11/01/2002 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

HalleluYah!!!

Tonight I would like to share something on a subject a bit earlier than when I normally do

For I find that the best time to share a study on this subject is before a person already begins to do it :)

It is a study on the question of whether or not we should celebrate Christmas

Before I would begin I would like to say...

For those who have not this conviction, please set aside all thoughts of the consequences of not celebrating this day...

And just look at the scriptures and points made in this study

For those who already have the conviction, I hope it will help you help others

This is similar to the study on the website..but with more scriptures and additions

The celabration of Christmas is a 'tradition'.

It is something that we have inheritied because our fathers decided to celebrate this day

It is something that is celebrated even by atheists and others who are not a part of the Christian religion

Interestingly, modern pagans hail it as the time of the winter solstice

Now sometimes tradition is acceptable and perhaps even pleasing in the sight of Yahweh

But sometimes it is not acceptable and is even hated by Him.

The evil of traditions that transgress the commmandment of Yahweh was a key teaching of Yahushua the Messiah:

Matthew 15:1 - Then came to Yahushua scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

Matthew 15:2 - Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Here we see that the people of Yahushua's day were not pleased that they 'transgressed the tradition of the elders'

Yahushua did not participate in this tradition

I hear people ask me this (in so many words)..Why do you transgress the traditions of our elders?

My answer would be the same as Yahushua's except I would apply it to Christmas

Let's read verse 3:

Matthew 15:3 - But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of YAHWEH by your tradition?

As we will see, surely this is what is taking place with the tradition of Christmas

For this was an example of how the Scribes and Pharisees forsook the commandment of Yahweh in favor of their tradition..

(actually the verses to follow detail that)

As I will share, Christmas is transgressing the commandment of Yahweh in favor of tradition!

What does Yahushua think about this?

Matthew 15:7 - Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

Matthew 15:8 - This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Matthew 15:9 - But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Christmas is honoring with the lips but its heart is in materialism, falsehood and vanity

Even worse, its roots are in idolatry, as we shall see

But clearly, doctrines and commandments of men are vain worship. Yahweh never commanded it

You may search from Genesis to Revelation, but you will not find a single scripture in the bible that tells us to celebrate the birth of Yahushua the Messiah. Let alone in a pagan way

So yes, we must question these traditions and the origin of these traditions that have been handed down to this generation even though few dare to.

Many Christians speak against Pagan oriented Catholic traditions, but fail to recognize that the same types of pagan festivals exist in the celebration of Christmas and Easter

How did the observance of Christmas get its start?

The following is a quote from my 1991 Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Volume 11 ; page 390.

"During the later periods of Roman history, sun worship gained in importance and ultimately led to what has been called a 'solar monotheism.' Nearly all the gods of the period were possessed of Solar qualities, and both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities. The feast of Sol and Victus (open unconquered Sun) on December 25th was celebrated with great joy, and eventually this date was taken over by the Christians as Christmas, the birthday of Christ."

Notice how it says "both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities"?

The Christians were apparently trying to get more converts so they tried to "paganize" the Messiah to make Him more attractive to pagans.

They even officially brought the feast of the unconquered sun into their worship in 336 AD. This is the origin of Christmas.

But the real question is, "Who converted who?"

Do we murder to bring a murderer to Yahushua?

Do we rape to bring a rapist to the Messiah?

It is true that by 336AD, the mainstream beliefs of Christianity were already far from the truth the apostles taught anyway. However, even giving them that, shouldn't true believers be teaching the unbelievers the true way of Yahweh rather than the unbelievers teaching believers these pagan customs and practices?

Certainly! Yet, the Christians not only learned these heathen ways, they also incorporated them into their worship. Scripture says:

Ephesians 5:11 - And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

2Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Today, Christmas is a very popular holiday. However, as is often the case, what is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular.

While the mainstream beliefs were far from the truth the apostles taught, it was still the idolators that taught the christians this custom. We ought to be teaching them!

Christmas means 'mass for christ', but the name of the holiday is much newer than the holiday itself.

The customs associated with christmas, in one form or another, have been celebrated for thousands of years

'Christmas' is just a new name for an old holiday.

It is historical fact that even though the same festival that is the origin of Christmas was celebrated by pagans during the first 300+ years, it was not celebrated by believers.

The celebration of this holiday was started later. Does this not reek of apostasy?

Why then would a true believer celebrate it today? They should have heeded the scripture:

Why then would a true believer celebrate it today? They should have heeded the scripture:

Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of YAHWEH.

Nearly all modern day preachers and ministers of Christianity admit this fact.

At issue is whether or not we should walk in these customs

So what is so bad about it?

Is it just for the children?

What should we be teaching our children? Truth or lies?

The truth is that the Messiah was not born on December 25th.

December 25th is the birthday of nearly every pagan god ever invented! In fact, the pagan customs associated with Christmas are clearly condemned in the scriptures.

Paganism/Idolatry is something that is against Yahweh. If we know that the roots of Christmas are of pagan origin, shouldn't the roots of our worship be in the scriptures, rather than paganism?

Yahweh's people should always seek the truth. Consider these scriptures:

Jeremiah 10:1 - Hear ye the word which YAHWEH speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

Jeremiah 10:2 - Thus saith YAHWEH, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

Don't even learn it, let alone practice it and incorporate it into the worship of Yahweh!

Secondly, it says that the Gentiles were dismayed at the signs of heaven. History tells us that when the sun began to go further away from the earth and the days grew shorter in the winter, the sun worshipping Gentiles were "dismayed", and feared that the sun would not return.

So they held certain festivals just after the time of the Winter Solstice when it did begin to return. This return of the sun is why December 25th is the birthday of so many solar deities.

With these festivals came certain customs:

(Continuing in Jer. 3)

(Continuing in Jer. 10 rather)

Jeremiah 10:3 - 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.

Jeremiah 10:4 - They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Yahweh tells us not to learn the way of the heathen. And here He even goes so far as describe a custom that is a way of the heathen. Yet, we see this same custom exist even today which is called the Christmas tree.

Have you ever wondered why in the world someone would do something as strange as cut down a tree and put it in their house and then decorate it with all different types of ornaments? Scripture says it is a way of the heathen!

It's also odd. Not only is it odd, it is wrong. This custom, along with other pagan customs like it are clearly condemned in this passage. We don't need a prophet to come and tell us today that this custom is wrong. Jeremiah said so a long time ago!

This custom, along with other pagan customs like it are clearly condemned in this passage. Other customs include Mistletoe, the Yule log and Santa Claus. If you seek, you will find that these things are rooted in idolatry also.

Speaking of Santa Claus..

All over the world, Santa Claus is God to the children of the world (move the n to the end of Santa). Others say 'Father Christmas'

Parents purposely and deliberately lie to their children and tell them that they should fear Santa Claus because "he knows if you've been bad or good".

These same parents also lie to their children about the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy. Then they wonder why their children become liars and don't believe the Messiah is real later on in life.

This is clearly a total abomination to Yahweh. You don't have to look very far in the word of Yahweh to find out how much he loathes idolatry and lies. Yahweh is the only true Mighty One.

Why would we teach our children that it is "Santa Claus" who knows if we have been 'naughy or nice'?

Our children look to us and believe every word we say. Do they not deserve the truth?

How abominable it is for a believer to teach their children to fear Santa Claus -- and in so doing -- creep an idol into the conscience of a child!

Lies, lies everything is lies

The very foundation of the Christmas holiday is a lie

The Messiah was not born December 25th.

He did not ask us to celebrate his birthday.

He did not say to set up a tree in our house and decorate it and our houses with anything.

Santa Claus does not exist. He doesn't have reindeer that fly and he isn't going to come on December 25th and leave any gifts. Everything is a lie. Is Yahweh the originator of this holiday? Or is it the father of lies?

Yahushua condemned the leaders of that generation for teaching lies:

John 8:44 - Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Revelation 22:14 - Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:15 - But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

The book of Revelation also predicts that those who hate Yahweh will be glad when the two witnesses of Yahweh die, for they will make merry and have a gift exchange:

Revelation 11:9 - Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.

Revelation 11:10 - And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Deuteronomy 12:29 - When YAHWEH thy Elohim shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;

Deuteronomy 12:30 - Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their elohim, saying, How did these nations serve their elohim? even so will I do likewise.

Deuteronomy 12:31 - Thou shalt not do so unto YAHWEH thy Elohim: for every abomination to YAHWEH, which he hateth, have they done unto their elohim; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their elohim.

Deuteronomy 12:32 - What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Do not add to His commandments and do not take away from His commandments. Both Christmas and Easter take pagan festivals and traditions and apply them to the worship of Yahweh. This is clearly condemned here.

Scripture again says we shouldn't be walking as the Gentiles walked. We should be walking as Yahushua walked!

1John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Yet all paganism is Satanism

Satan is behind all pagan worship. And whatever god the idolaters worship, they are actually worshipping Satan.

1Corinthians 10:20 - But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to Elohim: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

We need to return to the pure worship!!

Let's set aside all these vain traditions

Let's set aside our desire to please man

Let's set aside our desire to conform to the world!

And let's conform ourselves to the image of Yahushua the Messiah

Let's conform ourselves to the TRUE observances found in scripture.. the ones He observed!

For there is no doubt that He not only hates these things, but he hates them being applied to HIM

You can't mix, He hates it:

1Corinthians 10:21 - Ye cannot drink the cup of YAHWEH, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of YAHWEH's table, and of the table of devils.

May Yahweh bless you and may He have mercy on us all!