We are getting close to the time of year when many people celebrate the Christmas holiday. Your unbelieving friends might be excitedly looking forward to opening presents from a make-believe person named “Santa Claus.” They might also be wondering why you are not participating. Your parents probably already explained to you that Christmas has very pagan roots. Christmas is a very difficult time of year for many believers because many of their unbelieving friends, family, or classmates make them feel bad for not joining in the holiday festivities. But as Yahweh’s people we must remain strong.
"Thus saith Yahweh, Learn not the way of the heathen...For the customsof the people are vain: for one cutteth 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 move not." -Jeremiah 10:2-4
So where did Christmas come from? The rites of this holiday can actually be traced back to ancient Babylon thousands of years ago. It eventually became the Roman Saturnalia festival. Like the ancient Babylonians, the Romans were sun-worshippers. In ancient Rome, the pagan-practicing masses exchanged gifts with each other. Think about it. Christmas trees, wreaths, mistletoe, and other strange customs have absolutely nothing to do with Yahweh and Yahshua, but everything to do with pagan worship!
In the Bible, we are commanded not to lie, yet millions of parents tell their children the lie about a man named Santa Claus, who flies in the sky with his reindeer, and knows if children have been good or bad, and will either reward them with gifts or punish them for being bad. What a dreadful lie! Only Yahweh knows if we are bad or good. Yet many children fear that Santa Claus is watching them! We should really fear that Yahweh is watching us.
Christmas is not a harmless holiday that people should indulge in. There is an interesting scripture in Jeremiah that condemns what possibly could be a Christmas tree! We read in verse 10:2-4, “Learn not the way of the heathen...For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of theforest…..They deck it silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.”
If your classmates celebrate Christmas, don’t feel bad if you are the only one who does not. Yahweh will bless you for your obedience. Don’t feel jealous if your friends have lots of new toys for Christmas. You have something far better: Yahweh’s truth. And besides you have something that your classmates don’t—-Yahweh’s true Holy days! For instance, the Feast of Tabernacles is so much more joyous than any pagan holidays. We get to rejoice for 8 days instead of 1. So keep obeying Yahweh and He will bless you abundantly! One day in Yahweh’s Kingdom, no one will be allowed to keep pagan holidays. Everyone will be keeping the true Holy Days and true happiness and joy will be felt by all!
Winter Scenes, not Christmas Scenes!
1.
Yahshua was probably born
a. on December 25th
b. sometime in the summer
c. close to or during Feast of Tabernacles in the Autumn
d. in the springtime
2.
The Romans and Babylonians were (circle all that are correct)
a. sun-worshippers
b. true Believers
c. Hindus
d. pagans
3.
Yahweh’s people (circle all that are correct)
a. should never worship Him with pagan practices
b. can celebrate Christmas to make their unbelieving friends happy
c. should only celebrate the true Holy Days
d. are looking forward to a time when the whole world will know the truth
