Who Says Christmas Is Wrong?
By Steve Hancock
So much has been written about Christmas by so many people, for so long a time, that it is virtually impossible to determine where fact stops and fiction begins. Numerous tracts have been written on the subject, but the truth has been twisted, turned, and tortured so flagrantly that it is high time someone heeded the advice of Isaiah to “Cry aloud, spare not . . .”
When we examine Christmas through the looking glass of history and measure it by the yard-stick of scripture, it becomes crystal clear that the rituals practiced and the customs followed today are merely variations of the ceremonies invented by the corrupt pagans of yesterday. If a spring is no purer than its source, then it follows that there is little, if any, Christianity in Christmas.
BLASPHEMOUS BABYLON
Let us begin our examination with that giant of a man who became king and priest of Babylon, that unholy city he founded and ruled for 185 years. Nimrod, the great grandson of Noah, encouraged idolatry to much extent, that the word Babylon became synonymous with false worship. Genesis 10:9 states, “He was a mighty hunter before the Lord.” This means that he had placed himself in front of, or in the place of the Lord, in his priesthood. Because of his religious dominion, hunting prowess and enormous size, his subjects stood in awe of him. While on a hunting trip, Nimrod was ambushed and slain. His wife, Semiramis, quickly ascended to the throne and thence began a reign of lust and depravity with few parallels of ancient or modern times. She used her inventive mind to cover up her wickedness and it is upon the myths she concocted that the entire Christmas fabrication rests.
Following the death of Nimrod, Semiramis turned to harlotry, and when she conceived, she explained that her deceased husband, now ruling in the heavens as the sun-god, had visited her in spirit form and fathered her child. The superstitious people believed the myth and accepted Nimrod as a god. Semiramis then proclaimed herself a goddess, and the Queen of Heaven, whose worship Jeremiah condemned (Jer. 7:17 & 18; 44:16-19, 25 & 26). When her son, Tammuz, was born at the time of the winter solstice, by primitive reckoning about Dec. 25, he became a god in their eyes, also. To appeal further to the people’s imagination, Semiramis embellished her legend with a tale of an evergreen tree that sprang forth from a dead stump overnight. The Christmas tree and yule log used today, were first used to celebrate the birth of Tammuz, in what became an annual religious festival in Babylon.
THE FIRST LENT
History depicts Tammuz as the “greatest lover of women, strong drink, evil jokes and fun.” It is not strange then, that the celebration of his birthday, always a wild drunken orgy, was a favorite festival among the corrupt People. When he died at 40 years of age, the women of Babylon lovingly set aside an annual mourning period for him of 40 days (a day for each year of his age). When this practice was adopted by the Lord’s people later, Ezekiel sternly condemned it (Ezek 8:13 & 14). The introduction of this Lenten Season, however, did not abolish the Tammuz-mass, or T-mas celebration, for it was now a principal holiday in Babylon.
This is the blasphemous record of pagan Babylon. We learn further from history, that the “Sun-god, Queen of Heaven, & Son-of-Sungod” that is, Nimrod-Semiramis-Tammuz became the first trinity god-head. Pagan Babylon passed on the false doctrine of the trinity, the T-mas (now called X-mas) celebration, and many other idolatrous customs and practices to our modern day. Over the years, the identities of their Pagan deities and festivals were disguised, historical truth was suppressed, and a spiritual darkness covered the religious world like a thick cloud.
The religion of pagan Babylon did not disappear with the various world conquests. Rather, being so popular, it was passed on down, to what the Bible calls in Rev. 17, “Mystery Babylon.” The Mystery Babylon is the mother of abominations of the earth, according to verse 5. This is so important that God inspired that it be written in capital letters, so nobody would miss it, or be confused about it.” Who else is the Mother of Abominations, than pagan Babylon? What other system, according to verse 3, is full of names of blasphemy? Thus, Mystery Babylon is really ancient Babylon in disguise.
In disguise or not, Babylon’s influence has been quite powerful and penetrating over the years, Ahab’s 450 prophets of Baal, and 400 prophets of the groves were, in reality, priests of Sun-worship. Their worship and sacrifice was performed only during the daylight hours when their Sun-god was in the sky. It was at noon, the hour of the sun’s greatest strength, that Elijah chose to mock them for their god’s indifference to their plight (I Kings 18:26-29). Nimrod’s Hebrew name was Baal. Semiramis was known to the Jews as Ashtoreth (Jud. 2:13). In Rome she was called Venus; in Ephesus she was called Diana (Acts 19:27 Z 28). The Assyrians knew her as Ishtar, and in Nineveh her name was Easter. The variety of names for the same Babylonian deities is a results of the confusing of the languages at the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:7-9). It is certainly clear then, that these “names of blasphemy” which originated in ancient Babylon, have been preserved through the years and can still be found in “Mystery Babylon” (Rev. 17:3).
ALMOST ENOUTH SHEEPSKIN
Why is it then, that we hear very little of Nimrod, or Semiramis, or Tammuz today? Even Mystery Babylon, whose identity we know is the Roman Catholic Church, doesn’t speak of Nimrod or the other idols that filled ancient Babylon. Or do they? The Greek word for Mystery in Rev. 17, really means Secret or Hidden. God is clearly telling us in this text, that this latter day Babylon is truly Babylon of old; yet shrouded in secrecy. Yes, the Roman Catholic Church is ancient Babylon in disguise. It is obvious that ancient Babylon first disguised herself as a church. Next, she disguised her triune deity with the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and called it by the unscriptural term The Holy Trinity. She also took her lesser deities, the Moon-god, Bull-god,
Mercury, Jupiter, etc. and camouflaged them with Christian names such as Michael the Archangel, St. Matthew, St. Paul, St. Barnabas, and others. This was first attempted during the First Century (Acts 14:11 & 12). But the movement didn’t gain acceptance until Constantine, the idol worshipping Emperor of Rome, was supposedly converted in the Fourth Century, and channelled his favorite dogmas and celebrations into Apostate Christendom. Here it was that Tammuz-mass was named Christ-mass, later shortened to Christmas. Jesus spoke of the wolf in sheep’s clothing, and Paul wrote of Satan himself being transformed into an angel of light. This accurately foretold of Babylon’s great fraud. Yes, truly the “names of blasphemy” remain unto this day. They have simply been hidden behind the camouflage and sheepskin of Christian names, as her Biblical name Mystery Babylon implies.
ISN’T IT JESUS’ BIRTHDAY?
The question arises: “But doesn’t Jesus want us to celebrate His birth? What about the Christmas Story found in the Bible?” Except for a few variations, the story generally goes something like this: “Jesus was born on Dec. 25 and shepherds along with the wise men came to celebrate his birth. The wise men brought Christmas gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, seeing as an example to us that we should give presents to each other to celebrate his birth. The shepherds returned to their flocks and the wise men, warned of Herod’s wrath, returned home another way. Next we hear of Joseph with Madonna and Child leaving Bethlehem for Egypt; and after staying there for sometime, going on up to Nazareth.” But this is, to a great extent, false. Yet few people have ever questioned the traditional Catholic teaching, so this myth is quite widespread in acceptance. Though this story is roughly what happened, there are some very significant difference between it, and the Bible account of what really happened. Open your Bibles and follow along in both Luke 2, and Matt. 2.
In Lk 2:1 we read that there was a world wide taxing, and (v. 3-5) Joseph and Mary left their home in Nazareth and went to Bethlehem. While there, rooming in a stable, Mary gave birth to Jesus, and laid him in a manger (v. 7). He was not born in a manger, as some teach. Now there were shepherds tending their flock in the field, when they heard that Christ the Lord was born (v. 11). This is witness enough, that Jesus was not born in the winter. Winters in Israel are so severe, that by mid-October all the sheep have been brought into a shelter. Additionally, Caesar never would have proclaimed the taxing which demanded such widespread travel, during the winter months when traveling is so difficult (Lk 2:1-3). Conclusive Biblical proof shows that Jesus was born approximately in MID – SEPTEMBER! Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, ministered in the temple during the 8th course (Abijah) which occurred on the Jewish calendar from Iyar 27 to Sivan 5, lasting one week. On our calendar this would be June 1 to 8 (I Chron 24:5-19; 27:1, 2; & Josephus). Following this week’s ministry, Zacharias returned home, his wife conceived (Lk 1:23 & 24), and nine months later, about the middle of March, John was born. Since Jesus was 6 months younger than John (Lk 1:26-36), His birth must have occurred in the middle of September. Even Jesus’ traditional age of 33 1/2 years at his crucifixion in spring, points to a birth in autumn, not in winter. So it is absurd to suggest that Jesus was born in December!
The shepherds came immediately (v. 16), in fact, they arrived before the circumcising, and found Jesus still lying in the manger. Eight days after His birth, he was circumcised and named (v. 21). After Mary’s purification, totaling 41 days (Lev. 12:2-4), the family came to Jerusalem to comply with the law of the Lord (v. 22 & 23). Jesus, now approximately six weeks old, was brought into the temple. Simeon was led of the Spirit to come see the Lord’s Christ “when the parents brought in the child” (v. 26 & 27). Anna, a prophetess, came in at the same time (v. 38) and gave thanks unto the Lord. So after “they had performed all things according to the law . . . they returned . . . to their own city Nazareth” (v. 39). But still no wise men– not yet.
TWO YEARS LATER
With the Holy Family in Nazareth and the passing of about 2 years, the wise men finally completed their long toilsome journey. But they didn’t see Jesus in Bethlehem as tradition teaches. They found him instead in Nazareth! Let’s turn to Matt. 2 and see what the Bible says, and forget the Catholic tradition that we’ve blindly accepted for so long. In Matt. 2:1 the original Greek text shows that the words “born” and “came” are somewhat different than the Greek words used elsewhere. The words used in verse 1 indicate the passage of time between the actual date of birth, and the arrival of the wise men. From the rest of the text, it is clear that a considerable amount of time elapsed between the original sighting of the star in the east when Jesus was born, and the arrival in Jerusalem of the wise men. Notice here, that the star did not lead the wise men to Bethlehem, but to Jerusalem. This was done to notify the jealous Herod of the birth of the real King, so that this imposter’s anxiety would drive him to murder, and thus force The Family’s flight to Egypt and the fulfilling of Hosea’s prophecy, (Mt. 2:15) & Jeremiah’s prophecy. (Mt. 2:17 & 18).
When Herod heard about the new king and the star in the heavens announcing his birth to the wise men, he was troubled about these things, and all Jerusalem with him (v. 2 & 3). After learning where the King should be born (v. 4-6), Herod “enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared” (v. 7). He obviously was told that the star had appeared approximately 2 years prior! Because he sent them to search for a “young child” and not a babe. Furthermore, when he slew all the children, the ones that were killed were “two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men” (v. 16 & 17).
THE WISE MEN NEVER WENT TO BETHLEHEM
Herod, being told of Micah’s prophecy (v. 6), sent them to Bethlehem (v. 8). But they didn’t go to Bethlehem! Neither did they “search diligently” as he had commanded them. (v. 8), because the star re-appeared to them, and led them to exactly where the young child was (v- 9). The wise men followed the star, and not the instructions of Herod. They went to Nazareth, because Jesus had lived there since about 6 weeks old (Lk. 2:39), and was in a house, and not a stable (Matt. 2:11).
Additional proof that Jesus was nearly 2 years old is found in John the Baptist. Jesus was 6 months younger than John (Lk. 1:36). When Herod gave the death order for all children “two years old and under” (Mt. 2:16), Jesus, being in that threatened age group had to be taken to Egypt for safety (Mt. 2:13). Yet John the Baptist made no such escape, nevertheless was unalarmed. Why? Obviously, John was older than two & beyond the threatened age. Therefore, Jesus, being 6 months younger, had to be at least 1 year and 6 months old or older at the time of the wise men’s visit, was probably nearer two (Mt. 2:16, 17).
Contrary to popular teaching, the wise men did not present Christmas gifts to Jesus, nor were they birthday gifts or anything of that sort. These gifts were “King’s gifts” of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It was custom in those days that when visiting a king, gifts were presented by the visitors. Even to the queen of Sheba presented gifts of gold and spices to King Solomon when she visited him (I Kings 10:2 & 10). These wise men did not travel 4000 miles just for a birthday party, or a Christmas celebration. They came to see the King of the Jews (Matt. 2:2). Notice that there is no command or even the slightest hint in the “Nativity narrative,” or anywhere else in the Bible, to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Rather, Jesus told us to commemorate his death. “This do in remembrance of me” (Lk. 22:19).
THOSE LITTLE FOXES
Many today celebrate Christmas in riot, revelry, and drunkenness. These are sins that God’s people would never fall into. We all recognize those evils. But this tract is not primarily directed toward the world as a whole. This tract is intended for the honest hearted saint, who has fallen unknowingly into errors of Rome. This is aimed at exposing some of those “little foxes that spoil the vine.” So let us examine the things that sincere Christians, by mistake, have followed.
Now that we have seen the history of Christmas, more accurately Tammuz-mass, let us see what the scripture says regarding our observance of it. Let us remove the shrouds of mystery and secrecy with which Rome cleverly concealed it. First examination of the word, Christmas, indicates its origin. What did Christ ever have to do with a Catholic Mass? Clearly, he had nothing.
Certainly, one of the cardinal evils of Christmas is the Santa Claus lie. So-called Christian parents, who train their children not to lie, yet annually lie to their children, telling them that there is a Santa Claus coming from the North Pole, etc, need to repent and make peace with God. In Isaiah 5:14 we read that “hell hath enlarged herself,” and surely this is to accommodate among others, the Santa Clause liars. Though human reasoning may suggest that such a “little lie” isn’t bad, the Bible replies in Rev. 21:8 that “all liars” will
make their eternal home in the lake of fire. This means those who tell big lies, little lies, black lies, white lies, and yes, even Santa Claus lies. There’s a story about a small boy, who, like most children today, was brought up to believe in Santa Claus. This boy had a reverent trust in his parents’ integrity, since they were a “Christian” family. Upon discovering that Santa Claus was just a fable, his faith in his parents’ honesty and his belief in the reality of the unseen world was so shaken, that his sad comment was, “I’m going to look into this Jesus Christ business too.” Remember parents you have the responsibility to “train up a (your) child in the way he SHOULD go . . .” Telling lies, is not the way he should go, not even Santa Claus lies. If in later life your child goes down the wayward path of delinquency, just remember the poor example you set.
THE TAMMUZ – TREE
Another present day evil is the Christmas tree. Jeremiah warned the worldly Jews of his day against it when he wrote “Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen . . .” Yet people today, it seems, want to learn the way of the heathen. Jeremiah continues, “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. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne (carried), because they cannot go (by their own power) . . .” (Jer. 10:2-5). In Jer. 7:30 he denounced the evil of the Jews setting the heathen abominations in the house of the Lord. Yet this Tammuz tree is often decorated and displayed in so-called full gospel churches. These worldly “sinner-gogues” are really fool-gospel churches. In. Deut. 7:26, God warned “Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing . . .” From this it is clear that a curse rests upon all of God’s children who dabble with the Devil’s devices. Some may argue that the Christmas tree is not an abomination. But remember friend, the use of Christmas trees, ceremonial candles, wassail bowls, holly wreaths and mistletoe all came from Babylonian Idolatry, and Babylon is the MOTHER of abominations of the earth (Rev. 17:5).
The cancer of Christmas observance has literally eaten away at the vitals of Christian experience. As Christians have set their affections on things on the earth, they have sacrificed the pinnacle of blessing and power for the base pleasures of the flesh. As Esau, they have exchanged their birthright for a mass of holiday pottage. Certain Christians have attended “harmless” office parties, where there is drinking, dancing and revelry, thereby losing their testimony and spiritual victory. Some churches have tried to compete with the world by offering Christmas programs for their young people. One Pentecostal church even dismissed its services during the season. These are certainly “. . . trees whose fruit withereth . . . twice dead, plucked
up by the roots” (Jude 1 2).
WITHOUT EXCUSE
Yet after all this, there are still some who tenaciously hold on to their pagan traditions, suggesting that they will use celebrations to wotship and glorify God. This will not glorify him, but horrify him. Some even go to the extreme of attempting to justify their celebration with Holy Scripture. But the honest soul, who is sincerely seeking God’s will in his life, will quickly learn that the scripture offers no support, but rather, condemnation to the celebration of this pagan festival.
Some try to apply Romans 14:5 to Christmas observance, supposing that they are merely esteeming one day above another. But to rightly divide the word of truth we must look at the surrounding text, and see what subject is being dealt with. In this setting Paul is discussing the Mosiac law, and its application to us in this day of grace. Back in chapter 13:8, he explains how to fulfill the law. In verse 9 he says much the same thing. In verse 10, he is still talking about fulfilling the Mosiac law. Parenthetically, he then tells the people to “awake out of sleep” and returns to admonitions about the law in chapter 14. Beginning with the dietary laws, he next speaks of the Sabbath law of “one day above another.” Continuing in verses 14 & 15 of the same chapter, though dealing with the law of clean and unclean meats, he is still writing of the MOSIAC LAW. So it is absurd to suppose that Paul was leaving to personal choice, the observance of an unholy pagan festival in Rom. 14:5. Rather, he was leaving to personal choice, the observance of the Sabbath.
Still others have sought to defend their observance of Christmas with Col. 2:16 “Let no man judge you . . . in request of an holy day . .” The only Holy Days, are the ones that God gave to the patriarchs. To suggest that pagan CHRISTMAS is a Holy Day, is to ignore history, disregard scripture, and completely abandon common sense.
Satan’s Greatest Snare — A Mixture
We must not take for granted our worship of the Lord. Two priests were slain by the Lord, because they were careless about their temple service (Lev. 10:1 & 2). God has always forbidden worship of false gods, and even worship of the true God on a false altar. The righteous leaders of Israel always destroyed the altars of false religions, and did not permit their people to worship on them (Ex. 34:13). The Israelites were not to “do after their works,” even to do them unto the Lord (Ex. 23:24). Because when they first “learned their works” (Ps. 106 : 35), it served as a stepping stone to bring them to “serve their idols” as well (v. 36).
In Deut. 12:29-31 the children of Israel were given commandments concerning their conquest and possession of heathen lands. They were sternly warned against worshipping the gods. Moreover, they were
forbidden even to use the heathens methods to worship the true God. “Thou shalt not do so UNTO THE LORD . . .” (v. 30 & 31). This is why Elijah built an altar unto the Lord (I Kings 18:32) and did not use the
profane alter of Baal. This also explains why Gideon, and every one of the Godly rulers had to destroy all the symbols of idolatry before God’s oath was appeased.
One man didn’t recognize the difference between the holy and the profane, so he took the consecrated vessels of the Lord, and used them in a royal feast. Because he tried to mix the holy with the unclean, he
was weighed in the balances and was found wanting. His Kingdom had been numbered and was finished. Many people today commit the same evil by bringing the profane pagan practices of Christmas into the holy
services of the Lord.
God no longer winks at ignorance, so it is essential that we know what he requires of us. Paul was fearful for the souls at Galatia, lest he had bestowed upon them labour in vain. In other words, they were going to be lost, because they had cast aside his previous warnings, and were again observing pagan festivals (Gal. 4: 10 & 11).
The reckless holiday spending nearly starves some pastors out, and closes church doors. Many pastors find it difficult to have revival during December and January. Their members would rather finance holiday extravagance on the “easy payment plan,” than support the work of God. Though people claim to be celebrating Jesus’ birthday, they deny Him their substance, and give His presents to others. Foreign missionaries go hungry, while selfish Christians throw away extra turkey dressing and spend money on foolish waste. People change their mailing lists each year, simply because they failed to receive a card or present from some old friend. Christmas is not the spirit of giving, but the spirit of GETTING.
In these days of spiritual coldness and indifference, we’ve often seen the smokescreen of “moderation” and “tolerance” to excuse spineless and weak kneed compromise. There is a recklessly carefree attitude that is a growing attitude in our “modern” Pentecostal churches. The dry-rot of tradition has been a constant peril to the foundation of our faith. Yet, in Col. 2:8 we are warned “Beware lest any man spoil you through . . . the tradition of men . . .” Christmas is a deeply ingrained tradition, woven into the fabric of formal Christendom. Yet if we are to heed this inspired text, we must come out of Babylon, be not partakers of her sins, that we receive not of her plagues (Rev. 18:4). We who have come out of the trinity, must also come out of her celebration, that we receive not of her plagues.
Let us not be swept up with the emotion of the season when we see the familiar bumber sticker “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Let us remember that Christ did not institute any Christmas celebration, neither is he “in” the one observed today.”
Send Orders To: STEVE HANCOCK, Pastor New Bethel Jesus Name Church
RTE. 3 JAYESS, MISS. 39641(601 876-3003)
