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The Christmas Facts Page

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The Christmas Facts Page

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As Christians living in a secular world we must present ourselves to the world as a group of people who know what their religion says and what it stands for. Being Christians was must be an example to the rest of the world and we must be accurate when dealing with historical and biblical events. If we are not people will say that we don't even know our own religion and that it must be a weak religion for believers not to be educated in their own belief system.

The following topics are some of the most commonly misunderstood beliefs.

The Christmas Tree Dilemma

500 Years before Jesus Christ, the prophet, Jeremiah, warned the children of God about participating in Roman traditions and festivals.The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a festival called Saturnalia. Decorating their houses with greens and lights, they would exchange coins, pastries,and lamps.

Then the Druids used evergreens in their winter solstice rituals. They used holly and mistletoe which symbolized eternal life. They would place branches of evergreen across doorways to ward off evil spirits.

(Jer 10:2 KJV) 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.
(Jer 10:3 KJV) 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 ax.
(Jer 10:4 KJV) They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
(Jer 10:5 KJV) They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
(Jer 10:6 KJV) Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

This passage describes the Christmas Tree. Even before the birth of Christ people practiced this custom. Therefore, it is not part of worshipping Christ. It has no Christian significance at all.

Three Wisemen at the Manger?

One of the biggest mistakes churches and Christians can make is to set up a nativity scene that depicts three wise men kneeling and worshipping the baby Jesus in the manger.

Why? Because it is not an accurate depiction of the Bible and the actual historical events.

While reading these versus, please pay special attention to the use of the words: young child and house.

(Mat 2:8 KJV) And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
(Mat 2:9 KJV) When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
(Mat 2:16 KJV) Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Notice they are seeking a young child, not a babe, baby or infant. The phrase young child appears numerous times, not just once. The Holy Spirit is trying to tell us that there is a difference between an infant and a young child.

If the wisemen came to see the baby Jesus, why would Herod kill all the children two or younger? Because he knows how long the wisemen have traveled. He has spoken to them at length and probably asks questions concerning when they left, how long they've traveled, etc.

Notice the word house not manger. I think that most people wouldn't mistake a manger for a house.

Were there three wise men? We don't know. The Bible just says wisemen. It could be 2 or more. The notion that there were three wise men came from the following passage:

(Mat 2:11 KJV) 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.

The number of wisemen (3) probably came from the number of gifts they presented to Jesus. This doesn't necessarily mean that there were three. It could have been 10 wisemen giving gold, 5 giving frankincense, and 8 giving myrrh.

The people who came to see the Jesus in the manger were shepherds and citizens. Notice the Bible doesn't say anything about wisemen coming to the manger.

(Luke 2:7 KJV) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
(Luke 2:15 KJV) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
(Luke 2:16 KJV) And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

There are many Christians under the assumption that Mary gave birth to Jesus and died a Virgin. This is simply not true.

(Mat 13:54 KJV) And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
(Mat 13:55 KJV) Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
(Mat 13:56 KJV) And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

Notice that the Bible says that Mary has 4 sons and at least two girls. Joseph was the father of these children

This doesn't take away anything from Mary who was a vessel of God and brought forth the only savior this world will ever know. We should have respect for Mary and thank God for her.

Mary was chosen by God for this purpose which she fulfilled with much honor and grace. But we are not to worship her. We are to worship the Lord and only him. Jesus Christ is our Lord and savior. Through his blood our sins are forgiven.

(Mat 1:24 KJV) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
(Mat 1:25 KJV) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

This passage tells us that Joseph didn't have any sexual relations with Mary until after Jesus was born. Jesus was born by the virgin Mary. Who, after Jesus' birth, was a wife to Joseph and had many more children.

Is Christmas Jesus' Birthday?

Is there any real religious (Christian) significance to Christmas. The answer is sadly no. Jesus wasn't born on December 25. He was born in September on Roshashana.

We know this due to the fact the Mary visited John the Baptists mother who was six months pregnant with John after Mary first conceived.

John was born around Passover(March/April), six months later Jesus was born (September/October). We know that John the Baptist was born on Passover because his father was serving in the temple on that Passover.

Santa Claus ... Good Or Evil?

Santa is an interesting case. Let’s think of Santa from a secular or even an demonic point of view.

It takes the attention off of Jesus Christ’s Birthday (although we’ve already established that he wasn’t born in December) and focuses on a mythical and magical character.

It places the occult (magic, talking snowmen, elves, flying reindeer) into a religious holiday.

Telling your children that Santa is real and pretending that he visits every year is a horrible mistake that most parents, even Christian parents seem to make. Think of the psychological scars that children have when they find out that Santa is a lie.

The child receives a certain level of mistrust and part of their childhood is shattered.

Their parents (whom they love and trusted) lied to them.

If they find out in school they maybe the object of a joke or some other form of ridicule and embarrassment.

The parents didn’t focus on what Christian is suppose to be -- the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

If the parents are poor and don’t have the money to buy the child the gift of their Christmas dreams they can do several mean things, even if they are unintended.

Tell the child they’ve been bad and that’s why Santa didn’t leave the gift.

Tell the child they are poor, and tell them that Santa is poor too. Isn’t Santa suppose to be wealthy and wise. More contradictions and lies.

Skipping this entire process is probably the most intelligent, kind and caring thing you can do to your child.

Its amazing that after all these centuries parents still choose to scar their kids with this lie. Nothing good comes out of this, absolutely nothing!

The Christmas Star

What was the Christmas Star?

Matthew 2 is the only text that describes the Christmas star. For many years people have wondered what is was, and if it really existed. Please note that the word to describe the wisemen comes from the Greek MAGOS which means “wisemen, astrologer, seer, or oriental scientists”.

What are the Possibilities?

There are four major theories on what was the source of this star. The Greek word to describe this start is ASTER which means star. This could be anything from a comet to a sun. The word is very general in meaning.

Possible Sources:

A Comet - a common site, not splendid enough to interest the wisemen.

A conjunction of planets - none are calculated for this time period.

A recurring nova - most likely candidate. These types of novae appear then disappear then reappear at a later date. This would coincide with Matthew’s account. This is the best bet, but this is only a guess.

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