Christmas

"Christians have celebrated the incarnation and nativity of the Lord Jesus on December 25 since at least the early part of the third century--just a few generations removed the days of the Apostles. By 336, when the Philocalian Calendar--one of the first calendars of the Patriarchal church--was first utilized, Christmas Day was already a venerable and tenured tradition. Though there is no historical evidence that Christ was actually born on that day--indeed, whatever evidence there is points to altogether different occasions--the conversion of the old Pagan tribes of Europe left a gaping void where the ancient cult festivals were once held. It was both culturally convenient and evangelically expedient to exchange the one for the other. And so joy replace desperation. Celebration replaced propitiation. Christmas feasts replaced new moon sacrifices. Christ replaced Baal, Moloch, Apollo and Thor. Glad tidings of great joy, indeed."

~From Christmas Spirit by George Grant and Gregory Wilbur, pg. 103

Photo by Jaimie Trueblood/newline.wireimage.com

Rethinking the Pagan Origins of Christmas by Brian Abshire

The twenty-fifth of December as just another day, and is of no religious significance. There is nothing “holy” about it, and it despite the efforts of the Fathers to calculate the right date, probably was not the day Jesus was actually born. However If the angels of heaven could publicly proclaim His birth, what possible problem can there be for us to likewise commemorate that wondrous event? How can it be wrong to sing those wonderful, postmillennial hymns which celebrate the birth of Christ during the month of December? And since the incarnation is so central to human history, then where is the problem with preaching a special series of sermons exploring the implications of the advent of the Lord Jesus?" Continue reading

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In Defense of Christmas by Melody Seppi
"During the early missionary movement in Europe after the fall of Rome, tribe after tribe were converted to Christianity, the winter cult festivals were gone—leaving a gaping void—and as a result of following Christ their cultures were radically changed, instead of sin, bondage, a culture of death and human sacrifice, there was liberty in His law, freedom in Christ, a culture of life, and the worship of the one true and living God." Continue reading

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Peter B's Christmas Poems:

The Fire of Christmas

also

The Joy of the Light

See the house of days gone by, decked out in greenery fine 

The cold, sharp wind about it rolls with specks of glimmer and shine 

Outside is quiet, only the wind, and trees that are moved to and fro’ 

Stir gently the stillness that lays all around the valley now covered in snow 

Inside there is merriment, laughter, and joy–the sound of the fiddle and flute– 

The lads and the lasses are dancing a jig, their tongues and feet are not mute 

The companions of work, of worship and thought, they now enjoy what they’ve won 

Relationships firm, founded on time, now exalted through music and fun 

Oh praise the Lord Christ! He re-made us to show this joyful and most loving way 

Who, when we were in darkness, came as the Light and delivered us unto His day 

Though days be dark, sharp, windy, and cold, we dare not submit to their gloom! 

We strike up a tune and go gallantly forth, proclaiming Him ris’n from the tomb! 

Thus the darkest of days 

Will submit to this praise 

And become the sunrise of morn! 

The darkness takes flight 

This day, our delight! 

For Christ the world’s Savior is born!

-Peter B.

 Deo Vindice

Deuteronomy 12:32 Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

In our houses of worship, we should have nothing more or less than is specified by scripture, such as aides to worship. ~Joe Morecraft


Joe Morecraft, in his book on how to worship God, is concerned about Billy Graham style alter calls, visual aids like slideshows of mountains and scenery flashing by or visual aids of people raising their hand to help you feel like worshiping.

From 1660 to 1688 in Scotland, over 18,000 Presbyterian men, women and children--whole families and congregations--were brutally tortured and murdered at the hands of the bloody Stuart kings for one reason: they would not submit to the king's liturgies and inventions in their worship services. p.44 How God Wants Us to Worship Him by Joe Morecraft, III

What about the Zionists with a Jewish flag and a menorah on the communion table?

The Church is universal. We should not have an American or any other flag. It is made up of every tribe, tongue and nation. Christianity crosses the political boundaries. It is the Church that is pressing against the gates that will prevail against the enemy.

EM Bounds, who wrote the Power of Prayer, refused to take the Union loyalty oath and was thrown into a Northern Prison in Missouri for saying the Federal government is not over the Church. Christ alone is over His Church. 

In churches, we often see a slideshow along with the words to songs. A worship team with women up front for us to watch as we worship doesn't really help.

We were surprised to see girls dancing on stage in white dresses one Resurrection Sunday at Grandma’s church.