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Christmas is not pagan, it just isn't

humbolt said:
All humans record births in some fashion or another. The celebration of a gift from God is not a pagan practice, or are you of the belief that early Christians did not make mistakes. Being human, I think they did in their haste to separate themselves from paganism. The gifts delivered to Mary upon Christ's birth were not condemned and tossed into the gutter as pagan tripe. A complete reading is important.
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True, because there were no gifts and the story is a myth.
 


Growing up, Christmas was my favorite time of year. I loved everything about it. The decorations, the food, the family, the gifts; it was all so beautiful and exciting for me as a child.

My love for Christmas continued into adulthood. Every year I looked forward to setting up the tree, hanging lights on the house, and buying gifts for family and friends. I was so excited about Christmas that I would start decorating at the beginning of November and leave them up until the end of January. Christmas was my absolute favorite holiday because I thought it was the celebration of Jesus birth.

Then one day someone told me that Christmas was originally a Pagan holiday that was adopted by the Church hundreds of years after Jesus died. I wanted to find out the Truth about Christmas, so I started doing my own research, and was shocked at what I found out.

After doing just a little bit of research (like looking in an Encyclopedia), I quickly found out that nearly everything about Christmas comes from Pagan traditions. The tree, holly, mistletoe, tinsel, lights, gifts, caroling, Santa Claus, and many other popular Christmas traditions all find their roots in Paganism.

I was so disgusted at the Pagan origins of some of our traditions that I began to weep and repent for my involvement in these things. I felt so deceived, and what made it worse is that the lies came from people I trusted - my family, friends, and pastor.

Then I found out that most preachers know the Truth about Christmas being a pagan holiday, yet they keep silent about it. Unlike preachers in past who were not afraid to stand up for the truth.

Listen to what Charles Spurgeon had to say about Christmas in a sermon on Dec 24, 1871.

“We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas: first, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be said or sung in Latin or in English; and, secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Savior; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority.”
- Charles Spurgeon, Sermon on Dec. 24, 1871

Now every December, Christian parents lie to their children about Christmas. Telling them Jesus was born on December 25th, and Santa Claus brings them gifts. These lies are reinforced by the Church, so it is no wonder our kids are turning away from God as they grow up. They realize that Santa Clause and the Easter bunny were lies, and they naturally question what they were told about Jesus as well since he has been so closely associated with those other fictional and mythical characters.

God seeks worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and in Truth, and we know that Christmas is a lie, so how can we continue to worship God in this way?

I made the decision to stop celebrating Christmas because I love Jesus, and I hope my testimony has encouraged you to do your own research about the Pagan origins of Christmas.

Should Christians celebrate Christmas? Why I quit celebrating Christmas. Stop lying to your children about Christmas. Jesus wasn't born in December and Santa doesn't bring them gifts.
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it's just me said:
Deck the hores with bores of horry, fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra.
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Greetings, it's just me. :2wave:

We just watched that movie again today! :thumbs: Several years ago we took some visitors from Texas to see the "Christmas House" in Cleveland, and they really enjoyed seeing it! The man who took a chance and bought the property, fixed it up till it looked like what we see in the movie, and while it took a lot of money, run-down as it was, he made the right decision judging from the thousands of people who pay to visit it every year! Good for him! You betcha! We've seen it many times ourselves over the years, and after visiting the museum we head for the fun gift shop across the street where we always buy a few "leg lamps" to give away as gifts on special occasions! :2rofll:
 
RAMOSS said:
Well, you don't violate Jeremiah 10 at least. If you did a Christmas tree, you would be pagan.
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Tree worship is ancient and was occurring during the time the weeping prophet Jeremiah penned his words. During that time span Jeremiah had a lot to weep about because G-d's people had strayed and were often getting involved in pagan worship including the worship of Baal. They were far from G-d.

But the Christian does not worship the Christmas tree. The Christian celebrates the greatest gift to man, a Savior born. During the season where gift giving is a part, it is the LORD's gift that will always be to the Christian, the greatest ever given.


There are only two Christian sects that I know that forbid a Christmas tree. One is the Jehovah Witness and the other is a new group from the Church of God. Years ago old world Orthodox Christians did not celebrate with a tree. But they don't celebrate Christmas on the 25th either. They didn't believe in nativity scenes either as they saw them as graven images back then. Instead, they brought straw into their homes and either placed it under the dining room table or in a corner as a reminder of our LORD's humble beginnings.

One can take any Christian holiday and find traces of pagan things in them. Gentiles were pagans......pagan until those fine loving Jewish Apostles went forth and spread the Good News.

How someone celebrates isn't important. What is important is who they are celebrating and the condition of their heart.
 
vesper said:
Tree worship is ancient and was occurring during the time the weeping prophet Jeremiah penned his words. During that time span Jeremiah had a lot to weep about because G-d's people had strayed and were often getting involved in pagan worship including the worship of Baal. They were far from G-d.

But the Christian does not worship the Christmas tree. The Christian celebrates the greatest gift to man, a Savior born. During the season where gift giving is a part, it is the LORD's gift that will always be to the Christian, the greatest ever given.


There are only two Christian sects that I know that forbid a Christmas tree. One is the Jehovah Witness and the other is a new group from the Church of God. Years ago old world Orthodox Christians did not celebrate with a tree. But they don't celebrate Christmas on the 25th either. They didn't believe in nativity scenes either as they saw them as graven images back then. Instead, they brought straw into their homes and either placed it under the dining room table or in a corner as a reminder of our LORD's humble beginnings.

One can take any Christian holiday and find traces of pagan things in them. Gentiles were pagans......pagan until those fine loving Jewish Apostles went forth and spread the Good News.

How someone celebrates isn't important. What is important is who they are celebrating and the condition of their heart.
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That does not change the fact that the symbolism is pagan is origin.
 
The most important thing is...does God approve?

"Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; and stop sharing in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness; rather, expose them for what they are." Ephesians 5:10,11
 
RAMOSS said:
That does not change the fact that the symbolism is pagan is origin.
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I didn't say it didn't. But even though a tradition has pagan roots back thousands of years doesn't mean the person that puts up a Christmas tree is a pagan either.

Look like I stated in every Christian holiday you will find traces of pagan origins but though they are present, to the Christian they are done to honor their LORD not some pagan god. In most Christian's homes the top of the tree is adorned with either a star or an angel. Both have significant meaning in the Christmas story. Their Savior is their evergreen tree that produces the fruit continuously that enriches their very being giving them salvation, redemption, direction and purpose.
 
Elvira said:
The most important thing is...does God approve?

"Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; and stop sharing in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness; rather, expose them for what they are." Ephesians 5:10,11
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Sorry Elvira, putting up a Christmas tree in my opinion isn't the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness.

I know you are a Jehovah Witness and that you don't partake in such activities. That's fine with me. To each his own. But it crosses the line when you start pointing fingers at those who do who have a great love for the LORD. I don't call that an act of love. The folks I know that put up Christmas trees as part of their celebration of the birth of Christ spend much of their time doing what Christ called them to do in their wonderful deeds. They live what Christ taught.
 
For all you Sunday School teachers that may visit this forum or are involved in a Christian youth group, at Christmastime I would use a cutout of an evergreen tree from green construction paper. Then I would turn it into a family tree of Yeshua Jesus. I would use the accounts of his genealogy for the children to put the names on in an ornament. Many of the names were familiar to them from previous studies and was a good time to review. When they were finished they had a well decorated tree with the genealogy of the LORD present.
 
How It All Got Started
Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or
December 22 and is called the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return.

The ancient Egyptians worshipped a god called Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a blazing disk in his crown. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from the illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes which symbolized for them the triumph of life over death.

Early Romans marked the solstice with a feast called the Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. In Northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder.
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https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees
 
Shall we get back on topic? The pagan origins of Christmas.
 
Can Christ Be Honored by Christmas?
The most common justification that one will hear regarding Christmas is that people have replaced old pagan customs and intents by asserting that they are now “focusing on Christ.” I have heard many say that they are “honoring Christ” in their Christmas-keeping. The problem is that God does not say this is acceptable to Him! Actually, He plainly commands against it! Keeping Christmas dishonors Christ! He considers everything about it to be an abomination! We will soon see why.

Christ said, “But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9). Christmas is not a command of God—it is a tradition of men. Christ continued, “Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:9). Every year, throughout the world, on December 25th, hundreds of millions do just that!

We will see that God plainly commands, “Follow not the way of the heathen.” But most people do not fear God, and He allows them to make their own decisions. Human beings are free moral agents—free to obey or disobey God! But woe to those who ignore the plain Word of God!
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https://rcg.org/realtruth/articles/169-ttooc.html
 
polgara said:
Greetings, it's just me. :2wave:

We just watched that movie again today! :thumbs: Several years ago we took some visitors from Texas to see the "Christmas House" in Cleveland, and they really enjoyed seeing it! The man who took a chance and bought the property, fixed it up till it looked like what we see in the movie, and while it took a lot of money, run-down as it was, he made the right decision judging from the thousands of people who pay to visit it every year! Good for him! You betcha! We've seen it many times ourselves over the years, and after visiting the museum we head for the fun gift shop across the street where we always buy a few "leg lamps" to give away as gifts on special occasions! :2rofll:
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Aha, your profile says you are in NE Ohio, the exterior of Ralphies house looks like the lower west side (near the zoo) but I think the exteriors were shot in Canada, except for the shots that are obviously in Cleveland, like the downtown area. I am of the age where I remember those quonset hut panels everywhere, along with things like '32 Ford car bodies.

I have wanted one of those leg lamps forever, and now they have smaller ones that are desk lamps, I may get one yet.

We have two grandsons who are in that 10 year old age bracket and we got the very same bb guns in the movie for them, my step daughter is going to have a fit. I can hear her cussing like the old man now.
 
zyzygy said:
Shall we get back on topic? The pagan origins of Christmas.
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Why? Because they exist? No argument with me on that one. But the Christians celebrating Christmas are not worshipping the pagan gods associated with such origins.


I know that is such a downer for you. Oh well....
 
Elvira said:
https://rcg.org/realtruth/articles/169-ttooc.html
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You Jehovah's Witnesses don't worship the real Jesus anyway. Your JW Jesus isn't the divine Jesus of the Bible. Not only that but you kicked the divine Holy Spirit to the curb and made him an "it". That's demonic.

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." - 2 Timothy 4:3
 
vesper said:
Why? Because they exist? No argument with me on that one. But the Christians celebrating Christmas are not worshipping the pagan gods associated with such origins.


I know that is such a downer for you. Oh well....
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It's the topic of the thread.
 
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