PDF Christmas

Christmas:

Tradition or Truth? Ritual or Relationship?

Tradition or Truth?

? Most of what we witness during Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus' birth.

? In fact, most customs and traditions of Christmas actually pre-date the birth of Jesus, and many of them are deceptive (and occultic) in meaning and origin.

? "Christmas" from two words "Christ" (From Greek, Anointed One, Messiah [Mashiach] in Hebrew), and "Mass" (celebration).

? Christmas supposed to be celebration of Jesus, hardly what it is today for most people.

Tradition or Truth?

? PLEASE DON'T THROW ROTTEN TOMATOS! Not presenting this to make you stop celebrating Christmas, or even stop using all the pagan-originated trappings of Christmas.

? God looks upon the heart. But when we decorate homes, give gifts, or play along with Santa Claus, or do any other traditional pagan originated rituals, we need to understand these things originated from pagan rituals and traditions. Not part of "Christian" celebration of His birth.

? To educate, turn hearts toward Him. Let HIM decide how, and what, you celebrate.

Early Church

? Christmas not celebrated, commemorated, or observed, either by apostles or in early church.

? Celebration of birth of Jesus not a Biblical command, or even mention. Not ordained feast or holiday. No mention of date of His birth.

? Early believers praised a risen, glorified Messiah, not a baby in a manger.

? Was not even an issue until time of Constantine, and Roman "hijacking" of Christian faith, combined with pagan rituals.

Early Church

"The Two Babylons, or The Papal Worship Proved to be the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife" By Rev. Alexander Hislop First published as pamphlet in 1853

"...within the Christian Church no such festival as Christmas was ever heard of till the third century, and...not till the fourth century was far advanced did it gain much observance. ...Long before the fourth century, and long before the Christian era itself, a festival was celebrated among the heathen, at that precise time of the year, in honour of the birth of the son of the Babylonian queen of heaven; and it may fairly be presumed that, in order to conciliate the heathen, and to swell the number of nominal adherents of Christianity, the same festival was adopted by the Roman Church, giving it the name of Christ."

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