O you who love the Lord, hate evil! – Ps. 97:10 ~ There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. – Pro. 14:12
FTA: Is Christmas in the Bible?
One of the best examples of what God thinks about humans borrowing and adapting false (pagan) customs (for holidays like Christmas) to use toward worshipping Him is in Exodus 32.
God calls Moses up the mount to receive the Ten Commandments. The children of Israel must wait at the foot of the mountain for him to return. As time passes, the Israelites grow restless. When Aaron, the High Priest, sees this he tells the people to bring him their jewelry so that he can melt it down and make them an idol (shaped like a calf) for them to worship.
God’s response to the people using pagan customs to worship him (as is done in Christmas) was swift. He did not accept Israel’s worship through the golden calf even though Aaron the High Priest was involved. His anger was kindled toward the people to the point where he was ready to destroy them all (Exodus 32:4 – 5, 7, 10)! It took the personal intervention of Moses to save the people from being completely destroyed (verses 11 – 14).
Customs used to worship false gods that are transferred to the true God, like is done with Christmas and other holiday, are unacceptable since the Bible never compromises with paganism. This is exactly the point the apostle Paul was making in 1Corinthians 10.
What then am I saying? That an idol is anything, or that which is sacrificed to an idol is anything? But that which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not wish you to have fellowship with demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and the table of demons. Now do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? (1Corinthians 10:19 – 22, HBFV).
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? – Jeremiah 17:9
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. – Romans 13:14
Here then, is one striking evidence of the deceitfulness of the heart. It produces ignorance of ourselves; it keeps men strangers to their own character; and makes them fatally presume that they are in friendship with God, while they are enemies to Him in their minds and by wicked works. ~from THE DECEITFULNESS OF THE HEART by David Black
A Bible verse Christians forget exists at Christmas and Easter:
“…abstain from things polluted by idols…” Acts 15:20
Note: we are to abstain from X Mass and Easter.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. – Revelation 22:13-15
It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows. – Proverbs 20:25
On that day of judgment,” says the Lord, “I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah and all those following pagan customs. – Zephaniah 1:8
by Sandy Simpson, Deception In The Church, 1998
This is a short essay to illustrate, with some irony, just how unbiblical, subjective and relativistic Ecumenism really is. A few definitions first:
ecumenism – n : the doctrine of the ecumenical movement promoting cooperation and better understanding among different
religious denominations; aimed at universal Christian unity [syn: {ecumenicism}, {ecumenicalism}]
interfaith – adj : involving persons of different religious faiths; “an interfaith marriage”; “interfaith good will” (Websters Dictionary)
“Ecumenism” starts innocently enough. It begins with a tolerant perspective of other denominations. Then it moves on to acceptance of cults. Finally it ends in a desire for unity with other religions, evolving (my note: “devolving” would be the more apt word) into what is called “Interfaith”. This process is brought about by a wrong exegesis of Scripture, using verses such as the following out of context:
1Jo 3:11 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
Mt 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Ro 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord.
Tit 3:2 … to slander no-one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility towards all men.
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
1Co 7:7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another
has that.
Ro 11:32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
Joh 12:32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”
Continue reading here.
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