CHRISTMAS PART III

6.) Is the Lord pleased when we mix heathen practices with Christianity?

Exodus 20:3-5
"Thou shall have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, or serve them. For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.

Psalms 102:15
So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

2 Corinthians 6:16-17
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? ...Come out from among them and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.

7.) Has the Lord changed regarding heathen practices?

Revelation 22:18-19
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in ths book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Ecclesiastes 3:14
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

The observance of December 25, as a Christian festival only dates from the fourth century and is due to assimilation with the Mithraic festival of the birthday of the sun. Gradually a number of prevailing practices of the heathen nations into which Christianity came were assimiliated and were combined with the religious ceremonies surrounding Christmas. The assimilation of such practices genrally represented efforts by Christians to transform or absorb otherwise pagan practices.

The Pagan symbolism was taken over and, in the Christian view, elevated. Jesus became the (pagan), Sun of Justice, and the Sun of Righteousness. Christmas was generally celebrated in the West only after the triumph of Constantine, when the time of Christ's birth was reckoned with the day of the Unconquered Sun on December 25. The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply rooted in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence. So the festival with its riot and merrymaking was so popular that in time were excepted.

The tree stems from primitive pagan customs. Its main features, green foliage and candles were associated with the winter solstice when nature seemed dead, and green branches and trees were used in heathen rituals to ensure the return of vegetation and the victory of light over darkness.

The mistletoe was sacred to the Druids, priests of ancient Britain and Gaul. The Norse used holly and the yule log to keep away evil spirits. Gifts were exchanged during the Roman festival of the Saturnalia, a feast to the god Saturn. The candles were lit in honor to the Babylonian god.

From German came Kriss Kringle, Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. St. Nicholas was actually a bishop of the Mediterranean City of Mira. He was born about 270 A.D. Nicholas was one of the thousands which refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, many were slaughtered, tortured, others sent to prison. Nicholas was one prisoned. After so many years, he was released by the deree of the new Emperor Constantine. Nicholas was one who participated in the Council of Nicea in 325. He died on December 6, around 343A.D. Nicholas was a man, a man who survived persecution as one of many millions, but he wasn't a god, nor is now.

One can find even more on Christmas in most any encyclopedia. Each country you will find has its own mother and child they worship, each one a different goddess.

Now we have to ask the question, can our Lord Jesus Christ be joyful and pleased at this time of year when He is sharing heathen customs? Can we take something heathen and make it holy? Our Lord Jesus Christ said "No", "Learn NOT the way of the heathen."