Thus saith יְהוִֹה, 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. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Jeremiah 10:2-5 (AV)
In this post we are going to expose the true pagan origins of Christmas and provide the reader with biblical revelation concerning the true spirit of the festive season. We will also trace historical information relating to the origins and traditions surrounding the observance, answering the question – is Christmas really Christian?
A Few Short Facts
Let us begin with some general background by listing a few short summarised facts concerning the Christmas season, its origins and how it is seen in today’s context.
Christmas as we all know is the season and day in which the majority of Christendom celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and in which the secular world celebrates certain traditions observed at its end of year festive and holiday seasons.
The celebration of Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ is rooted in the pagan Roman religion of Roman Catholicism, which is a degenerate corruption of New Testament Christianity by means of syncretisation of pagan customs, principles and festivities with Christian teaching.
The word Christmas is a compound word using the two words ‘Christ’ Greek: Χριστός [Christos] – anointed, Messiah) and Mass (Latin: Missa – to send, dismiss [missia -> mission]) and can be termed the Mass of Christ in connection to the unbiblical and idolatrous Roman Catholic ritual of Mass.
Various pagan nations in the ancient world held festive seasons at the same time of the year including those of Saturnalia in Roman tradition, the Winter Solstice as general pagan traditions, the Germanic Yuletide tradition with variations of such winter festivals all with similar customs in connection to idolatry as the list goes on.
Most Christians are aware that the real birthday of Jesus Christ humanly speaking is actually unknown, and if it were to be pinpointed it would be closer to a September date according to agricultural and historical considerations surrounding His birth. Despite this knowledge the majority of the church by traditional institution continues to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th, which is also a winter solstice birth date for several pagan false gods.
The worldly traditions surrounding the Christmas season such as the erecting of the Christmas tree, the personality cult of Santa Claus, the traditions of gift giving and banqueting etc. all have their roots in ancient European pagan traditions and have now survived in the modern annual observance of Christmas.
Considering the above information we can see clearly that Christmas is actually a modern day reapplication of idolatrous pagan religious festivities deceitfully masked by the Roman Catholic church as the birth of Jesus Christ, observed by modern Christendom as a religious holy day and by the secular world as a celebratory festive season of commercial materialism and indulgence.
Idolatry & Trees
Let us consider the below biblical passages:
Thus saith יְהוִֹה, 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. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Jeremiah 10:2-5 (AV)
The above passage from the Book of Jeremiah chapter 10 outlines a prophetic rebuke against the pagan practice of idolatry involving the use of trees. This scripture provides us with insight concerning the idolatrous practices adopted by Israel from the surrounding pagan nations, which brought divine judgment upon the whole nation and in the case of Jeremiah’s particular audience, the house or Southern Kingdom of Judah.
Groves
In the Old Testament we see the term ‘groves’ appear many times and always in a negative context according to the viewpoint of God. Groves were idols in the form of carved images, pillars, poles or sacred trees devoted to the worship of the ancient Canaanite goddess Asherah or Astarte.
The use of trees in goddess worship in Ancient Israel was forbidden by the law of Moses and reinforced by the Holy Spirit through the supernatural utterance of the prophets.
Upon entry to the promised land there were direct instructions from God to the Israelites to destroy the platforms of idolatry including all visual idols, carved images, graven images, totem poles, altars and groves. We see here the extent to which God condemns the practice of idolatry including the use of trees to the end that He might sanctify His people as holy and separated from the pagan peoples and nations surrounding them.
But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. For thou art an holy people unto יְהוִֹה thy God: יְהוִֹה thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 7:5-7 (AV)
‘Every Green Tree’
In the Authorized Version, the phrase ‘every green tree’ is seen 11 times in the Old Testament with 10 of which in reference to the practice of idolatry with the use of trees.
These were often in the ‘high places’, which were the pagan places of worship where altars and idols were set up at locations of high altitude such as mountains and hills. The phrase “every thick oak” is used once with the former phrase again in reference to idolatry.
Once again this reinforces the biblical condemnation of any form of idolatry associated with trees as Israel was commanded to totally obliterate all forms of pagan idolatry and sacrifice.
Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: Deuteronomy 12:2 (AV)
It is interesting the emphasis given to this phrase by the Holy Spirit as we see how close ‘every green tree’ is to the ‘evergreen tree’, which is traditionally the Christmas tree. What is also interesting about the phrase ‘every thick oak’, used in conjunction with the former, is that the original Christmas tree was actually an oak tree dedicated to the worship of the Norse god Thor called the ‘Thunder Oak’ having been converted to a Christmas tree by the catholic missionary Boniface who worked for the papacy to missionize Germany in the 8th century.
The Christmas tree being the central symbol and stronghold of the Christmas spirit must be considered here in a biblical context, and when we do so, we conclude that it is erected unwittingly by the masses as a visual idol and survival of grove worship, concentrating spiritual attention and adoration to the spirit of the season and the entity behind that spirit, namely the devil.
Historical Trace
When considering biblical history we find the narrative of the birth of Jesus in the gospels of Matthew and Luke informative as to His birth and the conditions surrounding it.
But what we do not find anywhere in scripture is a commandment or demonstrative instance regarding the observance of Christmas as a perpetual ordinance for the church.
What we find in the development of Christmas theology is a gradual adoption of the veneration of Christ’s birth to traditional observance once certain historical events presented themselves forcing the adoption of the tradition.
There is absolutely no mention of the observance of Christmas from the apostolic period and through into the post apostolic period. You would think if there was any note of the observance it would be found associated with the apostles or so called apostolic fathers.
There is no mention of the celebration of Christmas historically until 354 AD pointing to earlier observance possibly in 336 AD through Roman sources concerning the festival of ‘Sol Invictus’, the ‘Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun’, or the birthday of the Roman sun god Sol. The earliest possible observance of anything related is tenuous in suggestion from the Donatist sect whereabouts from 303-311 AD.
The Feast of Epiphany which is the celebration of the Magi having been revealed the birth of the Messiah, finds its beginning in 361 AD and follows 12 days later on the 6th Jan. This is where we see the tradition of the 12 days of Christmas and it is observed at various times depending on country or denomination. This again is observed nowhere near the early church period or post apostolic period.
What we see here in all the above is that there is in fact no trace of Christmas in connection with apostolic Christianity anywhere to be found, but only the first reference in connection to pagan Roman sun worship upwards of 300 years following the birth of Christ. This is heavily evidential of a syncretized tradition, merging the birth of Jesus Christ with the pagan sun worship of Rome via the early development of papal Roman Catholicism and its corruption of apostolic Christianity.
The ‘Christmas Spirit’
Many Christians are not ‘spiritually aware’ of Christmas, or in other words, most Christians are not aware that Christmas is a deceiving spirit or an actual demonic entity, and I would suggest even a principality level demonic spirit which has successfully brought into bondage untold numbers of souls, over vast amounts of time, Christian and non-Christian, across many nations, to the will of the enemy – that is, to be serving the falsehood of the Christmas spirit and tradition.
We always hear people refer to ‘the Christmas spirit’, and we think immediately about being cheerful and going with the flow of Christmas activities events and what have you. But what we don’t realize is that there is a demonic ‘Christmas spirit’ working through this season to ensnare us to the idolatrous practices and demonic strongholds within the God rejecting secular world – that spirit being the prince of the power of the air, or the devil himself.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Ephesians 2:1-2 (AV)
The scriptures make it clear once we are saved by the Lord Jesus Christ through His perfect, finished work on the cross, we are to be delivered from the bondage of the world’s spirit and by extension its ways and customs rooted in ignorance, idolatry and sinful rejection of God.
It is no secret or surprise that Christmas can be the greatest of idols to many people. We understand the change people undergo at this time of the year being driven by the season seemingly being energized by a spirit. It is notable how much effort is put into the activities, the lengths people go to to decorate their homes, how the Christmas tree is worshipped by decoration and singing carols directed to it, how much emphasis is made on gifts, food etc. all displaying covetousness, indulgence and excess. It is clear that there is definitely a powerful spirit driving the season with the goal of captivating people to follow the fashion and course of this world.
For a Christian to be in one spirit with Christmas and follow the traditions of men and doctrines of devils is to be led not by the Holy Spirit, but the spirit of darkness, and runs counter to the will of God in holiness and separation from the world.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14 (AV)
Pagan Traditions
Almost every Christmas custom (if not every Christmas custom) is rooted in pagan idolatry and Roman Catholic superstition. Let us list a few examples:
The day of December 25th is significant to pagan religion concerning worship of false gods, which in ancient Rome was ‘Dies Natalis Solis Invictus‘ or the ‘Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun’, or Sol the sun god; and in ancient Egyptian mythology, the birthday of Horus, the sky god; and in ancient Babylon the birthday of Tammuz, the son or reincarnation of Nimrod a ‘mighty hunter before the יְהוִֹה’, who we find in the Book of Genesis regarding the tower of Babel and the uniting of the post-flood nations against God.
Gift giving, revelry and banqueting traditions stem from the Roman Saturnalia and winter solstice festivals where all types of licentiousness and sin was permitted unbridled, all mixed with idolatrous sun worship and fertility rituals to the Roman god Saturnus the god of seed, planting, sowing, for favour upon winter season of harvest.
The tradition of the Christmas tree has deep roots within ancient sacrificial worship to false fertility gods/goddesses, and the actual named tradition stems from Germanic tree worship dedicated to the Norse god Thor as a converted tradition through Catholicism via St. Boniface, the 8th century catholic missionary to Germany.
The personality of Santa Claus has its root in Catholic superstition regarding St. Nicholas a Turkish Catholic bishop who had a reputation for gift giving of various kinds and towards children–called Sinter Klaas by Dutch speaking pagan Europe, an imaginary figure revered in honour of St. Nicholas. The name ‘old nick’ in reference to St. Nicholas is actually a nickname for the devil himself.
We see here deeper spiritual meaning where Santa is a play on words being a rearrangement of the name Satan, with the whole persona speaking of the attributes of the devil in his deranged ambitions to be seated on a throne as God, be worshipped and be seen as the one who can provide gifts or temporal pleasures, has ‘elves’ or ‘helpers’ (demons) who do his bidding, exalting himself as being called the father as father Christmas–it goes on and on. The satanic symbolism is staggeringly obvious.
Yuletide, a Germanic tradition rooted in idolatry and worship to various false gods such as Odin and Thor. This is where we get the traditions such as burning of the Yule log, symbolizing the returning of the sun god after winter; Yule goat, connected to Thor’s ‘sleigh’ being pulled through the sky by two goats; Yule boar, connected to offering up sacrifices to Odin and various gods.
Holly wreaths, mistletoe etc. connected to various pagan superstitions, witchcraft druidism, and Germanic pagan fertility rituals. This is where the kissing under the mistletoe tradition was derived, which encourages adultery and fornication having connection with fertility temple prostitution and orgies as a form of worship to the fertility gods.
Moving into modern day commercialism and materialism we see the whole Christmas spirit is centered on mammon and the love of money, which encourages idolatry, greed, covetousness, excess and indulgence.
Beyond this, we have a tradition that has captivated the world’s heart, and that of modern Christendom, binding the two together in one spirit which is anti biblical, and at the heart rooted in idolatry and rebellion against the Almighty–such a spirit and tradition true biblical God honouring Christians should have no association with.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8 (AV)
Conclusion
From the above outline we can see how far removed the religious and secular tradition of Christmas really is from true biblical and apostolic Christianity, which honours God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In short we conclude here that the narrative of the birth of Jesus Christ has been hijacked and used by the corrupted religion of Roman Catholicism to mask pagan traditions and assimilate them into their religious system.
Following this there has been a separation between the religious observance and the secular observance, but only in perspective, as the customs and traditions have been intermingled throughout the entire traditional framework to the extent that a clear distinction cannot be made or separation of observance be performed.
The answer to the question, ‘is Christmas really Christian?’, is a clear and evidential, no.
With that in mind we encourage those who are unsaved and have been led astray by the Christmas deception to seek the truth through the Word of God and Everlasting Gospel, which leads to salvation and freedom from bondage to this corrupted world. The spirit of this age is holding you in spiritual ignorance captive to the devil and sin, which brings the ultimate condemnation of hell fire. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ you can be set free and receive eternal life.
And to all of our Christian brethren we encourage you strongly in warning to test the Christmas spirit, and judge for yourselves according to the Word of God and revelation of the Holy Spirit whether this season and tradition is God honouring and to be observed, or if it is in fact idolatrous and to be repented of and forsaken in the spirit of holiness.
We pray for your sanctification and freedom through our Lord Jesus Christ.
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 (AV)
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