The New Covenant speaks of being separated and holy to Yahweh.
The Scriptures teach separatedness. For example, in
Heb 12:14 "...and holiness, without which no man shall see Yahweh." Holiness is sanctity,
'unworldliness.'
Not that we should not have joy, the true Feasts of Yahweh are filled with joy,
fellowship, meals together and thanksgiving. If you
desire to
have fellowship, joy, eating together, having fun,
then join with thousands of believers all over the world,
and
keep the Feast of Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost and Tabernacles which are periods
of rejoicing fully endorsed by Yahweh/God. (
(Leviticus 23, verses 3, 5-6, 10, 15-16, and 34, and Exodus 23:14-16)
) We have much to rejoice
about, as Israel celebrates their deliverance from Egypt, we too can join with them in joyous
celebration of the victories Yahshua/Jesus has wrought for us. We too have been set free from
cruel
bondage.
No-one actually knows when Yahshua was born. Many attempt to work it out using the
Priestly courses as we are told that Zechariah was 'on duty' when the angel informed him of
John's birth, and knowing that Yahshua was 6 months younger than John etc. etc. It's all
out there on the web. Some even give the 'supposed' exact date of His birth! However, the Priestly
courses were changed at the time of Ezra when the Jews returned to Jerusalem after their exile
in Babylon, and we have no evidence of what the new courses were or when they began etc.
I would also like to
add that if I wanted you to celebrate the day of my birth, then I would tell you exactly when it was,
in order for you to do so. Yahweh has not made it clear to us when Yahshua was born,
and with His Feasts He has made definite reference to when and how they should be kept,
(Leviticus 23, verses 3, 5-6, 10, 15-16, and 34, and Exodus 23:14-16)
so
we can safely surmise that He does not actually want us to keep a special day, but to celebrate
the birth of His Son every day and any day.
There is so much paganity and made up stories around December 25th. The story has been
embellished beyond recognition. For example, when the Magi arrived, Joseph and Mary were no
longer in the place where Yahshua was born. They were now residing in a house (Matthew 2:11).
Yahshua had been circumcised after 8 days (Luke 2:21) and dedicated at the temple some forty days
after his birth (Luke 2:22,24). He was then being called a paidion (Gk.toddler) and no longer a
brephos (Gk.infant).
Holiness is about ridding ourselves of fleshly and
unrighteous
pursuits, especially if there is a chance that these pursuits could be connected in some
way to
idolatry, and a commitment to following the Commandments of Yahweh and not the traditions
of men.
Aaron himself attempted to give excuse that the worship of Baal/golden calf at the foot of
Sinai was
somehow connected to the 'Feast of Yahweh.' Because of the judgement which followed,
this opens up a fresh thought about Yahweh/God
hating
'mixtures' in our worship and lifestyle.
Exo 32:5 "And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation,
and said,
"To morrow is a Feast to the LORD." When we read the outcome to this idolatry,
mixed with
worship of Yahweh, we can see how Yahweh hates these mixtures of truth and paganity.
If there is something we really enjoy, it is
not an easy thing to give up. However,
one day we may stand
next
to
warriors of the faith, who have paid the price, and our lame excuses and lack of dedication
and refusal
to die to selfish persuits could be embarrassing, if not
condemning.
Also, you may be thinking... "But Christmas is a time for the family to get together," or "It's a
time to
show people how
you care
for them" and I am sure you have lots of other reasons for continuing the practise. It is
also a
'cosy'
thing to do,
so very
comforting. But the bottom line is,
should we be affirming a festival full of pagan practises
if we are believers in Yahshua, which, if we read our Bibles correctly, asks for
holiness
and a set-apart life?
Should we be supporting practices which originated in pagan worship, including the date?
I am extremely concerned about the things which go on during the Christmas period.
The over-eating,
drinking,
debauchery and other unmentionable activities are all carried on in
the name of the most holy Person ever to have lived. We ourselves may not engage in any
of these
activities, and
may even attend Church, and use the season as an outreach to the unchurched. But by
encouraging
the Festival,
we may be encouraging those less strong to become involved with these activities, and the
Bible is
clear on the subject of supporting the weak, and that our behaviour should not tempt those
who are
'weaker' in the faith, or who have struggles which we do not have, and may be unaware of.
This is
all worth thinking and praying about.
If you do decide to place these festivities on the altar of sacrifice and even perhaps
obedience, then
Yahweh/God Himself will strengthen you to keep yourself apart and pure, show you how to
express your
concerns and share your convictions with friends and family, and He will
begin to
A fair and balanced on YouTube by 
A decision to refrain from observing Christmas is fraught with many difficulties,
especially relating to family
and friends, but following Yahshua and His Word was never promised to be
an easy way to live one's life, and countless multitudes before us who have
made that sacrifice.
Christmas can include lovely family times, giving and receiving gifts, special meals etc., but it can be
(although perhaps not for you) is a season of crime, debauchery, overeating,
promiscuity,
drinking, etc.
It also is a season which causes financial hardship and many people regret becoming involved with activities
they perhaps would not indulge in normally, 'just because it's Christmas'.
The 'Lord of misrule' (of Roman origin and included in the Saturnalia festivities )
sadly takes hold of men, women
and children during this short time of 'acceptable license'.
May I encourage you dear friend, pray about this, ask Yahweh/
God what you
should do in connection with festival in our day.
lead you on into the Festivals of His choice, documented so clearly in His Word.
No, Christmas will not be kept when Yahshua returns, but the Feast of Tabernacles will. Yes,
by all
people.
Zec 14:16 "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which
came
against Jerusalem
shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the
Feast of
Tabernacles."
Many sincere people in the
Churches manage to
'bring Jesus' into the festival somehow making it 'right'. But is it right?
David
Pawson, an eminent Bible teacher once asked Yahweh (God) what He hated most, much to his amazement, the answer he
received in his
heart, was "Christmas!" Maybe we should humbly ask Him
what we should do about the Festival? Would you be willing to give it up
if He asked you to?
Many people have voiced their
desire to abandon the whole thing but are afraid to. "What would my family think of me?"
they think,
as they
long to be free from the pressures and problems enforced upon them, and dreading having to
partake in
the
office or factory party, even family parties when sadly many fall out. We have been
surprised at the
response of some of our friends when we have declared our faith in relation to abandoning
the practise,
comments like "I wish I were brave enough..." and "I hate all the work and preparation just for one
day" and "Our family always falls out..." and "...The money, we could use more profitably
..." For many
it is a great day to be with family, but for others it presents hardship, loss, regrets and
feelings
of sadness for one reason or another.
Others through history have come to the realisation that perhaps Christmas isn't something
believing people should be involved with.
"To Cromwell and his fellow Puritans, singing and
related Christmas festivities were not only abhorrent but sinful. ... In 1644, an Act of
Parliament
effectively
banned the festival and in June 1647, the Long Parliament passed an ordinance confirming
the
abolition
of the feast of Christmas." 
As Abraham of old, and many others mentioned in Biblical text were called out to be separated from
worldly pleasures and idolatry. If you decide to do refrain from keeping Christmas, Yahweh
will surely give you
the strength
to do so and He will also give you wisdom to deal
with the members of your
family
who have a problem with your 'opting out'. "What about the children?" you may be asking
yourself. There is nothing wrong with buying them special gifts or treating them during
the winter months 'just because you love them' - perhaps treats in the January sales? It
would be difficult to deprive them of something all their friends are enjoying and perhaps
talking to them about at school after the holidays. I will always remember the horror of
realising that my parents had lied to me for years about Father Christmas. Do we want our
children to lose faith in our words? The same goes for the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny,
all are set to erode our childrens' confidence in their parent's words.
May I encourage you to choose this day whom you will serve? Do you remember how Elijah
treated the Priests
of Baal? He
was well aware of what spirit they were of. Are we aware today of what spirit is within
our 'traditional christmas'?
If
so, pray that you will have the strength to do as Elijah did, and not have anything at all
to do with it, but to show it
up for what it really is.
short teaching
on Christmas
Shirley Bate.
Begin the actual
message 1.35 minutes in.