Facts About Christmas
WARN YOUR PASTOR (PART 3)
(THE DECEPTIONS OF CHRISTMAS)
Christmas has been with us for a very long time, but NOT as long as some think. Many mistakenly believe that the Christian churches have been celebrating Christmas since the church started on the Day of Pentecost. The truth is, for the first 400 - 500 years of Christianity there is no mention made of a celebration centering around the "birth" of Jesus. The early church DID NOT observe what we know today as Christmas. It wasn't until well into the 4th century that some (NOT ALL) professing Christians started observing Christmas in one form or another. Over the years Christmas was polished over and over to become one of the brightest stones in Christian "theology".
The Christmas of today is not the Christmas of 40 or 50 years ago. It has gone from a simple reminder of the Birth of Christ, and the exchange of simple gifts, into a highly commercialized and mainly secular holiday.
Still, most of those who celebrate Christmas are unaware of the fact that many of the things which have come to be associated with Christmas have been around for a very long time - longer than Christmas itself; and dating back much further than the birth of Jesus. Rather than being "Christian" these "things" are absolutely pagan. With the passing years many "pagan customs" such as the use of holly, mistle-toe, yule logs, wassail bowls, hanging stockings and the ever-popular Christmas tree and Santa Claus, were incorporated into the Christmas celebration. All Encyclopedias confirm that the roots of Christmas is basically "Pagan", even to its December 25th. date. When one takes a SERIOUS and HONEST look at Christmas, one discovers that Christmas is anything but Christian.
It wasn't until the early 17th century that the Christmas Tree was added to the Christmas tradition. It started in Strasbourg, France, spread from there to Germany, and then into northern Europe. In 1841 Albert, Prince Consort of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain,
(THE DECEPTIONS OF CHRISTMAS)
Christmas has been with us for a very long time, but NOT as long as some think. Many mistakenly believe that the Christian churches have been celebrating Christmas since the church started on the Day of Pentecost. The truth is, for the first 400 - 500 years of Christianity there is no mention made of a celebration centering around the "birth" of Jesus. The early church DID NOT observe what we know today as Christmas. It wasn't until well into the 4th century that some (NOT ALL) professing Christians started observing Christmas in one form or another. Over the years Christmas was polished over and over to become one of the brightest stones in Christian "theology".
The Christmas of today is not the Christmas of 40 or 50 years ago. It has gone from a simple reminder of the Birth of Christ, and the exchange of simple gifts, into a highly commercialized and mainly secular holiday.
Still, most of those who celebrate Christmas are unaware of the fact that many of the things which have come to be associated with Christmas have been around for a very long time - longer than Christmas itself; and dating back much further than the birth of Jesus. Rather than being "Christian" these "things" are absolutely pagan. With the passing years many "pagan customs" such as the use of holly, mistle-toe, yule logs, wassail bowls, hanging stockings and the ever-popular Christmas tree and Santa Claus, were incorporated into the Christmas celebration. All Encyclopedias confirm that the roots of Christmas is basically "Pagan", even to its December 25th. date. When one takes a SERIOUS and HONEST look at Christmas, one discovers that Christmas is anything but Christian.
It wasn't until the early 17th century that the Christmas Tree was added to the Christmas tradition. It started in Strasbourg, France, spread from there to Germany, and then into northern Europe. In 1841 Albert, Prince Consort of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain,