The Shocking Truth About X‑Mass

Hello Friends, I am Elder Keith Ellis, Today we will be starting a short 3 part series investigating the origin of Xmas and exploring the question, is this truly a Christian holiday, and should Christians be observing it? Where did Xmas come from? Is it taught in the Bible, or is it rooted in Paganism? What about the Xmas tree and Santa Clause? Do the customs of exchanging gifts, mistletoe and the holly wreath truly belong to Christian tradition?

I will readily admit that this is a holiday that for most of my life I took for granted. For over 25 years I never questioned the holiday and assumed it really was a celebration of Jesus' birthday. About 20 years ago I became convicted that as a Christian, everything that I do should line up Gods word.  I was not wanting to do these things in order to get be good enough to get to heaven, because I believe that is accomplished thru the grace of God, according to the  finished Work of Jesus Christ. I was seeking to worship God in Spirit and in truth. To honor Him in my  walk in this life. So the more I studied Gods word it became evident that the Xmas story as I had been taught by the world was completely absent from Gods word. Now, if we claim to hold to the word of God as our only rule of faith and practice, this by itself should be sufficient grounds for us to abandon this holiday. How long will Gods people halt between two opinions? (1 Kings 18:21) Either we believe God or the world!

Which is it? I will remind you that if you are the friend of the world, you are the enemy of God. (James 4:4) Also if you love the world the love of the father is not in you. (1 John 2:15). And need I remind you that this holiday is embraced by the world, by people who never darken the doorway of a Christian meeting house or ever take up the name of Jesus to their lips. In fact I personally know Atheist who celebrate this holiday. Even some non Christian religions celebrate Xmas in one form or another, religions of the  world which hate Christianity celebrate X-Mass. HELLO. Alarm bells should be going off in your mind when you consider these facts.

Not only did I not find anything in the Bible authorizing Xmas, there was much scriptural warning which actually condemns such idolatry. What I found shocked me at first. How could God's people not see the obvious major lie that Xmas is? It was then that God gave me the grace to come out and be separate. Now we feel it is part of every true Christians responsibility to tear down these false gods and their altars, just as they were commanded to do in old testament times. It has been, and will continue to be an uphill battle. None the less we should cry aloud and warn Gods people concerning this great deception. The Xmas season has everything to do with materialism, and covetousness, which the apostle Paul tells us is idolatry. (Col 3:5)

Paul tells us further that these are the works of the flesh, not The Spirit. (Gal 5:20)  So let me ask you,  just what spirit are you getting into during the X-Mass season? We know it is not the Spirit of God. The only other things it could be is the flesh or an evil spirit.

So where did Xmas come from? A close examination of the name itself often shocks people. Christ - Mass. We should immediately recognize that Mass is a catholic observance. And it is true that December 25^th was chosen by the Catholic Church as the time to observe Jesus birthday (something the bible never tells us to do) In 320 AD, Pope Julius I specified the 25th of December as the official date of the birth of Jesus Christ. In the year 325 A.D. Consantine the Great, the first Christian Roman Emperor introduced Xmas as an immovable feast on 25^th of December. It just so happens that the 25^th of December was highly regarded among Pagan religions. Dec. 25^th is observed by Pagans in conjunction with the Winter solstice, or  Saturnalia, and the rebirth of the sun god. It was on this day, the shortest of the year, that the sun once again began to climb higher in the sky and the days began to become longer.

The Emperor Constantine decided to establish Christianity as the official Roman religion. In order to do this he knew he could not expect Pagans to give up their idolatrous practices, so he simply permitted the mingling of their practices with his new found Christian religion. The result is Pagan practice, shrouded in Christian terminology. Any one can easily check this out for them selves. Most Catholics historians will honestly tell you that  Xmas and other Catholic observances are rooted in Pagan tradition. So if December 25^th is not the day of Jesus birth, then just when is it? The scripture does not tell us directly. However we can thru some study come to a logical biblical conclusion, at least knowing it is not on December 25^th.

No Christian will dispute that Jesus lived for 33 - years. Also no one disputes that Jesus died on Passover. So if we simply take the - years and back up 6 months from Passover, that Brings us to the 15^th day of  Tishri, the feast of Tabernacles. This is our September - October time frame. One of two major reasons there was no room in the inn when Mary was ready to deliver the Christ child was that the feast of tabernacles of taking place. This was one of the 3 times during year that all males were required to appear in Jerusalem, which is 5 miles from Bethlehem. (Deut 16:13-16) Empty rooms were hard to find in the region. The second reason, is the  compulsory taxation and census where Joseph and Mary were required to travel to Bethlehem. It is reasonable that this taxation which was surrounding Jesus birth, which was decreed by Ceasar Agustus, took place on the heels of the fall harvest when people actually had money to pay their taxes, not in the midst of winter as December 25^th is. And not to forget,  we are all familiar with the reasoning that the Shepherds to whom the angels pronounced the birth of Jesus, would not have had their flocks in the fields during winter, the cold and rainy season.

Isa 7:14 says - Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.- Immanuel means "God with us". The Son of God had come to dwell with, or tabernacle on earth with His people. Consider that Jesus is God, and He did come to tabernacle among men. Did not Our Lord fulfill all the feast except trumpets, which is yet to come? 

Now we see that December 25^th is not the day of Jesus birth, but is very strongly tied to idol worship and Pagan festivals. For these reasons, Tabernacles makes scriptural sense as the birth date of Jesus, and December 25^th does not. I refer you to an article in our library on our website entitled, On What day was Jesus really born, for more scriptural information concerning Jesus birth day.

There are many variations regarding all the pagan practices held during the days surrounding Dec 25^th, yet all are rooted in paganism and are to be avoided by true Christians. If you do not believe me, You can research it for yourself. To even breath the name of The Son of God in connection with such an idolatrous, rebellious, fornicating, abominable, Pagan practice is blasphemous in  my estimation. That is why I am saying Xmas and not the other word.

Now, the Mother - Son worship which is observed during the Xmas season is just more Paganism wrapped in Christian clothing. It is not Mary and Jesus that are  the objects of this worship, but the pagan gods Semiramis, and Tammuz, Semiramis was both Nimrods mother and Wife and was worshipped as the mother of god, the Queen of Heaven. The virgin Mary is also worshipped as the Mother of god. See the imitation and deception which is taking place using Christian terms? (see Jeremiah 44) And if we remember, Nimrod was the one who led the rebellion against God when he began to build the tower of Babel. He was also the founder of Babylon, the root of great confusion among the world today. He also taught the children of men To rebel against God and to worship the host of heaven. Tammuz was the child of Nimrod and Semiramis.  Different variations have either ,Tammuz, or Nimrod being worshipped as Baal, the sun god, his birthday being Dec 25^th. Regardless of whom, it is Baal worship.

And rest assured it is not Jesus and Mary that are being worshipped on  XMAS. It is Semiramis and Tammuz masquerading as the baby Jesus and Mary. Remember, these are pagan practices described with Christian terminology. Lets not be fooled any longer.

One of the next staples of this Pagan holiday is the XMAS tree. One might ask, what does a decorated tree have to do with the birth of the Son of God. Absolutely nothing. Where does the Xmas tree originate from? There are some variations on the exact origins, but suffice it to say that all the stories have Pagan roots. Much earlier in human history the evergreen tree would be associated with Nimrod, who turns out to be the true lord of Xmas. As we just mentioned, Nimrod started the great organized worldly apostasy from God that has dominated this world until now. He is said to have been a mighty hunter before The Lord. Many think he was a hunter of men's souls. This is evidenced by the multiplied billions whose souls have been taken in the evil snare of Nimrod. Remember, Nimrod married his own mother, whose name was Semiramis.

After Nimrod's death, his so-called mother-wife, Semiramis, propagated the evil doctrine of the survival
of Nimrod as a spirit being. She claimed a full-grown evergreen tree sprang up overnight from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the springing forth unto new life of the dead Nimrod. On each anniversary of his birth, she claimed, Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it. December 25th, was the birthday of Nimrod. This is the real origin of the Xmas tree."

In the 8^th century several new twists are placed on the story concerning the XMAS tree which come out of Germany. None of them have any scriptural basis. All of them have pagan roots and have evolved into the modern Xmas tree.

Now, traditionally, a yule log was burned in the fireplace on Xmas Eve and during the night as the log's embers died, there appeared in the room, as if by magic, a Xmas tree surrounded by gifts.

The yule log is in reality the "sun log." "Yule" means "Wheel," a pagan symbol of the sun. Yet today professing Christians speak of the "sacred yule-tide season"! Sacred? Or should the be Scared. I opt for the latter. The yule log represented the sun-god Nimrod and the Xmas tree represented himself resurrected as his own son Tammuz. Ezekiel faithfully spoke out against the abominations of the pagan practices of the children of Israel when he speaks of the women weeping for Tammuz.  Ezekiel 8:14. And regarding the pagan practice of the Nimrod tree, we read this is Jeremiah 10:2-4 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. This sounds just like the modern day Xmas tree. These are the ways of the heathen gods which Gods people are not to learn, much less practice these ways.

 

Still think it is harmless? Where is your authority as a Christian to engage in this pagan practice? A study of the phrase -green tree- in the word of God is very revealing. Every such use has a negative connotations. It is very plain that God is not pleased when the green tree is used in religious observances. Check for yourself.

OK now, what about Santa Clause. Santa has not always appeared the way we think of him today. The first well-known gift-giver was a true person--St. Nicholas. He lived in Myra (today we know it as Turkey) in about 300A.D. Born an only child of a wealthy family, he was orphaned at an early age when both parents died of the plague. He grew up in a monastery and at the age of 17 became one of the youngest priests ever. Many stories are told of his generosity as he gave his wealth away in the form of gifts to those in need, especially children. Legends tell of him either dropping bags of gold down chimneys or throwing the bags through the windows where they landed in the stockings hung from the fireplace to dry.

Some years later Nicholas became a bishop--hence Santas bishop's hat or miter, long flowing gown, white beard and red cape. After his death he was elevated to sainthood. Eventually the Catholic Church incorporated St. Nicholas into their Xmas deception.

We will see that Santa is not the friend of the truth and reminds us of another who sought to ascend above the stars and be like to most High God. Who could that be? Could it be SATAN?

Today even when the baby Jesus is not allowed  in the town square during Xmas, guess who is welcomed with open arms? That-s right, Satan Clause! Just who is this person anyway. Well someone says, Satan (Opps, sorry I mean Santa) is harmless, he is just the personification of giving. Really? My bible tells me that Jesus is the personification of giving, for no greater gift has ever been given than the Son of God giving His life for His people. If you study Satans devices real close you can see that he is a cheap imitation of Christ. Who really knows when you are sleeping, or knows when your awake, or knows if you have been good or bad? (as the song goes) Satan?  NO. Jesus ONLY does. You see they are giving Satan Clause (sorry I did it again) the very attributes of Christ, this is also blasphemous.

And who is it that can REALLY be everywhere in one night, Satan (I give up) and his magical sled and reindeer or the omnipresent God? The bible teaches it is God. And to top it all off, you purposely lie to your children telling them that Santa is real. So what are your children to think when they find out you have been lying to them about Santa, and the Easter Bunny who they can see. Will they believe you when you tell them about Jesus, whom they can not see? And when was it ever OK to even tell a lie? Never!

You teach your children that Satan  (Santa) is good and just and will reward them with exactly what the want if they are good, but if they are bad they will not be rewarded. Again this looks an imitation of Gods justice, who is the  only dispenser of what is good and just, or punisher of evil. When you tell your children that they will have to ask Satan when they want something special, are you not usurping true prayer to God The Father, to whom we are to pray and depend on for our every need? Why yes you are.

Now what about the  mistletoe custom? Among the ancient pagans the mistletoe was used at this festival of the winter solstice because it was considered sacred to the sun, because of its supposed miraculous healing power. The pagan custom of kissing under the mistletoe was an early step in the night of revelry, drunken debauchery, and fornication - celebrating the death of the "old sun" and the birth of the new at the winter solstice. Mistletoe, is sacred in pagan festivals and should not be observed by those professing Christianity.

Let me quote two text which I referenced in an earlier video. Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15 and  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:4. Following the world is tantamount to spiritual adultery. How much clearer can God be?

Again What is one of the first clues that Xmas is not of God? The fact that the whole world celebrates it, Not just professing Christians, but many non  Christian countries and religions also jump on the Xmas band wagon. The world loves Xmas, but hates Christ. That-s a fact.

Are you a friend of the world? Do you love the things of the world? Think about it seriously before you answer. We as Gods people are told to;

 Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Rev 18:4

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:15. Xmas my friends is highly esteemed among men and is therefore an abomination in the sight of God. So you still think December 25^th is Jesus birthday? OK, why do you give gifts to everyone else? If you really did believe it was His birthday perhaps you should have given those  thousands of dollars you wasted on people who were ungrateful recipients and given it to the church and the cause of Christ. If it is your birthday, do you expect that people give gifts to everyone except you? Of course not. So stop pretending it is Jesus birthday when you give to everyone except His cause.

What you are doing is a Pagan practice. So what is behind this custom? From the Bibliotheca Sacra, volume 12, pages 153-155, we quote: "The interchange of presents between friends is alike characteristic of  Xmass and the Saturnalia, and Must have been adopted by the Christians from the Pagans, as the admonition of Tertullian plainly shows.- of course someone will object and state the gifts given by the wise men are proof that we are to exchange gifts.

 Well first of all the Wise men were not at the manger as the world tries to tell us. The scripture says they came into the house where the young child was. (Matt 2:11) This was probably at least 2 years after Jesus was born. Remember when the wise men Inquired of Herod, where is he that is born King of the Jews. (matt 2:2) Afterwards Herod  asked at what time they had seen His star in the east and then commanded all male children 2 years and under to be murdered. So the wise men were not at the manger.

Secondly it was a custom in that day to bring gifts when you came into the presence of a King. The gifts they gave were not exchanged among one another but were given to Jesus. The benefits of these gifts were likely used to help finance their flight into Egypt as Herod would seek the life of the young child Jesus. 

Now, friends less discuss the financial aspect of this holiday.  Does anyone think it is pleasing to God when we go deep into debt to finance the commercialized ritual? I remember buying all those gifts I could not afford and Putting it on credit cards. It is not stretch to say that I got in deeper each year. Many, as they enter the shopping season this year, are still paying on credit cards for Xmas gifts they bought 4 or 5 years ago. Should I have to remind you of this text?

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender. Prov 22:7 It is a fact that the number one problem in most marriages today is debt. It is also the leading cause of divorce. Need I labor more on this? You know I speak the truth.

Remember The Lord said, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)

Mammon is defined thusly; Mammon is a term that was used to describe riches, avarice, and worldly gain in Biblical literature. It was personified as a false god in the New Testament. The term is often used to refer to excessive materialism or greed as a negative influence.

I remember an Xmas about 25 years ago when my 2 boys were about 5 and 7. We had spent a good deal of money on new bicycles and other highly advertised goodies the boys saw on TV. Well when the day arrived, there was temporary Excitement. After about 15 minutes outside all the children in the Apartment complex had abandoned their new expensive toys to play with a cardboard box that a Big Screen TV came in. They spent all day long playing in that box. This was a huge lesson for me. I hope you too can see the point. We have created a society where our children think it is all about what they are to get. And that facts are that they never are satisfied and are ungrateful.

Consider that the biblical method for giving is supposed to be in secret. But I promise you, that you will certainly make sure your name is clearly placed on any gift that you give to anyone. The reason is because you want the glory. If you truly were giving after the biblical pattern the person whose need you meet would never know who gave the gift. Matt 6:4 Your giving should not be confined to one time per year. People are hurting year round and we should be ready to give to those who can not recompense us or give us a gift in return.

And did you know that until the 1830-s it was illegal to celebrate Xmas in the U.S.?  The reason is that the founding fathers were Christians who sought to live in a way that was pleasing to God. Check your history books.

There is more that could be brought to bear on this subject, but let it suffice what I have already stated. Now my friend, if you truly love the Lord and are steeped in the pagan observance of Xmas you have some repenting to do. It will not be easy, but it is the right thing to do. Get ready for persecution, ridicule, and scorn by the world, and even by those that you love. You will also be labeled a Scrooge by some as well. It is high time to awake out of sleep.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Romans 13:12. My prayer is that The God of all grace guide you and establish you in the old path and the good way and draw you closer to Him.

Be sure to visit our website at https://primitivebaptist.net
I am Elder Keith Ellis, until the next time, may The Lord richly bless you.