There was one negative feedback, comprised of two parts, regarding TSaS's special broadcast "Christ's Birth." It was felt clarity should be offered, in the event other members equally were offended by its content: which never is TSaS's intent. God chooses whom He will to receive His Truth. While the text was total truth, some may have taken personally its facts. To this, members are reminded that we are not held accountable for what we don't know, as far as God is concerned. However, we are held accountable once informed of His Truth. Still, each comment is addressed separately for membership as a whole and as follows:
1. "How dare you say we are celebrating pagan holidays for Christ's birth!"
Historically documented fact: Christmas is and always has been a pagan solstice festival devoted to their sun god: just as prevalent today as it was in Old Testament times. Another such solstice festival is held in April. The December event originally was to worship and beg the sun god not to cast them into utter darkness: this assumed because day hours were becoming shorter and shorter. April marks the days as once again lengthening; so, another festival was practiced to worship and thank the sun god for not having cast them into darkness.
Calling it Christmas— or Easter, depending on which festival is being observed by Christians at the time— was one way of camouflaging heathen origins. In fact, it was the Roman Papacy who instituted these pagan rituals into Christianity, eons ago and purportedly to "save" gentiles for Christ. At least, this was the story they gave to believers who knew God's Truth.
The Christmas tree was brought in later, when again Papal Rome directed Germanic peoples to bring their "ritual tree" into the home— instead of going into the woods for their pagan ceremony— go ahead and decorate it as usual: BUT, use it as a part of celebrating Christ's birth along with your Yule log and mistletoe and whatever else. Again, those who knew better were told it was the only way to bring these heathens to Christ. As noted in "Christ's Birth," the tree is described in the Old Testament: definitely resembling what most call a Christmas tree. Santa Claus was another Germanic tradition.
More importantly, throughout the Old Testament all forms of idolatry, with its numerous gods and goddesses and myriad rituals practiced by gentile nations, is thoroughly discussed as an abomination unto the Lord: directly relating to the first three of His Ten Commandments. Even the names of many of these gods and goddesses are cited: such as Diane, Tammuz, Apollo, Belial, and so forth. The purpose was to enlighten the Hebrews that these ways were abhorrent to Yeshua; thus, it was no wonder, when they began to bring many of those rituals and things into the midst of Jewish faith, they sorely were punished and reminded again what it was Elohim would not tolerate.
By the same token, Israel was the example by which gentiles would come to know this singular, all-powerful God up against whom their gods were powerless— time and time again over several thousand years: both in witnessing Eloi's power against Israel's enemies as well as El's awesome punishment of His Israelites when they disobeyed Him. Therefore, when Christ began His ministry all those years later, many pagans were ready to embrace this awesome and fearsome God who also was very beneficent.
Others among them, however, were unwilling to give up their pagan traditions and rituals yet seemed to lay claim to Christianity and Christ: for they were and remain part of the preordained plan. These are the ones pointed out in the New Testament: Galatians 2:4— That because of false brethren unawares [secretly] brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage. Jude v.4— For there are certain men crept in unawares [secretly], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 11:19— For there must be also heresies [liars] among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
Violating any one of El Shaddai's twelve Commandments, or to adhere to Jewish ordinances abolished by Christ, is to be in Satan's bondage instead of God's servant. To take part in idolatry, no matter how minute it might seem— such as a particular festival or sabbath day and/or an icon of whatsoever sort, one or both supposedly dedicated to Christ and/or God— puts that person into Satan's bondage. This statement alone is proven throughout the Bible.
These rebels then went out and established their own form of Christian churches, to-wit: synagogues of Satan. ALL these organizations have mingled with God's Pure Doctrine myriad pagan rituals and traditions: even to the day they have set aside as El's Sabbath— albeit not His— thus defiling the church with lies. Of these things, Adonai says:
What concord [agreement] hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel. 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. WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (II Corinthians 6:15-18 AKJV)
Finally, at no time during Christ's ministry did He partake of or include any form of idolatrous ritual or tradition as a means to bring heathens into His perfect walk. God forbid! In fact, Jesus adamantly taught against such behaviour: as did His Apostles, ministers and disciples.
Therefore and regardless of Christendom's claims, we as professing Christians must do as did Christ, His Apostles, ministers and disciples; or, we will be destroyed in the end as having done as Jesus warned against, "You flatter me with your lips but your heart is far from me. I do not know who you are. In vain you worship me, teaching the commandments of men for the doctrines of God." (Matthew 15:8-9; Mar 13:27 paraphrased AKJV)
2. "Nowhere does the Bible say it is a sin to celebrate Christ's birth!"
To this statement, we all surely are in agreement. After all, even three kings came to Christ's manger to celebrate His birth, as well as brought GIFTS FOR THE MESSIAH. Of course, they had an advantage over us: they knew precisely when He was born. First, however, let us discuss gift giving, then we will get to the 'when' part. Note that gifts were not exchanged between everyone in attendance: the gifts were for solely this new King. To exchange gifts would have been vanity, a form of bribery and which falls into idolatry: giving to receive, which is to demonstrate love with expectation or condition.
If we do celebrate Jesus' birth, how then do we give gifts solely to Him? Considering He is not present in the flesh. Christ told us exactly how to do it: "When you feed, house, cloth, give drink, and visit those who are sick or in prison or hungry and thirsty and homeless and naked, you have done it to me." This then is how we give gifts to our Saviour, via our tithes and gifts over our tithes. Messiah also said to do His Father's Will, which is Yeshua's Doctrine of Twelve Commandments. Then, He told us in those same Matthew 25:34-46 that to not do these things results in everlasting punishment— which, ultimately, ends in utter destruction.
Now understanding the gift-giving portion, it still remains to determine when, if at all, to celebrate Christ's birth. To that can be ask: Let us say one is born in June. Would he or she expect family to arbitrarily celebrate his or her birth in August of every year? Of course not. It wouldn't be the truth and would be cause for confusion. It has been determined by scripture that Jesus was born sometime in October: on this, all theologians and Bible scholars, since His birth, do agree yet do not teach this fact. Why? What other reason could there be, other than they don't want to be caught in their own lies? They deceive themselves, for God already knows about their abominations.
Still, no one knows the particular day of the month. So, which day in October should we select to celebrate Messiah's birth? To have the correct month is all well and good; however, if we then set aside a day— any day, because we don't know the correct one— are we not once again introducing a lie amidst truth? Indeed, we would. "One lie renders the whole a lie."
Nowhere in the Bible did either of God or Jesus or His Apostles instruct that Christ's birth was to be observed and celebrated. In fact, Christ would be appalled by such glorifying behaviour singling Him out from His Father. We know this by His statement in Matthew 19:17— "Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life[everlasting], keep [obey] the commandments." Humility: what a fine example of it for us to emulate. While it might seem glorifying to celebrate Jesus' birth, it is not: simply because it is to do something He nor His Father commanded of us. It is even more damning to do so within the confines of an idolatrous festival. "Heap damnation upon yourself."
Christ drew attention to Himself only by establishing the Jewish tradition of Passover into Christianity, commonly called communion or last supper: but, He did so only as a reminder to us of what He sacrificed on our behalf as a way to be absolved of our past sins. The reminder is meant to keep us focused on pleasing and doing His Father's will and Doctrine. Yet, this tradition differed from the Jewish, which is fixed once a year, in that it may be observed as often as we wish: as long as we do it in remembrance of Messiah's sacrifice for us. Yeshua's point throughout the Bible: if we believe in Him and follow His Son in like faith, we do ONLY what has been commanded of us; nothing, absolutely, nothing more and certainly nothing less.
To do more is akin to vanity: to play the part of God and set rules and traditions He neither wants nor approves. This also was part of Israel's fall from grace: adding ordinances God did not give them and adding to His Precepts requirements He never made. Then, to add insult to injury, they mingled idolatry within His pure framework. Alas, along comes converted gentiles making the same deadly mistakes: not only doing more than commanded but by equal measure doing less as well— Fatal Lip Service.
Why on earth would we ever think it was okay for us to do what nearly wiped out the Jewish tree yet did remove two branches entirely? What was and is required of them also is required of gentiles: us heathens given opportunity to gain eternal life through Israel's birthing of Christ, thereby being grafted into the same Israeli tree-of-life.
Ironically, the Old Testament reveals salvation was available to pagans long before Christ arrived: and, they had to follow the same set of Twelve Commandments as Christ said we must obey. "We ought to obey God instead of man. It is the whole duty of man to obey His Law."
In conclusion: It would seem that the best solution to celebrating Christ's birth is to do so EVERY DAY. Okay, one might say, but in what way? By doing only as commanded: absolutely nothing more, and certainly nothing less. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit AND IN TRUTH." (John 4:24 –AKJV) Several of king David's Psalms reveal this Truth, one piece of God's armour, as Elohim's Twelve Commandments, His Law as it were.
--End
Bonita, I'm am in complete agreement with you. It's there in the Bible for everyone to read. Only God can change the hearts of mankind though, and all we can to do is follow Christ's example.
Love, Patty.