Tweet
It must have struck you from time to time, how imperfect the works of man are compared to the works of God, e.g. the AMC Gremlin v. Donald Trump.
How much worse then is the work of Satan than that of man? Well, quite a bit – noticeably different – Compare the Democrats with the Republicans.
And so it is at this time of year. The Bible recognizes false gods as manifestations of Satan and so it is not surprising that these gods mislead their pagan followers in matters of The Spirit.
Christians celebrate Christmas – usually in quietness and prayer but the pagan has been misled and different and instead worships the sun – which is always there and not “mysterious” or “all knowing” at all and certainly has never done a miracle or promised eternal life!
Note how the following pagan rites are performed a few days before Christmas and make no mention of Jesus:
Soyal
This is the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians. Ceremonies and rituals include purification, dancing, and sometimes gift-giving.
Pros: “ceremonies” and “gift giving”
but they
lose 2 points for purification, dancing.
Yalda,
The Persian festival Shab-e Yalda is a celebration of the winter solstice in Iran that started in ancient times. It marks the last day of the Persian month of Azar. Yalda is viewed traditionally as the victory of light over dark, and the birthday of the sun god Mithra. Families celebrate together with special foods like nuts and pomegranates.
Pros: nuts,
but
lose 3 points – It’s not the last day of December; it’s nothing to do with “light over dark”; Mithra is not a real god.
Inti Raymi
An Incan celebration is in honor of the Sun god. Originally celebrated by the Inca before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, the festivities included feasts and sacrifices, of animals or possibly even children. The Spaniards banned the holiday, but it was revived (with mock sacrifices instead of real ones) in the 20th century and is still celebrated today.
Pros: None
Lose 3 points for sacrifices which are blasphemous and no longer required; there were no feasts in the stable, and the Sun is not a god.
Saturnalia
The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia happened around the time of the winter solstice and celebrated the end of the planting season. There were games and feasts and gift-giving for several days.
Pros: gift giving
but
lose 3 points for having games – Jesus did not play games; there were no feasts in the stable, and Christmas is celebrated on one day only – if at all.
Dong Zhi
Dong Zhi, the “arrival of winter,” is an important festival in China. It is a time for family to get together and celebrate the year they have had. Based on the traditional Chinese celestial calendar, the holiday generally falls between the 21st and 23rd of December. It is thought to have started as an end-of-harvest festival, with workers returning from the fields and enjoying the fruits of their labors with family. Special foods, such as tang yuan (glutinous rice balls), are enjoyed. Almost a complete travesty!
Pros: beset by the family who all seem to want to be fed
but
lose 3 points for celebrating a year! (What’s worth celebrating in a year? Do they worship “years”?) For having a harvest festival way after harvest, and eating rice.
I think that there is a mission for our Missionaries here – if these pagan rituals can just be postponed for a few days, then they could all be called “Christmas” – once that has been done, the perfection of these pagans can begin in earnest!
How much worse then is the work of Satan than that of man? Well, quite a bit – noticeably different – Compare the Democrats with the Republicans.
And so it is at this time of year. The Bible recognizes false gods as manifestations of Satan and so it is not surprising that these gods mislead their pagan followers in matters of The Spirit.
Christians celebrate Christmas – usually in quietness and prayer but the pagan has been misled and different and instead worships the sun – which is always there and not “mysterious” or “all knowing” at all and certainly has never done a miracle or promised eternal life!
Note how the following pagan rites are performed a few days before Christmas and make no mention of Jesus:
Soyal
This is the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians. Ceremonies and rituals include purification, dancing, and sometimes gift-giving.
Pros: “ceremonies” and “gift giving”
but they
lose 2 points for purification, dancing.
Yalda,
The Persian festival Shab-e Yalda is a celebration of the winter solstice in Iran that started in ancient times. It marks the last day of the Persian month of Azar. Yalda is viewed traditionally as the victory of light over dark, and the birthday of the sun god Mithra. Families celebrate together with special foods like nuts and pomegranates.
Pros: nuts,
but
lose 3 points – It’s not the last day of December; it’s nothing to do with “light over dark”; Mithra is not a real god.
Inti Raymi
An Incan celebration is in honor of the Sun god. Originally celebrated by the Inca before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, the festivities included feasts and sacrifices, of animals or possibly even children. The Spaniards banned the holiday, but it was revived (with mock sacrifices instead of real ones) in the 20th century and is still celebrated today.
Pros: None
Lose 3 points for sacrifices which are blasphemous and no longer required; there were no feasts in the stable, and the Sun is not a god.
Saturnalia
The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia happened around the time of the winter solstice and celebrated the end of the planting season. There were games and feasts and gift-giving for several days.
Pros: gift giving
but
lose 3 points for having games – Jesus did not play games; there were no feasts in the stable, and Christmas is celebrated on one day only – if at all.
Dong Zhi
Dong Zhi, the “arrival of winter,” is an important festival in China. It is a time for family to get together and celebrate the year they have had. Based on the traditional Chinese celestial calendar, the holiday generally falls between the 21st and 23rd of December. It is thought to have started as an end-of-harvest festival, with workers returning from the fields and enjoying the fruits of their labors with family. Special foods, such as tang yuan (glutinous rice balls), are enjoyed. Almost a complete travesty!
Pros: beset by the family who all seem to want to be fed
but
lose 3 points for celebrating a year! (What’s worth celebrating in a year? Do they worship “years”?) For having a harvest festival way after harvest, and eating rice.
___________________________________________
I think that there is a mission for our Missionaries here – if these pagan rituals can just be postponed for a few days, then they could all be called “Christmas” – once that has been done, the perfection of these pagans can begin in earnest!
.gif "Gunsmilie(1)")
Comment