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Luke 2:8-14
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
seems the angels celebrated the first Advent.
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
seems the angels celebrated the first Advent.
Well, that maybe, but they didn't celebrate it on the Saturnalia. Also, they were angels not Christians. The early Christians didn't celebrate Christ's birthday. Even so, it's still a holiday of men yet the feasts of God get ignored.
K
This is not speaking of a Christmas tree, but of crafting an idol to worship. Unless you worship your Christmas tree I think it's ok to have one. No matter what people came up with what traditions, any day is a good day to discuss anything that the bible speaks of. I feel Christmas is a good welcome mat to introduce to topic of Christ. There is nothing wrong with celebrating someone's birthday, or wedding, or baby showers. And it is ok to celebrate anything about Christ at any time. If He was never born He would never have died to save us- so what if people call it Christmas and Easter? To a christian every day is Christmas, and every Sunday is Easter. It ok for the worldly to recognize and celebrate Christ- it should be encouraged not discouraged. I see nothing against decorations in the bible. If I decorate for the seasons there is nothing biblically wrong with that- it's not a religious practice. God, His works, and His words should be the theme of our lives.
I don't think this is a trivial laughing matter, but something every Christian should study about, pray about, and look over carefully. Our entire country and church worship is built around Christmas and Easter, it is a tradition now that is so deeply embedded that to change it we would have to change the world and even much of our economic system! Don't you think it is worth exploring seriously? It isn't in scripture that we are told to celebrate the birthday of Christ that way, and it doesn't stand to reason that we should not celebrate the birth of our Lord as He spent time with us on this earth.
So what started it, is it part of what God wants us to do, does it promote Christianity?
I found that looking into this involved a LOT of work. How it started involved the thinking of the first Christian Fathers like Clements and Origen. The Roman emperor Constantine had a lot to do with it, and we have copies of letters and laws he wrote so we could follow his thinking. The first 500 years after Christ really were the years our traditions were set up. The councils of the church for the next years shows how our organized church progressed.
I am deep in a study of Ezra, and it is pointing out the parallels between how the church of that day changed worship practices to fit the needs of worship in Babylon and what it took to get worship back to how God had planned it to be. Perhaps that is the wrong approach to Ezra but it is very thought provoking, and I don't think it can be swept aside as impossible.
We know from scripture that the way is narrow that leads to eternal life. Our church today says that does not follow that God is love, grace is not dependent on walking a narrow road, our work is filthy rags. Those things they say are true, but so is the narrow road true.
So what started it, is it part of what God wants us to do, does it promote Christianity?
I found that looking into this involved a LOT of work. How it started involved the thinking of the first Christian Fathers like Clements and Origen. The Roman emperor Constantine had a lot to do with it, and we have copies of letters and laws he wrote so we could follow his thinking. The first 500 years after Christ really were the years our traditions were set up. The councils of the church for the next years shows how our organized church progressed.
I am deep in a study of Ezra, and it is pointing out the parallels between how the church of that day changed worship practices to fit the needs of worship in Babylon and what it took to get worship back to how God had planned it to be. Perhaps that is the wrong approach to Ezra but it is very thought provoking, and I don't think it can be swept aside as impossible.
We know from scripture that the way is narrow that leads to eternal life. Our church today says that does not follow that God is love, grace is not dependent on walking a narrow road, our work is filthy rags. Those things they say are true, but so is the narrow road true.
Yes but I can't help noticing that the verse about "in all things moderation" was written BEFORE the discovery of chocolate.
Oh aye, the Bible does in truth say that. So we are making idols of our trees, are we?
If you take verses out of context you can get anything you want out of the Bible, including "Mary had a little Lamb."
Oh aye, the Bible does in truth say that. So we are making idols of our trees, are we?
If you take verses out of context you can get anything you want out of the Bible, including "Mary had a little Lamb."
Yep, pagan origins. Christ was not born in December, it was most likely September. However, what was celebrated in December was the Roman Saturnalia, and the winter solstice. Pagan religions celebrated the winter solstice because it was the shortest day of the year, after that the day begin to get longer and they saw this a bringing new life.
The thing is if you look at Christmas and the different rituals involved it's pretty clear that they come from the world and not the Bible. While Jeremiah 10 isn't addressing this issue, Deuteronomy does. These are the instructions God gave to His people when they went into the Land.
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: {possess: or, inherit}
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. {overthrow: Heb. break down}
4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. (Deu 12:2-4 KJV)
The pagans used trees in worshiping their Gods, God told the Israelites, "you shall not do so".
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; {succeedest...: Heb. inheritest, or, possessest them}
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. {by...: Heb. after them}
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. (Deu 12:29-31 KJV)
He told them they were not to worship Him the way the pagans worshiped their gods. If you look at Christmas rituals you'll find many trace back to pagan worship.
The thing is if you look at Christmas and the different rituals involved it's pretty clear that they come from the world and not the Bible. While Jeremiah 10 isn't addressing this issue, Deuteronomy does. These are the instructions God gave to His people when they went into the Land.
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: {possess: or, inherit}
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. {overthrow: Heb. break down}
4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. (Deu 12:2-4 KJV)
The pagans used trees in worshiping their Gods, God told the Israelites, "you shall not do so".
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; {succeedest...: Heb. inheritest, or, possessest them}
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. {by...: Heb. after them}
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. (Deu 12:29-31 KJV)
He told them they were not to worship Him the way the pagans worshiped their gods. If you look at Christmas rituals you'll find many trace back to pagan worship.
As I said, why celebrate the holidays of men and ignore the feasts of the Lord. The feasts of the Lord are all about Christ. Look at the Passover, when the death angel came those who were under the blood were spared. Paul said that Christ is our Passover, when the judgment comes, those who are under Christ's blood will be speared. Jesus was crucified on the Passover.
The feast of First Fruits, this is when the Israelites brought a portion of the harvest to the Lord. Paul said that Christ is the First Fruits of the Resurrection
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1Co 15:20 NKJ)
Jesus raised from the dead on the day of "Firstfruits".
Fifty days later the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. He is called the Spirit of Christ.
These first three feasts are about Christ and God brought about these event on his feast days. There are three more feast days in the fall, Rosh Hashanah, the head of the year, Yom Kippor, the day of atonement, and Sukkot, the feast of Tabernacles. Rosh Hashanah, is the day of creation and likely the day on which Jesus was born, Yom Kippor is the day of atonement and the day that Christ will return. The last of the fall feasts is the feast of Tabernacles which is a festive celebration. What event is spoken of when Christ returns? It's the marriage supper of the Lamb, a festive event.
With all of the symbolism and God's bringing these event on these feast days shouldn't we be acknowledging them rather than the holidays of man?
The feast of First Fruits, this is when the Israelites brought a portion of the harvest to the Lord. Paul said that Christ is the First Fruits of the Resurrection
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1Co 15:20 NKJ)
Jesus raised from the dead on the day of "Firstfruits".
Fifty days later the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. He is called the Spirit of Christ.
These first three feasts are about Christ and God brought about these event on his feast days. There are three more feast days in the fall, Rosh Hashanah, the head of the year, Yom Kippor, the day of atonement, and Sukkot, the feast of Tabernacles. Rosh Hashanah, is the day of creation and likely the day on which Jesus was born, Yom Kippor is the day of atonement and the day that Christ will return. The last of the fall feasts is the feast of Tabernacles which is a festive celebration. What event is spoken of when Christ returns? It's the marriage supper of the Lamb, a festive event.
With all of the symbolism and God's bringing these event on these feast days shouldn't we be acknowledging them rather than the holidays of man?