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I recently received a book called "Christmas Reconsidered" by Ralph Woodrow.
Ralph wrote a book against Christmas observances long ago, which was used by various cultic organizations such as Worldwide Church of God. I was a member of Worldwide Church of God and believed their doctrines including the anti-Christmas stance for about 10 years. There are similar organizations nowadays called Restored Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God, Living Church of God and United Church of God which teach the same things. Their bad doctrines include the belief that they are going to become literal Gods in the resurrection with the full power of God the Father and Jesus Christ, and that other Christians are unsaved and are still in their sins.
Ralph's initial book was quoted extensively by Armstrongites.
This issue regarding Christmas is a peripheral one, and doesn't determine whether one is a Christian. I have no issue if someone holds the view that Christmas is pagan at its roots and should not be observed.
However, I would point out the following:
Regarding the book, here's the link to Ralph's site where you can purchase it..he also has one on Easter and one on Divorce and Remarriage that I ordered recently:
Ralph Woodrow Evangelistic Association
Some major points:
I will add a few more points:
In summary, though, I suggest that you consider the fruits of your own life before throwing stones on this issue. If you are a person who is not part of a corporate fellowship which extolls Jesus Christ and salvation by faith in Him as the main message, you are not qualified to be criticizing the rest of Christianity. In fact you are in rebellion against God if you are not part of a corporate fellowship, and have not been baptized and are not receiving communion in the body of believers. Placing one under the authority of elders within the local church is a fundamental expectation regarding believers.
Those who are casting stones on this issue yet are failing to follow these basic Scriptural mandates are like the Pharisees who strain at gnats and swallow camels. They really aren't worthy of listening to, as they are in rebellion against clear Scriptural teaching and have issues to resolve in their own lives. Part of the unconverted mind is rejection of God's guidance and instruction and pursuing an autonomous lifestyle apart from God and other believers..I think some Christians are still trying to live that autonomous lifestyle at some level and their rejection of corporate fellowship is a sign of the remaining remnants of that way of thinking.
I realize there's many who are sound believers and are in corporate fellowship and submitting to church leadership who hold this view of Christmas, though..I have no issue with them..in fact I can sympathize at a certain level as I've held the same position. I'd simply ask if Jesus is your main focus in life and he very well may be. These are issues we can disagree on per Romans 14.
Christian chat rooms are not the same as corporate fellowship..as fantastic as this place is for supplemental fellowship, there is no accountability here. It is a joke to claim otherwise. The wonkiness of all the ideas expressed here bear testimony to that.
Ralph wrote a book against Christmas observances long ago, which was used by various cultic organizations such as Worldwide Church of God. I was a member of Worldwide Church of God and believed their doctrines including the anti-Christmas stance for about 10 years. There are similar organizations nowadays called Restored Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God, Living Church of God and United Church of God which teach the same things. Their bad doctrines include the belief that they are going to become literal Gods in the resurrection with the full power of God the Father and Jesus Christ, and that other Christians are unsaved and are still in their sins.
Ralph's initial book was quoted extensively by Armstrongites.
This issue regarding Christmas is a peripheral one, and doesn't determine whether one is a Christian. I have no issue if someone holds the view that Christmas is pagan at its roots and should not be observed.
However, I would point out the following:
- Individuals who hold these views tend to be wonky in other areas of their theology, casting evil suspicions on other aspects of Christianity...I know the Armstrongites did this. The doctrine of the Trinity and the Saturday/Sunday issue are a few more examples of such thinking.
- Individuals who hold these views quite often are not in a healthy corporate fellowship themselves, and are not submitting to church authority of any kind. Scripture is very clear in teaching that we are to be in fellowship with other believers AND we are to be submitting to church authority. The context of the Christian life is within the confines of the Church, and it is a face-to face relationship with other believers where we partake of communion and baptism and church discipline when needed. I know that some individuals are shut-ins or are under unique situations which do not allow for this at times, but this is mostly certainly and undeniably the Scriptural model. You will find that many of these who are so loud at proclaiming these wonky beliefs isolate themselves from fellowship as they have the mentality that the rest of Christianity is "Babylon". By the way I notice a similar trait amongst sinless perfectionists.
- Individuals who hold these views are often unsound and unbalanced in their thinking. They speak often of conspiracy theories within the government, etcetera, and look for villains behind every corner. To be honest, I find way too much of this sort of thinking in the forums and the chat room. In fact, if I was not already a Christian who had experienced a genuine encounter with God, I would probably never consider Christianity based on these views that I've seen expressed in both forums, and I constantly tell seekers to realize that the people here don't represent the normal Christian worldview that one would find in a sound church. Few of the people in my congregation, if any, would be fixated on such nonsense.
Regarding the book, here's the link to Ralph's site where you can purchase it..he also has one on Easter and one on Divorce and Remarriage that I ordered recently:
Ralph Woodrow Evangelistic Association
Some major points:
- Many of those who hold such beliefs are more known by what they DON'T believe, not what they do believe..for instance, you may hear them loudly proclaiming how Christmas is pagan, but do they just as loudly proclaim that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Light?
- The churches which hold such beliefs, by Ralph's experience, are no more spiritually fruitful than those who do not. And he has spoken at churches of both types.
- Anti-Christmas people end up finding themselves on the same side as atheists who desire to keep such things out of school...atheists desire to keep such things out because they hate God.
- The reasoning that Christmas is not found in the Bible is poor reasoning..many things that are part of Christian life are not found in the bible..for instance a Christian pastor officiating at a wedding is not found in the Bible.
- There are incidences of Israelites having days that they designated for worship in Scripture including the four days that were observed by Israelites regarding Jepthah's daughter (Judges 11:40), one related to the deliverance of the Jews in Esthers' time (Esther 9:19), the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22, 23), and various fasts mentioned in Zech 8:19.
- The idea that Santa is "Satan" with a slightly different spelling is a juvenile and foolish argument.
- The idea that Christmas is Nimrod's birthday Is a similar juvenile and foolish argument..how do they get that from the scant information provided in Scripture concerning Nimrod?
- Jeremiah 10 does not describe a Christmas tree like some claim it does..it is talking about an idol..read verse 18. How many Christmas trees are dressed up in violet and purple? How many are expected to talk like a man?
- Do Christians worship Christmas trees? How silly is this accusation...they throw them out for the trash man to collect afterwards.
- The Christmas tree actually only dates back a few centuries, and the origin more likely points to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. The ornaments on it are associated with the fruit of the tree of life.
I will add a few more points:
- The idea that it is wrong to celebrate birthdays of any type often is part of the reasoning of Christmas observers. I will point out that within the Old Covenant festivals was one called the Feast of Tabernacles. Sabbath/festival keepers claim this primarily symbolizes the Millennium, but I contend that it symbolized the Incarnation, and is very much an observance of the birthday of Jesus Christ. In fact, I don't think their view that it is referring to the Millennium is sustainable. Their reply will be that if I hold this position, why don't I observe the Feast of Tabernacles instead? I would have no issue with this observance although it isn't a requirement because the Old Covenant is not in effect per II Cor 3, Gal 3 and 4 Romans 7:1-7, and Hebrews 8 and 9. The reason why I don't associate with groups that teach these observances is because they are mostly Arminian and also hold very bad theology in other areas..quite often being very judgmental against other Christians deeming them to be unsaved or spiritually inferior or being in sin due to their non-observance of the elements that they declare as still applicable, namely Sabbath, Holy Days, and clean/unclean meats. They are also inconsistent as they don't observe the entire Old Covenant themselves...for instance they don't throw their wives, daughters and mothers in the garage during their monthly uncleanness or throw away sofas they've sat upon during that period.
- I see a parallel with the "meat sacrificed to idols" situation. Christians were allowed to eat meat sacrificed to idols. The fact that something had a previous association with paganism does not mean that it cannot be repurposed by a Christian for his own use. Christmas may have had some pagan associations with some of the customs but do those things mean that a Christian cannot repurpose the day in a manner that is honoring to God? People have come to Christ through being invited to Christmas plays where a presentation of the gospel message has occurred. Same with Easter..in fact, the message of salvation is ALWAYS the theme of our Easter day message.
In summary, though, I suggest that you consider the fruits of your own life before throwing stones on this issue. If you are a person who is not part of a corporate fellowship which extolls Jesus Christ and salvation by faith in Him as the main message, you are not qualified to be criticizing the rest of Christianity. In fact you are in rebellion against God if you are not part of a corporate fellowship, and have not been baptized and are not receiving communion in the body of believers. Placing one under the authority of elders within the local church is a fundamental expectation regarding believers.
Those who are casting stones on this issue yet are failing to follow these basic Scriptural mandates are like the Pharisees who strain at gnats and swallow camels. They really aren't worthy of listening to, as they are in rebellion against clear Scriptural teaching and have issues to resolve in their own lives. Part of the unconverted mind is rejection of God's guidance and instruction and pursuing an autonomous lifestyle apart from God and other believers..I think some Christians are still trying to live that autonomous lifestyle at some level and their rejection of corporate fellowship is a sign of the remaining remnants of that way of thinking.
I realize there's many who are sound believers and are in corporate fellowship and submitting to church leadership who hold this view of Christmas, though..I have no issue with them..in fact I can sympathize at a certain level as I've held the same position. I'd simply ask if Jesus is your main focus in life and he very well may be. These are issues we can disagree on per Romans 14.
Christian chat rooms are not the same as corporate fellowship..as fantastic as this place is for supplemental fellowship, there is no accountability here. It is a joke to claim otherwise. The wonkiness of all the ideas expressed here bear testimony to that.
