Christmas and Easter: Are they Christian Holidays or Pagan Holy Days?

Since the origins of Christmas and Easter or the sanctification of Sunday cannot be found in the Bible, why do Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter and why is Sunday now considered to be God's Holy day?

Show me, in the Bible, what day Jesus was born on or even that he was born on "a cold winter's night".

Show me, in the Bible, where God commanded that the birthday of Jesus be honoured.

Show me, in the Bible, where God consented to the Passover feast bearing the name of a pagan goddess. [Deu 12:3]

Show me, in the Bible, where God commanded that any prisoner be released at any feast. [Mat 27:15; Mark 15:6] *Even the year of Jubilee did not specify the release of prisoners.

Show me, in the Bible, where God sanctified Sunday as a Holy day in addition to or in the place of the Sabbath day.

SINCE WE CANNOT FIND WHERE GOD COMMANDED THE CELEBRATION OF OUR PRESENT DAY HOLIDAYS OR THE SANCTIFICATION OF SUNDAY IN THE BIBLE IT MUST MEAN THAT SOMEWHERE - SOMEHOW - SOMEPLACE - SOMETIME - SOMEONE ADDED TO GOD'S COMMANDS.

• Prov 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. {6} Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
• Deu 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Look it up and convince yourself. I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. I'm trying to get them to convince themselves. Then, when they are convinced of how man has lead them astray, perhaps they will be less willing to follow the leading of man and more willing to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost!

2 Pet 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

1 Cor 2:13-14 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. {14} But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

If anyone can show me any of these things in the Bible, then I will consent to remain silent. BUT, since none of these things can be found in the Bible, I must proclaim as emphatically as I can that God's people are teaching manmade traditions as if they were the commands of God and that they must repent of their evil ways BEFORE God will hear them or heal their land. God will tear that he may heal, but whatever it takes, Jesus will not come back until he may present to himself a bride that is without spot or wrinkle.

• 2 Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
• Hosea 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
• Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

CHRISTIAN, PUT UP OR SHUT UP

Recently I read an article that claimed "there are no true Christians". At that time I disagreed with most of what I read, even though I had to admit that according to the Bible description of a believer, the article was essentially correct. However it must be pointed out that a persons name written on the roll book of a 'Christian' organisation qualifies that person to be identified as a 'Christian'. Christianity in itself is nothing more than a religion. The question then becomes, "Are there any TRUE BELIEVERS?"

• Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe;
• in my name shall they cast out devils,
• they shall speak with new tongues.
• They shall pick up serpents.
• And if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.
• They shall lay their hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
• Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19
• Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. {13} And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. {14} If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:12-14

Can they pick up serpents without getting bitten? Can they drink any deadly poison, and it not hurt them? Can they lay their hands on the sick and heal them? Can they Walk on Scorpions? Etc. etc

GOD DID MANIFEST HIS APPROVAL ON THE EARLY CHURCH!

• Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. [Acts 2:22; 14:3]
• Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
• Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Christian, Put Up or Shut Up, seems to be a rude statement, yet when confronted with the attitude of the world toward 'MODERN CHRISTIANITY', it is very appropriate. The phrase 'put up or shut up' means either shut your mouth or show evidence to support your claims. It's time to either 'SHOW THE GOODS' or 'SHUT UP.' God is faithful to perform that which he has promised, therefore man is the guilty one that has failed to meet the conditions for receiving the promises. People are inclined to find whatever is wrong with the other fellow or wrong with the other fellow's doctrine. BUT are YOU displaying ALL the goods? Is your church denomination displaying ALL the goods? If not, then, SOMETHING IS WRONG SOMEWHERE and you can't lay the blame on the other person if you yourself are not displaying ALL the goods.

Sincere Children of God are bewildered and are wondering why 'these signs' do not follow 'them that believe' today as they did in the early church. The world is bringing accusations against Christianity and very few Christians have any evidence to present in their own defence. They sincerely want the Lord to work with them and confirm the word with signs following. But:

WHERE ARE THE SIGNS?
WHERE ARE THE WONDERS?
WHERE ARE THE MIRACLES?

• Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
• Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
• Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

• James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
• Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
• Amos 9:13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.
• Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
• ???Hag 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.???

God--who cannot lie--said that there would be a latter rain. He said that He would pour out His Spirit upon ALL flesh not just on the prophets and preachers. We are seeing a few miracles manifested, but nothing like what God has promised. We should be experiencing a GREATER manifestation of God's approval than the early church experienced. WHY AREN'T WE?

THERE HAS TO BE A REASON !!!!!

• Jer 5:24-25 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. {25} Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
• Mal 2:17} You have wearied the LORD with your words. "How have we wearied him?" you ask. By saying, " All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of justice?"
• Isa 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
• 2 Chr 24:20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
• Jer 16:19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
• Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
• Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

WHAT IF OUR TRADITIONS ARE KEEPING US FROM RECEIVING THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD'S APPROVAL?

WHAT IS TRADITION?
TRADITION: the word paradosis, {par-ad'-os-is}; is found 13 times in the NT and means the transmission of a precept; especially from one generation to the next generation.

• Tradition = heritage, custom, belief
• Precept = rule, principle, doctrine
• Custom = practice, manner, routine

Therefore tradition is a rule, principle, doctrine, or belief that we have inherited from the generation before us and is a routine or daily practice in our lives. A tradition is a routine that has been repeated for so long that we can not remember when or how it started, we just do it because to our knowledge that's what has always been done.
Jesus said that the word of God was made of none effect through tradition, in other words, the word of God was made worthless by man's daily routines or programs that were inherited from their fathers.

• Mat 15:1-3 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, {2} Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. {3} But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
  

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES AND SEE WHETHER THESE THINGS ARE SO

• Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
• 1 Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

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WHAT IS TRUTH?

Every denomination, every ministry and every 'Christian' organisation claims to teach the truth. Yet, what is truth? Jesus came to bear witness of the truth and teaches us that TRUE worshipers will worship in spirit and truth. Most people can agree to what 'worship in the spirit' is but cannot satisfactorily explain what is meant by 'worship in truth'. Every aspect of our worship must be true with no lies, untruths or shadows mixed in. There probably isn't a religious leader in the world that does not know that the story of the birth of Jesus on the 25th of December is an untruth. It is a very well known fact, yet, we are taught from an early age 'that to celebrate Christmas is true worship of God' so that when we grow up we just accept it without any questions.

HOLMAN BIBLE DICTIONARY: No evidence remains about the exact date of the birth of Christ. The December 25 date was chosen as much for practical reasons as for theological ones. Throughout the Roman Empire, various festivals were held in conjunction with the winter solstice. In Rome, the Feast of the Unconquerable Sun celebrated the beginning of the return of the sun. When Christianity became the religion of the Empire, the church either had to suppress the festivals or transform them. The winter solstice seemed an appropriate time to celebrate Christ's birth. Thus, the festival of the sun became a festival of the Son, the Light of the world.

During the first three centuries of New Testament church history there were no celebrations regarding Christ's birth. Although there were NO celebrations regarding Christ's birth at that time, there were various pagan celebrations held in honour of the mother goddess and the birth of her son during the winter solstice. When Rome adopted Christianity as their state religion, they did not abolish pagan customs but sought to 'Christianise' the pagan customs by assigning a similar Christian happening to the pagan custom in order to absorb the pagan custom into the church. This did not happen in one generation, but over hundreds of years time. Protestants came out from the Church of Rome because of the corruption in the church.

During the first three centuries after the reformation, Protestants did NOT celebrate Christmas. Not only did they NOT celebrate Christmas but reprimanded those who celebrated a 'pagan' Holy day. Only in this century has Christmas began to be celebrated in Protestant churches. To deny this is to disregard the validity of every history book ever written as well as that of the encyclopaedias. IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER REFORMATION. It's time for God's people to quit playing church and arguing about whose doctrine is right and go back to the 'faith' (persuasion, belief, conviction) that was once delivered to the saints.

• Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
• Heb 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. {13} For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. {14} But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Don't take my word for it! Look it up for yourself and learn the truth and allow the truth to set you free from one of Satan's very clever traps. It doesn't take a lot of time or effort to find the truth. Any encyclopaedia will reveal the truth.

• Exo 32:5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

AARON TRIED TO ABSORB PAGAN PARAPHERNALIA
INTO THE WORSHIP OF GOD AND WHAT HAPPENED?

• Exo 32:21 And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?
• 2 Ki 17:9; 13; 20 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
• {13} Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
• {20} And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
• 2 Chr 33:15-17 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. {16} And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. {17} Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.

Notice that Israel claimed to be worshipping God by using pagan paraphernalia. When Israel began worshipping God with pagan paraphernalia, God withheld his blessings from them. They were being blessed a little but they were not receiving ALL the blessings that God really wanted them to have. When Israel began participating in worship of pagan gods, God pronounced judgement!

WHAT DID GOD COMMAND CONCERNING PAGANISM?

• Exo 34:13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:
• Num 33:51-52 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; {52} Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:
• Deu 12:2-3; 29-30 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: {3} And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. {29} When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; {30} Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
• Deu 7:25-26 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. {26} Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.
• As you can quickly see, the Bible is not silent on this subject, therefore God's people are without a valid excuse for their behaviour.

And
HAVE NO FELLOWSHIP
WITH THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS,
BUT RATHER REPROVE THEM.
Eph 5:11

• John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
• James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT GOD MEANS WHAT HE SAYS?

Wherefore
come out from among them,
and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and
TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING;
and I will receive you,
2 Cor 6:17

We have heard message after message preached about making sure that everything that we do 'lines up' with the Word of God, yet there is no scripture that commands or even suggests that the birthday of Jesus be celebrated. However, the latter 19th century people want to honour their Lord by celebrating his birthday--even though they do not know when his date of birth actually was. In itself that appears to be quite harmless, nevertheless, it does establish Christmas as a tradition of man and NOT a command of God.

REMEMBER: Man's tradition is what makes the word of God empty-void-vain!

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Even the Jehovah's Witnesses know AND CAN PROVE that Jesus was NOT born on the 25th of December.

HOW CAN YOU BE A WITNESS TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS, AND CAN PROVE, THAT YOU UPHOLD AND PROMOTE AN OBVIOUS UNTRUTH?

• 2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: {17} That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Since we are not told in the scriptures on what date Christ was born, it must mean that God did not consider it important for us to know. Since the scriptures do not tell us to celebrate his birth and the scriptures 'furnish us to all good works', then it is concluded that to celebrate Christ's birth is NOT a good work.

When Judas realised that he had betrayed innocent blood he went out and hanged himself, are we to go and hang ourselves just because it is in the Bible. Most people would instantly respond with "That's ridiculous!" YES, that IS ridiculous, yet, it is no more ridiculous than what has been done with the story of the birth of Jesus. The wise men gave gifts to Jesus--the young child, not to each other. The scripture in no way supports or even suggests the 'mock' birthday festival that we now call a 'Christian' holiday. If God had intended for the birthday of Jesus to be celebrated, he would have spoken just as plainly as he did when he said "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." AND he would have made sure that someone remembered the correct date!

• Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

• 1 Ki 12:32-33 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. {33} So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense. 1 Ki 12:26-33; 13:1-3; 15:29-30

King Jeroboam set up pagan idols and instituted a day of feasting of his own choosing. Both the holy day and the worship were NOT accepted by God.

DO CHRISTIANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO ADD A NEW HOLY DAY TO GOD'S SANCTIONED HOLY DAYS ANY MORE THAN KING JEROBOAM HAD THE RIGHT TO ADD A NEW HOLY DAY TO GOD'S SANCTIONED HOLY DAYS?

• Prov 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. {6} Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
• Deu 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

SINCE WE CANNOT FIND THE ORIGINS OF OUR PRESENT DAY HOLIDAYS, WHERE DO WE GO TO FIND THEIR ORIGINS?

SEARCH THE ENCYCLOPAEDIAS

Practically all the known Sun-deities were born on December 25th--Mithra (Mithras), Osiris, Horus, Hercules, Dionysus (Bacchus), Tammuz, Indra, Buddha. The largest pagan sun-worshipping cult which celebrated the birthday of the Sun on December 25th was Mithraism. Their celebration was called 'Nativity of the SUN.' The Mithraists also observed a weekly Sun-day. Only a few traces of Mithraism continued into the 'Christian' nativity celebration. But the customs associated with the Saturnalia and the Yule survive even to the present day. At first the Catholic church sought to abolish the superstitions associated with pagan customs but missionaries soon learned that the pagans would not abandon their customs. The customs which could not be destroyed were given a 'Christian' name and interpretation. What Christianity couldn't eliminate, it sought to 'consecrate'. Crackling fires, lighted candles, dwellings adorned with evergreens, feasts and giving of gifts are a few of the pagan elements which the catholic church could not abolish. Pagan deities were supplanted by (renamed to) deceased Christian saints or enshrined in the days of the week and in the months of the year.

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GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD

Like a husband to the church (described as His bride), God is very jealous over His people. God terms idolatry 'spiritual adultery.' In many narratives in the Bible, idol worship is spoken of as 'adultery.' (The fallen woman of Rev 17 and 18 is said to be committing fornication with the kings and rulers of the world!)

Today professing 'Christians' actively participate in so-called 'Christian holidays,' not realising or not caring that they are modern versions of ancient, pagan IDOLATRIES! Christmas is the modern version of the ancient Roman celebration of the Saturnalia. Other holidays are Easter, St. Valentine's Day, Halloween and other, lesser annual holidays. Millions celebrate these days in WILFUL ignorance of their origin and their true symbolism.

• 1 Cor 10:21-22 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 excuses of "I don't see any harm in it." or "Why should we deprive the children of having some fun?" are OK, if there is no God! But, since there is a God, and since God is not pleased with us for training our children in the customs of pagans instead of the ways of 'The Lord God', there is A GREAT DEAL OF HARM!

Several years ago it was commonplace for people to be uneducated. Now, in America, it is compulsory for children to get an education. Consequently there are very few people who cannot read. Ignorance is no longer an exemption. We are no longer considered faultless for blindly following the instructions of our fellow man, when we are able to read the instructions for ourselves. There is a modern day proverb that says " When all else fails, read the instructions! " When we have done everything that we have been taught by our pastor and our Sunday school teacher and still we do not have God's approval manifested in our lives then it's time to go back to the basics and read God's instructions.

• Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. [Luke 6:39]
• 2 Tim 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
• Isa 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

ARE WE BLINDLY FOLLOWING LEADERS THAT ARE CAUSING US TO ERR?

• Jer 6:13-21 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. {14} They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. {15} Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. {16} Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. {17} Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. {18} Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. {19} Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. {20} To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. {21} Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
• Acts 17:29-30 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. {30} And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

The Pharisees were the respected religious leaders of the Jewish people. The Pharisees were outraged when Jesus rebuked them for adding manmade traditions to God's law. The ancient Christian church added its own rules and ceremonies to the worship of God and became the idolatrous Roman Catholic Church.

Look it up and convince yourself. I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. I'm trying to get them to convince themselves. Then, when they are convinced of how man has lead them astray, perhaps they will be less willing to follow the leading of man and more willing to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost!

• Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
• 1 Th 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
  
  Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Ancient landowners would dig cisterns (wells) to collect rainwater. When cracks developed the water would leak out. God is comparing the man-made gods that Israel turned to as broken cisterns. They had committed two evils: they had forsaken THE fountain and built their own wells. When we forsake our God given guide and teacher, which is the Holy Ghost, and rely on our own understanding, then we also are guilty of forsaking the fountain of living waters and making for ourselves broken cisterns that can hold no water!

• John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

In his book 'The Development Of The Christian Religion,' Cardinal Newman admits that temples, incense, oil lamps, votive offerings, holy water, holidays, and seasons of devotion, processions, blessings of fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure (of priests and monks and nuns) and images are all of pagan origin.

Since the days when Rome took over and the early church became the Roman Catholic church, we have not seen or experienced the Lord working with us and confirming the word with signs following. as fully as was promised. God has withheld his blessings. SOON, he will pronounce judgement on Rome and also on those who have formed an alliance with Rome.

• Rev 2:20-22 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. {21} And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. {22} Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
• Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
• Jer 3:1-4 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. {2} Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness. {3} Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. {4} Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?

• 2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

We are guilty. We have not came out from the whoredoms of Catholicism and we have not separated ourselves from pagan paraphernalia. Indeed we have given heed to fables that have turned us from the truth.

Fable = myth, legend, tale

• 1 Tim 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
• 2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; {4} And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
• Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Protestants were severely persecuted for renouncing the Catholic Church for having replaced God's instructions with their own manmade instructions. Our modern denominations are so corrupted with manmade traditions that God has already began to pronounce judgement upon them.

• 1 Sam 4:21-22 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. {22} And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

The root of the name "Ichabod" is kavod, the Hebrew word for "glory," to which a negative is prefixed (lit. Inglorious).

• Isa 42:16-20 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. {17} They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods. {18} Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. {19} Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant? {20} Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

Jesus did not call his Apostles from among the religious leaders of the Jews but from among ordinary men. There was nothing special about them. Most of them were not even formally educated. Any educated, first-century person would have scoffed if someone told them that these same men would "turn the world upside down" [Acts 17:6]

• Rev 18:3,11,15 'For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. {11}: And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: {15} The merchants of these things which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

Christmas time is the biggest spending time of the entire year and the most profitable time of the year for businesses. Merchants make more money during these pagan holidays than any other time of the year, and the Catholic Church made it possible. Imagine what would happen if everyone that professes the name of Christ stopped celebrating this pagan Holy day.

ONCE YOU KNOW THE TRUTH, YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.

• Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
• James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Some people quickly agree that the celebration of Christmas originated in paganism, yet they say (this is an actual unedited quote) "Although I believe that the origin of these traditions are pagan, there is nothing wrong with having a special day during the year in which we celebrate the Birth of Christ even though the Bible doesn't establish such a practice." To these, I would have to say, " I can't say that there would 'not be any harm' in having a special day to commemorate the birth of Christ, but I can say that when you use the same paraphernalia that the pagans used to honour their pagan gods, then there is A GREAT DEAL OF HARM." Many Christians say, "I don't think of the Christmas tree or mistletoe as being pagan." It doesn't matter if they think of them as pagan or not, what matters is, " Does God think of them as pagan? " Other people say "I don't even want to talk about it. I'm going to have my Christmas no matter what. I enjoy it, and no one is going to take it away from me" They are implying that not even God could take it away from them.

• 2 Th 2:10-12 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {11} And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: {12} That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

• Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
• Heb 9:24-28 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: {25} Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; {26} For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. {27} And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement: {28} So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. [Heb 10:5-18]

The celebration of Christmas is professed to be in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ. In the mass celebrating His birth, the Roman Catholics claim to call Him down from His heavenly glory and crucify Him again, the same as on Calvary. This means they celebrate His birth by killing Him!!!

Many who object to the desecrated Roman Catholic system, gladly receive Rome's most abominable desecration of them all; Christ-mass!

ARE WE OR ARE WE NOT COMMANDED, "LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN"?'

Even the nativity scene, which some regard as the most sacred 'Christian' symbol of Christmas, is a Roman Catholic invention that was borrowed from the Babylonian mysteries. Pagan worship which has descended from Babylonian mysteries is based on a mother goddess and the birth of her child. In an ancient Babylonian fable the evergreen tree represented Nimrod coming to life again as Tammuz who was supposedly born of the virgin, Semiramus. The birth of the sun god took place at the winter solstice and was celebrated on December 25th, long before Christ's birth. In Christianity the figure of the Virgin Mary as 'theotokos,' or the 'Mother of God,' has a strong resemblance to the ancient mother goddess.
The first announcement of the virgin birth was delivered to Satan himself. He lost no time in bringing as much confusion to the 'word' of God as he possibly could. It is my opinion that it was from this announcement that Satan conceived the idea of 'virgin' worship which is the forerunner of our Christmas celebration. Had there been no worship of virgins (Semiramus, etc) then Mary would not have been chosen as a 'Christian' substitution for a pagan goddess.

• Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
• Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [Deu 4:15-19]
• 2 Cor 6:16 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.
• Rom 2:21-22 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? {22} Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

St. Francis of Assisi conceived the idea of building a life-sized representation of the Nativity scene. The Pope gave him permission to do so, and in 1223 he built a full-sized stable next to his church in Graecia, a village near Assisi, in Italy. In it he created the Nativity scene with living people and animals. From this beginning the idea spread all over Europe. If anyone were to erect statues of Mary and Joseph by themselves, many Protestants would cry "Idolatry!" But at Christmas, an image of a little baby is placed with the images of Mary and Joseph, and it's called a 'nativity scene.' Somehow, the baby-idol 'sanctifies' the scene, and it is no longer considered idolatry! Again, don't take my word for it. Look it up for yourself in any encyclopaedia (even the Catholic encyclopaedia).

• Jer 10:1-4 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: {2} Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. {3} For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. {4} They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
• Deu 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. {30} When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

May God help all believers to be obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ and obey Ephesians 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
FRUITLESS DEEDS OF DARKNESS,
BUT RATHER EXPOSE THEM
NIV Eph 5:11

I was totally amazed--shocked--at the number of Christians who admit to knowing that our 'Christian' holidays have their origins in paganism and rather than reprove them, they approve them. God DID NOT command us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. God DID command us to "Learn not the way of the heathen." and to "touch not the unclean thing." When we try to worship God using the same ornaments and routines that the heathen and pagans used to worship their gods then truly we are teaching 'pagan' traditions of man as if they were commands of God AND the traditions of man have neutralised the word of God.

• Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. [Mat 15:6]
  none effect = to make empty, neutralise, void, be in vain.

• Jer 23:19-22 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. {20} The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. {21} I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. {22} But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

Come, and let us return unto the LORD:
for he hath torn, and he will heal us;
he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
Then shall we know,
if we follow on to know the LORD:
his going forth is prepared as the morning; and
he shall come unto us as the rain,
as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
Hosea 6:1,3

• 2 Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The very popularity of Christmas should cause the Christian to question it. Anyone and everyone can celebrate Christmas without question--absolute pagans, Buddhists and Hindus. The world loves Christmas, but hates the Lord Jesus Christ. Shouldn't Christians be just a little suspicious of a celebration in which the whole sinful world can join without qualms?

• John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
• John 15:23-25 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. {24} If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. {25} But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Missionaries who have urged new converts to forsake all relics of paganism have later been questioned about the apparent duplicity of their own American Christmas and Easter customs. The new converts discerned them as idolatrous even though the missionaries were ignorant of that perspective!

Let us put away all pagan customs and worship in spirit and absolute truth and show the confused world that there is a difference. The Apostle Paul says: "God forbid that I should glory in anything except in the cross [not the manger ] of our Lord Jesus Christ"

• Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to honour the birth of our Lord. Notice though, that we are commanded to remember Him in His death (but no special day was specified) "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; this DO in remembrance of Me". To commemorate His birth is non-Scriptural, whether one chooses December 25th or any other day.

• 1 Cor 11:24-26 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. {25} 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. {26} For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

EASTER

Acts 12:4 is the only place in which 'Easter' appears in the King James version of the bible. Other versions translate the word 'pascha' as 'Passover.' Acts 12:3 says it was "the days of unleavened bread." The feast of unleavened bread followed the Passover, so, the Easter of Acts 12:4 had to have occurred after the Passover.

• Acts 12:3-4 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) {4} And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
• Num 28:16-17 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD. {17} And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
• Mat 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. [Mark 15:6; Luke 23:17]

In His instructions on how to celebrate the Passover, God did not command any prisoner to be released. Was the feast that was being referred to, the Jewish Passover feast or another feast or was it an example of how Rome merged Holy feasts with unholy feasts?

TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO

Easter, supposedly celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most of the activities that surround that celebration have a pagan origin. We take something that did happen--the Lord Jesus Christ did suffer and did die and was raised the third day, and we add to it a lot of things that originated in paganism, then we train our children with this obvious perversion.

• Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

You can not bring honour and glory to Jesus Christ by taking something that is true and pure and holy and mixing in with it something that is not true. Jesus came to bear witness to the truth. He was the truth. To serve him, we must say and do what is true. There is no way that truth mixed with a lie can promote truth.

• 1 Cor 5:6-8 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? {7} Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: {8} Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

• Gal 5:7-9 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? {8} This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. {9} A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
• Ephesians 4:25: " Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour; for we are members one of another."
• Colossians 3:9-10. " Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"

Put away lying! Speak truth. Christians have no excuse that could possibly justify participating in anything as dishonest as the celebrations that are called Christmas and Easter. When children learn that they have been lied to about Christmas and Easter by parents and preachers, will it cause them to trust parents and preachers in the future?

'The Lie' is so obvious to people--that have not been blinded by being taught the traditions of man (as if they were the commands of God) as I myself once was--that they are not sure whether they can believe the 'rest of the story'. What is this lie doing? It's causing people to ask the question, as Pilate did, "What is truth?" What was behind, that expression on Pilate's part? The Roman government at the time of Pilate, was consenting to the worship of any and all gods. They had conquered many nations and with them came many beliefs. Many pagan deities were worshipped. The goal of the Roman government was, basically, to get all people everywhere to live peaceably, under their control. Therefore, they wanted to appease the gods of all the people. Pilate surely had heard many varying theologies as to how to please all the gods. When Jesus said that he came to bear witness of the truth, Pilate had reason, to say, "What is truth?" The same thing is true today. The world sees paganism, heathenism, Judaism and Christianity all mixed together. People have every reason to back off and say, "What is truth?"

• John 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

EASTER: THE GODDESS OF SPRING

• Deu 12:3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

The name of the festival Easter, itself, shows its heathen origin. 'Easter' is derived from Eastre, or Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of spring and dawn. The festival of Eostre was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox (spring) by re-enacting ancient regeneration myths and performing magical and religious ceremonies to make the crops grow and prosper.

Ezekiel 8:13-16 He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. (14) Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house which was toward the north; and behold, there sat women WEEPING FOR TAMMUZ (15) Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these (16) And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the alter, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the EAST; and they WORSHIPPED THE SUN toward the EAST.

The rites connected with the death and resurrection of the gods Tammuz, Osiris, and Adonis are the beginnings of the 'Christian' Easter. In the course of centuries, the story and the yearly rites connected with the death and resurrection of Tammuz moved westward to Phoenicia and Syria on the extreme east of the Mediterranean. Here the name of Tammuz was changed to Adon or Adonai, and the name of Inanna to Astarte. In Greece the two names are Adonis and Aphrodite.
It would be monotonous to describe all that has been handed down to us about the various rites of Tammuz, Adonis, Kore, and many others. Their rites had many basic factors in common. Their prevalent theme--the drama of death and resurrection--makes them the beginning of the "Christian" Easter. Many of the customs and ceremonies of the "Christian" Easter resemble these former rites, for instance, the present day "Sun Rise Services." Easter descended from pagan sun worship. Catholic Doctrine simply paralleled the pagan death and resurrection myths of the gods with the story of Christ's crucifixion and Ascension. Christ now rises from the dead with the ascending sun at the time of the Vernal Equinox, and is celebrated with the same customs as that of the Heathen rites namely, rabbits, chickens, and coloured eggs!

The keeping of days, especially days of festivity, is perhaps the most popular form of worship among all religions. Sun-worshipping festivity days were modified to win over to the Church, the pagan masses of the Roman Empire. *The weekly Sun-day, the spring Easter Sun-day, the birth of the Sun-deity on December 25th -- all three of these festival days originated from and were instituted by pagans in honour of the Sun-deity. Sunday, Easter and Christmas, the three great days of Christianity, all have their origin in the Sun-worship of pagan nations.

• Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

• Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
• 1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Meetings do not sanctify the day nor does taking up an offering.

• John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

This assembly was on the same day of the resurrection. Some of the disciples didn't even believe in the resurrection yet. They were NOT gathered for a worship service. The scripture plainly states that they were hiding for fear of the Jews.

• Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
• Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
• Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

• Isa 66:1-4 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? {2} For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. {3} He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. {4} I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE.
GOD PROMISES ALWAYS TO HONOUR OBEDIENCE
BUT WARNS THAT
SACRIFICE WITHOUT OBEDIENCE
WILL NOT ALWAYS BE ACCEPTED!

• 1 Sam 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

(Believer's Study Bible)
Samuel was not suggesting that the sacrificial system be abolished. Neither was he assigning these practices to a place of relative insignificance. Saul claimed that he acted in a noble manner to preserve the best of the Amalekite flocks for sacrifice. Samuel viewed the same act as rebellion, because Saul violated the command of God.

• Deu 11:19-21 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. {20} To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. {21} Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.
• Mal 2:11-13 Judah has broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. {12} As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the LORD cut him off from the tents of Jacob --even though he brings offerings to the LORD Almighty. {13} Another thing you do: You flood the Lord's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.
• Amos 5:22-23 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. {23} Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
• Isa 1:13-15 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. {14} Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. {15} And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

  SACRIFICE WITHOUT OBEDIENCE
  IS UNFRUITFUL

• Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
• Mat 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. {9} But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

But unfruitfully they DO WORSHIP me

• Eph 4:13-14 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: {14} That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Christmas

Christmas began in Mesopotamia over 4000 years ago as the festival which renewed the world for another year. The Mesopotamians believed their chief god Marduk had created the world and man, but to create the world he had to fight the monsters of chaos. Out of a 'world without form and void' he had built an orderly world, and had created man. But the order remained unsettled: it ran down after the crops had been harvested. So Marduk again had to do battle with the monsters of chaos to renew the world every year. Man devised the festival of the New Year, which lasted twelve days, to support his god. In theory, the leader, who was the king, must die at the end of the year, for he was to accompany Marduk into the underworld and battle at his side. But a mock king, to save the life of the real king, was dressed in royal garb while the people about him celebrated then he was stripped of his kingly apparel and slain in the place of the real king. Mesopotamia is the Mother (beginning) of Civilisation, as a result this Babylonian festival, in one form or another, travelled westward through Greece into Rome and also from Asia Minor through the Balkans, up the Danube Valley and onward into Europe.

In most Pagan cultures, the sun god is seen as split between two rival personalities: the god of Light and his twin, the god of Darkness. Often they are portrayed as fighting seasonal battles for the favour of their goddess/lovers who represents Nature. The God of Light is always born at the Winter Solstice (the longest night) and his strength increases with the lengthening days, until the moment of his greatest power, the Summer Solstice (the longest day).

Many of the earth's inhabitants were sun worshipers, because their lives depended on its yearly round in the heavens, and feasts were held to aid its return from distant wanderings. In the Latin countries there was Saturnalia, a cult of the god Saturn. During the winter solstice period the Babylonians worshipped Tammuz. In Scandinavia, the great feast of Yule was held to celebrate the birth of the winter sun-god. The German and Celtic tribes held their chief festival of Yul to commemorate the return of the burning wheel. Feasts attached to the births of sun-gods such as Mithras, were without fail celebrated at the time of the winter solstice. The day on which Christmas is celebrated (December 25) and nearly all the customs associated with Christmas had their origins in pagan idol worship.

The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a week long festival called the 'Saturnalia.' In honour of Saturn, a deity in ancient Italy. At this time of year the houses were decorated with boughs of evergreen trees and with lighted candles and with lamps. Bonfires were lit in high places to strengthen the reviving sun in his course. No one worked (except for the cooks). Candles and green wreaths were given as presents, and public places were decorated with flowers and shrubs.

A merger of neighbouring native gods took place as the Roman state conquered the surrounding territories. Under the empire, numerous foreign cults achieved great popularity and were widely extended, such as the worship of the Egyptian goddess Isis and that of the Persian god Mithras. The Emperor, Aurelian, proclaimed a festival on December 25 to celebrate the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. This was to merge the Persian god Mithras whose birth was celebrated on December 25 with the Unconquered Sun. At the time that Christ was born, many people belonged to the eastern 'mysteries' such as the cults of Isis, Serapis, and Mithra. The cult of Cybele or Magna Mater ("Great Mother") came from Asia Minor.

'Mithraism', which was similar to Christianity in some respects, was the predominate religion until Christianity became the officially supported religion under Emperor Constantine. As a substitution for the celebration of Saturnalia and the festival of the unconquered sun, Emperor Constantine, as the head of the Church of Rome, designated a 'Feast of the Nativity' to be observed on December the 25th. [*He also changed the weekly worship day from the Sabbath day to Sun-day] The 'Feast of the Nativity' was only one of several transformations of pagan festivals to supposedly Christian festivals. THROUGHOUT HISTORY ROMAN CATHOLICISM HAS USED THE POLICY OF MERGING PAGAN FESTIVALS WITH SIMILAR ROMAN FESTIVALS AND GIVING THEM A SUPPOSEDLY 'CHRISTIAN' SIGNIFICANCE.

{A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME STILL SMELLS THE SAME}

The people in Scandinavia were tree worshipers, therefore, it was only natural that evergreen trees, their boughs and other evergreen plants (such as the holly tree, ivy and the like) should become part of their early 'Christian festivals.' When the pagans of Northern Europe became Christians, they made their sacred evergreen trees part of the Christian festival, and decorated the trees with gilded nuts, candles, and apples to stand for the stars, moon, and sun. The growing universal church allowed massive numbers of pagans and heathens to come right into the so-called 'Christian' religion, while retaining their ancient superstitions, festivals and objects of worship!
Perhaps the earliest origin of the "Christmas tree" comes from the fable of "St. Boniface" (Bonifacious), who allegedly destroyed the great oak of Jupiter at Geismar in Hesse, Germany. The legend says Boniface (an English missionary named Winfrid), while travelling through northern Germany, found a group of Druids at their sacred oak preparing to sacrifice little Prince Asulf to their god, Jupiter. Allegedly, Winfrid stopped the sacrifice and cut down the tree. The oak fell and instantly a young fir tree appeared! Winfrid told the heathens that the fir was the 'tree of life' and represented Christ! One of the first historical accounts of a so-called 'Christian' missionary adapting pagan beliefs concerning tree worship into some form of 'Christianity'.

When Rome conquered Britain and Gaul (Galatians) there were yet other pagan festivals to contend with. Celtic priests were called druids, and their religion was druidism. The druids of Gaul were both judges and priests who sacrificed criminals to their gods. The druids of Britain were chiefly religious teachers. It is known that oak trees and mistletoe played an important part in druidic rituals as did human sacrifice. Sacrificial victims were burned in large wicker baskets in order to ensure military success or the health of the chief. These acts, as well as the druids' fierce resistance to the spread of Latin culture, led to their suppression by Roman authorities in Britain and Gaul; only in Ireland, which never came under Roman rule, did druidism survive until AD c.500. It is for this reason, perhaps, that pre-Christian Irish mythology is far better preserved than that of any other ancient Celtic group.

When Christianity arrived in Ireland, many of the pagan rituals and traditions were adopted by the new church. November 1st became All Saints Day, or All Hallowed Day. The evening before this, previously known as Samhain, became All Hallowed Eve. This was eventually contracted to Hallow'een.

Today there is a revival of Druidism. Druids worship nature and refer to the earth as 'Mother Earth'.

HOW CAN YOU BE A WITNESS TO SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES, AND CAN PROVE, THAT A MAJOR PART OF YOUR RELIGION IS AN IMITATION OF THEIR 'PAGAN' RELIGION?

• Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
• Acts 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
• John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. {14} If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
• Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

WHY IS IT NECESSARY FOR US TO ASK OR COMMAND "IN THE NAME OF JESUS"?

"Without him was not any thing made that was made"
was true at creation and it remains true today!!

• John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
• Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
• Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
• Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

THOU SHALT BE AS MY MOUTH

• Acts 19:13-16 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. {14} And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. {15} And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? {16} And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Speaking or commanding "in the name of Jesus" is not a ritualistic chant that just anyone can use. Being an heir of God gives us the authority to speak in the name of Jesus, yet even the children are required to come to maturity and to obey before they may "speak for him".

• Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 4:1-2 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; {2} But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
• John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
• 1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
• 2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Therefore thus saith the LORD,
If thou return, then will I bring thee again,
and thou shalt stand before me: and
if thou take forth the precious from the vile,
thou shalt be as my mouth:
let them return unto thee;
but return not thou unto them.
Jer 15:19

• Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; {18} They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

If 'these signs' are to follow 'them that believe' today as they did in the early church, then 'those that believe' will have to stop putting their own private interpretation to what God has commanded and learn to rely on the Holy Ghost to teach them the things of the Spirit of God before God will work with them and confirm the word with signs following.

• 2 Pet 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
• 1 Cor 2:13-14 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. {14} But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
No Turning Back, No Turning Back
Though None Go With Me, Still I Will Follow
No Turning Back, No Turning Back