Showing posts with label pagan rites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pagan rites. Show all posts

Thursday 20 December 2012

A season of gifts

English: child Jesus with the virgin Mary, wit...
English: child Jesus with the virgin Mary, with the Holy Spirit (represented as a dove) and God the Father, with child john the Baptist and saint Elizabeth on the right (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
These days people are busy trying to get enough time to do their special shopping. Now they are more concerned buying things which are not always necessary. Often they want to break their brains to get to know what they could give to the persons they like. Best solution they think would be to buy those things which they would like themselves as well. By the years it comes more and more difficult because the other person seems to have everything already.

When people are getting older an increasing number of people on the gift list already have everything that they really want and need. This tends to make the season more stressful than delightful as the would-be giver struggles to find gifts that are more than just clutter.

In the shops there is enough material which is not worth to be produced, let stand to be sold. Everywhere you can find silly attributes and unnecessary gadgets. The world of consumption has lots to offer, good and bad things, useful and useless things.

The many decorations want people to give a glorious feeling for what they consider should be the happiest and busiest time of the year for millions of Christians and some non-Christians throughout the world. Songs, films, and TV programs promote a jolly and exciting holiday mood — the Christmas spirit.

When the day comes closer people send each other best wishes and call for peace on earth. But at the same time certain Christians keep calling on to the freedom of being able to buy guns and to use them as much as they like them.They want to learn their children how to defend themselves and think a gun or stronger fire arm is the best way to do that.
They do not seem to learn from all the drama's that occurred by people using such weapons to bring a lot of agony, killing many innocent people.

Everywhere in the world they keep fighting and arguing about silly things, and at the same time they proclaim to be lovers of God.

They perhaps better review their looks on God and check if they really appreciate the most precious gift the world received.

Jesus, or the Jew Jeshua, son of Mary/Miriam/Maria and Joseph/Jozef/Josef from the tribe of King David, born on the 17th of October -4 CE, is the person many say they are celebrating his birthday. Here-for they use the 25th of December, the birthday and celebration day of the goddess of light.
Within the Christian Church no such festival as Christmas was ever heard of till the third century, and that not till the fourth century was far advanced did it gain much observance.

It was not God himself or a godly being that became incarnated onto the world. In the Garden of Eden God promised already a solution for the sin of the first man. It took a long time before God found the time right and before there was a man who could totally keep to Gods commandments.

In Jesus we can find a human being who managed, though being tempted more than once (while God can not be tempted), to stay clean and without any sin (god can not sin but Jesus could if he wanted). Jesus loved His Father and knew that what He wanted more than anything else was for us, God His creation, to be reconciled to the Most High of all, the Only One God of gods.
Jesus also was prepared to give his body in the hands of his Father, trusting Him totally. Jesus died really (God is eternal, had no beginning and cannot die) and was taken out of death by his Father (not by himself) as an example to what can happen to all those who are willing to follow Jesus, the son of God, the promised Messiah.
Jesus is the best present of God the world can get.

In the West we do have the darkest days of the season, tomorrow being the shortest day of the year. Dark and cold, it is an ideal time to gather and to sit close to a source of warmth. Perhaps you put some extra lights on to have a nicer feeling. Bringing more time in the warm house it is also very nice to have some good warm meal to strengthen us to come through Winter.

So it is perhaps not a bad time to come together with the family and spend some time together, sharing all sorts of news and wishes for a better future. But do remember that whatever you do it should be in line with what you are believing and where you can stand for.
Question yourself if you can be connected to a heathen celebration or that you keep far away from heathen stories, symbols and activities.

Take time to look at the greatest gift the world received and try to offer that gift also to others.

“9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that ye might walk worthy of the Lord, in all pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12  giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:9-14 KJ21)



Please do read:
  1. Jesus begotten Son of God #1 Christmas and Christians
  2. Jesus begotten Son of God #2 Christmas and pagan rites
  3. Jesus begotten Son of God #3 Messiah or Anointed one
  4. Jesus begotten Son of God #14 Beloved Preminent Son and Mediator originating in Mary
  5. Religious Practices around the world
  6. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ

In Dutch:
  1. Een Groots Geschenk om te herinneren
  2. Wat betreft Kerstfeest
  3. Achtergrond Christelijk Kerstfeest




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Sunday 25 December 2011

Wishing lanterns and Christmas

What have wishing lanterns and loving lanterns to do with Christmas.

This year it is big fashion to send a wishing lantern up in the air.
The Paper lanterns come in various shapes and sizes, as well as various methods of construction. In their simplest form, they are simply a paper bag with a candle placed inside, although more complicated lanterns consist of a collapsible bamboo or metal frame of hoops covered with tough paper.

The sellers promote it with saying that the sky lantern is like salute. The people will fly the sky lantern to the sky with their wish and prayer in a festa such as the Christmas day, the New Year, wedding ceremony, or other commemorative occasion. On the hot-air round paper lantern balloon a wish is written and by letting it go up in the air people do hope their wishes come true.
Wenslicht / Wishing light - Lampion  per stuk
File:Luminarias.jpg

People think this is a good opener to Christmas Eve, wich refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival they say commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25.

But Jesus was born on October the 17th 4 bCE. So what has Christmas and those wishing lights and balloons to do with the birth of the promised Messiah?

In fact, Santa Claus, reindeer, bells, flickering lights, Christmas trees a.o.have nothing to do with what happened in Bethlehem at a time there could not be any snow at all. So it is very strange that we even do find in warm countries, festivities on the 25th of December, when it is high Summer there, with people wanting to put on red bonnets and having winter decorations everywhere around.

The new trend of the wishing lampoons adds a new pagan tradition to the many Celtic ones/ Now the Thai and Japanese traditions and gods become introduce in the Christian traditions.

But can real Christians agree to go along with that?
Is it not better we do not go with such traditions and keep our hands off such actions?

Perhaps you think it does not harm to go along with such sorts of traditions. But we should remember that for that we do have perhaps a jealous God (Exodus 34:14; 1 Corinthians 10:22), who does not like any connection with falls gods or falls believes.

The universe belongs only to Jehovah ((Exodus 9:22) and we do have to honour only the One God and may not take His Name in a worthless way. (Exodus 20:7;Deuteronomy 4:24; 10:17; 2 Samuel 22:32; Isaiah 12:4; Acts 4:12)
We have to keep our hand off everything that smells to idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:14; Deuteronomy 4:25; Colossians 3:5; 1 John 5:21)

As Christians we do have to be careful when we want to celebrate the end of the year in the cold and dark period not to give the impression on others that we do agree with the festivities for the goddess of light, which her birtday and celebration is on December the 25th.

Any uncleanness in our actions we do have to throw over board. It may be a big desire to enjoy the Christmas celebrations like they are done in many Christian countries, but do they really honour Jesus Christ? Check what the main focus is by those celebrations? Try to see certain connections of introduced figures and ornaments.

Is the Christ manifest at those celebrations? Or is the main accent on a Santa Claus and presents? Can you agree with the tale of the Santa Claus and would you see a connotation with the Christmas Man and the man they are so called to celebrate: the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ?

Perhaps there was a time that we all did those very things. But when we got baptised did we not choose to follow Christ Jesus and his followers, who did not celebrate the birth of their master. do you think Jesus himself would have loved that his birthday was considered the most important day to feast?
Did God not give the Pascha? Should 14 Nisan not be the most important 'day to remember'?

Does the Apostle Paul not write: "If, then, you were raised with Messiah, seek the matters which are above, where Messiah is, seated at the right hand of Elohim. Mind the matters above, not those on the earth. For you have died, and your life has been hidden with Messiah in Elohim. When the Messiah, who is our life, is manifested, then you also shall be manifested with Him in esteem. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of Elohim is coming upon the sons of disobedience,1 Footnote: 1Eph. 2:2, Eph. 5:6. in which you also once walked when you lived in them. But now, also put off all these: displeasure, wrath, evil, blasphemy, filthy talk from your mouth. Do not lie to each other, since you have put off the old man1 with his practices, Footnote: 1Rom. 6:6, Eph. 4:22. and have put on the new one who is renewed in knowledge according to the likeness of Him who created him, where there is not Greek and Yehud?ite, circumcised and uncircumcised, foreigner, Scythian, slave, free, but Messiah is all, and in all. Therefore, as chosen ones of Elohim, set-apart and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against another, indeed, as Messiah forgave you so also should you. But above all these put on love, which is a bond of the perfection. And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one Body, and be filled with thanks. Let the Word of Messiah1 dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing with pleasure in your hearts to the Master in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs. Footnote: 1John 12:48, Dt. 18:19, Rev. 19:13. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Master יהושע,  giving thanks to Elohim the Father through Him.
(Colossians 3:1-17 The Scriptures 1998+)

We do know that millions of people around the world with no Christian or religious affiliation or background also celebrate Christmas and Christmas Eve. The emphasis of celebration on Christmas Eve varies from country to country and region to region.

In case we use those dark days to come together and enjoy a family gathering, lets do that in honesty, not adhering to the symbols of pagan traditions. In cold, dark regions, fire and light may bring some sunshine in the house, and a spar or Chrismastree may bring some air-refresher in the room. But be honest and keep clean in the eyes of God, and withhold yourselves from those things God would not want.

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Please do read:

Jesus begotten Son of God #1 Christmas and Christians
The Anointed begotten Son of God 1.     Jesus and Christians All Christians think they do know Christ Jesus. We as Christians can only do hope that those who want to become a Christian and those who call themselves Christian sincerely would be willing to investigate who that Jesus from Nazareth, who was called the Messiah, [...]
Jesus begotten Son of God #2 Christmas and pagan rites
6. Interweaving with heathen or pagan rites
We as sincere Bible Students and followers of Christ should take the Words of God into account and should know that God does not like us to interweave with heathen happenings and idolatrous things. Christmas time is not a season of revival and up-building in the Church of [...]


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Achtergrond Christelijk Kerstfeest
Wie staat er vandaag nog stil bij de ware achtergrond van het Christelijk Kerstfeest? Herinneren wij de verlossende liefde van Jezus Christus die werkelijkheid is geworden? Vlees en bloed dat op een goddelijke wijze ter wereld is gekomen om mensen te verlossen. Durven wij aan die wereld te tonen welk een zegen wij in onze [...]


Jezus, Heer maar niet God
Jezus Christus, Messias, Heer, maar niet God 1.Geboren Op 17 oktober 4 jaar voor onze gewone tijdrekening werd er in Bethlehem een jongen ter wereld gebracht en door zijn moeder Maria in een kribbe gelegd, tijdens het verblijf op hun … Verder lezen

Voorspellingen van de Eniggeboren zoon

“Met de geboorte van Jezus Christus is het zo gegaan: terwijl zijn moeder Maria verloofd was met Jozef, werd voordat zij waren samengekomen bevonden dat zij zwanger was uit den Heiligen Geest.” (Mattheus 1:18 LEI)

Wat betreft Korte inhoud van lezingen: Bijgeloof en feesten
 Bart Lauvrijs heeft een stek waar hij over het geestelijk bestel wil nadenken. Citaat Korte inhoud van lezingen Bijgeloof en folklore   * algemene vragen: wat is bijgeloof?; wat is folklore?; bijgeloof in deze tijd; bijgeloof bij onze jeugd; iedereen is bijgeloviger dan hij of zij durft toe te geven; het verband met menselijke psychologie; [...]


Wat betreft Kerstfeest
Wat betreft KERSTFEEST Op de verscheidene webpagina’s van de Christadelphians kan je meer lezen over het Kerstfenomeen. Het is belangrijk dat wij er bij stil staan wat wij en hoe wij iets vieren. Citaat KERSTFEEST KERSTBOODSCHAP     Alle christenen van de wereld vieren elk op hun eigen wijzekerstfeest. Kerstfeest kwam slechts in voege in  [...]

Kerst en wenslampions
Om lekker gezellig samen te komen in de winter en samen gezellig te tafelen en te keuvelen is er geen bezwaar. Maar als men kerststalletjes, rendieren, kerstmannen gaat opzetten en allerlei flikkerlichtjes gaat installeren is er wel een probleem.
Wat hebben Kerstmannen, kerst-sleden en rendieren eigenlijk te maken met het gebeuren van oktober in Bethlehem, waar in die tijd helemaal geen sneeuw kon liggen?

Related articles:
Jesus begotten Son of God #3 Messiah or Anointed one
The Anointed begotten Son of God   9. Messiah or Anointed one
As Christians we do speak about Jesus Christ the Messiah. The term Messiah is derived from the Hebrew root word mashiach. The verb is used when an object, an altar for example, was consecrated for a sacred purpose. The noun mashiach is used [...]
The Seed Of The Woman Bruised
How The Seed Of The Woman Was Bruised On The Heel
How Christ Fulfilled The Promise. In fulfilment of the promises of God, Jesus, as “the seed of the woman,” was born of the virgin Mary by the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit. His mother was told: “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, [...]
Jesus begotten Son of God #12 Son of God
The Anointed begotten Son of God 28. Son of God
In Hebrews 1:5ff three corroborating proof texts take us to the origin of the Son. 2 Samuel 7:14 reinforces Psalm 2:7 and speaks of the moment when God becomes the Father of Jesus the Son (“I will be his father and he will my son”). [...]

The wrong heroIn the Western World we can find people who love to honour a creator that is far beyond any human person. In the East people worship other gods, but also do have three or two headed divinities. The clergy and followers of the many sects of Christendom worship also such more than one in one god, but they prefer not to give them a specific name. A lot of those worshippers give preference to have a nameless triune lord or do not know the name of their God. though the one who created the earth, heaven and everything around us, has a name that He picked out Himself - YaHuWhah = Jehovah.
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You may take Jesus as your hero, but do not make him more important than he is and do not give him a higher position than he himself would want to take. Listen carefully to his words and those of his Father. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways. He also had given us his son, the Master teacher. Because in these last days God has spoken to us by his Son, we better take note of what that son said.


Jezus, Heer maar niet God


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