App
What we have tried to accomplish in this booklet is to help those who question commonly practiced religious customs. In the quest for true worship of the true God our Father and Christ our only Savior, you have by now become disillusioned with Xmas. Still, you may not be completely convinced, and we hope you will further research the subject. We applaud you for not taking our word, or any man’s word; but do as the Bereans did in Acts 17: 10-11—prove all things whether they be so.
We have, for this purpose, quoted excerpts from many publications so that you would know where more detailed information could be found. A word of warning must be given. The authors have noticed, in the last few years, the unsettling practice of changing history! That is to say, newer encyclopedias have removed many of the unpleasant origins of holidays that are supposedly Christian and replaced them with inoffensive, sweet or attractive beginnings. The best thing we can advise is to go down in the basement and drag out those old, dusty boxes with that old set you’ve been told to believe is “out-of-date” and “useless.” (You may find old encyclopedias at library sales, used bookstores, or your local flea market—Cheap!)
But, even with the information you have received here, you may say, “The pagan origins don’t bother me! I think it’s great that Christianity has been able to cross cultural bounds and incorporate the customs of different peoples’ beliefs to unite people around the world. No other religion does this. It helps people to draw near to Christ. You must receive Christ to be saved!” It certainly is true that through Christ alone we may be saved (John 14:6). But, is any form and manner of worship acceptable to God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son? Does the end justify the means? Can you ever reach that destination by taking any road that suits you? As you may recall, Cain thought that God ought to accept and even appreciate his offering. Worshipping God in the way of Cain seemed sufficient to Cain. But notice what the New Testament says about “the way of Cain”: (Jude 11) “Woe unto them! For they have walked in the way of Cain.” Regardless of how Cain felt, his ways were unrighteous before God (I John 3:12 and Genesis 4:7).
If “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” as Shakespeare said, then the more ominous is also true. A wolf in sheep’s clothing is still a wolf. It will devour you! If your worship includes all of the rites of Baal, whom do you serve? It doesn’t matter what name you place on the celebration (Christmas); it’s still Baal you serve! If you celebrate the feasts of other gods instead of the Feasts of the Lord, how can you say that you worship God or know Jesus? Is it your desire merely to appear religious or do you desire to worship in spirit and truth? Leviticus 23:2: “The appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are My appointed feasts.” Once again, let’s look to the Bible to lead us into all truth (John 17:17).
In Deuteronomy 12:2-4, we learn that the will of God, for each of us personally, is that we must completely destroy the images, altars, names and ways of other gods in our lives. In verse 8 we read, “You shall not do according to all that we do here today, each doing whatever is right in his own eyes.” Continuing in verse 30, “do not ask about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods that I may do likewise?’ ”
Many will attempt, at this point, to reason that God was only talking to the Israelites—not us! But this is simply not so; in Galatians 3:29 it is written, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Even more to the heart of the matter, I Corinthians 10:11 speaks specifically of the Old Testament as examples for us. Read carefully and see what God says, “Now all these things … were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages are come.” Similarly, in 11 Timothy 3:16-17 we find, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.”
Furthermore, the apostle Paul makes it absolutely clear, “But that which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I do not wish you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and the table of demons. Now do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?” (I Corinthians 10:20-22).
Does Christ change his mind? Hebrews 13:8 leaves no guess work: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” I Peter 4:1-3 leaves no doubt as to our instruction. We must live for the will of God, not continuing in our former way of life (practicing the will of the Gentiles), which included abominable idolatries!
Now that you’ve learned that just because something is found in the Old Testament, doesn’t mean it should be thrown out along with the garbage, let’s turn back to Deuteronomy 30:17-20: “But if your heart turn away so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I denounce to you this day that you shall surely perish ... I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing... That thou may love the LORD your God, and may obey His voice, and may cleave to Him; for He is your life.”
Please focus in on God’s message for you. Loving the Lord is obeying Him and cleaving to His ways! This is restated in I John 5:3! His ways are life! What did Jesus say was the greatest commandment? “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT. AND THE SECOND ONE IS LIKE IT; ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.” (Matthew 22:37-40).
