Christmas is not pagan

[Esaias]

Exodus 31:13 KJV Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

Exodus 13:6-10 KJV Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. (7) Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. (8) And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. (9) And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. (10) Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.

Holy Days and religious festivals are a sign, or token, of which god you really worship. If you are keeping the holy days of ancient pagan demons, THAT'S WHO YOU ARE WORSHIPPING. If you have been baptised into Christ, and yet you keep the holy days of satan, you are committing SPIRITUAL FORNICATION, HARLOTRY, and ADULTERY against your Saviour.

The Sabbaths of God were to be FOR A SIGN "upon the hand and ... between the eyes" (forehead) of God's people. It was a mark of ownership, covenant, fealty, loyalty, and belonging.

What do you think the following verses are referring to?

Revelation 13:16-17 KJV (16) And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (17) And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Revelation 14:9-11 KJV And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, (10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

The beast institutes false worship among the nations, and causes them to be marked in the hand and the forehead. John is seeing in vision a spiritual reality concerning the world and its inhabitants. Just as God has a "mark" on His people, in their foreheads and their hands, so does the beast, satan's earthly power and influence. Just as God's mark includes His Holy Sabbaths, the beast's mark includes his "holy days". Holy days, or religious festivals, repeating observances of set times, observed in commemoration of religious ideas and concepts, intended to pass on religious ideas from one generation to the next, are part of the MARK, either of God... or of satan.

Which one do YOU have?

[Esaias]

1 Corinthians 10:18-22 KJV (18) Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? (19) What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? (20) But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. (21) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. (22) Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

The apostle declared that participating in religious customs puts you in fellowship with the GOD SERVED BY THOSE RITES. The heathen customs are DEMONIC. Participation in heathen religious customs puts you in fellowship with DEMONS. Christians CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. You cannot partake both of the Lord's table, and the table of demons. to put it simply, if you partake of the table of demons, you are cut off from the Lord's table. You cut off your fellowship with Christ.

[Esaias]

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV (14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

To be received by God as His child you MUST break off connection with the rites, ceremonies, customs, and practices of demon worship. You must have the attitude that doesn't even want to TOUCH that which God abhors as unclean and filthy. You CANNOT BE SAVED while continuing to maintain fellowship with demons, darkness, and idolatry.

[Esaias]

Suppose your relatives kept an annual holy day in honour of Baal every year. Would it be okay for you to come over and join their ceremonies? Nothing "unclean" about it? Nothing "unholy" about it?

God Himself commands us to avoid pagan religious practices, and explicitly commands us not to attempt to appropriate pagan devil worship into the worship of God. And you are saying it's a matter of "indifference"?

People say "doing it on that day is no different than doing it on any other day" yet I guarantee you don't do those same things on any other day, as a matter of regular custom. Sure, you may eat a meal and reflect on Christ on some other day, but do you do that on that other day - EVERY SINGLE YEAR? No, of course not. It's randomised.

But EVERY December 25th, certain things get done... that means you are observing that day as a special day of remembrance. It is DIFFERENT and SEPARATE FROM the other days of the years. THAT means it is "sanctified" or "holy" (although not sanctified by God). It is "holy" in your practice.

Just try SKIPPING that day this year - see if you don't get family asking "what's wrong, why don't you want to celebrate Christmas with us?"

It's like the addict saying "I can quit any time I want." Uh, suuuuure.

[Esaias]

It can certainly be difficult to abandon long held traditions and practices. When we became convicted years ago to separate ourselves from pagan customs, it was difficult at first. Peer pressure is an incredibly powerful thing. We had to listen to relatives scold us for denying our children the fun of Halloween and Christmas. We had professing Christians scold us for not wanting to honour Jesus' birth. We were mocked and reproached. It took some time to wean our family off of these things. But by the grace of God we were freed from these pagan attachments.

We found that, over time, as we maintained consistency, others came to understand that we simply weren't going to participate in them. They quit harassing us about it. They came to respect our stand, at least when they were around us. What people say behind your back is irrelevant, you have no control over that. And I have found that people who reproach you behind your back will do so no matter WHAT you do.

It is always difficult and uncomfortable to cease old habits and begin new ones. But with time and being steadfast, the new way becomes normal, and the old ways "wax old and fade away."

We're all learning, and we're all at different stages in our understanding. But God is calling us all to come out from among the world and its ways, and be SEPARATE. Let's follow God, and leave the devil worship behind. Serving the devil never got us anywhere anyway.

[Esaias]

The golden calf incident shows several things:

• People can be guilty of sinful idolatry while believing they are worshipping Jehovah (syncretism).
• Syncretism is a key factor or quality of pagan worship.
• Syncretism is a natural result of rejecting God's specific messengers in favour of self-directed worship.
• Syncretism is an abomination to God.

In other words, mixing pagan practices in with the worship of Jehovah, and thinking it is acceptable to Jehovah, is a common practice, is the result of rejecting strict adherance to the Revelation of God, and is despised by God.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Esaias

People like you don't know how to actually discuss an issue. Let alone defend a position using Scripture, reason, and history. Thus, you do not pass Go, you do not collect 200 bux.

Actually, it is such an easy argument to win that few words are needed. What scripture would you have me use? I have nothing to defend. There is no scripture forbidding the celebration of God being manifest in the flesh on December 25. Do you have a scripture? And I'm not using reason?

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Esaias

The golden calf incident shows several things:

• People can be guilty of sinful idolatry while believing they are worshipping Jehovah (syncretism).
• Syncretism is a key factor or quality of pagan worship.
• Syncretism is a natural result of rejecting God's specific messengers in favour of self-directed worship.
• Syncretism is an abomination to God.

In other words, mixing pagan practices in with the worship of Jehovah, and thinking it is acceptable to Jehovah, is a common practice, is the result of rejecting strict adherance to the Revelation of God, and is despised by God.

What pagan practice is associated with Christmas?

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Suppose your relatives kept an annual holy day in honour of Baal every year. Would it be okay for you to come over and join their ceremonies? Nothing "unclean" about it? Nothing "unholy" about it?

God Himself commands us to avoid pagan religious practices, and explicitly commands us not to attempt to appropriate pagan devil worship into the worship of God. And you are saying it's a matter of "indifference"?

People say "doing it on that day is no different than doing it on any other day" yet I guarantee you don't do those same things on any other day, as a matter of regular custom. Sure, you may eat a meal and reflect on Christ on some other day, but do you do that on that other day - EVERY SINGLE YEAR? No, of course not. It's randomised.

But EVERY December 25th, certain things get done... that means you are observing that day as a special day of remembrance. It is DIFFERENT and SEPARATE FROM the other days of the years. THAT means it is "sanctified" or "holy" (although not sanctified by God). It is "holy" in your practice.

Just try SKIPPING that day this year - see if you don't get family asking "what's wrong, why don't you want to celebrate Christmas with us?"

It's like the addict saying "I can quit any time I want." Uh, suuuuure.

Christmas is not celebrated n December 25 in every culture. But so what if it is? There is nothing "pagan" about that day, nor was Christmas instituted n that day because of any pagan practise.

[seguidordejesus]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Post apostolic usage among those departing piece by piece from the original apostolic faith is hardly a prescription for "authority".

I'd rather base my conclusions on the consensus of the only Church in existence on the planet at the time than random interlinear notes of 12th century rabbis. I mean, at least they're Christian