I remember when I was 5 that my mother was so proud of me because I went up to the preacher at our church to point out that the church bulletin said, "X-mas Service". I quipped that one "shouldn't 'X' out Christ because it was his birthday and that was the real meaning of Christmas." The funny thing is ... I still believed in Santa Claus. It wasn't until I went to Shannon Forest Christian School in the month of December of my second grade year that I was told the brutal truth.
For my introduction to my new second grade class, I was asked to come to the front of the room. The teacher asked the class to welcome me.
The teacher said,
"Tell them your first and last name."
I said,
"My name is Rusty Smith."
The teacher then said,
"Class, let's tell Rusty what we've been working on for the first week of December."
The class said in unison,
"Christmas cards and a Christmas prayer."
Teacher,
"Let's tell Rusty what we talked about this morning, let's say it all together."
The class in unison,
"We don't believe in Cupid, Leprechauns, The Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, or the Tooth Fairy ... they aren't real."
I was almost in tears! I knew there wasn't an Easter Bunny, I had my doubts about Leprechauns, I thought Cupid was sort of weird, but Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy? I had just gotten a $1 bill under my pillow from the Tooth Fairy. I had gotten gifts from Santa Claus the year prior. I knew because they specifically said,
Pulling the teacher down to whisper in his ear I asked,
"If Santa Claus isn't real, then who gave me presents last year?"
The teacher asked the class my question ... various 2nd graders shouted out,
"Your Mom and Dad."
My lip quivered a bit. I was mad. I had never been lied to before by an adult - especially my parents.
So let's stop right there. Like any lie ... to perpetuate it - it has to become bigger and bigger as it's discovered to be false. As our children's intellect develops; to cover up the lie - more elaborate stories have to be told. This is how all lies work. There are no good lies, no matter how harmless or innocent. The Bible commands us to always tell the truth,
From The Holy Bible:
_______________________________________
My wife and I have decided to make a tough decision this year ... to stop celebrating Christmas.
What made us come to this decision?
First and foremost ... after thoroughly researching the topic of "The Origins Of Christmas", not only have I discovered (to my surprise) Christmas as we celebrate it now is less than 100 years old, but that it's origins are actually deeply rooted in secretive celebrations of Pagan rituals - rituals that crept into the wealthy New York Catholic society over the course of 50 to 75 years beginning sometime around 1820. If you dig deep, you find out that Pagans had the idea of "getting Christians to join in" so they wouldn't be persecuted for celebrating Pagan ritual, ceremonies, and festivals. With just a small amount of research, you find that Christmas is really no different than Halloween, that Druids would often worship trees or tree spirits, and wreaths (and rings) are a symbol of completion to Druids who believed in elves and witchcraft - Santa Claus is an elfin "person" who utilizes magic - not illusionary magic, but in the miraculous sense. This "wonderous Santa" conjures up respect as a powerful God-like figure. Combined with "his ability" to know who's been naughty and who's been nice - children - even if it's for the briefest time in the innocence - try to please Santa - even going as far as leaving cookies and milk near a decorated Christmas tree - almost as if at a sacrificial alter.
Here's what the Bible specifically says about decorating trees:
Jeremiah 10 verses 1-5
10:1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
10:3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
10:5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
Those heathens being referenced - are Pagans. A classic Christmas carol is "Silver and Gold" by Burl Ives. The song is about decorating a tree with silver and gold - something the Bible suggests you not do.
A lot of Pagan imagery was brought into modern pop culture with books like J.R.R Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings. The Hobbit was published in 1937.
Most of the authors of early 20th Century fantasy (such as Tolkien and C.S. Lewis) were theological philosophers and are generally attributed as Christians - yet most of their imagery and content in their works is based on Paganism. C.S. Lewis includes near exact allegory of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection in The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe* - yet his books also contain witches, Santa Claus, and a very common theme in Pagan ritual - humans inhabiting or possessing animals or giving animals and trees - spirits equal with that of a man.
Many don't realize how new the current Christmas we celebrate is:
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer was written in 1939 by Robert L. May and was recorded into a song that was popularized by Gene Autry in 1949. The popular television stop motion animation first aired in 1964.If you look at how our modern Christmas rapidly grew from the 1920's through the 1960's - it parallels the growth of pop culture and new mass media such as television and radio. It also parallels economic growth and the rise of conspicuous consumption. Modern Christmas is literally two generations old - yet everyone demands it's been around forever.
Christmas is associated in a lot of good people's hearts as a time for family and giving. No matter how you try to instill giving in a child, they see Christmas as "getting". Most of us, as adults, think of Christmas as a celebration of Jesus' birthday. What we must ask ourselves is,
Would Jesus want us to give gifts to people that don't necessarily need them, or give throughout the year to those that are less fortunate than the average person in our own families?
I rarely know what to give my Dad for Christmas - I usually just buy him something that says, "Clemson" on it. He doesn't need it, but I feel obligated to get something for him - after all he gets something for me. I honestly do like giving and love finding unique things for people. That being said, this past summer, I saw my brother at the flea market ... five gifts I had given him over the years were on his table for sale - never opened - never used.
I have a question for you.
Wouldn't you think that the 12 disciples would be the ones that would come up with the celebration of Jesus' birthday?
There's no mention of the disciples celebrating Jesus' birthday in the Bible. If anything, in each of their gospel accounts, the disciples say you should glorify God every day. No mention is made in the Bible of a certain day on which Jesus was born - it certainly wasn't December 25th. It was too cold to travel and too cold to be inside a stable. The weather in the Israeli winter is pretty much like the weather here in the Upstate of South Carolina - reasonable winters, but it can be cold and usually there's a 5MPH breeze contributing to a nightly wind chill.
This is another reason for my decision. If I am to celebrate Jesus's birth on a certain day ... I want to know which specific day. Everything I do in the name of the Lord should be truthful. Not knowing the exact facts surrounding Jesus' birth and accepting a certain date from something made up completely by pop culture and retailers is not being truthful.
Colossians 3:17
"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
People that celebrate Christmas are Hindi, Buddhist, even Atheist and Agnostic - they celebrate it not because of Christ's birthday - but because it brings them money into their stores, restaurants, and corporate bottom lines in China. They celebrate it because they want to be a part of the society that worships pop culture - a society that seems to be in the loving, giving, sacrificing name of a kindred spirit. Christians see that kindred spirit as one that parallels Jesus and his life - those that do not believe Jesus is their personal Lord and Saviour DO NOT see the parallel or significance of Jesus' birth, life, death or glorious resurrection!
Psalm 1:1:
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night."
In 1812, the first lithographed book in America was published, called "Children's Friend". In this story, a man named Sante Claus made his home in wintery North. He traveled the night in a sleigh with a flying reindeer. The anonymous poem and illustrations were pivotal in shifting imagery away from the image of mortal St. Nicholaus. The book, "Children's Friend" also marked Sante Claus'* first apperance on December 24th (Christmas Eve). This could be construed as Santa Claus coming a day before Jesus.
In 1823, the story morphed yet again with Clement C. Moore's elfish image in "A Visit From St. Nicholas," now better known as "The Night Before Christmas." The image of Santa Claus didn't really get far beyond New York until the early 20th century. Many people think Santa Claus has been around for a very long time - when in fact he's only been around in his current form since the late 1920's. He became a part of pop culture with Coca Cola and Macy's department stores placing his image with their products in all of their winter billboard and magazine advertising.
While discussing our decision to not celebrate Christmas at Thanksgiving with a relative, my wife asked her ...
"Where in the Bible does it say to celebrate Christmas?"
Her first answer is actually the best I've heard, even though it's errant,
"The three wise men brought Jesus gifts when he was born."
Then, to clarify she made this association,
"Santa Claus is the notion of giving, Santa and Jesus are the same people, you know what I mean."
There were no Wisemen at Jesus' birth - yeah that's right - thinking this is actually combining two apostles accounts of Jesus' early years.
Here's the actual verse from Matthew 2:11
"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him ... "
Notice the word "house" and not "stable" and the words "young child" and not "babe"? Also notice - no animals, no Joseph, no shepherds.
Santa Claus was further boosted by the 1947 movie, Miracle On 34th Street. (Which many people don't realize was a blatant commercial for Macy's Department Stores.)
IMDB.COM describes this movie:
"When a nice old man, who claims to be Santa Claus, is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing."
In Miracle On 34th Street, Santa's "real name" is Kris Kringle .
In the book Shocked By The Bible Joe Kovacs writes:
"Kris Kringle actually derives from the German term "Christkindl," which means, believe it or not, 'Christ child.' "
Did you catch that? This subtle reference of Santa Claus as "Kris Kringle", who was originally a Saint, ordained by the Catholic Church* as "Saint Nicholaus" - is now Christ incarnate. Do you see how in 100 years time he became a god? Do you see what's happened in the last 50 years? Christmas is being substituted with "Season's Greetings" and "Happy Holidays" - the word "Christmas" and even religious Christmas songs are being removed from our public institutions and schools - yet Santa Claus remains.
One can't pray in school but you can write a letter to Santa?
This past week my son has been asked at school,
My son's weekly schoolwork has consisted of writing a letter to Santa Claus asking him for what he wants rather than a letter to Jesus ... thanking him for what he has.
However silly these may sound; here are some observations:
• The word "SANTA" is an anagram for "SATAN". *
• It is mildly interesting that Santa Claus is often depicted as covered in ash and soot / A devilsh reference
• It is mild coincidence that St. Nick is Santa's nickname & Old Nick is a nickname for the devil
• Santa is an elf (in Modern form) - elves are prominent in Pagan ritual & belief.
• Many people think the word "Santa" means "Saint-a" (or that it's derived from the Spanish word "Santa" for "Saint" as in Santa Maria) - it actually means "Mister" derived from "Sinter" which has dual meaning as "Saint" and "Mister" / People errantly associate the St. Nicholaus back into the myth when trying to save "Santa" into Christmas tradition. I highly doubt Nicholaus would appreciate his life turned into a mockery of Christianity - and giving him god-like abilities and prominence over Jesus Christ in mind share and market share.
• Many efforts are being made to make Santa into a god-like figure, example below:
So, I began with a story about how I got onto the preacher of my church for placing the word "X-mas" in the church bulletin. I now believe that is the truth - "Christ" was never in "Christmas" to begin with. It's been "X-mas" all along.*
"Only 24 more shopping days to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour." *
Please also read this ATLIBERTYTOSAY followup:
How The Grinch Told The Truth At Christmas
Reference:
* "Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus" by Francis Church
* It is rather ironic that we read from Narnia series books daily at my Christian school
* Sante Claus was the original spelling
* I chose not to delve into the Roman Catholic Church/Pagan parallel for brevity
* An observation I originally heard in December of 1987 on Saturday Night Live
* I'm in no way condemning anyone for celebrating as they see fit. This is my personal decision.
* Stephen Colbert opened up his December 1, 2009 show with this quote.
Zero Wise Men Saw Baby Jesus In A Manger
Chicago Public Library Website
Wikipedia: J.R.R. Tolkien's: The Lord Of The Rings
The Disturbing Santa Claus Connection
How Santa Saved New York
Saint Nicholas and the Origin of Santa Claus
How St. Nicholas Became Santa Claus: One Theory
http://www.wcg.org/lit/church/holidays/xmassin.htm
http://www.abrahamic-faith.com/Simon/xmas-or-not.html
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/xmas/celeb.htm
http://www.sovereigngrace.net/should.htm
For a slightly different view:
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/blog/
* certain images contained within this article are © and ™ - these images are owned respectively by the rights holders
13 COMMENTS / Make your own:
Another observation: Take Santa's first name (Santa) and Jesus's second commonly known name (Christ) and combine them. You get SANTACHRIST. What does that sound like? Antichrist.
Hmmmm ... that's a stretch but interesting none the less. Thank you for your comment.
Do you mean you're going to stop celebrating Christ's birthday or stop giving gifts and decorating?
I mean ... Christmas never was a celebration about Christ's birthday - ever. I try to pray every day - I should do it more. Jesus never asked us to celebrate his birthday.
Will you still celebrate with others like family and friends?
A funny anecdote from my wife who works in Social Services. Each year, she gets calls such as, "Who's doing Christmas this year?" What that means is who giving out gifts!
I cherish the holiday time with my family - both my wife's and my own - I will continue to celebrate with them - this is a personal/family decision. It's tough I know, but I think my children will be happier that we took a stand and that we chose to stop lying or pretending.
The research on this story REALLY disturbed my soul regarding the Pagan rituals of worshipping trees in winter ceremonies. I could have elaborated about how Pagans believe in Angels (and Demons) - its a reason that Angels are the prevalent tree topper.
There are way too many parallels for Santa being related to "Devilish" activity and replacing Jesus - it seems eventually Christmas will become solely about getting, giving, and shopping to fill the void of love, prayer and devotion to Christ Our Saviour.
If I can ... I want to make a statement ...
"This piece reflects my personal beliefs. My wife and I have carefully considered all the facts. I know this is a piece you won't see in traditional newspapers or on traditional media - but I'm not here to hold hands with tradition - nor am I here to break it."
It seems to be a major worry that the closeness, fellowship, family together time, warm fuzziness is all going to disappear. No one needs christmas to spend time with the family. That is an option for us all days of the year. Since we have made this decision together as a family...I can't begin to explain how relieved and peaceful I feel knowing that this is the right thing to do.
Also ... we have a family Bible Study each Sunday with as many as 20 family members in attendance sometimes.
There's always Thanksgiving!
Congratulations on your decision NOT to celebrate this pagan holiday! The Bible clearly says that we are "... not to learn the ways of the heathen", and clearly Christmas is just that pagan.
I don't need to buy presents I can't afford for people who think I owe them to them just because it's Christmas. I don't need some dead pagan to tell me when to buy presents... I will buy them when ever I can afford them throughout the year, when and if I feel like it! People tend to appreciate gifts from out of the blue more this way.
Christmas ( the word is Catholic, meaning Christ's Mass ) is full of pagan rites, and teaching children lies (Santa Clause, etc.) doesn't promote much moral value to the most vulnerable and impressionable among us!
Late last night, I received a comment on this story from a poster identifying themselves as heavengurl899.
Their last statement (from a very long post) was,
"By they [sic] way you should post this to show diversity in your responses."
This post was filled with inflammatory rhetoric and pseudo-educated counterpoints.
One of these remarks claimed I must have spent just a few hours researching this article on the internet. I've actually spent about two weeks and read two books nearly cover to cover. I also am pretty well versed in the Bible - and I tried to provide Bible passages to back this story up. I may have an occasional difference in interpretation, but the verses I displayed have no other meaning.
The quick facts are thus:
Everything we do should be in Jesus name - which we are told is the way, the truth, the light.
There is no truth to celebrating Jesus' birth any day OTHER THAN every day.
There is no truth to the story of the wise men being involved in the Christmas/manger story.
The Bible speaks directly and precisely about decorating trees with "silver and gold".
There is no spiritual, ethicial, or moral truth to giving to those that are not in need - but there is truth in spirit in giving year round to those you love AND those in need.
There is no truth or basis in the Bible or reality for the modern Santa Claus. There is no basis for his inclusion into Christmas from an historical standpoint either - other than plotted Pagan substitution and worship.
I do have a few counter arguments to post that disagree with my opinion. If you made a comment and it has not yet been posted, please be patient.
I'm buckling up for the backlash that this article will receive as it starts to get higher in the search engines. ;-)
We can make the bible say what we want it to say. The bible is used by many, including by you in this story, just like statistics. You've made the bible fit your agenda in this article.
No agenda ... just a conclusion after analyzing the facts. This doesn't mean that I'm going to stop celebrating Christ every day or not participate in holiday family gatherings. I know that most of the people that celebrate - at least in my family - do so in sincerity and love for Christ Jesus.
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