Christmas a Pagan Custom?
Emails & Questions
Q: Christmas? What's wrong with the worship of baby Jesus, on his birthday? And what do you do when the whole world is celebrating, hide in a bunker, what?
A: Like most things, there is the good and the bad. First up -- for most, even those who do make that time, December 25, a time to remember the birth of a Savior to the world, Christmas is all about Santa Claus, cutting down trees and decorating them and laying gifts out, and lying to our children about where these gifts come from -- it is mostly about a very large man, dressed up in red, creeping into your house, hopefully to do you nice, all depending upon you having been naughty or nice during the year. Santa Claus is treated as a god, with magical powers, giving gift out to those he has been watching and keeping a list. Still, this is a stranger the parent are telling little children, has permission to sneak into there home, while they sleep. Any other time, the kids are instructed not to talk to strangers, and certainly not to take gifts from strangers.
The word, Christmas, comes from our Savior being called Christ, and a mass held for the Christ, hence, Christ Mass, or Christmas. However, the custom for what has come to be called, Christmas, dates back much further than the Birth of the Baby Jesus. Even the name for this Savior is not correct. In the Christian Bibles the name of the Biblical Savior, has been changed -- no, replaced. Born YaHshua, a name given to Him by His Heavenly Father, as delivered to Mary and Joseph by the Angel Gabriel. And the name, JESUS -- Geezus, did not exist at that time, not until the 15th century. If that does not blow your mind, then this should -- many people in this world, pronounce JESUS as HeyZeus, meaning The Zeus, a name of a Greek God that did exist, even before the Birth of the Savior, the one prophetically foretold in the Hebrew Bible, and whose coming is also recorded in the writings of the Apostles in the first century.
Santa Claus, and the Holiday (Holy Day?) called Christmas is not a celebration of our Savior. Santa Claus and the traditions associated with this time of year, dates back much further than the Birth of our Savior.
YaHshua was named sometime around 4 to 7 BC, by His heavenly Father, a name delivered to Mary and Joseph by Gabriel, the messenger (Angel) sent, as recorded by Luke, the first century, Christian historian.
In the Old Testament, by the 15th century, the name given to our Savior, was recognized as JOSHUA, pronounced very much like YaHshua, or YaHushua. This is evidence to this very day, that the name given to our Lord was in existence, even in the English language, when His Holy Name was REPLACED, by the false name. Is this important? It is if you are seeking baptism into a belief system, declaring yourself to a Savior God -- it most certainly is.Luke 1:30-33 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God.Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call His Name 'YaHshua.'He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The FATHER God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."
Act 4:11 He is 'the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.'Act 4:12 There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!"
No other Name under Heaven -- that is, on this Earth. No other Name. Consider -- the name JESUS never existed then, and not until well over a thousand years later. The name ISIS and Zeus did, and were the names used to replace His Hebrew Name, a Name given to Him at birth. What has all of this to do with Christmas?
Christmas is a demonstration of how the Pagan religions of the world have hijacked the offering delivered for the salvation of all those who would be saved -- if only the Pastors, the Preachers, the Ministers, the Priests of Christianity would be honest with the people. Just like those lying to their children about the Messiah replacement, yes, REPLACEMENT, called Santa Claus, directing the attention of all the children away from the Savior of our Hebrew/Christian Bibles, information delivered by Angels from Heaven, speaking by and in the authority of our Heavenly Father. Yes, many of these same parents take their children to the Christmas plays and to the Church services in attempts to honor a Messiah born on December 25th, but then they immediately head for home where a tree is erected, and dressed up in gold and silver trappings and gifts laid around its foot -- a DEAD TREE, no less, and everyone kneels around it, as they hand out gifts from this dead tree, supposedly, as told the the little kids, given to them by a large, breaded man, who has magical powers and lives in a far away, mythical paradise, like a god. And, believe it or not, the Hebrew Bible does have something to say about this.
Jeremiah 10:2-5 -- Thus says YaHWeH, "Don't learn the way of the nations, and don't be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them (Astrology). For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it not move. They are like a palm (Fir) tree, of turned work, and don't speak: they must be carried, because they can't go. Don't be afraid of them; for they can't do evil, neither is it in them to do good."
People say that they do not worship the tree. Well, some do. To some, the Trees are sacred. But never mind all of that, look at what Christians, professing Bible believers, do. Come December, they go out and either head for the woods to cut a tree down, or buy one at a commercial mark, where thousands, upon thousands of dead trees are sold to Christians, or people claiming to be, take these dead trees into their homes and deck them with gold and silver objects, kneeing before it, as they lay gifts at its feet. This Holy Day has become so important to the Commercial welfare of many Nations, that even in the USA, it has been declared a National Federal Holiday (Holy Day). No longer just a religious custom, but now, a government protected day of gluttony.
What to do, what to do? We live on this world, and are called to live at peace with all men. Sometimes, this is the only time of the year that whole families get together, and it can be a time to share the true word, and to inform those you may be related to about the true Messiah -- but only as the opportunity presents itself, letting the Spirit of YaHshua lead. If, however, you cannot, in all good conscience, knowing the truth, bare to be close to such events, then for your conscience sake you must avoid these events. Some, in the Faith, might see this as hiding the true gift given to you, the truth, but the instruction is clear -- if offended, the avoid. However, for others of us, those deemed more mature in the Word, this can be an opportunity to demonstrate to those of the World, that these things can do us no harm, and even an opportunity to witness.
If your presence, however, causes strife then you should leave such gatherings, but if you conduct yourself properly and only give answers to question asked. It is not for us to condemn, but sometimes your very presence and the knowledge from relatives that you are not a fan of this Holy Day, may bring out the worst in some. If they want to hear what you have to say, they will ask, and if you cannot keep from openly judging them, or condemning them, then I would suggest that you stay at your own home. We are instructed to be ready with and answer for what we believe, our Hope. We are not instructed to Preach the Word at a gathering we have been invited to. If you want to do that then announce your own gathering and send out your own invitations, invitations advising your intentions to share the truth. But, if you are at another's home, or gathering place, you have no business opening your mouth unless invited to do so. Believe me, if you are Walking with YaHshua, others around you, like coworkers, and family, and family relatives will know it, even those you have not talked to personally, they know, and your presence will either draw some curious souls to question you, and others to avoid you.
For some, such as myself, and I speak only for myself, to worship the God of all Creation, the God my Savior, YaHshua, and our Heavenly Father, it is a daily thing, not just special times of the year. Six days for me, one for thee? Yes, I do honor the Sabbath, and all Holy High Days, called Holy Days, but honoring those days is to recognize the legitimacy of the Written word already delivered and the God from whom those words came into being, as instructions for us, and as the declaration of His existence. But, our walk with Him is everyday. Still, for some, those in the Faith but not fully matured, there are days to be avoided and days to be worshipped -- everything in it time for each of us. What we pray for is for the Kingdom to come, for our Savior to return, and begin the restoration we so desire. Until then, we live on this Earth of contradictions, as strangers, as one with a dual citizenship, finding a way to live peacefully among those who, in different times, would stone us, but in these days (depending upon where you life) only tolerate us, tolerate our presence.
Be very careful, I have experienced and personally witnessed how some parents react if you dare suggest that they are lying to their children, and you may suffer violence if you dare tell their kids that there is not Santa Claus -- even though it is true. Some parents become very angry, even violent if you suggest such a thing. How this lie has so mentally invaded the minds of people is astounding. So, be warned, chose your words wisely, just as we are instructed in all things --
Mat 7:6 "Don't give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
(John 16:2) They will put you out of the synagogues (Churches). Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he (or she) offers service to God.
(Isaiah 66:5) Hear the word of YaHWeH, you who tremble at his word: "Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for My Name's sake, have said, 'Let YaHWeH be glorified, that we may see your joy;' but it is those who shall be disappointed.
We live in a world where it has become near impossible not to offend someone. No matter which way you move, or what manner of speech you use, someone, or some group, or some authority is going to be upset. For some people, in some nations, this can lead to being imprisoned, or even killed. Modern times, more informed times, the times we live in where knowledge had jumped by leaps and bounds, but the nations remain the same, filled with hate and murder, even to the point that some ignorant call for the abolition of Law enforcement -- abolish the police, abolish those who are signed on to keep the peace, to enforce law and order. Imagine, a world where Law and Order would be abolished. If evil men cannot be trusted with public service, for the good of the majority, and the systems for conduct are abolished, what then will these evil men and woman do, unchecked? Today, this very year, 2023, some people have gone out into the public domain and called for just that. No more policing. No more supervising conduct of the public. We have already seen some of the fruits of that, by the cutting back of Law enforcement. For every bad, or poor, or incompetent policeman, judge, or public official, that has left office, retired, or been cut back, the crime rate has soared.
All I am saying, is to be careful what you say, and how you say it. Following the best advice, from the word, is to be ready to give and answer, not preach a sermon, something few of us are talented enough to carry out. We are not all called to Baptized, anymore than we are all called to preach. Most of us, while in agreement about the One we are to call on, we are all in different positions within the Spirit, as we wait our Lord's return to straightened everything thing out.
Peace Dan -- dan@servantsofyahshua.com or dan@walkingwithyahshua.net