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Last Updated on :
Saturday, November 22, 2014

 

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The Origins of Christ-Mass:
Catholic-Paganism
Page 5 of 5


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In times of reformation, and attempted return to Bible ways, there have been periodic revolusions against these heathen corruptions, but they have not endured. In 529 AD, the Emperor Justinian decreed that no one should work on the Catholic festival of Christmas. At the Reformation, one thousand years later, the revulsion against the Catholic superstitions was such that laws were made against not working on Christ-mass. Crippen says --

"The leaders of the Reformation in Scotland thought the Roman Church was too bad to be mended. In their view, it must be ended, and a new beginning made strictly on the model of the New Testament.

"Now certainly the New Testament MADE NO MENTION OF ECCLESIASTICAL FESTIVALS. So the new beginning included the sweeping of them all away. On Dec. 26, 1583, the Glasgow Kirk Session put 5 persons to public penance for keeping the 'superstitious day called YULE'."

The early Puritan settlers of America were of the same mind. Christmas, they declared, "smelt to heaven of idolatry," and they abolished it as a "relic of Popery" [and it certainly is] . ln Massachusetts in 1659, a law was passed that-

"Whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or in any other way, shall be fined 5 shillings."

In their earlier, sounder days, when they valued the Bible as the Word of God, and were trying to be guided by it, the Presbyterians and Baptists were similarly opposed to these superstitious observances, on the same grounds, but they have long since drifted back to the "ways of the heathen." In England in 1644, at a time of respect for the Word, and of revulsion against Catholicism, the observance of Christmas was forbidden by an act of Parliament.

SANTA CLAUS-CHRISTMAS TREE

The name "Santa Claus" is clearly recognizable as derived from the good Bishop "Saint Nicholas," patron saint of beggars and thieves. In the Middle Ages, thieves were known as "clerks of St. Nicholas." In Europe he travels about in all his bishop's regalia riding a white horse (which he inherited thru amalgamation with Scandanavian mythology from the god Wodin, who was engaged in exactly the same activities at that period of the year). His descent down the chimney is traceable to similar habits of the Norse goddess Hertha. Auld writes about St. Nicholas-

"The names and attributes of the mysterious purveyers of gifts disclose a most CONFUSED MIXTURE OF PAGAN AND CHRISTIAN NOTIONS. All kinds of bugbears and bogies figure in the European Christmas. By their names they suggest a loose connection with St. Nicholas, but by their activities they betray unmistakable relationship with the weird beings of pagan mythology."

 

We have seen how the Christmas tree is traced clearly to ancient paganism. Virgil, the Roman poet, speaks of decorating pine trees in honor of Bacchus, the god of drinking and revelry. Hislop connects similar customs with Egyptian cults. And--in a strange, latter day reversal--pagan Russia has borrowed back the pagan "Christmas"' tree. The Moscow reports that Moscow alone has 10,000 of such trees. Colored pictures show these "New Year"' trees, with all their tinsel and bright baubles and lights, to be indistinguishable from "Christmas" trees, except there are no "Christian" symbols, and the crowning Star at the top is red. And Russia's genial "Grandfather Frost" associated with these trees, with his jolly face, and bushy white beard, and suit of red: who can distinguish him from St. Nick? He is St. Nick, stripped of his adopted Catholicism, and returned to his pagan origin. Mistletoe, of course, is well-known as inherited--and introduced into Christmas --from the Druid priesthood of ancient heathen Britain. For centuries the Church forbad its use because of the superstitions attached to it. It was so sacred a talisman that enemies meeting beneath it laid down their arms. (The world still has a relic of this heathen superstition).

Miscellaneous Christmas superstitions are far too numerous to mention. Campbell, in summing up, comes surprising close to the truth--

"There is really NOTHING IN COMMON between the mystery of the Word made flesh for man's salvation, and the orgies of eating and drinking and horseplay associated with the paganism of pre-Christian times, and PERPETUATED AT THE CHRISTMAS SEASON in our own as well as earlier generations.

"There's goodwill in both, but one is CARNAL, and the other SPIRITUAL."

 

THE MARK OF THE BEAST

Brethren and sisters, how do we--called out to be holy sons and daughters of the Lord--stand in relation to these confused and corrupt Catholic-Pagan things of the world? Admittedly, it all appeals powerfully to the flesh. It is "pretty", it is exciting, it is the popular way of the crowd, it is pleasant to the senses. It is all tinsel, and hoopla, and music, and glistening stars, and twinkling lights. It has everything that attracts the shallow, juvenile, fleshly mind. The Christmas songs and Christmas stories are concocted and executed by consummate actors for the fullest emotional effect. Doubtless the children of Israel, indulging in the "pretty" Canaanite religious customs, said to themselves (or in self-excuse to others), "There really isn't any harm. Of course I do not really mean it in a religious way. It really means nothing to me, and it is all so pretty and pleasant. I really serve the Lord, but I just like a little fun and relaxation. Why do we have to be so different?"

There is absolutely nothing scriptural about Christ-mass. Nothing like it, or leading to it, or justifying it, is ever mentioned in the Bible, or even in early "Christian" records. We have seen that it is a "religious," blasphemous Catholic-Pagan abomination. Why should holy brethren and sisters of Christ ever want to have anything to do with such things of the Apostacy? Surely we desire holiness!

We cannot really say what part of this fleshly mixture--the Pagan part or the Catholic part--is the more objectionable to God, but either one alone should be enough to keep a child of God from having anything to do with it. In the Revelation, two eternally antagonistic classes appear--

BRANDED WITH THE MARK OF THE BEAST

"ALL NATIONS drunk with the wine of the wrath of her fornication.. . . By her sorceries were ALL NATIONS deceived " (Rev. 17:2; 18:3, 23).

 

SANCTIFIED WITH THE SEAL OF GOD

"Lo, a Lamb stood on Mt. Sion, and with him 144,000. THESE are they which were NOT defiled with the (apostate) women. These were redeemed from among men, being the Firstfruits unto God, for they are without fault before the throne of God "--Rev. 14:14.

 

To which class will we be found to belong? Let us bear the following verse in mind constantly. This is what we must be continually striving toward in all we do, with all our heart and strength, or we are not of the true People of God. Can we rise to it. We can--anyone can--if they will totally give themselves to love of God--

"God hath chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love . . to the praise of the glory of His grace "--Eph. 1:4-6.

 

It's a very, very high calling: but there's no peace, joy or satisfaction in anything else.

From the booklet: The Origins of Christ-Mass
By G.V. "Rene" Growcott

 


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