Should you celebrate Christmas?

Should you Celebrate Christmas?

יהוה = YHWH (יהוה – The True Name of our Creator);

יהושע = Yahushua (Yahweh is our Saviour)

Tradition

Sometimes tradition is acceptable and perhaps even pleasing in the sight of יהוה. Sometimes it is not acceptable and is even hated by Him. The evil of traditions that transgress the commandment of יהוה was a key teaching of יהושע the Messiah:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 15:1-2 “Then there came to יהושע scribes and Pharisees from Yerushalayim, saying, 2 “Why do Your taught ones transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

I hear people ask me this, "Why do you not celebrate Christmas (transgress the traditions of our elders)?" Nowhere in the pages of scripture do we find a command to keep the celebration of Christmas. Nowhere in the pages of scripture do we find an example of any disciple keeping Christmas. The only time Christmas is even mentioned in the pages of scripture is to condemn it (as we will see). So, my answer to this question would be, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of Elohim because of your tradition?".

Mattithyahu/Matthew 15: 3-6 “But He answering, said to them, “Why do you also transgress the command of Elohim because of your tradition? 4 “For Elohim has commanded, saying, ‘Respect your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 “But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me has been dedicated,” 6 is certainly released from respecting his father or mother.’ So you have nullified the command of Elohim by your tradition.”

This was an example of how the scribes and Pharisees forsook the commandment of יהוה in favour of their tradition. As I will share, Christmas is also transgressing the commandment of יהוה in favour of tradition. What does יהושע think about this?

Mattithyahu/Matthew 5: 7-9 "Hypocrites! Yeshayahu rightly prophesied about you, saying, 8 ‘This people draw near to Me with their mouth, and respect Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.’ ”

Christmas is honouring with the lips but it is one of many vain doctrines and commandments of men. Again, there is not a single scripture in the bible that tells us that we are to celebrate the birth or the resurrection of יהושע the Messiah. Let alone in a pagan way!

So yes, I do believe we must question these traditions that have been handed down to this generation even though few dare to. Many Christians speak against the Catholic traditions of Lent, Ash Wednesday, etc. but fail to recognize that the same types of pagan elements exist in the celebration of Christmas and Easter! But how did these festivals get their start?

Origin of Christmas

The following is a quote from the 2000 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Volume 11 ; page 390.

"During the later periods of Roman history, sun worship gained in importance and ultimately led to what has been called a 'solar monotheism.' Nearly all the gods of the period were possessed of Solar qualities, and both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities. The feast of Sol and Victus (open unconquered Sun) on December 25th was celebrated with great joy, and eventually this date was taken over by the Christians as Christmas, the birthday of Christ."

Notice how it says "both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities"? The Christians were apparently trying to get more converts so they tried to "paganize" the Messiah to make Him more attractive to pagans. They even officially brought the feast of the unconquered sun into their worship in 336 AD. This is the origin of Christmas.

But the real question is, "Who converted who?" Do we murder to bring a murderer to יהושע? Do we rape to bring a rapist to the Messiah? It is true that by 336AD, the mainstream beliefs of Christianity were already far from the truth the apostles taught anyway. However, even giving them that, shouldn't true believers be teaching the unbelievers the true way of יהוה rather than the unbelievers teaching believers these pagan customs and practices? Certainly! Yet, the Christians not only learned these heathen ways, they also incorporated them into their worship. Scripture says:

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:11 “And have no fellowship with the fruitless works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

Today, Christmas is a very popular holiday. However, as is often the case, what is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular. Christmas means 'mass for Christ'. The name of the holiday is much newer than the holiday itself. The customs associated with Christmas, in one form or another, have been celebrated for literally thousands of years. 'Christmas' is just a new name for an old holiday.

There is no doubt that the customs that are associated with Christmas, as well as the idea of a deity being born on December 25th are of pagan origin. One need only look to an encyclopaedia or even many local newspapers in the 12th month of the year to find this truth. The real issue is whether or not we should walk in these customs. So what is so bad about it? Is it just for the children? What should we be teaching our children? Truth or lies?

The truth is that the Messiah was not born on December 25th. December 25th is the birthday of nearly every pagan god ever invented! In fact, the pagan customs associated with Christmas are clearly condemned in the scriptures. Paganism/Idolatry is something that is against יהוה. If we know that the roots of Christmas are of pagan origin, shouldn't the roots of our worship be in the scriptures, rather than paganism? Consider the scriptures that I will quote that clearly proclaim that the keeping of these festivals is sinful. However, for now I ask that you seek this out for yourself. יהוה's people should always seek the truth. Consider these scriptures:

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 10:1-4 “Hear the word which יהוה speaks to you, O house of Yisra’ĕl. 2 Thus said יהוה, “Do not learn the way of the gentiles, and do not be awed by the signs of the heavens, for the gentiles are awed by them. 3 “For the prescribed customs of these peoples are worthless, for one cuts a tree from the forest, work for the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. 4 “They adorn it with silver and gold, they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it does not topple.”

First of all, יהוה is telling us in this verse "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles" Don't even learn it, let alone practice it and incorporate it into the worship of יהוה! Secondly, it says that the Gentiles were dismayed at the signs of heaven. History tells us that when the sun began to go further away from the earth and the days grew shorter in the winter, the sun worshipping Gentiles were "dismayed", and feared that the sun would not return. So they held certain festivals just after the time of the Winter Solstice when it did begin to return. This return of the sun is why December 25th is the birthday of so many solar deities. One of the customs the pagans has was to decorate a tree that they had cut down and fasten it so that would not topple. יהוה tells us not to learn the way of the heathen. And here He even goes so far as describe a custom that is a way of the heathen. Yet, we see this same custom exist even today which is called the Christmas tree. Have you ever wondered why in the world someone would do something as strange as cut down a tree and put it in their house and then decorate it with all different types of ornaments? Not only is it odd, it is wrong! This custom, along with other pagan customs like it are clearly condemned in this passage. We don't need a prophet to come and tell us today that this custom is wrong. Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah said so a long time ago!

This custom, along with other pagan customs like it are clearly condemned in this passage. Other customs include Mistletoe, the Yule log and Santa Claus. If you seek, you will find that these things are rooted in idolatry also. Also do your research and you will find that less than 200 years ago ‘Christmas trees’ were banned in the USA!!!! Now why would that be? Perhaps that generation knew some truth to this pagan practice, yet sadly fell prey to the pressure of holding fast to traditions of man while forsaking the commands of Elohim!

Santa Claus

All over the world, Santa Claus is God to the children of the world (move the n to the end of Santa). Others say 'Father Christmas'. Parents purposely and deliberately lie to their children and tell them that they should fear Santa Claus because "he knows if you've been bad or good".

These same parents also lie to their children about the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy. Then they wonder why their children become liars and don't believe the Messiah is real later on in life. This is clearly a total abomination to יהוה. You don't have to look very far in the word of יהוה to find out how much he loathes idolatry and lies. יהוה is the only true Mighty One. Our children look to us and believe every word we say. Do they not deserve the truth? How abominable it is for a believer to teach their children to fear Santa Claus and in so doing creep an idol into the conscience of a child!

Lies, lies - everything is lies

The very foundation of the Christmas holiday is a lie. The Messiah was not born December 25th. He did not ask us to celebrate His birthday. He did not say to set up a tree in our house and decorate it and our houses with anything. Santa Claus does not exist. He doesn't have reindeer that fly and he isn't going to come on December 25th and leave any gifts. Everything is a lie. Is יהוה the originator of this holiday? Or is it the father of lies?

יהושע condemned the leaders of that generation for teaching lies:

Yoḥanan/John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

It's high time that we forsake these lies and abide in the truth! Let's forsake this foolish practice of yoking the Messiah (who said "I am the TRUTH") together with lies, for He has nothing to do with lies.

Ḥazon/Revelation 22:14-15 “Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city. 15 “But outside are the dogs and those who enchant with drugs, and those who whore, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and all who love and do falsehood.”

The book of Ḥazon/Revelation also predicts that those who hate יהוה will be glad when the two witnesses of יהוה die, for they will make merry and have a gift exchange:

Ḥazon/Revelation 11:9-10 “And some of the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations see their dead bodies for three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be placed into tombs, 10 and those dwelling on the earth rejoice over them and exult. And they shall send gifts to each other, because these two prophets tortured those dwelling on the earth.”

Sound familiar?

Mixed worship condemned in scripture

Now let's take this a step further. Not only is it sinful in the eyes of יהוה to practice these traditions, it is also a sin to take these traditions of pagans and apply them to the worship of יהוה.

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 12:29 “When יהוה your Elohim does cut off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land,

(This is יהוה warning the children of Israel about what NOT to do when going into the Promised Land)

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 12:30 " guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones? And let me do so too.’

Not "Let us serve their elohim (gods)" but "HOW did these nations serve their elohim"

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 12:31-32 " Do not do so to יהוה your Elohim, for every abomination which יהוה hates they have done to their mighty ones, for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their mighty ones. 32 “All the words I am commanding you, guard to do it – do not add to it nor take away from it.”

Very CLEAR. "Do not do so unto יהוה your Elohim:" It is abundantly clear. Do not worship יהוה in that way, the way of the heathen! Do not add to His commandments and do not take away from His commandments. Both Christmas and Easter take pagan festivals and traditions and apply them to the worship of יהוה. This is clearly condemned here. Would it be right to take a satanic holiday that Satanists have invented and then incorporate that holiday into the worship of יהוה? Surely not. Yet all paganism is Satanism. Satan is behind all pagan worship. And whatever god the idolaters worship, they are actually worshipping Satan.

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 10:20 “No, but what the gentiles offer they offer to demons1 and not to Elohim, and I do not wish you to become sharers with demons.

Now consider this next verse:

Qorintiyim Aleph/1Cor 10:21 “You are not able to drink the cup of the Master and the cup of demons, you are not able to partake of the table of the Master and of the table of demons.”

Which table will you choose?

I hope it is יהוה's table..

Below please see my response to a very influential ‘leader’ of a worldwide ministry after he wrote some ridiculous whitewashed notion that Christmas is about the Messiah!

Shalom to you Pastor ……..:

Sadly you all have it wrong! Celebrating pagan feasts have never been an acceptable form of worship unto יהוה. יהוה has clearly given us as His Bride very straight forward instructions on how to worship Him. He makes it very clear that each one should not do as he sees fit but rather to worship Him His Way and not man’s way through twisted doctrines and traditions that have led people away from the True Word. Christmas is pagan - it is all about sun worship and no matter how sincere you try to make it - it remains an abomination in the eyes of יהוה!

When Aharon built a golden calf and made an altar while Mosheh was up on the Mount, and Aharon said 'tomorrow is a feast unto יהוה' and everyone the next day got up and had a very merry time... when this happened do you think that יהוה thought, 'wow, just look at my people worshipping me all wrong - isn't it wonderful'....No ways, He told Mosheh to get straight back down there to sort them out as they had become corrupted and had quickly turned from the instructions of יהוה, and he wanted to wipe them out and start all over with Mosheh. Mosheh interceded ( a wonderful foreshadow of Messiah - which doesn't give us a licence to use pagan methods to worship our Creator!)

As you are a leader of a worldwide ministry I am shocked at your lack of knowledge of the Word to which you are teaching people falsehood and lies!!!

יהוה has given us very clear instructions on what feasts we are to celebrate each year in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23 and Christmas is certainly not one of them. These feasts are to be kept forever... forever is forever! They are not “Jewish” feasts... they are יהוה's Feasts to be kept by יהוה's people.

In RomiyimRomans 8 Sha'ul (Paul) makes it clear that to walk in the Spirit is to walk in the Torah of יהוה. He says in verses 5-8 that those who walk in the flesh are unable to submit to the Torah of יהוה and are unable to please Elohim... in other words they have no faith as faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word (RomiyimRomans 10:17 - which Word was Sha'ul referring to? The Tanak - Torah-Prophets and Writings - commonly known to us today as the 'Old Testament' which is a sad designation given by man as there is nothing Old about His Word... His Word is eternal therefore time has no effect on it and it is as new and as fresh and alive to us today as it was back then!

Those who do not submit to the Torah of Elohim, walk by the flesh and are unable to please Elohim.

For those who are 'in' Messiah there is no condemnation (katakrima - judgement or penalty as a result of judgement). For those who walk in Messiah - walk in the perfect Torah of freedom there is freedom from the judgement aspect and curse of Torah as when we had forsaken the covenant the Torah was powerless in the flesh to provide a means of reconciliation and left only judgement to which Messiah came in the flesh to condemn sin in the flesh and so bring us the ability to have the Torah of righteousness completed in us.

In Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:3-5 it says that this is the way that we know we know Him - that we guard His commands and anyone who says that he knows Him yet does not guard His commands is a liar and the Truth is not in Him but those who guard His commands then truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in them. 1John 2:6 tells us that if we claim to live 'in' Him then we are to walk as he did. יהושע tells us that if we remain 'in ' Him He will remain in us.

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5 tells us that by this we know that we love the children of Elohim - when we love Elohim and guard His commands - for this is love for Elohim - that we guard His commands and His commands are not heavy!!!

יהושע came to set us free from traditions and doctrines of men that we may truly be free to walk in His instructions. יהושע certainly did not keep pagan feasts - HE kept יהוה's feasts.

Christmas is the worship of the sun-god and celebrates the birth of baby Tammuz – the son of Semiramis (also known as Ishtar/Easter) – the wife of Nimrod.

יהוה showed YeḥezqĕlEzekiel the abominations in the Temple and one of them was the woman 'weeping for Tammuz' YeḥezqĕlEzekiel 8:14'.

Easter too is a pagan feast and has nothing to do with the death and resurrection of Messiah. Easter is the pagan celebration of Semiramis (Easter) - the pagan fertility goddess who supposedly was reincarnated and came back in a giant egg, landing in the Euphrates river and popping out as a bare breasted fertility goddess and turned a bird into an egg laying rabbit. Each year on the spring equinox they would worship Easter and impregnate virgins on the altar and a year later those 3 month old babies that were conceived the previous year would be sacrificed on the altar and they would dip eggs in the blood of the infants - this is sick I know yet some churches do not even know where Easter egg practice comes from!!!

Good Friday has nothing to do with the death of Messiah - it is the worship of Dagon the fish god - half man half fish (hence the fish hat on the pope - Dagon worship - and that is why the Catholics eat fish of Fridays!!!)

יהושע told his disciples that there would only be 1 sign and 1 sign only that would show His authenticity of being the Messiah and that is the sign of Jonah - 3 days and 3 nights as Jonah was in the belly of a fish, so would יהושע be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth and on the 3rd day arise. There is no physical way possible that anyone can get 3 days and 3 nights between Good Friday and Easter Sunday - not even Einstein!

Yet in the West we have sadly not learnt to simply count to 3!!!

יהושע is our Passover Lamb who died on Passover - the 14th of the 1st month at twilight (wed evening before sunset) and arose on Saturday at sunset - the third day - for when the women went to the tomb early before sunrise the tomb was empty.

The day begins at sunset - Saturday after sunset was the 1st day of the week.

Coming back to Christmas - I am saddened that many Christians will acknowledge that יהושע was not born on December 25 yet still celebrate a pagan feast and neglect to celebrate Sukkot or feast of tabernacles which is in around September time for a week when He was born on the first day of Tabernacles and partially bulfilled this feast by dwelling among us and was circumcised on the 8th day - the Shemini Atzeret - the last great day which foreshadows our eternal reign with Him!

Christmas trees and all the stuff is an abomination and is none other than Nimrod and Tammuz worship. Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 10:3-4 clearly describes the making of Christmas trees and adoring them with gold and silver balls - symbolic of Nimrod's penis and his testicles - this may sound crude and is but it is what it is and it is time for the True worshippers to worship in Spirit and in Truth and come out of a Babylonian system of worship and follow the Living Torah - the very Word made flesh - יהושע Messiah, and His Name is not 'Jesus' and never will be - His Name is יהושע (יהוה is our Salvation).

I am saddened to see you in a position of great authority in leadership over many, yet you fail to test all things and are as describes in Ezekiel - one who muddies the waters and is given people muddied water - muddied with traditions that cloud out the Truth. Woe to the shepherds who lead His flock astray.

I appeal to you to carefully consider what you preach. I am encouraged that you say on your blog that you may change your mind as you learn.... please learn the Truth... You have an opportunity to lead people according to the Truth and I ask you do just that... present yourself as a workman approved before Elohim and man, be as the Bereans were - test everything - even what I am presenting you here. It is time to come out of Babylon and worship according to the Torah of יהוה - walk in יהושע Messiah.

The real reason יהושע came to earth was to redeem His Bride. יהוה made a covenant with Aḇraham and when a covenant was made each party would walk through the blood and witness to one another that if any should break the covenant then they would be as the animals they were walking through - dead. יהוה put Aḇraham asleep after he had prepared the animals and יהוה Himself came down and by fire passed through or walked through the sacrifices and was clearly making a statement that if Aḇraham or any of his descendants break the covenant then יהוה Himself would come down and walk the 'bloodpath' which he duly did by יהושע Messiah the right hand / outstretched arm of יהוה.

According to the Torah if a woman is divorced as a result of adultery then she may not marry again until her husband is dead. Well we know that יהוה married Yisra’ĕl as Mount Sinai – Yisra’ĕl committed adultery by whoring after other gods - like nimrod worship etc. and יהוה issued a certificate of divorce. In order for Yisra’ĕl to be once again betrothed to her maker and Redeemer, her husband had to die in order for her to be able to marry again and not be guilty of adultery - that is why יהושע came and died and took up his life again - that He may restore the marriage made at Mount Sinai with Israel.

יהושע clearly said that he came only for the lost sheep of Yisra’ĕl - the dispersed 10 northern tribes that never returned but were scattered throughout the earth and became wild in nature and so too will bring in an abundant harvest of those who are grafted in by faith. He has come only for a covenanted people – and it is by His Blood that we who were once foreigners to the covenants of promise are brought near and grafted in by His Blood and so become a part of His covenanted Bride – that is Yisra’ĕl – not the Church or Christianity!!!

I know I am sharing a lot with you, but please hear my heart - as a man who seemingly should know His Word - you ought to be aware of these things, unless the teaching and doctrines of man that you have sat under has been contrary to sound teaching of the Word!

There is a misconception that the church was birthed at Pentecost (Shavuot - Feast of Weeks - another of יהוה's feasts). This is so far from the Truth. What we must realise is this - there was 120 ‘Jewish’ believers - from the tribe of ‘Yehuḏah/Judah' that were keeping the feast in the temple and were praying when the Spirit came with fire and wrote the Torah upon their hearts on the day of Shavuot – Feast of Weeks - the very day it was given on stone at Mount Sinai. This was the ‘renewed covenant’ - it was no longer on stone but now on hearts of flesh. Only 15 years later was Cornelius the first ‘gentile’ (not of the tribe of Yehuḏah) convert saved! The church as we know it was birthed and officially established by Constantine who was a worshipper of Mithras (the Roman sun-god version of Tammuz).

He sought to conquer the world through religion and found a way to twist the truth to gain control over the masses. He changed יהוה's appointed times and days (attempted that is because no man can actually change יהוה's time and calendar!) Dani’ěl/Daniel 7:25 speaks of this at how they will attempt to change the times. Constantine forbid keeping Sabbath and made Sun-day worship law and the world has followed since like blind sheep. יהוה is calling back His Bride and you may reject what I am sharing with you - that is your choice - I urge you to pray and seek out the Truth and test these words according to the Word and not according to doctrines and traditions and commentaries of man.

There are many who look to you for advice and direction - lead them to יהושע!

May יהוה grant you wisdom by His Spirit and teach you truth, I pray earnestly for you and for the thousands or even perhaps millions that sit under your ministry - that they may not be led astray and that truly there can a worldwide move of the Spirit bringing back to obedience to sons and daughters of the Most High El (El Elyon)

Shalom to you in the precious and wonderful Name of the only True Saviour and King, יהושע Messiah