The Countdown Begins (by Jimmy Lau)

An article someone dear send to me on why christians don't celebrate Christmas. Do they or don't they?


It's just 17 more days and it'll be goodbye 2008 and welcome 2009. As I ponder on this year, what have I done for the Lord? Have I made myself useful in 2008? Am I still the same, doing only what is required and nothing more? In life, many would want to do the minimum. At work, when one becomes 'too clever' and makes many suggestions, one ended up doing them.

Unfortunately, this attitude is carried forward into the Lord's business. We have many 'happy go lucky' Christians who are happy to be in the state they are in: I'm here to worship God, please do not burden me with church work.

I would like to be free from responsibility too. I would prefer to be a student than a bible class teacher. I would like to be free on a Friday night instead of immersing several hours in doing the bulletin. Who does not want to be a free man?

But on the other hand, I'm not one who can sit still and let Murphy's Law run its course. The bulletin, bible lesson, preaching and the curriculum must be of a certain standard. And if I want certain things to be running in a certain direction, who else is in a better position to do it than myself? At least, it is better than sitting down and complaining

about everything and why it is not being done this way or that. Just Do It! At least, I can say, „I did it my way."

Nehemiah saw the problem in Jerusalem and what did he do? Did he scream and complain? Did he ask, "Why isn‟t someone doing something?" No, he said, "Send me" (Neh 2:5). The prophet Isaiah also said, „Send me" (Isa 6:8). They did not ask, „Why is no one doing anything?" They just did it when they saw something had to be done. They were there to make things happened.

See something not according to your liking? Just do it. Help to improve things around the house. Say not, „Why is the table so messy?" Clear the mess. Say not, "Why is the bible class so boring?" Be a bible class teacher. Say not. "Why won‟t someone else write this article?" You are right; be a writer yourself.

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What is Wrong with Christmas ?

By Jimmy Lau

From November onwards, it is impossible to forget that Christmas is coming. Coloured lights decorate many town centres and shops, along with shiny decorations, and artificial snow painted on shop windows.

In streets and shops, 'Christmas trees' (real or plastic evergreen 'conifer' trees) will also be decorated with lights and Christmas ornaments.

Shopping centres become busier as December approaches and often stay open till late. Shopping centre speaker systems will play Christmas 'carols' - the traditional Christmas Christian songs, and groups of people will often

sing carols on the streets to raise money for charity. Most places of work will hold a short Christmas party about a week before Christmas. Although traditional Christmas foods may be eaten, drink (and plenty of it) means that

little work will be done after the party!

Christmas is a holiday shared and celebrated by many religions. It is a day that has an effect on the entire world. To many people, it is a favorite time of the year involving gift giving, parties and feasting. Christmas is a holiday that unifies almost all of professing Christendom.

The spirit of Christmas causes people to decorate their homes and churches, cut down trees and bring them into their homes, decking them with silver and gold. In the light of that tree, families make merry and give gifts one to another. When the sun goes down on December 24th, and darkness covers the land, families and churches prepare for participation in customs such as burning the yule log, singing around the decorated tree, kissing under the mistletoe and holly, and attending a late night service or midnight mass.

What is the meaning of Christmas? Where did the customs and traditions originate?

The first Christmas was not celebrated until the 4th century A. D. when the Catholic church of that time accommodated the pagan practices of their day. The merrymaking, exchanging of gifts, etc. came from the festival of Saturnalia (a festival to the god, Saturn) and the date, December 25, was an adaptation of the

birthday of Mithra (the sun god). Therefore, instead of calling these practices evil and opposing them (idolatry, false religion, and worship of false gods), the Catholic church fabricated and proclaimed that Jesus was born on December 25 (there is absolutely no known truth in this), and the festival of Saturnalia and the birthday of Mithra were now going to be celebrated as the birthday of Christ.

The Catholic church of the 4th century did not oppose the evil idolatry of its day, but they actually participated in it by giving them new names. Was this pleasing in the sight of God? Not at all! What about today? Should Christians participate in Christmas? Should they do as the 4th century Catholic church did (take a pagan holiday and "Christianize" it)?

As we face this issue, it must be understood that we have inherited 1600 years of deceit. The idea that Jesus was born on December 25 is made up (no man on earth knows when He was born). All the practices that surround it (giving gifts, Christmas trees, etc.) are all rooted in pagan practices of the past and have absolutely no Biblical foundation whatsoever. Therefore, the celebration of Christ's birth (Christmas) and the way it is celebrated are not around anywhere in the Bible, and everything about it (the date and manner of celebration) is not from God. What is not from God, and is of a spiritual nature, is from the domain of the Devil (Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 12:9; John 8:44).

From the first Christmas to the present day, Christmas has always been associated with idolatry and wicked superstitious customs (in the past, Mithra, the sun god; Today, Santa Claus, magic, sorcery, the god of materialism). Is this something the Christ of the Scripture would associate Himself with? Certainly not!

In fact, the word "Christmas" comes from the blasphemous term "Christ" and "mass". The mass comes from the Catholic church where they teach that the bread and juice of Communion (the Eucharist) actually turns into the literal body and blood of Jesus (transubstantiation), and Christ is sacrificed (offered up) again at each mass (this

goes directly against Hebrews 9:27-28 and 10:11-18). The very term itself "Christmas" actually degrades our Lord.

What's wrong with celebrating Christmas just simply and solely as a celebration of Christ's birth? The error comes to light and is seen when we realize that a celebration of Christ's birth is a form of worship. Everything surrounding Christmas is not from God's Word. And when it comes to worship, God has said, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)

So, what is wrong with Christmas?

1. To say that Jesus was born on December 25th is a lie!

2. Trees, wreaths, holly, mistletoe and the like are strictly forbidden as pagan and heathen! To say that

these are Christian or that they can be made Christian is a lie!

3. The Lord never spoke of commemorating his birth but rather commanded us to remember the sacrifice of His suffering and death, which purchased our salvation. (1 Cor 11:23-29).

Think about it! Can we worship and honour God by involving ourselves with customs and traditions, which God Himself forbade as idolatry? Can we convince God to somehow "Christianize" these customs and the whole pretense and lie of Christmas, so we can enjoy ourselves? Can we obey through disobedience?