God because I am honoring His Son in special ways on these days.
One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. rsv
Sukkot: Much of the imagery and ritual of the holiday revolves around rejoicing and thanking God for the completed harvest.
The OT Sukkot is merely the shadow of a better thing to come. We Christians will not be celebrating the Jewish Sukkot in the kingdom of God. The "harvest festival" that all Christians will participate in after the return of Jesus is called the "Marriage Feast/Supper of the Lamb." This is the feast that all believers will participate in for eternity.
Matthew 22:2
“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, rsv
Revelation 19:7
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride (Church) has made herself ready; rsv
Revelation 19:9
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” rsv
That should say "we usurped that day"Eaxactly. Are we only allowed to celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior on any day other than December 25th? Are we giving up and giving that day to the pagans? I don't think so. We use it that day because "what you meant for evil God meant for good." We are told in scripture not to honor our God and celebrate our God in the way the pagans do when we take over their lands. But if you read all those ways are the detestable ways to God such as orgies on the temple steps and such as sacrificing your children. It's not talking about giving Christmas presents to your loved ones. Gresham, get a grip people and relax.
Below I have quoted 3 secular(unbiased) sources that confirm the Pagan roots of Christmas- I do not believe people are spreading false information they are just trying not to be deceived or allow other Brothers and Sisters in Christ to be deceived.
The same people who were at the First Council of Nicea celebrated the Nativity of Christ
Marriage is a union between a man and a woman, often before the procreation and birth of their children. I do not find Jesus preached he was engaged to a church full of men, women and children, nor about a wedding feast or honeymoon with its members.
Matthew 22:30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God's angels in heaven."
As for the topic of Christmas suspected of being a pagan holiday, no, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
I am sure that you have an amazing love for Christ and when you do Christmas you are sincere about honoring Him, however it is not how He asked for us to honor Him.
I am not worshiping God when I celebrate a birthday or anniversary for a family member. He specifically said not to worship Him in those ways because all abominations have been done in those ways including sacrificing children in the fire Deuteronomy 12:31. He says He hates it, why would you choose do something He hates? He is the one being worshiped, don't you think its a good idea if we worship Him how He wants to be worshiped instead of how WE want to worship Him?
Christians will not be keeping Sukkot? I would greatly encourage you to re-read Zachariah 14 "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles" Zachariah 14:16
The sources you cited don't quite state what you think they do, and some have also made common mistakes.
Notice how, in the Encyclopedia Britannica, after it shows the historical precedent for December 25th by Sextus Julius Africanus, it prefaces the rest of the discussion with "One widespread explanation" not that this was actually the case. It even follows it up with "One of the difficulties with this view is that it suggests a nonchalant willingness on the part of the Christian church to appropriate a pagan festival when the early church was so intent on distinguishing itself categorically from pagan beliefs and practices."
In other words the Encyclopedia Britannica is mentioning the belief because of its prominence but doesn't endorse the connection due to problems with it.
Encyclopedia.com doesn't actually cite evidence for how it is "evident" that the early Christian Fathers were struggling for "psychological supremacy" resorting to "expropriation." (In fact that's the exact opposite of what the Encyclopedia Britanica states in its conclusion.) That raises all sorts of red flags and requires some serious evidence. None is given. No primary sources (they only cite tertiary at best). No discussion of any of the Early Church Fathers' writings. Exceptional claims made without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
Finally, Wikipedia. Wikipedia *is* admittedly biased. But that's a systemic problem.With what you've cited, however: It first states that the dating of December 25 predates pagan influence (which does not help your case) and then it makes some curious claims including Mithras and other practices. Roger Beck, one of the foremost authorities on Mithraic studies, calls assertions of similarities between Christmas and Mithraism the "hoariest of facts" without any hint of proof. The rest of what you cited is actually in support of Christmas being independent from any pagan festivals with the discussion of differing dates between the East and West. The rest of the live article on Christmas needs a serious cleanup, as there are lots of claims whose "sources" don't actually link anywhere or don't actually say what's cited (more of the same sort of myths, too, like that December 25th was the solstice – it was not).
I am sure you have a heart for Christ, I just do not think this Christmas thing is truth.The sources you cited don't quite state what you think they do, and some have also made common mistakes.
Notice how, in the Encyclopedia Britannica, after it shows the historical precedent for December 25th by Sextus Julius Africanus, it prefaces the rest of the discussion with "One widespread explanation" not that this was actually the case. It even follows it up with "One of the difficulties with this view is that it suggests a nonchalant willingness on the part of the Christian church to appropriate a pagan festival when the early church was so intent on distinguishing itself categorically from pagan beliefs and practices."
In other words the Encyclopedia Britannica is mentioning the belief because of its prominence but doesn't endorse the connection due to problems with it.
Encyclopedia.com doesn't actually cite evidence for how it is "evident" that the early Christian Fathers were struggling for "psychological supremacy" resorting to "expropriation." (In fact that's the exact opposite of what the Encyclopedia Britanica states in its conclusion.) That raises all sorts of red flags and requires some serious evidence. None is given. No primary sources (they only cite tertiary at best). No discussion of any of the Early Church Fathers' writings. Exceptional claims made without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
Finally, Wikipedia. Wikipedia *is* admittedly biased. But that's a systemic problem.With what you've cited, however: It first states that the dating of December 25 predates pagan influence (which does not help your case) and then it makes some curious claims including Mithras and other practices. Roger Beck, one of the foremost authorities on Mithraic studies, calls assertions of similarities between Christmas and Mithraism the "hoariest of facts" without any hint of proof. The rest of what you cited is actually in support of Christmas being independent from any pagan festivals with the discussion of differing dates between the East and West. The rest of the live article on Christmas needs a serious cleanup, as there are lots of claims whose "sources" don't actually link anywhere or don't actually say what's cited (more of the same sort of myths, too, like that December 25th was the solstice – it was not).
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