Famous people being wrong about Christmas being Pagan
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- Опубліковано 20 гру 2023
- Someone should do a research paper about how gullible people are when it comes to believing that things are pagan in origin. Hey, I used to think so too. I swallowed this stuff quite easily and didn't realize until years later that I had pointlessly criticized things I didn't understand.
My website BibleThinker.org
Christmas is a cool time, but December 25th is not the only day we should celebrate the incarnation of Christ. Let it be an everyday thing we rejoice over as believers!
We’re kinda supposed to anyway via Sunday worship.
If the speculation is correct that Jesus was born in September, that would still put His conception in December, and it would make a neat triangle with His death and resurrection.
@@Sledg0matic Looking for this comment, I too tend to lean on late September as the birth of Jesus based on some clues from when John the Baptist was supposed to have been born, and as you said, that would put his conception (which, as those of us who believe that life begins at conception, would be the start of his earthy incarnation) around the time we celebrate Christmas. Either way, an excellent reason to celebrate - though Passover/Easter is much more important to us, Christmas is as well.
@@aericabison23 And throughout the week as well.
We used to remember and celebrate the incarnation 3 times every day when praying the Angelus. Many still do.
I think the main thing is that Everyone celebrates Christmas… even the pagans.
But WE, the body, are called to be set apart. We are called to commemorate Christ’s birth, death, burial and resurrection every day… not just once a year when the world decides to do it, however *they* decide do it.
Problem is that's association fallacie
Just becuase pagans dance at a music festival
Oops now u can't enjoy that music.
Oops a pagen worships a cow.
Guess we can't eat cows.
Saying we shouldn't becuase they do is dumn
Exactly!!
And the fact that it's so commercialised makes me want to avoid it. To each his own though
Today, people want to celebrate the Savior, but giving the honor to a man in a red suit, teaching their children to believe in the man in the red suit. Our Savior said "do this in remembrance of me" as he broke bread for the Passover. Same goes for easter, seems the honor seems to go to a rabbit.
A lot of what is taught today is not Biblical, but people will bend and twist Scripture to justify their practices. And when you tell them what the word says, they always give the same replies.
"We are under grace, not under the law". "The law was done away with."
I think the Pharisees had the same problem when they were told the truth of the word. They refused to even try to understand, so they just attacked anyone speaking against what they taught.
No
We aren’t
Christs DEATH. Yes
Nothing else
Anywhere
Christs birth is no where commanded to set apart. Or celebrate
A Christmas tradition in my family for as long as I can remember is reading the Christmas story from the Bible. We do that before the kids can open any presents on Christmas Eve. Last night I read both accounts of the Christmas story from Matthew then Luke, then everyone told what they were thankful for, we had prayer, then finally everyone opened their presents. I’m so thankful to be in a family that appreciates the importance of the true meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas Pastor Mike to you and your family and all who read this comment!
Christmas story in the Bible? I know of Christ birth, but nothing called a christmas story. But happy that you and your family read the Bible... Amen to that.
@@mufasa1979the christmas story is just Jesus' Birth, which is in the bible.
Jesus was born in September. If you can do research on your daily life you should actually be researching for your afterlife. We have a very short life but our afterlife is forever. Jesus will NOT accept anyone celebrating a pagan holiday. In the middle east, sheep are NOT out after September 15. This was the same 2k years ago. Jesus can't have been born after that date. He was 33 1/2 years old when He went to the cross. Count back 6 months from March April .
@@mufasa1979 Probably referring to Luke 2:1-20, which is the traditional reading for Christmas Eve from the Gospels. It talks about the census, the trip to Bethlehem, the birth, and the announcement by the angels to the shepherds, who then go see the miraculous sight.
@@kellyturnbull3257 Sheep not being out after September 15 is false. The temple shepherds would tend the flock year-round and 24x7 to ensure that the lambs for sacrifice would not be injured or maimed in any way. The shepherds mentioned in the Bible were those temple shepherds, who were told by the angels to behold the Lamb of God who would be sacrificed to take away the sins of the world. Also we don't know Jesus' exact age at his death, although the Gospel of John mentions 4 passovers which would be three years from the first to the last, and Luke mentions he was about 30 when he began his ministry.
“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”
Oh yeah, same for Colossians 2:16-17 where is says not to judge about certain festivals or new moons and stuff.
Yes, exactly. What matter is that Christ was born, not that he was born December 25th at 8:42AM IST AND I WILL NOT BE TOLD OTHERWISE
today is a very good day…
Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
Jesus wept
It's talking about Jewish feast days and Sabbath's. Some feel that we should still keep them and others do not. It has nothing to do with pagan festivals or whatever men would make up in the future.
The only documentation I've seen suggesting Christians appropriated pagan dates was in Ireland where they held feasts for Christian martyrs on the feast days of Irish pagans specifically to symbolize Christianity's triumph over paganism. And that was hundreds of years after Dec. 25th was picked as the birth of Christ.
This is objectively false. Mithra, sol invictus and others predate Christmas and organized Christianity in general, as having their celebrations on December 25th. saturnalia started on the 17th and was usually 7-10 days long through the winter solstice encompassing the 25th.
@@Ephesians-yn8ux I'd be delighted to see your sources.
@@Turf-yj9ei britannica and historians from before and after Christ. Other sources as well go look for yourself
@@Ephesians-yn8ux pagans moved their festivals to december 25th to fight with Christianity
@@windowshoppa09 Telling someone go look it up is not providing sources. If you assert the claim be prepared to back it up with sources.
Where in scripture are we commanded or even somewhat guided to celebrate Jesus birth? That is the problem. What we are commanded to do is celebrate His death, burial, and resurrection.
My challenge has always been to pick a random day, like June 10th, and celebrate Jesus birth. Does it give you the same vibe and feels that the 25th does? Ask yourself why it has to be this time of the year with all these trappings.
Not gonna lie you're making good points here
Where in Scripture is Trinity written, does not being in The Bible, means we should abscond the fact that God is three persons?
Because it's not expressively specifically written in The Bible, is should be completely abandoned?
Well then, since Trinity is not in The Bible, then God must be just one person acting as three characters.
You celebrate your birthday, or other's? If we cant celebrate Jesus, then nothing that is lesser can be celebrated either.
@@TheClimbingBronyOldColt You bring up a salient point and one reason I added "or even somewhat guided ".
The reason we can understand the concept of the trinity or three persons/one God, is that it is clearly taught throughout Scripture. From Isaiah, to Daniel, to the NT, to Revelation, we have example after example.
When I look at Jesus birth and celebrating it, I find none of this type of evidence. We see no type or shadow, no connections in the Feasts, no commands of a birth celebration. In fact, there is a point where a woman cries out to Jesus "Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked". Jesus corrected her and said "Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it".
As I said previously, yes, celebrating Jesus birth, in and of itself, would not necessarily be the issue. Tie it to the salvation plan, maybe through a feast day or pick a day like I said that has zero connotation to this time of the year....but I do not think that is what people want.
I am not sure if it is a direct salvation issue, but it could be problematic depending on how God looks at it. Is it a golden calf or is it a high place....?
@@robcrawford1968 Let me tell you what Christmas has brought, love for your enemies during Word War 1, the opposing sides came together, played soccer/football, and gave gifts. The three wise men, they gave gifts, were these gifts given ever renounced, at any point, by Jesus? If no, then there's nothing wrong in gift giving.
Just because it's rumored that some pagans did something on one particular day, does that mean the day is pagan, for all time afterwards, and that no one can do anything at all on that day, because then what they do becomes pagan? If I walk or eat or drink on December 25th, does that mean my walking or eating or drinking is pagan? What if pagans emerged all over, and did something on all 365 days, shall we then starve and not do anything, for then on those day anything you do on same day as pagans, is pagan? Someone born on December 25th, should their birthday not be celebrated at all? An important event that meant a lot to people, took place on December 25th, but on first anniversary, they cannot do anything, cause some pagans in the past did something on that day.. This is just horribly flawed logic and reasoning. The focus for secularists, may be commercial and material, but for Christians, the focus is Jesus birth, death, and ressurrection.
What Christmas does, is bringing family together, who otherwise stay apart, due to distance, or other reasons. We can examine from tactics of the enemy, whish is to lie steal kill and destroy, family coming together, and opposing sides coming together, is very much opposite these things. We are to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. To love our neighbor like ourself, and to love our enemies also. On Christmas, people follow both, not all of course, but people who otherwise don't, do it on this day. There is problem with commercial aspect, but that is the secular world, focus of Christmas for Christians is Jesus, God. Pagans pray to their demonic deities pretending to be gods, because they pray (demonic inferior immitation), should we then abstain from praying, if they've selected one particular day to do so? The issue is not which day or time, but who the focus is, since God is the focus there is no issue.
It is not a direct Salvation issue. What is direct Salvation issue, is denying Jesus, distrusting in God, thinking one needs not repent, those are direct issues. Placing death before sin, is also direct issue, as then death as payment for sin becomes meaningless. The Bible makes it clear, that life is before death, that before Adam & Eve sinned there was no death. Think on what God commands us to do, to love our enemies, on a day dedicated to Jesus, people that otherwise are opposed, love their enemies on one particular day, their heart soften, whereas on other days it is like stone. Christmas times, is a great opportunity to witness to others, as they're more inclined to listen. God wants all people to be saved, that is why Jesus saved us in the first place, why He came to earth in the first place, to provide a way for all to be saved, if they choose to, deciding to turn to God, believe and trust in Him.
@@TheClimbingBronyOldColt This reply illustrates my point. You have spent a great deal of time arguing from a position of emotional persuasion, yet no scriptural foundation.
I could easily argue about all the hardship, pain, emotional trauma that is inflicted at this time of the year. I could show how the fruits of the Spirit are rarely displayed. That would be pointless though because it is irrelevant.
If we have no Scripture that commands us or prescribes the method of our celebration, then we have to be careful. In this case, since we have no scriptural basis, I laid out the proposal of picking a day far away from anything related to pagan worship.
It would be worth your time to study Jeroboam, the high places, and what got Israel into trouble. God doesn't appreciate taking worship to Him and mixing it with anything else.
I’m glad that’s resolved - I guess people will stop fighting about it online now. Right? RIGHT? PLEASE? 😭
Sadly, probably not. But we’ve just gotta keep telling the truth, right?
It won't stop because there are still people who want to shame and control others by telling them how they should live and worship
Some of the best arguments are ruined by someone who knows what they're talking about.
We can end it here and now - Jews do not celebrate Birthdays.
Find one Birthday being celebrated in the Torah.
Deaths are commemorated.
To those who understand the fallen world we live in and sin we live under, the first birth of a person is nothing to celebrate.
The second birth - of the Spirit - is to be celebrated, remembered and cherished. When an Israelite encountered God for the first time, that is recorded in Scripture. No birthdays are recorded.
@@BonusHole oh hey look, an example of what I was talking about
Pastor Mike, appreciate your content. As a Christian, who doesn't celebrate Christmas. I rather avoid the celebration especially since there is no biblical or historical content to support the celebration. Sol Invictus was celebrated on Dec. 25th and then church tradition is taking a guess on the date. Why run the risk of dishonoring God?
I'm with you but it's not a salvation issue. I think we need to let Christmas stans be.
Agree 100% why do something simply because of tradition? And if it began with paganism then it should make Christians WANT to stay away from it. Also as a true Christian one shouldn't stay silent and let our brothers and sister do whatever they want without advising them that they do not need to or that give them the facts about it's pagan origins.
Two key figures in the origin of Christmas are Nimrod, a great grandson of Noah, and his mother and wife, Semiramis, also known as Ishtar and Isis.
Nimrod, known in Egypt as Osiris, was the founder of the first world empire at Babel, later known as Babylon (Genesis 10:8-12; 11:1-9).
From ancient sources such as the "Epic of Gilgamesh" and records unearthed by archeologists from long-ruined Mesopotamian and Egyptian cities, we can reconstruct subsequent events.
After Nimrod's death (c. 2167 BC), Semiramis promoted the belief that he was a god. She claimed that she saw a full-grown evergreen tree spring out of the roots of a dead tree stump, symbolizing the springing forth of new life for Nimrod.
On the anniversary of his birth, she said, Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts under it. His birthday fell on the winter solstice at the end of December.
A few years later, Semiramis bore a son, "Horus" (or Tammuz or Gilgamesh)... She declared that she had been visited by the spirit of Nimrod, who left her pregnant with the boy. Horus, she maintained, was Nimrod reincarnated. With a father, mother, and son deified, a deceptive, perverted trinity was formed.
Semiramis and Horus were worshipped as "Madonna and child." As the generations passed, they were worshipped under other names in different countries and languages. Many of these are recognizable: Fortuna and Jupiter in Rome; Aphrodite and Adonis in Greece; and Ashtoreth/Astarte and Molech/Baal in Canaan.
During the time between Babel and Christ, pagans developed the belief that the days grew shorter in early winter because their sun-god was leaving them. When they saw the length of the day increasing, they celebrated by riotous, unrestrained feasting and orgies. This celebration, known as Saturnalia, was named after Saturn, another name for Nimrod.
Jeremiah 10:2-4 (KJV)
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
For the customs of 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.
What is your source on all of this? How does the Epic of Gilgamesh reveal any of that? It's a pretty huge claim to connect all those deities to Nimrod. I've never heard any historian connect all of them before.
@@Garthant are you even serious? The Nimrod / Semiramis / Tammuz story and worship is the same as Osiris / Isis / Horus. I didn't even list off the other bunch of obvious names. Ishtar (where we get "Easter") / Inanna/ Diana / Asherah / Astarte... Anyone who has done the proper study has figured this out many, many years back.
The paragraphs I shared were just a very short summary.
@@Garthant actually, an easy way to figure that out is to look at the mother and child / Madonna and child imagery across all cultures and civilizations. It's a false trinity and a false virgin / immaculate conception story. Over and over and over.
They don’t want to hear it, dude. This is an example of following the world vs the kingdom….and they don’t want to hear it.
@@thatlisagirl71 right. Thanks for the reminder. They just want to keep doing what they've been doing.
Like with anything in this type of discussion, since there is no example or command to celebrate Jesus' Birthday on a regular basis, it's open to the believer which day they want to celebrate the birth or not at all. However, based upon Biblical research (not going through all the data here), the wise men arrived to see Jesus between 40 days and two years after His birth. Where on that scale that falls, we just don't know. Again, not sharing all the data here, but most likely, Jesus was born in September. But the most important date to celebrate is the day that Jesus died for our sins and rose again. And we celebrate that every day!
Amen. I try to tell them this, but it's like talking to a brick wall. Assuming that you read 3 chapters of the Scripture every day, what happens if I just so happen to read Luke 1-3 on Dec 25th, am I automatically a pagan?
Amen
Amen! His birth as not as important as his death and resurrection!
Then share your sources, do they have an evidence, or is it a hearsay
Then share your sources, do they have an evidence to back up their claim, is the evidence reliable, if there's no evidence all you got is assumption
The mere fact that there's a Santa Clause and trees and other non-biblical things should caution a celebration. (But I'm just a voice)
Indeed. Like the resurrection getting wrapped up in Ishtar fertility god motifs like bunnies and eggs.
Nothing is wrong with celebrating Christmas as long as it is Jesus and NOT Santa you are celebrating. Anyways great video Mike as well.
Amen
Replace Santa with anything not pertaining to God. We worship God alone.
Deuteronomy 12 29-31… God would disagree with you… But of course, that’s only what God says so…
@@gloriastreet4684my sister did you really just compare Santa to Molech?
You are exactly correct that we should never honor the lies the pagans tell,@@gloriastreet4684 They love their holidays, they hate our holidays. If they claim to own a holiday that they hate, then you know they are lying, even if they get some guy with a PhD in history to agree with them.
In Scandinavia they don't call it Christmas (Christ-Mass), instead they still retain the old pagan name for the Yuletide celebrations which they call Jul (pronounced Yule). Yule was a pagan festival that followed the midwinter solstice (usually around 21st December) and celebrated the return of the sun as the days slowly started to get longer again.
So there aren't Christians who celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in Scandinavia?
You are correct.🙂
Most non-English speaking countries call Christmas something related to the nativity of Christ, or his birth, like Natal or Navidad. In the same way most non-English speaking countries call Easter something related to Passover, like Pesach or Pesca, because Christ is our Passover lamb.
@@bretwalker2295 Yet Passover is vastly different from Easter.... Like the difference between YESHUA/JESUS and Ishtar/Eostre.
@@beresheeth For the Christian, Passover is fully realized in the death and resurrection of Christ. In Egypt, the Hebrews sacrificed a lamb and painted its blood over the doorposts and lintel of the house, and when a house was covered by the blood of the lamb, death passed over them. In the same way, when we are baptized as Christians we are baptized into his death, and covered by the blood of the lamb, and through him death passes us over and we are given eternal life. Passover is a shadow of the thing to come, which was accomplished in the sacrifice of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Or we can fight this hard for the 7 feast that are actually in the Bible.
No one is currently attacking them, which makes a fierce defense of them rather pointless. If that changes, yes and amen.
@@denisewenke8323 They mean we should fight this hard to celebrate and remember the Lord’s Feasts. Like people are jumping through all these hoops to try to justify why we should celebrate Christmas when it isn’t in The Bible and we have actual appointed times to meet with Yah.
Christmas in Hebrew means festival of the birth. ✝️🕎 Jesus is the light of the world. Happy Hanukkah!
🤣@@princessbabibear4794
Unfortunately, it's impossible to keep them, biblically. Sacrifices were required at the temple, which no longer exists. No one sacrifices and roasts a whole lamb entrails included. This is Judaism and it died with the temple. The only feast Christ commanded Christians to keep is Communion and the Sabbath. The Apostle Paul speaks against keeping them, in Galatians 4:10, warning Christians not to return to Judaism.
Happy birthday Mike! Thanks for what you do!
Yes Mike Happy Birthday. God bless you and your work.
One thing I can't get around is, if it isn't commanded by God, and it is but a representation, why are we doing it?
You’re arguing from silence. No where does the Bible say that commemorating a birthday is sinful or forbidden. We could argue for a few more millennia about what the Bible doesn’t say. As long as it isn’t being done as a type of worship or idolatry, there’s no harm in it.
@@CmdrJay72Amen 👏
Romans 14:5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord...
@@dvldog_ that doesn't justify it.
@@CmdrJay72 right because the god of the Christians is that much of a pushover
Michael from inspiring philosophy has been on the warpath fighting against this nonsense.
I look forward to hearing all his rebuttals every year.
I just found him a few weeks ago. I love his reasoning. He’s spot on! 😊
That dude doesn't believe the Bible at all. He constantly defers to what atheistic Bible scholars have said or wrote.
The Theology pugcast does it every Christian holiday. Easter gets slandered too.
@@keepthechange2811 Except that he is a Christian who constantly defends Christianity.
@Cinnamonbuns13 Easter is definitely pagan. Comon dude.
Every year, its the same issues...talking points about Christmas. It does nothing, but rob me of my joy. The joy that The Savior was born, sent by God, that we would be saved from our sins, and be with Him.
Im convinced, that does not matter which day we celebrate Christmas, that it would be blasphemed as being some pagan holiday. Pick any day of the year, and I'm sure theres some issue that would be found.
From my point of view, this "controversy ", is nothing more than an avenue in which to cause the division of the Church body.
Its easy to see, with a look around the globe; that government, Christianity, and the family , are systematically being dismantled.
The Church itself, has been infiltrated by those that seek to destroy. (Satan comes to rob, steal and destroy).
Nevertheless, as The Lord said, Offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom it comes (Matthew 18:7).
That word, "offense", means falling away from the faith.
Everyday, is The Day of The Lord...
"Devil, you can't take my joy!"
What robs me of joy is when any attempt to discuss it reasonably is met with selfish attacks that the person asking questions is wrong for taking it seriously. This tells me the person offended has a very low opinion of God and is more interested in feeling good. God is not in that.
A reasonable response would be to respectfully handle the issue, understanding that a lot of misinformation is out there. At that point, it can get turned by to Christ because it is focusing on him and not anyone's convenience. A condescending approach is never the answer unless the question is, how can I misrepresent Christ.
So, to keep unity within the body of believers, a respectful way to handle it from within and without is required.
That to me is a huge separation of 'joy' and 'happy convenience' and it will show to the one who is honestly concerned about trampling on the grace given to them. (and those hearing it)
@@jasong9774 ... And so, what do think is reasonable? That Christmas is a pagan holiday?
Everyday belongs to The Lord. He is greater than any pagan holiday. Pagan holidays are null and void, because Christ has risen from the dead...there is only one God.
I do not worship any pagan idols on December 25th, or any day. It's insulting to me, that anyone would even suggest it.
It's my understanding, that the attack on Christmas, and the division that's been enacted against it, is devilish in nature: it's not from above, but is of the flesh, sensual and devilish.
I learned about Jesus, and how God gave Him to us, that we might be saved, along with the Jews. That this was such good news, that we gave gifts to one another, in celebration of our salvation given to us by Christ Jesus. It was this, that later in life helped bring me to Christ. Today, I have yet to meet a child that has any understanding of The Spirit of Christmas, which is very sad.
If you don't want to celebrate Christmas, that's fine with me. If you think celebrating the birth of Christ on the 25th of December is a pagan ritual, that's fine with me also, but don't throw a stumbling block before me, to try and trip me up.
It simply amazes me, that such issues have entered into Christianity...; I'm actually convinced, that such petty ignorance has only contributed toward the falling away from the faith.
@@jasong9774 ... "Happy convenience "??? ...smh.
Christmas celebration was created by Constantine who called himself a Christian, but was a devoted sun worshipper. How can we trust a person who worships the sun, at the same time a Christian.
We don't know him personally, but Jesus taught us to that a good tree bears a good fruit and a bad tree bears a bad fruit.
Ah yes, it's that time of year again 😂
Merry Christmas Mike and family!
Every single day of the year, Jesus Christ is Lord!!!
When you love someone and you don't know his birthday (for sure) you pick a day and use that. December 25 is the day agreed on so don't worry so much.
the issue isn't just the date. the issue is all the "traditions" tied to the celebration of Christmas and birthdays. Birthday celebrations are pagan in origin. THen theres all the yul traditions which originate out of norse practices around winter solstice. I just find it odd that christians can read the verse in the Bible where He says He hates all of our celebrations and embrace it anyway.
If you look deeply into the traditions that are supposedly tied to pagan origins within Christmas, most don't really hold water. Perhaps you could suggest one that you are thinking of? Michael Jones in InspiringPhilosophy on youtube has a pretty good non-academic summary of a lot of problems with tying these traditions to paganism if you would like to watch his work.
Thanks Mike for making this I've been looking into the origins of Christmas for a while
Correction dear brother. Birth worship is a detestable abomination to Father, Lord Jesus, and the Spirit. We cannot dictate to our Saviour what forms of worship are accecptable to Him. He rejects it no matter what light we do it in. Read my post about "did you know Mary." Surely we cannot use heathen ways and props (as the Israelites did at Sinai)! Even though they were very, very, very sincere, declaring they were worshipping only the true God Yaweh! Look what happened. ALL THIS BIRTH WORSHIP OF THE HEATGEN gods TOOK PLACE 1000'S OF YEARS BEFORE THE INCARNATION. ITS NOT OF LORD JESUS. OR EVEN THE APOSTLES OR EARLY ASSEMBLY!
Mike, please step back, and study this. "UNDER EVERY GREEN TREE, BALLS, PRESENTS, THE SAME AS THE HEATHEN WITH THE SAME PROPS ATTACHED TO OUR GOD IN BIRTH WORSHIP. HE REJECTS IT MIKE. AND YOU WILL NEVER DO THIS IN FRONT OF HIM IN THE KINGDOM. WE PRAY, PLEASE, FIND OUT WHAT OUR LORD SAYS IN SCRIPTURE ABOUT THIS MIKE.
SINCERELY YOUR BROTHER IN OUR MASTER YASHUA.
Deuteronomy 12 29-31… God says don’t do it‼️
2 Timothy 4:3-4…” for a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they’re itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths”
There are 7 feasts, this feast God calls his feasts. Go and celebrate them and nothing that is not mentioned by the Apostels, that they celebrate it.
Did Jesus ever tell us to celebrate his birth on this day? No? That's all I need. I celebrate him every day. We have been instructed on what traditions to hold and how and Christmas was not one of them. I use to love Christmas but I find it hard to justify Christmas when Christ is rarely even the centre of it anymore. Its a tradition of man and we aren't to follow the traditions of man.
I’m not sure Jesus ever told us to celebrate anything. I think the early apostles expected his return so soon they really weren’t planning for a church that would last centuries, so they didn’t write instructions for what to celebrate and how. Jesus didn’t command a tradition regarding his birth, but he didn’t forbid it, either. And he never said we have to carefully limit ourselves to what he tells us to celebrate. The incarnation of God in human flesh as a gift to all mankind seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to celebrate. I agree with you, I don’t like the commercialization of Christmas, either. So maybe it’s on people like you and me to reclaim it for Christ rather than just give up on it completely.
Christmas is what you make of it. As for me and my house, it is a celebration of God stepping into human flesh to ultimately take away our sins. Like the other reply, I believe it is up to born again believers to reclaim and/or uphold the true meaning of Christmas.
@krisk6834
If you choose to celebrate Christmas just don't be fooled into thinking God wants us celebrating it with the world, which is not synonymous with celebrating christ.
Jeremiah 10:1-11 ESV
[1] Hear the word that the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel. [2] Thus says the Lord: “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, [3] for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. [4] They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. [5] Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” [6] There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. [7] Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. [8] They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood! [9] Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men. [10] But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation. [11] Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens".
Feel free to read the full chapter if you think I'm taking it out of context. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear...
SO MUCH THIS
@@krisk6834God laid out HIS feast days, which Jesus celebrated every year of His life. They are right there in the Bible, too bad Christianity thinks it’s above honoring them too. And weird you think Jesus needed to tell people not to celebrate His birth. Okay then.
Jesus was born on 9/11/3BC
No matter what day of the year we could choose to celebrate Christmas, there would be people saying it is the wrong day because it had some pagan or heathen or other meaning. So it's useless even discussing it! Whichever day was chosen would be wrong. This happens every single year, ...getting boring now!!!
The math is figured by John the Bapstist’s conception. Yes, there would be people wanting to use emotions instead of information given in the Bible. But if we stick with God’s given celebrations, then it wouldn’t be much of an issue. People could remember Jesus conception, but at least be following God’s given feasts.
I'm a follow of Christ and want to live at peace with my brothers and sisters by all means possible (Rom. 12:8). However, I think something to consider is...if the 25th, the tree, or anything else involved with the Christ...MAS holiday has AAAANNNNYYYY chance of being pagan then how dare we say we honor our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ while also honoring other pagan practices and gods.
I would suggest pulling away from everything that might be pagan and worldly. Instead, simply do presents, feasts, and celebration ( which is biblical) on thanksgiving or on the feast of tabernacles (When God tabernacled with the People and is the time when Shepards would be out). "Do Everything for the glory of God." -1 Cor 10:31
I understand that viewpoint, however every believer in Christ was pagan before they were saved. If we were redeemed out of paganism why couldn't the Lord redeem a holiday?
No Christian would commit to “also honoring..”. If they celebrate it, they do so unto Christ not any other gods.
All you need is a sufficient difference to set your practice apart from others, e.g., worship of God with animal sacrifice was permitted even though many other religions had a similar practice hundreds/thousands of years before Israel.
Merry Christmas Mike! And everybody else too.
Mike Winger, what is the document that you referenced that speaks of sol Invictus as well as early Christian celebrations?
Oh such a good question. Wish I had thought of it.
The first mention of the celebration of to Sol Invictus on December 25th was the Philocalian Calendar in 354 A.D. The first mention (that I can find) of December 25th in regards to Jesus' birthday was by Hippolytus of Rome in his commentary of Daniel (Book 4 section 23.3) over a hundred years before this.
@@jrmitchell12 So Mike is wrong about Si and Jesus mentioned in the same document?
@@madddog7 what was he wrong about? Sorry, this comment was a while ago and cant remember the context.
So since we do now know that it was likely in September (probably Sept 11) ,would all of those who celebrate Christmas as Jesus birth be willing to move the celebration to September instead of December?
@@dman7668 just give one biblical reference sir
You're a gift, Brother. God bless you in the coming year.
I think we all need a holiday around this time of year. Seasonal depression and all that. Probably why there are so many holidays around there to begin with. And if you're going to celebrate something, I don't know if you can do anything better than celebrating Jesus.
True, but the Bible gives us plenty of celebrations. In John 10, the Feast of Dedication is mentioned briefly. Though not a Biblical holiday from the O.T, The word for Dedication in Hebrew is "Hanukkah", and it is in winter. Jesus sure made a statement there! However, just like Christmas, it has been defiled over the years. We try to stick to scripture during that one, too.
I get two Jesus' Birthday celebrations every year! I attend the Birth of Jesus at church in December, though not with the same fervor that I celebrate it in the Fall at Synagogue during the "Feast of Tabernacles/Booths/Shelters" (whatever your version may call it in Lev. 23) And they will call Him "Immanuel" (literally, in the Hebrew, "with us God") Isa. 17:21/Mt. 1:23. John 1:14 uses the words "Dwelt/lived/tabernacled with us". The Feast of Tabernacles was to remind us that God sheltered/lived with His people for 40 years while they lived in temporary shelters. Our family's home celebration of this is in the Fall during "Tabernacles". So, celebrate Jesus-I agree, but not because there is nothing else than Dec. 25th. I do it for fellowship with the Saints.
Other options are also available for holidays. 7 Torah holidays-plus the weekly Sabbaths, and the beginnings of each month "New Moons", and 2 non-Torah ones. The other non-Torah holiday, besides Hanukkah, is the "Feast of Lots (Purim)" from the Book of Esther. It was a holiday for a certain segment which has grown to be celebrated by all of the people. (Personally, I believe that may have happened after Jesus' life, because the NT makes no mention of it.)
While we are at it, most Church folks know that Jesus died at "Passover", but did you know that He rose on the "Feast of Firstfruits" during the "Feast of Unleavened Bread"? So--the spotless Lamb of God, with no "leaven" in His heart, died on Passover so that His Blood could cover the doorposts of our hearts, and rose as the "Firstfruits" from the dead, actually fulfilling three Holy "Feasts" in one week!
So the problem isn't what you are or are not celebrating Dec. 25th. The problem is not recognizing the significance of the holidays God gave us in the first 5 books of His Word, and how they relate to Jesus. We have replaced the celebrations God gave us with our own. Or, in the case of Easter, by renaming it from Firstfruits, we watered down-at the very least- its true meaning.
Happy Jesus' Birthday Celebration!
Wouldn't this argument only apply to one hemisphere at this time of year?
@@semosancus5506 , I suppose so. Maybe there's something to "Christmas in July" then.
There is one: Hanukkah
Thank you for such diligent research pastor Mike! The sol invictus document containing record of christian celebrations is a great peice of information to have.
Merry Christmas!
The Christmas Tree is a Lutheran invention FYI. It was a merging of the traditonal Paradise Tree from medieval plays of the Adam & Eve story, with the Christmas Pyramid; a shelf kept in homes people would put decorations on.
Also, the wooden idol mentioned in Jeremiah 10 is not a tree pagans decorated, it was a carved idol in a human or humanoid shape. The verses attribute anthropomorphic features to it, saying that the worshippers would make it "walk" or dress it in clothing.
The tree in the plays represented the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
@@jeffrachelburkhalter3783 I know
@@boatcaptain6288 Okay. I wasn't sure which tree you were referring to.
True. No pagans worshipped the log they put on the fire. They simply worshipped the wooden figure they carved from the same wood as their firewood.
Not that the yule log came from a good place. Good King Haakon was a Christian king, who refused to eat horse meat in honor of pagan gods. Eventually, in order to keep the pagans from murdering him, he agreed to breathe the horse-fat vapors from the log they used to cook the horses. A terrible compromise, because over the years, he does end up eating the meat.
Lutheranism FTW! Greetings from the LCMS! :)
Man I miss your online sermons
I guess we can speak against those who are condemning others who choose to commemorate the Lord’s birth on Dec. 25th (which is not a requirement nor is it spoken about in scripture)…… but why don’t we spend more energy understanding the Feast Days and/or making those a practice of the church(as it was) instead?
It’s just odd to me.
There is a terrible separation between the Gentiles and the Jews. We need to be celebrating together. We need to be learning from each other and growing in the Lord. Christmas in Hebrew is celebration of the birth. Jesus is the light of the world. We have common ground and we are the body of Christ. ✝️🕎 If we both put our trust in faith in the Yeshua.
It is very odd. I only watch Mike Winger to learn what false prophets think. The children of God need not to have the ways of the world influence us. Christmas is Pagan of course. Mike is indoctrinated and cannot distinguish truth from falsehood and teaches others the ways of satan. He leads others to the path of hell. The feasts are the truth, let the children of God know this. Jesus said we are to remember him by celebrating the Passover bread and wine. The Bible does not tell the the birthday of Christ so we must not put human thoughts into it and celebrate any day we think especially with Pagan origin. Mike Winger does not know how wrong he is on this. God will judge him according to what he has done. I am scared for him truly. Most importantly for anyone who listens to him. The entire world worships the beast. It is sad. The gates to the Kingdom of Heaven is truly narrow. If only people knew the true God. Have mercy on their soul Lord.
@@george9224 I see, so all who celebrate the birth of Christ on the 25th are damned to hell. What a joke. So are we saved by our works? If we sin are we damned? Your statements are ridiculous and imply that even those who believe in Jesus, the very criterion for salvation in the Scriptures, are damned for inadvertent paganism (assuming Christmas is pagan which I will not grant)? Your doctrine of salvation is rotten.
@@justusmorton6555 May God have mercy on your soul. The Lord is truly a mystery. He is a rock that men stumble on. My Lord, they are so blinded by Satan they can’t keep your commandments.
Dan 7:25 NLT
“He will defy the Most High. He will try to change their secret festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time”
Rev 13:7-8
“And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshipped the beast…”
We know Jesus was not born on Dec 25. We must not add our human thoughts to the Bible and choose a day to celebrate it.
John 4:24
“For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth”
Christmas is not the truth. It is simple. Keep the law of Christ, as what Paul said.
1 Cor 5:8
“So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth”
Let’s keep the festival.
Why must we as choose any day we want to worship the Lord?. He gave us his commands. Sunday is not biblical.
Mt 15:7
“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God””.
I am not the author of the Bible. God is. Pray to God, so that you may be saved. Your teachings is man made.
Father, they do not know. They are lost. Have mercy on them please.
@@princessbabibear4794 Amen, my sister!
Saturnalia, held in mid-December, is an ancient Roman pagan festival honoring the agricultural god Saturn. Because of when the holiday occurred-near the winter solstice-Saturnalia celebrations are the source of many of the traditions we now associate with Christmas, such as wreaths, candles, feasting and gift-giving.
Been living in the United States my whole life, over 65 years, and I never once recall knowing anybody who ever celebrated ' Saturnalia ' or worshipped the decorated tree in their living room.
Where ever the tradition came from, in the 20th and 21st centuries Christmas celebrated on and around December 25 has been the celebration of the birth of Christ, Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah of Israel.
In United States decorated trees are part of that celebration and tradition.
I am so happy to see in the 21st century the birth of Christ still celebrated in my country as much as it is, no matter what ancient symbols are used and where they might have come from.
In my lifetime the ancient traditional things are associated with the birth of the Savior, not some pagan festival.
The Solstice holiday was celebrated right after the festival of Saturnalia. On Dec 25. It marked the birth of Mithras - the so-called "unconquered sun" . So yes, the day was historically dedicated to a sungod. Some would argue that either the Pagans were forerunners of Christianity or Christianity was used as window dressing for Pagan rituals. I believe that Christianity wasn't meant as a derivative of Pagan celebrations but it has (through the church) bend the knee to pagan ideas.
In any case. Jesus never expected us to celebrate his birth so me and my family just keep away. a
Christmas is a pagan holiday that Catholicism adopted and began to use to worship Christ. We have a direct commandment to NOT do that.
Deuteronomy 12:30-31
30 “take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’
31 “You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way;
Birthdays are pagan, so it doesn't matter what day you celebrate Christmas on, you're celebrating a pagan ritual.
Christianity will be outlawed soon, then it can all go back to the original Saturnalia and solstice festivals, totally pagan, and you won't have to be worried about it.
@@michaelszczys8316 I absolutely agree, it is fortold in the bible that all religion will be destroyed by the union of worldly governments.
I was raised Christian, so I was taught in church about "the Christmas story" we had Christmas plays and the little kids recited "Christmas speeches" parts of bible verse. It was a Fun time; especially the part about Santa coming to bring gifts & toys for all good little boys/girls, so you better be Good [parents hung that over your head to make you behave/act right]. I also remember, as a child, being confused about the whole thing; in my child mind, trying to make it make sense. Did Santa bring the baby jesus too?🤔 Did He ride on the sleigh?🤔 And, what about Roudolf 🦌& the Elves & Frosty the snowman⛄? Like what is going on in this story with all these people🤔 Santa, baby jesus, snowmen ⛄ (that could sing dane & talk), reindeer🦌, Wiseman, sheep & Shepherds, sleighs loaded down with gifts 🎁 & toys 🧸 and this Magical little chubby guy[Santa] who come fit down you chimney [and, what if your house didn't have a chimney, then what?]🤔. Not only did santa come down the chimney, but he also 'some how' knew ALL your business (whether you were naughty or nice) - he kinda scared me, cos, i was like, "How does he know all that about me?" - then they tell you "he keeps a list" [like, who is this guy, God?"🤔]. Oh, and let's not leave out the lies parents made us believe ... As a kid I was very confused about this whole Christmas /jesus story/ santa thing, none of it made sense - in my little child mind, it was just a HUGE ball of confusion to me ... Then you get older and figure out it was All Fake!! - How is any of the Godly or in worship or celebration of Messiah 🤔🧐🤨
I agree that Santa can be harmful to a kid. I have an Adult friend who still feels betrayed that he was lied to about Santa, someone who he learned to love as a kind. Praise the Lord he is still a christian!
Yep! Considering we try and teach our kids not to lie and then tell this lie to them... The 2 just don't go together.
This is why Jesus tells us specifically from his own words in red letters how to remember him. 1 Cor. 11:25-26. Even the disciples didn’t celebrate Christmas after Jesus’s death. They tell us to keep the feast of Passover. 1 Cor. 5:8. So we wouldn’t be deceived according to the traditions of men. Col. 2:8.
Festivals are economically important. People buy stuffs to celebrate their festivals and more often than not, most people will spend more than what is necessary. Festivals and holidays keeps the economic wheels moving. At the end of the day, its still business as usual.✌️
This is why, in our household, we don't teach our kids about Santa or the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy, except to say that they are made-up stories and some kids believe in them (We don't want to be the parents everyone hates because our kids told their kids there's no Santa Claus). We emphasize the Biblical account and celebrate God coming into the world to save the world from sin.
Gooooood stuff, Mike! Thank you. God bless and keep you. Merry Christmas!
Another clip from the church, wow I feel so treated!
Love seeing you in your church.
I would love to get more full sermons from the pulpit in addition to the online content.
Something about seeing you in your church is just so nice.
I'm pretty sure all of these clips are from full sermons already available on his channel in case you are wanting more!
@@TyranBattenThank you! I will go look
Mike's ministry is solely online now, so whenever he's at a pulpit, it's either an older teaching (but still great!) or he's guest teaching.
He has whole sermon’s series from his church. Look up “Jesus in the Old Testament”from him or his study through Romans
Preach brother Mike, PREACH!
🤦♂
@@robertmiller812 GOT A PROBLEM ROBBO? SPEAK UP!!
Itching ears
@@reflectionsinthebible3579 Yup people would rather follow the world than God. Nice quote.
Jesus was born around the month of September.
Is there a list of the references that you used for these things? I would find it most helpful.
You’ve helped me a lot Mike. Thank you for your dedication to helping others understand the word better. Very much appreciated. 🙏
What do they have to say about orthodox Christmas's date?
I totally and wholeheartedly agree with you Mike. It’s the memory of the event and celebrating that. It’s all about Christ. 😊🙏🏻
What month do you celebrate your birthday or does it even matter???
@@emmaconde5558 I don't think wilma cares too much about that. As long as she has a reason to keep the Christmas tradition that's all that matters. Not the fact that it is of pagan origin.
It has become a materialistic, anti Christian celebration.
@@CheckmateSurvivorit has not! Stop looking just in the stores, media, TV and social media. There are some of us who celebrate Jesus, the birth in the scriptures of Matthew and Luke. This is a wonderful blessed time of the year to show the love of our Savior who left His Father just for us. ❤Merry Christmas
@@godsgoodnessandgrace The Christmas date does not match the Biblical description.
For some reason globalists are obsessed with the date 9/11.
That is most likely the real date Christ was born.
If me a Christian celebrating Christmas makes others especially a non believer blaspheme the name of the Lord and turn away from being a Christian and follower of Christ, then I have turned by liberty in Christ into a stumbling block for others and my knowledge is now vain. May the Lord have mercy on us and give us all wisdom on how we should conduct ourselves for his glory and praise!
Thanks for sharing this brother 🙂🙏
Honestly in the end it doesn’t matter because it’s what’s in your heart why you celebrate Christmas that matters.
Like Spurgeon, AW Pink, John Knox and the Puritans. It's Pagan.
Mike i love ur vids . And are very helpful
I would LOVE you to reference the articles you have found to make these confident claims alongside your work, because I want to follow your line of discovery, but I can't NOT be a following sheep if the shepherd doesn't give us the references to help us find the same conclusion. (Edit; Specifically I would love the references concerning the original (Or translated version) of the document Sol Invictus)
Yes! I was reading comments to see if anybody had it!
Have you checked out the videos he did on this last year? He may have had the references in those ones, I can't remember for sure though.
I think we sometimes can be too legalistic just make sure not to lie about Santa Claus being a real thing and teach them the real meaning of the Holiday.
I don't think any legalism was discussed here.
@@charlibrown7745 I think the top comment was referring to how some Christians in general tend to be if they think Christmas is pagan 🤔.
I just don’t understand how making santa any part of our Christmas is in any way beneficial to my children. My 5 year old understands that Santa is based on a real historical figure who was a Christian, but that’s about it. She doesn’t really get why Santa is all over the place and why random strangers in the store keep asking her if she’s excited about Santa coming.
@@estherruth4692. It's a fairy tale, yes, but why can't children have the fun of waiting for Father Christmas to bring their presents? If it's wrong, then they must not read or watch children's fairy tales on TV or in books. None of it is real and it's for children using their imaginations and having some fun. My one daughter-in-law told her kids that Father Christmas is not real from the beginning. When the kids told me this I just said " well, he's real to me and I believe in him"! Why spoil the enjoyment. My husband used to dress up as Father Christmas and even get up on our roof on Xmas eve when it was dusk and they could just see his red outfit and his big gift bag he carries over his shoulder . The kids' eyes were huge and he threw sweets down to them. They were so excited. Why spoil that?
@@estherruth4692How depressing!
The people who spred these notions tend to be of two of extremes from what I've observed:
It's either some secular people rebelling against the faith and trying to discredit it, or it's some overly religious people that feel they to forbid this holiday if it is truly pagen.
Either way it's clear that both extremes are probably not doing proper research or are just going off what some gotcha article or video is saying, so that they can go play gotcha with others 🤔.
When it comes to the Gospel people are not so quick to defend it as they are a day of merry making. Jesus gave instructions about how we are to remember Him. We are to worship God in spirit and in truth, every day. It is between you and God what you do on December 24th and 25th, you don't answer to me, but if Jesus wanted us to celebrate His birthday, He would have told us. Jesus gave instructions about how we are to remember Him when He said, "...this do in remembrance of Me."
Wanting to follow the biblical feast days that YHWH aka Jesus wrote that the gentiles will have to celebrate (or suffer the consequences of no rain on their nations) and deciding to not practice the same day as Sol Invictus or Kris Kringle or whatever you want to call Odin's new night ride through the skies doesn't mean I am forbidding others BC I don't join in. I don't want to lie to my kids and have them associate mythical Santa or the Easter bunny with Jesus BC Yeshua is not a myth!
I grew up catholic & Christ-Mass is pagan BC Catholics believe Jesus I'd crucified again and again at the mass. The bible tells me he died once and for all. We know that the messiah would be hidden from Israel with gentile-dress(Joseph will be hidden from his brothers in Egyptian clothing), but read the bible and you will see that the gentiles will be corrected on the the Sabbaths of the Lord in the millennial kingdom.
If we are honest with ourselves Christmas is pagan, Catholic, & christian (candycanes/nativity) traditions all blended into one.
My only question is, how can Christmas be celebrated in a secular manner?
Yet Day of Atonement, Passover or Feast of Trumpets cannot be in the slightest?
Having been raised in two separate households, the secular household was able to celebrate without any connotation of Christ.
Yet the West does not celebrate Hebrew Holidays. Why? "I'm not Jewish".
But the various reasonings to Christmas, are all the same, and from the secular world, its a gathering of family, of gift giving and other typical Christmas-y traditions that exist, yet they do not admit nor praise the "reason for the season".
Which tells me that despite Christian efforts, Christ really IS NOT the reason for the season. Or else the question would be the same as the Hebrew Holidays. Why? "Because I'm not Christian,"
@@JohnDoe-wt9ek because the culture, as much as it tries to unmoor itself, is rooted in Christianity. Thus when they try to secularise religious holidays they are secularising the holidays that were already widely celebrated. Further, unless you want to say that no secular jew has celebrated the Jewish feast days then no holiday (including the Hebrew feast days is immune to secularism)
@@justusmorton6555no because Yule and Spring Celebration (the meaning on German for Easter) are not Christian. They happened at the same time as God given celebrations (Passover and Hanukkah-also the time Mary became pregnant).
Historically, 25th December was the date in the Roman Imperial Calendar on which the solstice occurred, with some Christians in Rome asserting that Jesus must have been born on the shortest day.
@Mike Winger good vid. I agree.
What are your thoughts on Easter? That one does seem to be a pagan festival. I believe Herod was celebrating it around the same time He was planning to put an Apostle to death. I appreciate any insight
“One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.”
Romans 14:5-6 NIV
“Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise- why destroy yourself?”
Ecclesiastes 7:16 NIV
That verse is talking about God’s given celebrations mentioned in the Bible. It’s not talking about man made hollidays.
"I'll take 'Atheists Who Make False Claims For Likes and Clicks' for $1000, Mike!"
Its not just Atheists though. There is a subset of fundies that seem to hate all joy and want to believe every Christian tradition is a secret Satanic plot to subvert Christianity.
Lol u ain't kidding. "god doesn't exist, and I hate him" for $500.
It is not atheists, sid...it is the neo-Puritan fundagelicals that are making the real war on Christmas....
Watch the Star of Bethlehem documentary. The guy on there goes through Astronomy software and it's very possible that the Magi visited Jesus on or around the 25th ❤
Is there any credence to the Astro theological perspective that aligns with the shortest day of the year and the three days the sun rests in the southern hemisphere?
Supposedly it then rises after those three days under the constellation Orion’s Belt (I think) which is also called “the three kings.”
Could the date have been related to when the star appeared?
Maybe, lost in time but still seen in tradition
@marlena. Yes that would be so cool, we can find out when we get there, with Jesus 😊
I'm not sure that was a star. It may have been a star-like object possibly created by Satan.
It would seem highly unlikely that this object was placed there by God. The object didn't lead the astrologers to Jesus and his family, first. It led them to Herod who conspired to kill Jesus.
Why would God, first, lead astrologers (a practice God hates) to someone who desired to kill His Son? Not only that, after God actually got involved by having an angel tell the men not to return to Herod, Herod decided to kill all male children 2 years old and under in Judea.
Why would God knowingly decide to send astrologers first to a hateful diabolical heathen King who conspires to kill His Son and when that proved unsuccessful Herod kills countless male children under the age of 2 years old?
Unfathomable!
I've always said that if I was adopted an didn't know my birthdate, it wouldn't matter to me when my birthday was celebrated, as long as it was celebrated.
Jesus isn’t adopted and he’s not a baby anymore. That being said, Jesus had plenty of time to show in the Bible Him celebrating His birthday and the apostles after Him. But that never happened. It’s not in scripture. Likely because of the babies who died when Jesus was being hunted.
@@reflectionsinthebible3579 If you worship "someone", wouldn't you also celebrate his birthday?
@@n9woxNO, I would worship him exactly how he told me to worship him. In Spirit & in truth. 1 cor 11:25-26 Jesus tells us how to remember him he doesn’t say anything about Christmas. We are to remember him just like God pointed to Jesus to us in the past, through Passover because he was our sacrificed Passover lamb. So let us keep the feast 1 cor 5:6-8 not through Christmas, but through the messiah’s Passover! Just like he asked, Doing it in spirit & in Truth is true worship.
@@MrDmbarr Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they (Maji) saw the child (Jesus) with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
I could not agree more with you pastor Mike. This religious ego stroking silliness we encounter every year these days is quite tiresome, and does nothing but get people’s attention off of the real reason for celebration, and that’s God’s promised Messiah coming into the world through the virgin birth, an incredibly amazing event that deserves celebration and complete attention given it.
Now explain why Easter is determined by the full moon
The interesting thing to me, a Messianic believer, is that Mike who obviously has plenty of Bible study tools available to him as a minister, has no clue what the Bible actually says about the time of Jesus’ birth, which was certainly not in the cold of winter. Are there no students of the Bible out there who can take the information about Zachariah’s course (See 1 Kings, I think), the relevant week of the relevant Hebrew month, the relevant information about Elisabeth and her purification followed by her pregnancy, the visit by Mary to Elisabeth, etc -
One other hint of the time of the birth of Jesus is the Jewish tradition that says John the Baptist was born at Passover. Relate that to the age difference between John and Jesus. But use the Jewish calendar - it’s the one God uses.
what year is it on God’s calendar?
And command thou the children of Israel that they observe the years according to this reckoning- three hundred and sixty-four days, and (these) will constitute a complete year, and they will not disturb its time from its days and from its feasts; for everything will fall out in them according to their testimony, and they will not leave out any day nor disturb any feasts. But if they do neglect and do not observe them according to His commandment, then they will disturb all their seasons and the years will be dislodged from this (order), [and they will disturb the seasons and the years will be dislodged] and they will neglect their ordinances. And all the children of Israel will forget and will not find the path of the years, and will forget the new moons, and seasons, and sabbaths and they will go wrong as to all the order of the years. For I know and from henceforth will I declare it unto thee, and it is not of my own devising; for the book (lies) written before me, and on the heavenly tablets the division of days is ordained, lest they forget the feasts of the covenant and walk according to the feasts of the Gentiles after their error and after their ignorance. For there will be those who will assuredly make observations of the moon -how (it) disturbs the seasons and comes in from year to year ten days too soon. For this reason the years will come upon them when they will disturb (the order), and make an abominable (day) the day of testimony, and an unclean day a feast day, and they will confound all the days, the holy with the unclean, and the unclean day with the holy; for they will go wrong as to the months and sabbaths and feasts and jubilees. For this reason I command and testify to thee that thou mayst testify to them; for after thy death thy children will disturb (them), so that they will not make the year three hundred and sixty-four days only, and for this reason they will go wrong as to the new moons and seasons and sabbaths and festivals, and they will eat all kinds of blood with all kinds of flesh. -
A man plants an orchard, and when the season is right, he will go to the orchard he planted to pick fruit from the trees. Inevitably, he will find a wiccan in his orchard, with her toy poodles. She will claim that the trees, and the fruit on them, belong to Fluffykins and Mister Yappers, because they lifted their legs and marked those trees as their property.
Would love a video of the entire sermon 🙂
The Bethlehem Star documentary shows a very convincing reveal as to why we celebrate on Dec 25.
So I agree it's hard to prove either way.
There are a LOT of non-Christian aspects of "christmas", which lead me to believe it is a "christian-ized" holiday.. To me, the name tells me it was adopted by the Roman catholic church, which is a red flag.
I'd rather observe the Feasts (holidays) given by the Creator. Instead of the likely pagan rooted holidays on our current calendar!
And to those who disagree, I can still say cheerfully. Happy Holidays!
Because being arrogant and rude is opposite of how a True Follower of Jesus should act!
It is a Catholic feast day. The word itself means MASS OF CHRIST. That other Christians celebrate the day in their own way, two thumbs up.
Anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas every day is missing out. Every day belongs to The Lord, even the ones that pagans abuse.
@arcguardian Well, Jesus never said anything about celebrating his birth. He did say to remember His death!
So I would respectfully disagree with celebrating "christmas" every day. Mostly because I know a couple people who have looked into the timing of Jesus birth, and they've come up with September(feast of trumpets)... NOT December, during the celebration of the "re-birth" of the Sun god.. 🤔
Isn't there any historical records of exactly, or at least nearly, when the roman census was taken? Seems that would narrow it down to a more manageable date. I, for one do believe that December 25 has some pagan roots. I suspect that Jesus was not born on December 25th, but I still celebrate his birth regardless. I think it would be a interesting study to find out exactly what day he was born on. Maybe people are too afraid of upsetting their traditions.
Feast of Booths. If we look at all the other Festivals he fulfilled: Feast of Unleavened Bread (removal of our sin and the new covenant made through the Passover), Passover (his death on the Cross, taking upon our sin and thus annulling the price of death over us, being the "Lamb of God" as we like to title him), Feast of First Fruits (Christ being the first to overcome Death and arise from the Grave in Victory), Feast of Weeks (Pentecost, the bestowing of the Holy Spirit upon his Bride, the Church). Why would it be so hard to see that the Feast of Booths makes sense in that he is taking on a Temporary form and sojourning in our Wilderness, just as Moses and his people sojourned in the Wilderness of the Sinai?
September
I already knew about the celebration of Sol Invictus--the "Unconquered Sun." If I am not terribly mistaken, was the solstice waaay back in antiquity on the 25th and shifted to the 21st? I always thought that early Christians may have celebrated Christ's birth on Sol Invictus to camouflage their celebrations within a pagan holiday. But you're right, there are so many myths and conjectures. Thanks for the elaborated history.
Just below your comment, you will see my main comment, but to answer your question, the solstice did not move, but ancient people noticed that the sun stayed at the same height in the sky for a little while. It wasn’t until the THIRD day that the sun’s height rose by one degree (on the 25th in the case of our calendar). You may notice the uncanny similarity in verbiage, “…on the third day, he rose again…” So, it seems that symbolism plays a big role in the selection of the day and / or how the gospels were written.
Love this 🙂
Great video! 🙌🏼
This entire argument surrounding Christmas not being “pagan” is reaching at best. The word “pagan” is simply a derogatory word formed in very recent history to attack the universal ideas of the ancients. There was no such thing as “pagan” in antiquity because everyone just lived that way. Christians are fighting the concept of Christmases “pagan” roots simply because they grew up doing it and it’s an emotionally motivated argument. Anyone who’s capable of reading any ancient history beyond the scope of the bible and church literature will very easily find the connection. All one has to do is ask themselves “what’s with this Santa Clause guy?” or “Where’d this Christmas tree come from?”. The world as we know it today is simply a melting pot of ancient cultural and religious concepts passed down and integrated for generations. It was mainly a political decision made to keep peace in a tumultuous time of religious upheaval where the Roman Catholic Church was on its bloody crusade to rule the world.
Jeremiah 10:3-4 (KJV) For the customs of 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 10:3-4 NIV
[3] For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. [4] They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not tottering.
The trees have become idols and our children pray to have great gifts beneath it..
Keep it a celebration of the coming of the Messiah. Bring your gifts to the lord.
Merry Christmas to ALL. you either choose to celebrate this day as Jesus' birth, or you don't. God gives us choices. The pagans of that time never celebrated the birth of Christ. So none of us who celebrate the birth of Christ with Christmas, are doing as the pagans do. period. So continue with your celebrations if you choose to. God be with us all and continue to save our souls. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thank you for the encouragement on keeping Christmas whatever day our Lord Jesus was born. Somewhat by necessity, I end up taking a “Jesus birth observed view.” My better half and I, attend a Messianic church where Pastor Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries argues for a Hanukkah visitation-conception of the incarnation, and a Sukkot/Feast of Tabernackes birth. I’ve left those services singing Christmas carols. Whether or not he’s correct, we have family that celebrate Christmas and as for me, I can double my pleasure with gratitude and joy. Also, I think the Orthodox Church observed the birth of our savior around the 6th of January?
Great video, this should keep people from still continuing to fight about it in the comments sec-- aahhh crap 🤦
Yep. Maybe we should invest in earplugs?
Jesus wouldn't have been born in Dec as no one would have been traveling for a census count in Dec. It's more likely he was born in late Sept or early Oct.
As a Christian only celebrate Jesus and nothing more. The spirit of giving is wonderful when we give and help those whom God commands.....
The uniqueness of Christianity is one of the topics in apologetics that fascinates me. It's important to show that Christianity is not just some syncretic sect (though the early church absolutely had some syncretism or we wouldn't have some of Paul's letters, and some of the early church fathers adopted platonism a little too eagerly)
If you want to know if you should celebrate “christmas”, ask yourself “Did Jesus ever celebrate “Christmas?”
I'm sure Jesus was very excited to celebrate the day He came to save Himself by dying a substitution death for His own sins.
@@5BBassist4Christ lol
@@5BBassist4Christ what? 😆
Did Jesus ever comment on UA-cam? Did Jesus ever attend church? Did Jesus ever read the New Testament? Did Jesus ever sing in a choir?
That logic doesn't hold up. You can't say that Jesus not doing something makes it bad.
@@hcwally christmas traditions based on pagan superstitions. That's the problem. And that is BAD.
Interesting fact, my parents come from a Christian community, where back in the day many didn't celebrate christmas because they thought it was pagan.
They were right lol
@@headlinenewsrant5134no they weren’t.
The Catholic Encyclopedia reported:
Mithraism A pagan religion consisting mainly of the cult of the ancient Indo-Iranian Sun-god Mithra. It entered Europe from Asia Minor after Alexander’s conquest, spread rapidly over the whole Roman Empire at the beginning of our era…The origin of the cult of Mithra dates from the time that the Hindus and Persians still formed one people, for the god Mithra occurs in the religion and the sacred books of both races , i.e. in the Vedas and in the Avesta. In Vedic hymns he is frequently mentioned and is nearly always coupled with Varuna, but beyond the bare occurrence of his name, little is known of him (Rigveda, III, 59). It is conjectured (Oldenberg, “Die “Religion des Veda,” Berlin , 1894) that Mithra was the rising sun, Varuna the setting sun; or, Mithra, the sky at daytime, Varuna, the sky at night; or, the one the sun, the other the moon. In any case Mithra is a light or solar deity of some sort
Helios Mithras is one god … Sunday was kept holy in honour of Mithra … The 25 December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the rebirth of the winter-sun, unconquered by the rigours of the season…
Its foremost apostles were the legionaries; hence it spread first to the frontier stations of the Roman army.
Mithraism was emphatically a soldier religion…@@GreatOldOne9866
@servantoftheone9866 why don't we see anyone celebrating it in the Bible?
December 25 is a pagan holiday!
December 25 was the traditional date of the winter solstice in the Roman Empire, where most Christians lived, and the Roman festival Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (birthday of Sol Invictus, the 'Invincible Sun') had been held on this date since 274 AD.
as and Indonesian me and my family just make it simple, on 24th Dec night we go to the church to pray. And on 25th Dec we go the church to pray again because we can gather at the end of the year and we are thankful for that. After that we are just having a good time, prepare for the meal, eat together and talk with our relatives. So for me, if anyone tell me that Christmas on 25th Dec is paganism, i don't care. What i do care is me and my family pray on that day to THE ONLY JESUS CHRIST and we are having a good time together. They can say anything what they want, but my prays to the Only Jesus will never change
I have been a believer since my college days, which is 47 years now. Often I am told by many senior church people that the Bible doesnt tell when Yeahua / Jesus was born. All that is important is that, He was born. All that is important is to share the Good News. That's fine.
Being a believer in Yeshua means we follow Him who is the Way, the Truth & the Life. It is truth that is an important hallmark of our life lived in Him. Following this path, a reading of all accounts of the birth of Yeshua tells us very logically & clearly, He was not born in December. December is cold in Israel. Since it is cold, shepherds will not be out in that weather to tend to the sheep. Then, Jerusalem in that season was extremely crowded. We are told a census was carried out also. The Roman government are familiar with Jewish customs. Meaning, the census will be held likely during 1 of 3 Jewish celebrations rather than at random hold the census. Yoseph as a Torah observant Jew will certaintly make this trip to Jerusalem ss commanded by Elohim in Torah, 3 times a year, all male must be in Jerusalem to observe YHWH's Appointed Feasts. These are Passover, Shavuot & Sukkot. From the narrative given, Sukkot, was likely the time when the census was held. Sukkot, according to the Hebrew calendar is observed either in September/ October annually. If this is too simplistic, the Scriptures does provide other valuable info that will help believers trace the birth of Yeshua. The 1st chapter of Luke gives us the time of Zechariah's service in the Temple. Link this to 1 Chronicles where King Dawid drew up the order of time of service for the priest in the Temple will give us more insight. From here, we have knowledge when the Jewish religious calender begin, the 1st of Nisan in Genesis. With these info, we should be able to arrive at Sukkot, as the likely date of Yeshua's birth. Thus far, from 2 different approaches, we arrive at the same conclusion.
So how important is it for followers of the Way, the Truth & the Life to know this, I leave it to the individual believer to decide - Truth all the way or otherwise, that is the question. Thank you
Thank you Mike. l think these pagan holiday issues started going wild when the internet came about with documentaries such as ''Zeitgeist'', and ''Zeitgeist Addendum''. There was another one called ''Kymatica'' which talked about this stuff too. These documentaries really messed with people, and they were proven to be SO MUCH untruth, and lies. PRAISE JESUS for being the beautiful eye opener of Truth. MERRY CHRISTMAS everybody! :D
Mark Foreman did a really good video about Zeitgeist. I think it’s still on UA-cam.
You know now you've named them I'm going to have to look them up! 😆
They won't shake my faith in God and Christ.
I'll most likely have a good laugh at the lies they undoubtedly contain.
@@CaptainCook1778 ~ l wasn't a born again Christian although l did believe in Jesus, l wasn't practising. l watched these in 2009 when UA-cam was new. They DID shake my belief, and l was VERY unsteady. l had little knowledge of The Word of God so l was NOT on a stable foundation of Christ AT ALL. These Docu/movies disturbed me. Thanks be to Christ that He answered my prayer back then to show me how HE fit into all of this. ln time l realized what garbage those docu/movies were pushing. Dont let your young teenage kids see them, as they are very seductive at trying to undermine Jesus. Merry Christmas. :D
@@jonathanfoutz8931~ Thank you for telling me. l will watch that. :)
Part one of Zeitgeist was full of nonsense. But the fact is the Solstice holiday was celebrated right after the festival of Saturnalia. That is Dec 25. It marked the birth of Mithras - the so-called "unconquered sun" . So yes, the day was historically dedicated to a sungod. Some would argue that either the Pagans were forerunners of Christianity or Christianity was used as window dressing for Pagan rituals. I know and believe that Christianity wasn't meant as a derivative of Pagan celebrations but it has (through the church) bend the knee to pagan ideas.
In any case. Jesus never expected us to celebrate his birth so me and my family just keep away.
Next you will say celebrate Easter not Passover.
The Resurrection?
How dare we! 🤭
@@kellyanne7225 Jesus was not resurrected at the 1st full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox. He fulfilled the Passover prophecy not the pagan springtime celebrations of fertility with rabbits and eggs. You have been deceived by the Little Horn of Daniel.
@@corundergroundreligion8190 I said the Resurrection, not rabbits and eggs. You’re hearing what I’m not saying. Try again.
@@kellyanne7225 we are to remember his sacrifice at Passover not a pagan fertility day adopted 350+ years after his resurrection. Flee from Babylon and its influence.
This is great Mike! I agree, I celebrate Christ and what He has done for us and I think that's a great thing.
Link to the full video?
Christmas is a great time to share the Gospel, everyone gathering together
That’s all year. People know the story. God said to be a people set apart so that you will win people by being different. You’re not being different by doing things the way they do them.
What I personally find to be even more concerning, is that if you ask a church-going Christmas-celebrating Christian what the Feast Days are & what they represent or what they mean spirituality… I’m not sure that majority of these ppl would know what to say.
I've learned a lot. From Messianic Jews. There is so much we're missing. Jesus is the light of the world 🕎 There are so many things that were a shadow of a symbol symbol of what was to come in Christ and we are just missing it all.
That’s called Protestantism. Too busy reading the writings of 18th century puritans arguing over soteriology.
Does that really matter to God, or does what he really care about is people being good to each other and loving him? 🙄
Messianic jews do help Frame the cultural lense and help learn definitions of words better.
However there is no obligation to take prt in those feasts.
Sukot is essentially Thanksgiving
That's wat the puritans were doing.
They were basically torah observant
All cultures have a time of harvest and song.
Does it make sense the north in Scandinavia would harvest or thanks for harvest at the same time as year Australian people would.
The message of the gospel was to spread christ and love to the world.
Not to force the whole world to be jewish.
So where in the New Testament did Jesus command us to celebrate the feast days again? Feast Days are for the Jews, not the Gentiles.
Mike never misses I swear
I personally think it is left up to the individual to decide. God does not speak of not celebrating his birth, nor celebrating it. I also know that by celebrating his birth on Dec. 25 as traditionally done for centuries in our country, is ok. To each his own. But the most important thing here is; that we celebrate our Christ was born for our sin forgiveness, we get together to share our love to family, we get in the spirit of Christ and Christmas, and the most important thing is this, It does not effect our faith in Christ, nor our salvation. We are still saved in Christ with or without Christmas celebration. Merry Christmas to you all, God loves you.
Sheppards wouldn’t be out in December. The latest they’d be out is September. If you’re ok with a pagan holiday and not YHWH’s Holy Days … Houston we have a problem.
“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…” Romans 1:22
The same thing Sheldon said was said on the Boondocks, but if you get your wisdom from raunchy media that expects you to take it seriously, please seek Jesus earnestly.
Happy birthday pastor Mike!
Thanks for posting
Btw, anyone that has heard, and we all have heard it, that the shepherds would not be out due to winter conditions...
The winters in the Mediterranean, rarely drop below 50°F. It stays relatively warm, all year.
What? I was of a certain that all sheep lived in the Highlands of Scotland! Scotland, where the icicle growing from the end of your nose is your oldest and dearest friend! Scotland, where the face is pale and the toes are blackened! I just can't quite wrap my head around the idea that a sheep in that kind of climate doesn't just spontaneously combust.
Yeah, it's an average of 15-20°C/59-77F in winter. Us Dutch people would be having pool parties, we are out in shorts at 15°C and 10°/50F (okay 52F tbh) is like our average yearly temperature...😂
We're just going to ignore the fact that Christ was the embodying fulfilment of Hebrew Festivals?
Passover?
Feast of Unleavened Bread?
Feast of First Fruits?
Feast of Weeks?
So why break that prophetic cycle with the birth?
Feast of Booths seems sufficient enough when considering it means the celebration of sojourning in a foreign land. Just as Christ sojourned with us for a time.
And thus, the Feast of Booths, as per the Hebrew calendar, not the Julian Calendar, sees the celebrations held in late September, early October. Rather than December.
@@JohnDoe-wt9ek Yes. These are the feasts of the Jewish tradition. Gentile and Jewis christians created their own holy-days for they were eighther exempt of Jewish culture or someptimes seen as heretics. There is nothing wrong with celebrating the old feasts to remember what God did for us, just like the new feasts do. I know christians that do remember those feasts and Jewish christians still do, parttly because of it being cultural and national feasts. Jesus is however the fullfillment of these feasts. Those old feasts symbolize in a way the coming salvation through Christ. He is the Passover Lamb, He is the Bread of life, The ultimate savrifice. Through Him our sins are forgiven. No more need for sacrifices and scapegoats.
Ephesians 2:15, NLT "He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups."
Colossians 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross
Col. 2 16-17
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Ephesians 2:15,
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.
Acts 15:28,
"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:"
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
@@JohnDoe-wt9ek ... Yeah, ok, but I'm not Jewish..., I'm a Christian. We celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ, on the 25th of December.
If you want to be Jewish, go ahead.