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Subject: Christmas or Idolatry? Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 12:25:26 +0000 From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com Reply-To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
>From Eddie:
Rooters,
Everyone on this newsgroup wants to study and understand
the Hebraic Roots of Christianity. It is my responsibility as a
leader in ministry and as administrator of this newsgroup to ensure
that those in this newsgroup are given INFORMATION about the Hebraic
Roots of their faith. Given below is the historical ORIGIN of
Hanukkah and Christmas. Most Christians probably do not understand
the origin of Christmas. The origin of Christmas comes from paganism.
It does not come from the Bible and it is not the Biblical birthday
of Yeshua. In fact, the traditional Christmas story read in many
churches during this time of year makes it very clear that Yeshua was
born during the Feast of Sukkot. This is detailed in my book, "The
Seven Festivals of the Messiah".
EXTREMELY foundational in understanding the Hebraic Roots of
Christianity is understanding the Biblical festivals. ONLY with a
knowledge of how God gave the Biblical festivals to teach us His
redemptive plan and our personal relationship with God can you begin
to appreciate the Biblical festivals and how the Christian
substitutes of Christmas and Easter as pale in comparison. By not
understanding the Biblical Festivals, Christmas and Easter can have a
greater meaning to many people. I only began to realize this AFTER I
began to understand what God gave in the Biblical Festivals. AFTER I
gained a comprehensive knowledge of the festivals, Christmas and
Easter began to look shallow when measured against the Biblical
Festivals regarding what they teach about the redemptive plan of God.
Torah means INSTRUCTION. With instruction comes knowledge.
With knowledge comes responsibility. With responsibility comes a
change of heart and action.
I accepted Yeshua as my personal Lord and Saviour when I
was a little boy. Until last year, I celebrated Christmas with my
family. Before that time, God still loved me and God still answered
my prayers. God still worked mightily in my life and God still healed
my body from diseases. During this time, I had no knowledge of the
origin of Christmas and the richness of the Biblical festivals.
Seven years ago, God began to teach me about the Biblical
Festivals. In the past three years, I have been trying to implement
them into my life. It does not come easy because FIRST you must study
and learn what they mean and why they should be important to us as
believers in Yeshua as Messiah. THEN, we can begin to implement them
in our lives and begin to celebrate the TRUE festivals of God and not
the one's of pagan origin. It was only last year when God spoke to my
heart and told me that *I* was not allowed to celebrate Christmas
anymore. God told *ME* that I knew the truth and I was now
responsible for it. Before last year, God never convicted me in that
same capacity. We must remember that the LETTER of the Torah kills
but the SPIRIT of the Torah gives light. While we are learning and
studying our Hebraic Roots, God's grace is sufficient to sustain us.
Therefore, the heart of God is NOT condemnation according to the
letter of the law but LOVE and TRUTH according to the SPIRIT of the
law.
FIRST, let us set our hearts to STUDY and LEARN. During
this time, let God's grace sustain you. THEN, as you begin to learn
and grow, God will begin to convict your heart by His Ruach HaKodesh.
Remember, to all those who have accepted Yeshua as Lord and
Saviour will be in heaven. You can do this and still celebrate
Christmas and be ignorant of your rich Hebraic Roots. However, TORAH
is INSTRUCTION regarding how will live our lives AFTER we are saved
by the grace of God. FIRST, God saved the children of Israel from
Egypt by His grace and mercy. THEN, God took them to Mount Sinai and
showed them what He required of His people to LIVE their life. FIRST,
comes GRACE and THEN TRUTH. FIRST, we are saved by grace. NEXT, God
asked us to walk in TRUTH. While we learn, God's grace sustains us.
With this in mind, please read with an open and honest heart
the information below. It is given NOT to condemn but to uplift to
help us all grow in knowledge of understanding of HIM!
Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l
Date: 05 December 1996, 14:42:16 EST
>From Nehemiah Trustees Covenant Fund ntcf at INTERNET
ntcf@netvision.net.il
To: The Bride ntcfusa at INTERNET
ntcfusa@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Christmas or Idolatry?
Mime-Version: 1.0
Shalom Rav Ba'Mashiach Y'shua!
As the great Shabbat draws nearer, and the time approaches to welcome King
Messiah, it seems more and more articles are being spread around and more
people are waking up to their true identity as the bride of the coming
bridegroom. The real virgins are preparing themselves and are getting oil
in their lamps. I welcome every article that encourages us along these
lines. There is always room for one more. The following came to me through
a friend. In it. Dr. Haiff (of The Christian Jew Foundation) presents an
excellent exposé of the real meaning of Christmas, that will get you
thinking if Believers should even be celebrating it. Pass it along, if you
have the courage.
Uri
=========================================================================
Is Christmas a Jewish Holiday?
by Dr. Charles Haiff, 1993
At this season of the year when the Jews celebrate Hanukkah and the
Gentiles celebrate Christmas, many people wonder if there is any
connection between the two holidays. In fact, the statement is
frequently made that Christmas is a Jewish holiday. Let me say
unequivocally that nothing could be farther from the truth. The only
thing that these two celebrations have in common is that Christmas is
celebrated on the 25th of December and Hanukkah is celebrated on the
25th of Kislev (November-Decernber). And even this comparison is very
shaky, because the December 25 date for celebrating the birth of Jesus
is suspect. In all probability it was not in the winter on the 25th day
of December. No, these two festivals have little or nothing in common.
In fact, they have more in contrast than they do in common.
The Origin of Hanukkah
When the Old Testament closed, Israel was ruled by Persia. Persia
allowed the Jews a great deal of religious freedom and self government.
The leaders in the government were the high priests. As a result, study
and observance of the Law were a regular part of everyday life. All of
this was about to change. In the same year that Darius III became King
of Persia, a young Greek by the name of Alexander assumed the
Macedonian throne. Within five years, his troops crushed the Persian
army. Alexander the Great is part of Bible prophecy. Two centuries
before he appeared in the scene, the Book of Daniel told of his coming
kingdom:
"And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion,
and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom
shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven;
and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled
for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those"
(Dan. II: 3-4).
Notice the phrases that speak so clearly of Alexander:
"A mighty king shall stand up, shall rule with great dominion, do
according to his will." Alexander was a brilliant military leader who
loved the battlefield and believed in absolute victory.
But note verse 4:
"...his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four
winds of heaven... " Alexander died at age 33, and the Grecian Empire
was divided among his four generals.
Note again verse 4:
". . .not to his posterity (his children) . . . even for others beside those. "
Alexander had sons and daughters, but they did not inherit his empire.
Instead, it was split among "others "-his four generals. As Alexander
the Great conquered the known world, he spread the culture and religion
of Hellenism to Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Because Israel was located between these two great continents, Israel
and the Jews were bound to be affected by this spread of Hellenism. The
origin of Hanukkah is the story of the struggle and confrontation of
Hellenism and Judaism.
Like Alexander, the Greeks were zealous in their efforts to convert the
whole world to Hellenism. Eventually, even in the land of Israel, there
was a significant group of Hellenistic Jews. The powerful influence of
Hellenism soon permeated all phases of political, social, and religious
life. While Hellenism was taking hold, the four generals were
constantly doing battle with one another for supremacy of the empire.
The eleventh chapter of Daniel describes the fighting and political
intrigue of the four successors of Alexander which lasted for 150
years. Then, as stated in verse 21 of Daniel II, "a vile person, to
whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom" arrived on the
scene. This vile person was Antiochus Epiphanes, who became the head of
Syria, the northern kingdom. Antiochus brought the struggle between
Judaism and Hellenism to a head when the attempted to destroy Judaism by
brute force. This is described in Daniel 8:11-14. When Antiochus was
crowned king, he replaced the high priest of Israel with a Hellenistic
Jew. In return, this Jew agreed to erect a Grecian temple and a
gymnasium. He also promised to enroll the inhabitants of Jerusalem as
citizens of Antioch. A gymnasium was built and naked young people of
Jerusalem performed gymnastics within sight of the Temple. Priests left
their temple work to participate in the Grecian games.
Antiochus forbade the observance of the Sabbath, the study of the law,
and circumcision. Alters to Greek gods were built in all the cities of
Judea, and pagan sacrifices were offered to them. The worst was yet to
come. On the 15th of Kislev, 168B.C., Antiochus erected a pagan altar
on the great altar of burnt offerings in the Temple. On the 25th of
Kislev, he placed a statue of Jupiter above the altar and a pig was
sacrificed. This was the first abomination of desolation.
These were dark days in Israel * s history, and it looked as if the Jews
would be destroyed. However, in the town of Modin, a devout and heroic
old priest, Mattathias, refused to offer pig sacrifices. His heroism
led others to join him and the movement became the Maccabean revolt.
After seven years (Dan. 8:14) of guerrilla warfare, the Jewish armies
defeated the larger, more powerful Syrian armies at Emmaus. The road to
Jerusalem and the Temple was opened. The Temple was cleansed, and the
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was once again worshipped. Beginning
with the 25th day of Kislev, the Jews now observe their eight-day Feast
of Dedication called Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.
The Origin of Christmas
Christmas is supposedly the celebration of the birth of Jesus, but it's
not. The most conclusive evidence against it comes from its origin. We
really don't know when Jesus was born. We don*t have scriptural or
secular evidence to establish a fixed date. Notice what the
Encyclopedia Americana has to say about Christmas: "Christmas--lt was
according to many authorities NOT celebrated in the first centuries of
the Christian church as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate
the death of a remarkable person rather than their birth."
So, how did we get Christmas? In the first century after the
destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Jews and the Jewish
Christians were scattered. They took their faith with them, and many
Gentiles began to hear about Jesus Christ. The Gentile followers of
Jesus began to understand and practice their faith in non-Jewish ways.
Constantine, a Roman emperor in the fourth century, embraced
Christianity. After Constantine won the battle of the Milvian Bridge,
he forced all the pagans of his empire to be baptized in the Christian
church. Thus, baptized pagans far outnumbered the true Christians.
Thousands of years before Jesus was born, the heathen in every country
observed December 25 as the birthday of a god who was called the sun
god. Semiramis, the widow of Nimrod, was his mother. She claimed to be
the queen of heaven. And she had a son who was supposed to have been
born on December 25; his name was Tammuz.
According to the heathen religions of that time, Tammuz had a miraculous
birth; and for centuries his birthday was celebrated with feasts,
revelry, and drunken orgies. The heathen celebrated Tammuz's birthday
according to the very example he set for them. He was the world's
greatest lover of women, strong drink, dirty jokes, and other sensual
fun. It is said that he loved everybody and everybody loved him. And
it was December 25 that all the pagan religions celebrated the birthday
of Tammuz, the sun god.
Since the church worshiped the Lord Jesus as the Son of God, when
December 25 roiled around and the pagans wanted to worship Tammuz, their
sun god, Constantine knew that he would have to do something. So he had
the church combine the worship of Tammuz with the birthday of Christ,
and a special mass was declared to keep everyone happy. Thus, pagan
worship was brought into the Christian church and was called
"Christ-mass".
The Practice of Hanukkah
Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, which corresponds to the
period of November-December. This is the day the Temple was
rededicated. The observance lasts for eight days and is regarded as a
minor festival. There is no particular custom in the synagogue and no
command to rest or abstain from work. Hanukkah is celebrated joyfully
as a symbol of the great deliverance of the Maccabean revolt.
The unique feature of the festival is the kindling of the lights. A '
special candelabra containing eight lights is used. Each evening during
the eight days, one candle is lit until all eight are kindled. This
comes from a legend that a miracle took place at the time of the
rededication of the Temple. When the Jewish army won religious freedom
from the Syrians, there was only enought oil to fuel the perpetual light
in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the one-day supply of oil is
said to have lasted eight days until additional oil was found.
In ancient times, Hanukkah was celebrated with a great illumination of
the Temple accompanied by singing Psalms 113-118, and carrying palm
branches.
Today, the Hanukkah candelabra is kindled each evening in the synagogue
and the home, and accompanied by special prayers. Games are played with
a top called a dreydl, and Hanukkah money is exchanged. Interestingly
enough, some Jews celebrate with a "Hanukkah bush" and gift-giving. But
this is more for the Jewish children whose parents are competing with
the Christmas celebration.
The Practice of Christmas
I am very aware of the manger scene, of the Christmas hymns, and all the
other things that make up the Christmas celebration. But the vast
majority of the practices of Christmas are decidedly pagan. When the
celebration was established, the late December date was chosen to
coincide with the Saturnalia, the pagan midwinter festival, and with the
pagan Roman holiday called the "Birth of the Unconquered Sun" on
December 25. That's what we've been celebrating ever since. I want to
discuss briefly various parts of the Christmas practice.
Santa Claus
Pagan groups have for centuries worshiped a "God of the Hearth", who
came down the chimney with gifts and blessings. Food and drink
offerings were left out for him. If the sacrifice wasn't acceptable,
"you'd better watch out," because you would likely be cursed. In India
and China, hearth gods outfitted in red are worshiped today. The modern
Santa Claus is a combination of many legends. He possesses supernatural
or magical ability, as do his helpers, the elves. He travels at great
speeds and is able in one night to crawl up and down all the chimneys in
the world. He brings gifts to those who have found favor, and leaves
coal (a curse) for those who haven* t. It is traditional to leave
something for him to eat and drink on the fireplace mantel. In the
fourth century there is believed to have been a bishop in Asia Minor
remembered for his gifts to children. Because his name was Nicholas,
the name "Saint Nicholas" has been biended into the Santa Claus
tradition; but there is nothing even remotely Christian about this
red-nosed, fat-bellied, pipe-smoking "jolly old elf." He is completely
pagan in origin and has displaced Jesus in the awareness and affections
of children, becoming the undisputed spirit, symbol, and centerpiece of
Christmas.
The Christmas Tree and Christmas Greenery
The carrying in and draping of holly and other evergreen plants has come
down to us from the pagan worship of evergreen plants, especially form
Druid rituals conducted in midwinter. The Druids were pagan Celtic
priests who were considered magicians and wizards. The Christmas tree
has nothing at all to do with Jesus, His birth, or His life. Since
earliest times, evergreen trees have been worshipped as symbols
of life, fertility, sexual potency, and reproduction, and were often
brought into the house and set up as idols. The Bible speaks
specifically of this pagan practice and condemns it in Jeremiah 10:1-5.
Although some Christians hang Christian symbols on the tree, most
Christmas trees feature snow, icicles, candy canes, elves, and Santa
symbolism, and have nothing at all to do with the coming of the Saviour
to redeem lost mankind.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe was another sacred symbol to the Druid priests. They used it
to cast spells. The spell was cast when the mistletoe was held over a
woman's head. She was rendered powerless to resist, and they could have
their way with her sexually. This is where we get the Christmas
tradition of hanging mistletoe to kiss a girl.
Yuletide, the Yule Log, and the Twelve Days of Christmas
The period now counted as the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany
was originally the twelve days of daily sacrifices offered to the yule
log. The yule log tradition comes to us from Scandinavia, where the
pagan sex-and-fertility god, Jule, was honored in a twelve-day
celebration in December. A large, single log was kept with a fire
against it for twelve days; and each day for twelve days, a different
sacrifice was offered. When we send Yuletide greetings, we are sending
greetings in the name of a Scandanavian fertility god and his
celebration.
No doubt there are many sincere Christians who think that they are
honoring Christ by having their Christmas tree when, in reality, they
are dishonoring Him by having anything to do with a heathen festival
that God hates! As you read these lines, perhaps you say, "I have my
Christmas tree, but I don't worship it; and consequently, I see nothing
wrong with it." Let me remind you, however, that you don't determine
what is right and what is wrong. If the Christmas tree is not an idol
to you, why are you so reluctant to give it up? What are you doing down
on your knees when you place your gifts under it? Personally, I don't
know of a single thing connected with Christmas that is biblical. You
have to go outside of the Bible to learn of the Christmas tree, Santa
Claus, the holly wreath, mistletoe, the yule log, and all the other
things that go along with the Christmas celebration. Let's be honest
before God and admit that this is a pagan holiday and a trick of the
devil.
The Purpose of Hanukkah
The purpose of the Hanukkah celebration is to remember Israelis great
decisive victory over the Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes. This great
military resistance and struggle preserved the land of Israel, the
liberty of the Jewish people, and their worship and knowledge of the one
true God. The observance is a rather simple one with a candelabra lit
each evening in the home. Each light, each night, reminds the Jew of
his preservation and of the great miracle of Hanukkah.
The Purpose of Christmas
Clearly, the purpose of Christmas was to accomadate the old pagan
worship practices.. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the famous English
preacher of the last century, said, "We have no superstitious regard for
times and seasons. Certainly we do not believe in the present
ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas...we find no scriptural word
whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour; and
consequently, its observance is a superstition, because (it's) not of
devine authority...probably the fact is that the 'holy days' (were)
arranged to fit in with the heathen festivals ...how absurd to think we
could do it in the spirit of the world, with a Jack Frost clown, a
deceptive wordly Santa Claus, and a mixed program of sacred truth with
fun, deception, and fiction" (Quoted from Metropolitan Pulpit Series,
Pilgrim Publications: Pasadena, Texas, 1871, p. 1026).
Sometimes, well-meaning people will make the statement, "Let's put
Christ back into Christmas." This sounds very good on the surface; but
beloved, how can you put Christ back into something when He was never
there?
Christmas Is Not a Jewish Holiday
Christmas has about as much to do with Hanukkah as the Super Bowl has to
do with Passovers-nothing! They are different in origin, practice, and
meaning. In fact, they are as different as daylight and darkness.
While the world celebrates Christmas with its gift swapping and wild
parties, what should be our attitude? God*s Word makes it plain that we
should have nothing to do with this pagan holiday. Let*s not associate
the birth of the holy Son of God with the pagan traditions of man.
Let's heed God*s command: "...be ye separate, saith the Lord, ..."(2Cor.
6:17).
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