There are many religions in the world who call themselves 'christian' but
there is only one Christian organization that is actually cleansing itself
of all pagan ritualistic defilement. The facts regarding xmas are common
knowledge to all educated religious leaders, so why don't they cleanse their
worship? It is a very important question to ask...why is the united worlwide
organization of Christians known as Jehovah's Witnesses the only Christian
organization endeavoring to correct past mistakes and cleanse their worship
of all paganistic defilement? For those who are not yet familiar with the
well known facts about xmas, here is some information, *not* from Jehovah's
Witnesses but from *other* religious scholars and theologians...
Outside of the Word of God there is no truth (John 14:6), yet Christians
today are too lazy to "Prove all things" (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22), and try
the spirits (I John 4:1-5). It is only by searching the scriptures that we
can assure ourselves of fact, truth, and protection from deception (Acts
17:11). Do not be deceived by the vain words of men (Ephesians 5:6-11). We
must not substitute views, opinions, emotions or feelings, for Word of God.
If we please men then we should not be the servants of Jesus Christ
(Galatians 1:10).
Every feast, holy day or ceremonial observation for the glory of the Lord,
was always written in the Word of God, and our Heavenly Father always gave
instructions on how to do it. For religious commemorations or celebrations,
we must have a Biblical command or precedent. We are told in Deuteronomy
12:29-32, that not only did God want to prevent His people from being
enticed to worship false gods, by telling them to destroy all vestiges of
pagan worship that they found in the "Promised Land.", but He specifically
revealed that He did not want His people to worship Him in the same manner
in which the heathen worshiped their gods. Our Lord is displeased by
practices which profess to honor Him, but which are copied from the
tradition of false religions. God commanded them to worship Him only in the
way He commands, not to add to them nor take away from them.
The sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, were slain in the temple for offering up
"strange fire" before the Lord God (Leviticus 10:1,2; Numbers 3:4 & 26:61).
Strange fire is offering something to God that He has not asked for, does
not receive, does not observe, it is worshiping God your way (how you think
He should be worshipped), instead of Gods way. Saul disobeyed God's prophet
in order to worship God in his way (1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-9, 21-23). Is not the
celebration of Christmas, with all its pagan symbols and forms, one of man's
ways of worshiping Christ, a "strange fire" unto the Lord, a form of worship
contrary to what God commands? If we truly love Jesus we will keep His word
and offer no strange fire before Him. (John 14:15, 23; Luke 6:46)
Exposing the Lies:
Did the orginal Apostles - our spiritual fathers and foundation in the faith
and those who knew Jesus personally, ever teach or celebrate His birthday?
FACT-There is no Biblical warrant, precedent, nor precept for the
remembrance of the day of Christ's birth as a day of special religious
celebration. The early church did not celebrate Christ's birth, such
celebrations only came into the church with the "Christianization" of pagan
rites as Catholicism was made the state religion by Constantine in the
fourth century A.D. The Word of God does not support the tradition of
Christmas.
But didn't the Angels and Shepherds come and worship Him?
FACT-No, they did not. If you will read your Bible in Luke 2:13-20, you will
see that when the Angels announced this to the shepherds, they (the Angels)
glorified "God in the highest" (v14), in other words, the Heavenly Father,
and the Shepherds returned (from Bethlehem), "glorifying and praising God,
for all the things that they had heard and seen" (v20).
[Note: For background on why it was Bethlehem, study the Book of Ruth]
Did not the three wise men come and worship Jesus in the manger? And did not
the three wise men give gifts to Him when he was born?
[Note: Wise men is a translation of the Greek word magoi, the ancient Greek
transliteration of the Persian original for a select sect of priests. The
word 'magic' comes from the same root. Magi is the Latinized form.
The Magi were a hereditary priesthood of the Medes credited with
extraordinary religious knowledge. After some Magi, who had been attached to
the Median court, proved to be expert in the interpretation of dreams,
Darius the Great established them over the state religion of Persia.
(Oneiromancy, not astrology, is the key skill mentioned by Herodotus, 1.1
07, 120; Vil.19.) Contrary to popular belief, the Magi were not originally
followers of Zoroaster.(Encyclopedia Britannica, 7:691.) That all came
later.
It was in this dual capacity whereby civil and political counsel was
invested with religious authority, that the Magi became the supreme priestly
caste of the Persian empire, and continued to be prominent during the
subsequent Seleucid, Parthian, Sasanian periods. (Zondervan Pictorial
Encyclopedia of the Bible, 4:31-34.)]
FACT-There is not one record of there being three wise men! The Bible says
in Matthew 2:1, there came wise men from the east. They brought three gifts
which were also prophetic, gold (for his "diety"😉, frankincense (a spice
used in the priestly duties, signifying His office as priest), and myrrh (an
embalming ointment signifying His sacrificial death, as savior). Because
there was three gifts, man's imagination changes the Bible, and says, there
were three men. In the millennium, He will also receive the gifts of gold
and frankincense; (Isaiah 60:6) but no myrrh. His death was once and for
all.
FACT-Matthew 2:3 says that Herod and all Jerusalem were troubled. I do not
think that three men on camels would be noticed much in a city of great size
like Jerusalem, the city would have been filled daily with men on camels.
The wise men were a supreme priestly caste who held the governmental office
of the upper house of the Council of the Megistanes ("magistrates"😉. Their
duties included the absolute choice and election of the king of the realm.
It was therefore a group of Persian-Parthian "king makers" who entered
Jerusalem in the latter days of the reign of Herod. Their sudden appearance
in Jerusalem (wise men usually traveled in caravans of 40 or more in
number), probably traveling in force with every imaginable oriental pomp,
and accompanied by adequate calvary escort to insure their safe penetration
of Roman territory, certainly alarmed Herod and the populace of Jerusalem.
Herod's reaction would of been one of fear when one considers the background
of Roman Parthian rivalry that prevailed during his lifetime (see note below
). It would seem as if these wise men were attempting to perpetrate a border
incident which could bring swift reprisal from Parthian armies.
[Note: Political Background: Since the days of Daniel, both the Persian and
the Jewish nations had, in their turn, fallen under Seleucid domination in
the wake of Alexander's conquests. Subsequently both had regained their
independence: the Jews under Maccabean leadership, and the Persians as the
dominating ruling group within the Parthian Empire.
Pompey, the first Roman conqueror of Jerusalem, attacked the Armenian
outpost of Parthia in 63 B.C. In 55 B.C. Carssus led Roman legions in
sacking Jerusalem and, in a subsequent attack, Parthia proper. The Romans
were decisively defeated at the battle of Carrhae with the loss of 30,000
troops, including their commander. The Parthians counter attacked with a
token invasion of Armenia, Syria, and Palestine.
Nominal Roman rule was reestablished under Antipater, the father of Herod,
who retreated before another Parthian invasion in 40 B.C.
Mark Anthony re-established Roman sovereignty in 37 B.C., and, like Carssus
before him, also embarked on a similarly ill-fated Parthian expedition. His
disastrous retreat was followed by another wave of invading Parthians, which
swept all Roman opposition completely out of Palestine (including Herod
himself, who fled to Alexandria and then to Rome).
With Parthian collaboration, Jewish sovereignty was restored and Jerusalem
was fortified with a Jewish garrison.
Herod, by this time, secured from Augustus Caesar the title of "King of the
Jews." However, it was not for three years (including a five month's siege
by Roman troops) that he was able to occupy his own capital city. Herod had
thus gained the throne of a rebellious buffer state which was situated
between two mighty contending empires. At any time, his own subjects might
conspire in bringing the Parthians to their aid.]
[Note: Daniels Role: It is entirely conceivable that the messianic
prophecies of Daniel was of profound motivating significance to the wise
men. Daniel, who was a principal administrator in two world empires, the
Babylonian and subsequent Persian empire, was considered to be one of their
own magicians, he was given the title "master of the magicians" (Daniel 4:9;
5:11). When Darius appointed him, a Jew, over the previously hereditary
Median priesthood, the resulting repercussions resulted in the plots leading
to the lion's den.(Daniel 6). Perhaps the wise men were entrusted to a
messianic vision, to be announced in due time by a "star"? Another
interesting note is that the Angel Gabriel, who gave Daniel skill and
understanding concerning the time when the messiah will present Himself, is
also the Angel mentioned in Luke 1:19.]
Consulting the Jewish priests and scribes, Herod discovered that the
Promised One, the Messiah, would be born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:4-6; Micah
5:2). Hiding his concern and expressing sincere interest, Herod requested
that the wise men keep him informed (Matthew 2:7-8).
Did they bring these gifts to the manger?
FACT-The Bible clearly states in Matthew 2:7-16, that the wise men followed
the star for two years (v16), and they presented the gifts to the young
child (Jesus was two years old when the men finally arrived) in His house
(v11). Thus their giving had nothing to do with a birthday.
After presenting their prophetic gifts to the young child, the wise men
"being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod
(Matthew 2:12-13), (a form of communication most acceptable to them)
departed to their own country, ignoring Herod's request.
Didn't the wise men come to worship the child?
FACT-Matthew 2:2, states that the "wise men" came to worship the King of the
Jews, it is interesting to note that in verse 8, Herod said that he wanted
to worship "the young child". Wise men worship the King, but men will
worship the child. Asking Herod, "where is he that is born King of the
Jews?" (Matthew 2:2) was probably also a calculated insult by the wise men,
because Herod was an Edomite, a traditional enemy of Israel, who had most
probably contrived and bribed his way into that office.
Was Jesus born on December 25th?
FACT-In December it is the winter season, rainy and cold and the shepherds
do not keep their flocks out at night grazing in the winter (Luke 2:8). It
was customary for the shepherds to herd their flocks and take them in after
Mid-October and release them in early spring. Thus the Luke 2 account of the
birth of Jesus could not have been in December.
FACT- No man knows when Jesus was born, but we can be pretty sure that it
was not the twenty-fifth of December. If God desired us to remember Christ's
birthday, He would have left us the precise date. But in so doing, He would
have vindicated every astrologer in the past 2,000 years, because in occult
circles, the anniversary of a person's birth is the most important
metaphysical day of the year. The Bible recognizes no such significance. It
is intriguing that there are only two birthday celebrations recorded in the
entire Bible and they were both those of ungodly kings, and both resulted in
an execution (Genesis 40:16-22 and Matthew 14:6-10/Mark 6:21-27). Although
Luke places the birth in a historical perspective, even the year cannot be
exactly determined. The Bible does tells us though, that He was born before
the death of Herod the Great who died in 4 B.C, so the 1AD date is certainly
wrong.
FACT- God has warned us about getting entangled with special days (Galations
4:9-10). There is no record in the Bible of people observing or worshipping
Jesus because of his birth, it is not taught, or preached. What we are
taught though, is to remember Him in His death, but no special day was
specified for this either, any day of the year will do. (Matthew 26:26-31;
Mark 14:22-27; Luke 22:17-20).
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That
the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when
he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body,
which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner
also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new
testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of
me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the
Lords death till he come (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
To commemorate His death is Scriptural. To commemorate His birth is not, it
is extra-Scriptural (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation
22:19).
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the
Greeks foolishness; (1 Corinthians 1:23)
Joseph and Mary did not just show up in Bethlehem, go to an Inn, find there
was no room, and had to go to a dirty stable with animals to have a baby.
We even have this fixed picture in our minds of what "there was no room for
them in the inn" (Luke 2:7) may have meant. The word "inn" in Luke 2:7
[kataluma], is used again by Luke in 22:11:
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the
inn. (Luke 2:7)
And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee,
Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
(Luke 22:11)
kataluma, Greek 2646, Strong's kataluma, kat-al'-oo-mah; from Greek 2647
(kataluo); properly a dissolution (breaking up of a journey), i.e. (by
implication) a lodging-place :- guestchamber, inn.
The same word for inn (kataluma) in Luke 2:7, is used for "guestchamber" in
Luke 22:11. The guestchamber was the upper room of a house for guests (see
Luke 22:12-13).
FACT- Joseph was returning to his home town of Bethlehem to be counted with
his family in the Roman census (Luke 2:1-2). Joseph must of had relatives
living there, and it must have been Joseph's intention to stay with his
family, he knew Mary was with child and due soon. Since many out-of-town
family members would have been arriving at the same time, the inn, which was
the upstairs room, on the roof of the house, used for guests, was already
full (Notice that it is not 'at an inn', but 'in the inn', Luke 2:7). Mary
and Joseph found space in the area that comprised the first floor of the
house - the manger. Here it was usually warm and would have been comfortable
for the birthing. And even though used for domesticated animals and shelter,
it would have been clean. Also notice, that the Bible states that they had
been there a while, and the days were accomplished that she should be
delivered (Luke 2:6).
Now in the days of Jesus, when a family was poor, the manger was a part of
their house where the families lived and it was the lower part or portion of
the house which would represent his humbleness or humility when born into
this earth. This manger was usually adjacent to the living quarters of the
family and they would keep their domesticated animals there. The manger or
trough was usually hewn out of rock (Bakers Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol.2
page 1392).
A manger was usually hewn out of rock, which would be scripturally fitting,
for our Lord Jesus is the ROCK of our salvation, we are to build our house
on the ROCK, and His tomb was hewn out of a ROCK.
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual
Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4)
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the
foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently
upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a
rock.(Luke 6:48, see also Matthew 7:24-25)
And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen,
and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone
unto the door of the sepulchre. (Mark 15:46, see also Matthew 27:60)