Must It Really Be Like This?

Some things should not be allowed to stand unanswered; not by me and not by others in a much better position than I to address such things (which is most brethren I believe). Yet, address it I will. I have heard it said that once we engage in ad hominems, especially when there is no biblical support for using said ad hominems, then the person engaging in such conduct usually has no biblical legs upon which to stand. Once the communication turns ugly and words like idiots are used to potentially describe brethren in Christ, whether weak brethren or strong brethren, then this truth becomes all the more clear. Hard words in the Bible were aimed at the wicked, several even being named by name. They were called wolves, ravening wolves, asps, vipers, demons, but such language was not used for the sheep — no matter how far astray they went. To demean a weaker brother or stronger brother due to their stance on matters that do not rise to Gospel-level doctrine is to act in a way that lords oneself over others; it is not becoming. So long as a person does not deny the fundamentals of the Gospel (the Doctrine of Christ); so long as they neither add to the word of God nor detract from it; so long as they do not (knowing there false gospel) speak spiritual peace to the  enemies of God; and so long as they do not condemn others based upon the Mosaic law or the commandments and traditions of men, then we are to endeavor to walk kindly with them and to love them. We are to reason together and not use empty, ungodly rhetoric against them. Why? Because they are brethren. They are not goats nor are they wolves in sheep’s clothing. Even if the author repents, or has repented of such things, we ought not to republish it for others to look upon and potentially stumble.

Today I read the following statement “We must not observe any religious holiday. We should attach no spiritual, religious significance to any day. Yet, we do not need to act like super-pious religious idiots over a day that has absolutely no religious significance.” If this day has no religious significance, speaking of Christmas, then why is the blessed title of Christ appended to it. Why is it a day where so many billions hold religious services in celebration of it? Why is it that so many reference the birth of Christ, and the work of Christ, specifically in light of this day? If there is no religious significance to it, then why the need to defend it to the point of name calling? Why the need to be yoked with so many, so very many, unbelievers on this day  (not ecumenically per se but in the act of celebrating it)? Many of us who abstain from XMass were bombarded over the last several days and weeks with images, words, and questions concerning this “celebration;” far, far more often than not, these things were put forth by those who hate the true Christ and have no interest in Him. Many of us were bombarded with images that were, indeed, pagan in origin (despite weak attempts to argue otherwise). Are we become idiots because, through the Bible, we stand against such things?  Is it the nature of an idiot to carefully seek to go through scripture and reason these things out? Have we therefore become idiots because we tell you the truth? If we are right, then we are strong (in this matter) and not idiots. However, if we are wrong, then we are the weak ones. But what does the Bible say on the matter of weak ones? If we are going to use the biblical language, then consider:

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

[THE CONTEXT — is that yes, we know an idol is nothing, but we are to be careful not to puff ourselves up with this knowledge that an idol is nothing. If you are strong in your belief that an idol is nothing but you wield this knowledge without charity, you evidence that you know nothing as you ought.  We must read passages in their context.]

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

The above passage, or more so the use of it concerning Christmas, presumes that those who oppose this celebration are the weaker brethren. However, the analogy that Christmas is like eating meat sacrificed to idols is a false one. Christmas is more akin to sacrificing the meat unto idols than it is to eating meat sacrificed unto idols. Why? Because countless billions of false religionists are doing just that. They are offering the “sacrifices” of their prayers, sermons, songs, gifts, money, merriment, feasts, etc. in celebration of this particular day — this day they religiously call Christmas (Christ Mass). When you unite with unbelievers on December 25, calling it Christmas — you are yoking yourself under that head and title, one that was pagan from its inceptions as covered here http://lookuntothelord.com/2013/11/12/taking-christ-out-of-xmas-part-two/ and here: http://lookuntothelord.com/2013/11/12/taking-christ-out-of-xmas-part-one/ amongst other places. But again, if you maintain that Christmas is nothing and that there is nothing religious to it, then why defend it so vigorously? What is the appeal to it if there is no yoking of Christ to it whatsoever, no not in your sermons, your cards, your gift-giving. If it is so (supposedly) non-religious, then why the need to not only “celebrate it” but speak out against those who warn against such things? Why use it as an opportunity to witness if there is nothing religious about it?

Also, what of this particular “analogy?”

Did you know that every day of the week, every planet in the universe, and many of the cars we drive are named after pagan gods? Yet, we still call Sunday Sunday, Mars Mars, and a Saturn a Saturn. No one would ever dream of calling us pagans for doing so. We worship our God on Sunday, and would laugh at anyone who suggested that we observe the pagan Roman holiday called “Sun’s Day” in doing so. If your car is a Saturn, use it for the glory of God; and laugh at anyone who thinks that you are worshipping the Roman god of agriculture by driving it.

I have met many who “celebrated Christmas” and who “worshipped” the Lord on December 25th under the head and title of Christmas. I have never, in my life, met anyone who “celebrated” Thorsday/Thursday; who “celebrated” Sunday as Sun-Day;” who celebrated “the planet Neptune,” or who worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ on a car called “Saturn” (specifically in relationship to it being called “Saturn”). Yet those who celebrate “Christmas (Christ Mass)” are following almost precisely the same form and pattern of both celebration and worship as the heathen — except they argue “but my Christ is what is different.” Though many would teach that Deuteronomy 12:30 has no weight or value in the life of the Christian — I believe it still stands; and it declares “Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.” God says “Learn not the way of the heathen;” in other words, do not engage in their rituals, celebrations, etc. Before we encourage anyone to laugh at anyone else, we need to be sure that our analogies are straight and our cause biblical. When billions of people worship Christmas, as Christmas, on Christmas, and yoke this mass celebration with the title “Christ” then they are clearly doing something much unlike worshipping a day of the week, a planet, or a car (simply, as the analogy suggests, because they use (rather than “celebrate”) pagan terms concerning them).

Moreover, regarding the advice to:

“seize this opportunity afforded us by Divine providence to tell people who Christ is, why he came into this world, what he did, and how they may obtain his salvation. It is no accident that once every year every human being in the world is confronted with the fact that the Son of God assumed human flesh and came into the world to save men;”

If this celebration is non-religious… why “seize this opportunity afforded us by Divine providence to tell people who Christ is, why he came into this world, what he did, and how they may obtain his salvation.“? In America, Labour Day is also providentially provided as a day off. Will you equally “seize this opportunity afforded us by Divine providence to tell people who Christ is, why he came into this world, what he did, and how they may obtain his salvation” on this holiday? For most, the honest answer is no because, unlike Christmas (which is indeed religious in nature) Labour Day is a, generally, non-religious holiday.

I would add that the greater witness is to stand against this day and distinguish the true Christ and the true Gospel from the ones celebrated on December 25th as Christmas. It is far easier to explain why you oppose this day, and why you oppose this “christ,” than it is to participate in the error of heathens and try to explain why “you are really doing it differently, nonetheless.”

What of this statement:

Certainly, no one can think that it is wrong for believers, during this season of the year, to express thanks and praise to God for his unspeakable gift, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is never wrong, but always right to think of him, speak of him, and sing his praise. Rather than not singing Watts’ grand old hymn, Joy To The World, we ought to sing it year round.

Is this even remotely the issue? No one is against expressing thanks and praise to God for his unspeakable gift, the Lord Jesus Christ, on any day. However, it is most certainly wrong to append the title of Christ to the pagan mass and to join billions in their practices under the guise of “thanking God.” Moreover, consider this fact, look at every picture, online post, email put forth by true Christians regarding Christmas — look at everyone one of them. The vast, vast majority will be of Christmas lights, Christmas trees, Christmas gifts, Christmas-related food, people dressed in Christmas-related clothes, family pictures with Christmas-related items in the background, references to Christmas parties, etc. On Christmas, very few of the words and images put forth by Christians (real or professed) have anything to do with celebrating God or His Christ. The primary focus is overwhelmingly the very same things that this wicked world enjoys on this day and in this celebration. The difference being that it is celebrated under the guise or umbrella of “true religion.” This should be clear to all and if it is not then ask this question: if Christmas has no religious significance, then why even mention this celebration as an opportunity to express thanks and praise to God for his unspeakable gift, the Lord Jesus Christ… [to] speak of him, and sing his praise. Or, said another way, how does one express thanks and praise to God; speak of him, and sing his praise in a non-religious manner?

Finally, whereas it is indeed perfectly all right to exchange gifts with and send cards to family and friends, you have 364 days (sometimes 365 days) each year to do just that — you needn’t yoke the name of Christ to a pagan celebration, indulge in it yourself, misquote scripture (for those who actually use scripture) to defend such things –under the guise of “conscience” and “liberty,”– and then use terms like idiots to describe those who actually choose, by God’s grace, to take a logical, methodical, unbiased biblical, approach to the matter.  When a position is decreed, stated with authority (as absolute), and received as such by possibly hundreds — we have to ask… where is your biblical foundation? Some of us love Christ, His title, what it represents to such a degree that we cannot stand to see it yoked to paganism nor can we stand to see such things supported  by inaccurate appeals to Romans 14:5, Colossians 2:16-17, 1 Corinthians 10:30, Titus 1:15, and other (conscience/liberty-related) verses taken completely out of context and woefully misapplied. So if anyone wishes to persist in celebrating this religious day — that is between you and God… but please be so kind and charitable as to refrain from vicious jabs aimed not at false prophets, not at false brethren, but potentially at Believers who are convinced that we must be separate from the world on such things.

To God alone be the glory.

Curt Wildy