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| Have you given up celebrating Christmas? If so, why? Our readers share some of their reasons for not keeping Christmas. |
Why do some Christians not celebrate Christmas? Here are the reasons some gave for kicking the Christmas habit.
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"This whole Christmas time with all the hustle and debt caused from trying to be a good person and make sure everyone is happy with a gift you give them has always weighed heavy on my heart. There have been Christmas times in the past that I literally went into deep depressions because I did not have the financial means to get everyone a gift. 'THIS IS NOT WHAT GOD WANTS for any of HIS CHILDREN'. If you step back for a moment and take a long hard look at what this tradition does to so many people, it becomes more obvious why it is a pagan holiday meant by Satan to snare people in debt and grief.
Satan has been bringing PAGAN rituals into the "CHURCH" subtly for so many years that MOST 'CHRISTIANS' have been completely deceived into celebrating these rituals without even batting an eye or questioning why. It is Satan's main goal to deceive the 'Church' to the point that it is no longer the BRIDE of CHRIST, but a WHORE who clings to the things of this WORLD.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3
I know this may seem harsh to people but the TRUTH will SET YOU FREE from the BONDAGE that Satan so easily traps people into. Let the TRUTH help you turn from the pagan holidays that have brought you so many years of bondage. I in no way want anyone to feel any GUILT or SHAME for having celebrated or still celebrating any of the pagan holidays Satan has brought into the 'Church'. It is my job as a minister of the GOSPEL to let people know the TRUTH so they can make their own decision as to how they chose to follow the instruction of God. I pray that everyone who reads this article will have their eyes open to the TRUTH so they will be able to grow in the knowledge of Christ Jesus their KING. Here is a link to a more detail article I put together on the Pagan holiday, Christmas." Blessings and Peace, Rainbow Pastor David - Oklahoma
“I cannot find Christmas in the Bible nor can I find that Jesus Christ told us to observe Christmas. Santa Claus is a lie that some people teach their children every year. For that matter, Christmas is false since it has nothing to do with Christ or His birthday.”
Beyond this, business people, who make most of their income during this time of the year, have increasingly promoted Christmas. Well-meaning people go in debt during Christmas time to give gifts to other people, which in turn motivates other people to give gifts to them. It makes no sense to keep a religious holiday that is not biblical, that Christ never sanctioned, that promotes lying to children, that puts people in debt and that blinds people to what Christ really taught." - P.A., Georgia
“It is a historical fact that Christmas is not the day or the season when Christ was born. So why observe a day that is a lie? Most people do not want to admit this fact. For example, how does the use of Santa Claus depict the birth of Christ? How does the Christmas tree depict Christ? Celebrating Christmas violates at least the First, Second and Third Commandments of God’s Ten Commandments. Observing a pagan holiday is a sin. God condemns the worship of pagan gods.
The Bible does not command people to observe the birth of Christ as a holiday. This day, Dec. 25, is the date that has been observed for centuries as a pagan holiday in honor of the pagan sun god. God commands those who want to serve Him not to observe pagan holidays or any custom that breaks His holy laws.” - D.S., California
“Our family traditionally celebrated Christmas on Dec. 24. We then followed up with a family day on Dec. 25. One day I had a strong desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, which I thought I had been doing up to that point. I met a number of people who were having the same strange experience. We asked ourselves, ‘What does God think about Christmas?’ ‘Are we truly pleasing God?’ ‘Am I doing something that Jesus did and taught?’
“I began to think of the songs we sang, ‘O Tannenbaum’ and ‘Oh! Christmas Tree.’ I had been singing to a tree as though it were alive and had some strange power. We decorated it and placed our gifts below the tree as though the gifts and good feeling emanated from and through the tree.
“I thought about the words to ‘Silent Night, Holy Night,’ a truly beautiful piece of music. I wondered about shepherds and their flocks in the fields on a lovely evening at the end of December. But this was a contradiction. December was a very cold time of the year and sheep wouldn’t be in open fields during that time.”
“The Christmas stories about Santa Claus and the shepherds in the fields on Christmas Eve were false. I found out that Jerusalem has rain and cold that time of year and it sometimes snows in the region. Sheep are sheltered in the wintertime, not left out in inclement weather."
“I discovered that the Christmas tree and its ornaments and giving of Christmas gifts come from ancient Roman festivals. I also learned that the Christmas tree represents idolatry, which is an affront to God (Exodus 20:4-5). Jesus Christ never sinned in His life and says we should avoid sin, going against God’s will (Hebrews 12:1-4).
“The gifts our children had asked of Santa Claus created a financial burden on us. The lies about Santa Claus and his flying reindeer were misleading our children."
“Also, the Bible tells us it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). During Christmas time, I saw little joy in giving and I saw children always expecting to receive. I have come to understand that godly blessings come from carefully obeying God. This is why I don’t keep Christmas.” - B.B., Canada
“God tells us to avoid the ways of the ancient pagans. Though modern Christianity observes Christmas, this is where it came from. To be frank, Christmas is a lie. Christmas is a substitute for righteous behavior. It makes people think they are doing good things for God, which somehow does Him service.” - A.H., Australia
“I have heard that Christmas has been around for nearly 4,000 years. If that is true, and I think it is, I do not see any evidence that the early apostolic Church observed Christmas or tried to ‘Christianize’ a pagan festival that predated Christ’s birth.
It seems clear to me that the apostles and
early Church kept the Holy Days recorded in the Old Testament, and there are
several Old Testament scriptures that speak about the Holy Days being kept by
all people after Christ’s return to earth. The Bible is clear that we are to
shun paganism and observe the annual Holy Days and the weekly
Sabbath day.” - D.N., Oklahoma
“I figure you can’t go wrong sticking with what the Bible says and by
following the example of Jesus Christ Himself and the apostles and early
Church. They never kept Christmas or anything like it. They knew what the
Scriptures said about trying to use other religions’ practices to worship and
honor God. It just doesn’t work; God expects better from us.It’s a shame that most people have never looked into the Bible and history to learn for themselves the true origins of Christmas. It’s an eye-opening study, one I started when I was only a teenager. I’ve learned so much more about what God is all about and what He wants and expects from us since I started relying on His Word rather than human traditions that have no basis in the Bible.”
- R.A., Colorado
Article originally found here, Beyond Today
Read more articles from The Church of God, here.
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