One thing I forgot to say about Santa Clause is when kids learn that it’s fake they are more likely to be tempted to put Bible stories and the existence of God in the same file of “stuff I haven’t seen with my eyes so they’re not true.” Also remember guys be careful with pitting an interpretation of the Bible against SoP. This chapter needs to harmonize with your belief if you accept SoP as authoritative.
We never observed Halloween, no Santa at Christmas, christ only christ at Easter. Btw tooth fairy isn't real either. Thankfully my in laws and parents always respected our choices for our children even though they were not sda. I always felt this was bc my children were so respectful of their grandparents. Many of their other grandchildren were not. I was blessed with good kids. Some of that was that their grandparents were 2nd generation European migrants and my children kissed hello and goodbye as was European custom and were eager to help. My mother in law always said my children helped her remember her childhood home.
Very good point! And today there is a big push from "adults" to promote that lie, even from the governments and officials of the world. But looking at it from a kid's perspective, it seems like if I had been taught that Santa was real and then discovered that was a lie, then I would also have the same reaction if I had been taught that Christmas was the birthday celebration of Jesus only to discover that the truth of the matter is that Christ could never have been born in winter because it is the rainy season in Israel and contrary to the Bible's story of "shepherds in the fields", the shepherds have their flocks in stables during the winter months. Seems like to me, just from a common sense perspective, that if Santa is a lie, then Christ-mass is a lie as well. Why do we not just make up any "birthday" for Christ and celebrate it any time of the year?
Dear Scott. You are not going to like this, but we are deeply sadend by this. Do you know the story of a guy sitting on a fence. It was time to choose a side. Satan came and told him to go with him. He asked why? satan answered "The fence belongs to me". I always think of Cain and Abel. Was it important to them or God what the sacrifice was. We can try our best to rationalise this with "good works" but it stays pagan. Love you my brother.
So basically, though God said Not to take up Any pagan practices - the trees, St Nick (the patron saint of, among other things, prostitution.) and His chosen people suffered greatly for disobeying His ways, Because it Does Not Honor Him, We Should take up those practices, because Ellen White said it was ok? Did I miss something? I must've missed something because, in the last 28 years in the SDA church, I haven't seen anything But More and more holiday decorations that yes, they just happen to have roots in paganism.
I think Sister White hits the subject right at the heart. The idea is that God gave His son for us all. We should use the season to testify of this and open our hearts to giving in charitable gifts to the needy.
@@beltoftruthministries He (God) hid the precious day of Jesus birth, so that the day would not receive the honor that should be given to Christ as the redeemer of the world. Soul Worship Must Be Rendered To Jesus As The Son Of The Infinite God. Ellen White Review And Herald, 12/09/1884. Im already 76 years old and i had the trouble of looking for it to send it to you. Our church is true but unfortunately is going to Rome and participating in ecumenism. I hope they regret it.
In our home, we decided long ago that if the celebration is about remembering the birth of Jesus, (although it is not the actual day) we thought why should be giving gifts to ourself- it is not our birthdays! So we separated a special offering and we choose a family somewhere in need or in the mission field to share our blessings. My children loves when every year we come together to choose to whom our gift will go.
No we shouldn't, I'm a New SDA & & was happy to finally find a thus saith the Lord only church and I was in shock when I see all SDA churches decorate and celebrate Christmas like the world & Sunday churches!!! It bothers me every year,😢
Our church do not have decorations 😃 there are still a few that live by “thus sayith the Lord”. Reminds me of the story of Elijah…. There are still some left which God raised up to stand strong. Be encouraged 🙏🏻
Unfortunately you've been brought into a now mostly liberal ecumenical SDA church, most are like this. I don't go anymore because there is no real message given. Been SDA 65 yrs. I believe in present truth, the truth that our pioneer's started, the pure truth, 3 Angel's messages, ( which G. Dioup said he doesn't preach anymore) sanctuary message, Sabbath, state of the dead etc. I listen to online sermons by Prophesyagaintv. I am spiritually fed and learning more how to give Bible studies. Pastor Henriques can explain the Mark of the beast in 5 min with the Bible verses. We need to be able to teach and have an experience as well.
Blessing to watch this. The biggest takeaway is what do you think of when you hear Christmas today? Christ is what most people think of, as it is controversial to some to say “Merry Christmas,”. Use it to evangelize!!! It is a season of giving. Parallel to Hanukkah, one might ask why these holidays are close to the same time frame? Being legalistic tends to close out potential evangelical moments. Why not use Christmas at a minimum to bring people to Christ through giving and quench the legalistic aspect that on the flip side turns them away.
Def not celebrating Christmas. There are 7 feasts in the bible. 4 have their fulfillment in Christ's first coming but none of them are centered around His birth. 3 find their fulfillment in Christ's second coming and also none of them celebrate His birth. If we tried today to encourage people to keep the feast days - even the ones not yet fulfilled - people would be up in arms about how all that was nailed to the cross. So if we can't keep the feasts Christ instructed us to keep, then why would i want to keep a feast that Christ didn't call us to keep. Christmas is a man made holy day and everyone wants to justify it and die on that hill of family tradition and blah blah blah. You can speak about Christ at this time and use the cultural day to evangelize people WITHOUT celebrating Christmas. Live in the world but be not of the world.
Our family stopped celebrating Christmas about 15 years ago when we learned about its history and origins. Christmas gets its origins from Babylon when Nimrod was reincarnated as the sun. When the Bible says to come out of Babylon yet we continue in its practices, is that really coming out? Christmas comes from Christ’s Mass which is a celebration of his death or sacrifice. December25th is the birthday of the sun god in every culture that worships the sun. It’s very hard to reconcile what sister White has to say about Christmas when the origins are clearly very pagan. Paganism entered the church through compromise and there is nothing new under the sun. The Bible says that we shouldn’t do as the heathen do. 29 When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; 30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. I’d definitely leave this to each individual’s conscience. Blessings!
@@melpu310I find it not very hard to reconcile since I see the ancient paganism as having no power like the food sacrificed to idols has no inherent evil to it Paul said, since an idol is nothing. Naaman was even told to go in peace over the matter of kneeling in the temple of Rimmom, since the heart was not worshipping. We get too superstitious about paganism and give it power it doesn’t have I think.
@@melpu310 Halloween is presently pagan and spiritualist. Totally different. Easter slight difference: it ‘sanctifies’ Sunday. And SoP gives no advice about Easter like it does about Christmas.
@@beltoftruthministries when you consider Christmas carols such as “Oh Christmas Tree” and the glorification of Santa, which is a counterfeit of Christ who knows when you are sleeping, and knows when you’re awake, and knows if you’ve been bad or good (all knowing) wouldn’t you consider this “presently pagan?”
I believe that with the light we have received since these writings around this subject, that it should not be celebrated. We can give donations and gifts as recommended but don't need Christmas trees etc.
@@beltoftruthministries. Sin isn’t in tree.This is our definition that green tree is symbol of life and came from pagan religion.We don’t need dress Babylonian tradition in Christian way because how we call people come out from Babylon if Babylon couldn’t come from us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
yes, I agree : we have learned so much from History and the foundations of this Pagan Holiday, which it has been studied that the puritans were against it, but for reasons of tradition our church continues to hold on to celebrating it in some form.
Thank you so much Brother Scott, this was a blessing. Why should we look like a bunch of mourners when the rest of the world is rejoicing, it makes perfect sense to uplift Jesus Christ and win souls for him.
If a person looks like a "mourner" when they abandon the "celebration" of Christmas, then they abandoned it for the wrong reason and are trying to work their way to heaven by their own works. I have never been happier than I have been since the Lord set me free from those "bonds" - and you can always find me happy and smiling as I freely walk through the store past the isles of junk food and Christmas decorations that are no longer any temptation, while other shoppers are fighting and bickering over various "holiday" issues. God's Word is supposed to be a blessing, not a burden. It is only those who view God's requirements as a burden that take on that "mourner" look.
Hi ! I think that the problem could be that people get carried away with presents. It starts to pull away from the thoughts on Christ. I love the idea of giving our books for gifts.❤
Commandment number one you shall have no other gods before me!! This is a celebration of Sol Invictus Mithras!! Saturnalia and Brumalia ! God is not MOCKED
I don’t celebrate Christmas, the only day to celebrate is the Sabbath day, sometimes I also forgot about my birthday! I think we need to do good on this holidays times, but it is not necessary to put a tree and decorations! No only in Christmas also in others holidays, minimalistic live is the best! Everything is for please self, sister White talk about that but at the time progress she give another counsel that that holidays doesn’t have anymore validity! We don’t have trees not decoration is like always, but for the Sabbath day yes we have special things in home! God can guide us in his ways.
Thank-you for your message. It’s alway sad when people at church can decorate for x-mass and spend time practicing their x-mass carols but they don’t have the interest or time to help pack up gift bags for evangelism.
Thank you so much for sharing this. Growing up in a non Christian home, I first began to know about Jesus through the Christmas carols we sang at school. It is sad to me that for several years in my conservative church they won't even sing the hymns about the birth of Christ that are in the hymnal. I understand that Jesus was likely born in the fall on the feast of tabernacles. I would be happy to sing about Jesus' birth then too :)
Regardless how balanced the SOP addresses this subject, you will still have those who will say that those who acknowledge the holidays are some how sinners. Every year around this time those individual come out their shells with bags of stones. Remember Jesus beloved. Ohh, look at that, time to go put up my 9ft tree. Blessings.
Adventist home is a compilation done in 1952. Sister White died in 1915. Who knows what was added. Even if Sister White said so do we obey man or woman rather than God
But I just saw one of your shorts saying that we shouldn't celebrate easter becoz of its origin. Is Christmass not the same too. Like isnt that Christmass has a pagan origin. How is it different now with Christmass
@@hiker56781 correct. She wouldn’t put it quite that way, but yeah when I’m in doubt on what the Bible is teaching I do go with an inspired author; has never steered me wrong. Test her writings by the Bible as she said. Toss them out of the supernatural origin to them is of Satan. Accept them if they are of God, pointing you to the Bible.
Better consult your Bible and sacred history first. Remember this quote that is often used during Evangelistic meetings? Will, we should read it all the way to the end. "Dear Friend, I have offered and still offer $1000 to any one who can prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound, under grievous sin to keep Sunday holy. It was the Catholic Church which made the law obliging us to keep Sunday holy. The church made this law long after the Bible was written. Hence said law is not in the Bible. Christ, our Lord empowered his church to make laws binding in conscience. He said to his apostles and their lawful sucessors in the priesthood "Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be binding in heaven." Mth. 16:19. Mth. 18:17. Luke 16:19. The Cath. Church abolished not only the Sabbath, BUT ALL THE OTHER JEWISH FESTIVALS. Pray and study. I shall be always glad to help you as long as you honestly seek the truth. Respectfully, T. Enright CssR "He shall speak great words against the most High, . . . and think to change times and laws." Daniel 7: 25.
I would agree with your comment. We are all growing in our knowledge and understanding as we progress up the Narrow Way. It seems very interesting to me that in the early days of Sister White’s ministry, she seemed OK with the Christmas holiday, yet as time went on and she herself grew in her knowledge and understanding of various issues, her statements about it take on more and more of a less favorable tone, and by the year 1908, when she makes her very last comment on that holiday, she is treating it just like any ordinary working day and specifically states that she “...never thought of making any provision for Christmas.” (Letter 374) The last almost 7 years of her life (1908-1915), she doesn’t even mention the word “Christmas.” Though I greatly appreciate all SOP writings and I consider this book Scott is reading from (Adventist Home) a great book for getting a broad overview of the topic - it is important to recognize that it is a 1952 compilation of “cherry-picked” quotes that have been taken out of their original context and arranged in a form that coincides with the modern compiler’s personal opinions. This is perfectly fine, just as long as any reader understands that fact and after reading them in this book then follows those quotes back to their original EGW source and compares the rest of the context with them - which would also include the dates that quote originated from - as Sister White points out, “...time and place must be considered.” It is also very intriguing to me that it was Constantine who incorporated pagan practices into Christianity by bringing the “venerable day of the sun” (Sunday worship) into the Christian church in 321 ad to and it was the exact same “Christianized pagan” who combined the pagan December festivities of Saturnalia and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (birth of Mithras) and brought them into the Christian church in 336 ad - renaming them “Christ Mass”(a re-crucifixion of Christ). What is even more intriguing is that so many people will take a stand against the un-Biblical Sunday worship, yet look for excuses to observe another pagan institution brought into the same church by the exact same man. We need to wake up, because in a court of law, the prosecution would consider such a person very hypocritical - which is exactly what they will do to us if we still are keeping pagan celebrations when we try to take a stand against the Sunday Law.
It's time to follow the Bible & to stop living in duality. The Lord hates idolatry. Christmas is a pagan holiday that commemorates the birth of Tammuz. Read Ezekiel 8. It's disheartening to see SDA churches participating in a pagan celebration, including the Xmas trees & the decorations. "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Alright, good evening from Botswana, Africa. Just met your video after our Sabata an hour ago. Christmas and it's trees, lights, gifts and culture honestly we don't know. Most families who keep it here in Botswana have an American European influence. The Botswana culture recognises the year end with cultural music in gatherings mostly family full (children, mothers, uncles, aunts the whole clan). No tree, no lights, no snow, no santa-claus, no Jesus song, maybe a gift or 2 for year end not Krismas. As a Seventh-day Adventist in my family we don't do santa-claus, tree, lights etc but because everyone is home we now find time for devotional, interpersonal relations and spiritual relations and plans etc... The Adventist Home Chapter on Christmas is more for those in America Europe as a guide and lesser counsel for us in southern Africa because basically we do not know it unless Mrs White says keep it then like the sabbath or any holy thing even so Amen.
I make my own conscious decision not to take part of anything X-mass or holiday related; I don’t need the SOP to tell me it’s right or wrong. I know it is wrong and I am not going to be a hypocrite and pretend to help people on x-mass and then forget about them for the rest of the year or be a part of the churches that play these mind games.
I am not referring to Sister White saying to forget the needy for the rest of the year, I am referring to the hypocrisy that the church as a corporation does these things and makes a mockery of Christ, in both their”spirit” x-mass and in using Ellen White to tell us to give a gift on X-mass etc.
take advantage of every holiday we can to point people in the direction of Jesus Christ and truth as it is in him. i'm 68 and have come to the point that i wish i had come to this conclusion 40+ years ago when my daughters were young. we were against most holidays and in our home had no celebrations for them. other than thanksgiving. i wish we had been more wise and come up with ways we could have done things differently. my youngest daughter and i spoke of this recently, she saying she didn't want to have the "traditional" Easter celebration with her children, yet she wanted them to have something for them and with their friends, to not just disregard it or forget about it. suggestion i brought was to do the egg hunt differently. take the plastic ones that open and put scriptures about the death and resurrection on paper and put them inside. keep a record of how many you make by putting a number on each strip of paper with the scripture. when they're all collected, not before, have each child read the scripture and when done have them talk about what they say. it helps them not only to learn but to begin to form their ideas, opinions based not on what someone has told them but on scripture alone. and of course, before you start, let them know that if they find them all, at the end there will be a special surprise for everyone, some treat, not too sweet, some home baked cookies, a piece of pie or some frozen yogurt, anything you would like. just not so sweet they get that sugar high. as for taking advantage of every situation, I'll just say recently I've watched 2 segments on a news channel where much was made of RFK jr. and making America healthy again. the 2 segments spoke of 1) todays medicines, in particular, over the counter meds not being affective, such as Sudafed and how they changed one of the ingredients years ago because it was being used by those who cook up meth. the company knew it wasn't effective but produced it and marketed it anyway. but this isn't the only company who uses this practice. 2) food manufacturing/processing. it spoke of how so much of our food products have been treated, additives added during processing or even meats being injected with concoctions for flavoring that are detrimental to our health. some even making us more hungry for the very thing we just ate, which has resulted in so many health problems, heart disease, cancers, diabetes, obesity and more. for years government food and health agencies have known the health problems the red dye used in foods, especially candies and other sweets cause yet did nothing. and just the other day now Biden had instructed it be discontinued. (have not checked on this. just relaying what was in the segment) this is an excellent opportunity to present the health message and trying more natural ways to treat most all of the minor ailments and even some of the major. grab the opportunities that come our way
How can we as a professed people of Yah(God) justify this Holiday year after year. This has nothing to do with his Son m.th-cam.com/video/Yei17uJeKuw/w-d-xo.html How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
“God’s Word is the unerring standard. The Testimonies are not to take the place of the Word….Our position and faith is in the Bible. And never do we want any soul to bring in the Testimonies ahead of the Bible.” (Evan. 256) We cannot expect the Yah’s blessings on gifts reserved for his honor, when they are served to Him on the altar of Baal. There is no agreement with the altar of Yahuah, and the altar of Baal, they are contrary one to another. When Elijah stood on Mt. Carmel against Baal’s prophets in defense of true worship, he purposefully refused to use the same altar dedicated to Baal worship for the offering of sacrifices dedicated to Yah. We are told, “And he [Elijah] repaired the altar of Yahuah that was broken down… And with the stones he built an altar in the name of YHWH.” 1 Kings 18:30, 32.
Is there anywhere else we can find E.G.W talks about Christmas than this one reading? Could there be a possibility that this one reading came after her death and it's a fake? I'm adventist 3 generation and I have been "celebrating" Christmas but when I have my own family I started to questioning this topic. I did my research and prayers, and I stopped this celebration at my house 5 years ago. It was hard but I believe it's not good and I'm waiting for bigger celebration to be in the heaven with Jesus. May God open our mind to understand what's good and what's bad for us and our families. We should prepaire us and people around for Jesus coming and not spend our time for house decoration on Christmas.
Why? Why even celebrate if it's not when Jesus was born?! I truly appreciate the counsel of the SOP, however, I am baffled by this counsel in particular; It just seems far removed from what I expect, considering the exactness of The Great Controversy. This is the A.I. overview from Google. ~> The birthday of Mithras, the Persian sun god, was celebrated on December 25, which is also the winter solstice. Christians later adopted this date to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, taking advantage of the popularity of the date and Mithras's popularity with Roman soldiers:
Mithras ~ The birthday of Mithra was the most important celebration of the Mithraic cult. Mithra was a god of light and loyalty, and was often depicted as being born from a rock. Roman Empire ~ The Roman Empire celebrated the rebirth of the Unconquered Sun (Sol Invictus) on December 25. This holiday marked the return of longer days after the winter solstice, and followed the popular Roman festival of Saturnalia. Church in Rome ~ The church in Rome began celebrating Christmas on December 25 in 336. Some speculate that the date was chosen to weaken the established pagan celebrations. Eastern Empire ~ Christmas was not widely accepted in the Eastern Empire for another half-century, and did not become a major Christian festival until the 9th century. Tradition of celebrating Jesus' birth later in the year ~ The tradition of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ later in the year started in the fourth century. I believe we need to STAND OUT, not settle in! What kind of witness hides under a tree? I must say, Scott, I am disturbed by this. 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. 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. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 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. Jeremiah 10 When we do not participate in things of this nature, we become a light in the darkness. People want to know why we don't do go with the masses. They ask why and we tell them the biblical history and origins of the anti-christ. This is an amazing witnessing tool, done right! Yes, they don't want to know... but they won't forget it either!
@@patmahlangus6520 Wes Youngberg is my go to guy on vitamin d. 5000 to 10,000 IUs per day but testing is the way to determine. Get blood levels to 50-100 ng/ml
Thanks for talking about current events! I believe that it's also time to mark differences with those who embrace the ecumenical movement, and point out Christmas as a way to honor sunday (being the celebration of the day of the sun) Could you teach us principles of the Spirit of Prophecy about commemorating the new year?
I agree, I was listening to the ministry, It is written and Mr. Bradshaw answered a caller’s question with his answer being that it is ok to go to interfaith meetings as it pertains to visiting other churches and sitting in the pews. The question from the caller has a tone of asking the interfaith question based on the Ganome Diop drama and his persistence on Ecumenism. It’s sad that the SDA churches have just become a Church enterprise just puppeting after eachother and in complete fear of thinking outside of the script that has been programmed.
As it written in Isaiah 58:13 “ if you turn your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath, a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; When I read this, it made sense to me why I should not be going and shopping or eating out because when I do that during the week, it’s because I am doing it of my own pleasure. On the sabbath day, I should be doing something God wants me to do.
The "TIME" isn't, Hebrew times of ur etc. Jesus was, born, somewhere in the fall. What was going on at the time of His birth? Why were they going to Bethlehem? THAT Time of yr is STILL observed today. ..... March is the first month of the Hebrew calendar
@@evatsopanakis7322 yes she had the prophetic gift so her counsel on the Bible principles to apply during Christmas time are something I personally take to the bank.
I can simply say that in this instance Ellen White did not say, “I was shown…” or that “the Lord instructed me….”, etc. Neither was she quoting from, and or commenting on any relevant Scripture bearing on the subject. She simply gave her own private opinion on the matter, an opinion which is clearly discredited in the face of Scriptures. As she matured in knowledge on these things, Ellen White would later condemn these holidays as the worship of heathen deities, for that is really what they are! Contrasting her revised and illuminated understanding on the Christmas tree, with what she formerly held, one can clearly see the progression of Ellen White’s understanding of the pagan holidays. in 1879 thru 1884 she gave broad and sweeping approval of them, then ten years later, in 1894 she would say “these days have no more influence for good than would the worship of heathen deities; for this is really nothing less.” “The youth in this country [Australia] require more earnest spiritual labor than in any other country we have yet visited. Temptations are strong and numerous; the many holidays and the habits of idleness are most unfavorable for the young. …But from their youth up they have been educated to the popular idea that the appointed holidays must be treated with respect and be observed. From the light that the Lord has given me, these days have no more influence for good than would the worship of heathen deities; for this is really nothing less. These days are Satan’s special harvest seasons. The money drawn from men and women is expended for that which is not bread. The youth are educated to love those things which are demoralizing, things which the word of God condemns. The influence is evil and only evil continually.” {FE 320.3-321, (1923); originally written in “Special Testimonies On Education, February 1894”
@@believeobey9813 addressing the notion that it was just her own private opinion: “I do not write one article in the paper expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision-the precious rays of light shining from the throne.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 67).
@believeobey981 thank you for this. I have been having a very difficult time trying to meld the keeping of holidays that are a mix of paganism with the Word of God. Just not possible after reading He says not to pick up any pagan habits and think to honor Him with them.
My guess is, Christ was born on The Day of Atonement. It's approximately 6 months after the birth of John the Baptist. And somewhat fitting as to represent a time when God came to be 'At One' with mankind. However, we haven't really done the Christmas thing for many years, never promoted Santa as that's a lie that children remember as a lie when they learn the truth and first understand their parents lied to them.
Thank you for this topic sir, really interesting. Did your ancestors by any chance come from Friesland? Witch is now part of the Netherlands. I believe Ritsema to be a Friesian name
God permits divorces due to our stiff neck condition, but it was not His plan from the beginning. Same with pagan holidays, we are in the end times be ye separate
Scott may I please ask what you mean by offerings on the tree please? Also may I please ask for prayers ,Me ,and my husband have four children and we are going thru the hardest trials of our life right now ,our 4 kids have been taken away from cps and put into temporarily foster care we are able to have no contact for right now .We will be in court 2 times in the next 2 weeks .Please pray I know God has a plan ,but it’s hard to see sometimes
I don’t partake in the communion service because they light up candles and it reminds me of candle magic and feels like magic or sorcery. one of my churches has an invitation to help at the community center and to cook Turkeys and dress like elves, but you can’t speak of Jesus or tell anyone your a Seventh-day Adventist. This kind of things is offensive to me and my love of Jesus. You really know what church you’re in when Christmas time comes around and when the Harvest festivals start in the SDA christian schools; to much compromising with the world than lines get blurred and it’s confusing.
If we have the necessary Christlike spirit 24/7, 365 days a year, there is no need for the counsel given. Our issue is we lack much and allow the way of the world to dictate how we live. All that EGWhite mentions need not be done only during this time of the year. If we have issues with pagan taditions, let us not pick and choose what is ok and which isn't. Be mindful!
The dumb sheep follow the foolish shepherd and Christ sheep hear and follow only Christ voice. Do not be discouraged by the others who gaslight you for your beliefs and live by your conscience in Christ Jesus name. It is now the time to awaken and see that any strongholds to X-mass will link you and inch you closer to Sunday worship. They are twins sister with a different color bow. John 10:3-5 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
It's a happy time Jesus wouldn't be a scrooge let it be a spring board for witness it's a time we can tell people about the Saviour take the opportunity to do this make a Christmas mission tree have a balance
Moses was not resurrected and taken to heaven. That myth is not found in the Holy Bible. There are a number of pagan gods with the birth date of 25 December. Why would you add Jesus to that list of pagan gods, and use Christmas trees? If 25 December is the birthday of Jesus, why does everyone else get gifts? What about Jesus? No, this lie is not for me.
EGW's later writings moved away from Xmas (I should say, all worldly holidays) and the commandment came to celebrate our own festivals. Our main festival should be our Festival of Tabernacles, which EGW mentions specifically. That festival can celebrate both Advents. No need for Xmas. It honors the Papacy and will be associated with the mark of the beast.
@@beltoftruthministriesHowbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days and months and times and years.” The observance of holidays in this country is a great evil. We want not to give sanction to the days and many traditions that are brought in. We need not pay any heed to them. {Ms41a-1896} There are men handling sacred responsibilities in the cause here who, had they worked industriously, and taken no stock in the many holidays that curse these Colonies, might have laid by something upon which to draw in case of necessity. {Ms24-1894} The liquor drinking, the smoking, the gambling, the horse racing, the theater-going, the many holidays, all tend in a downward direction. Devotion to these things is a species of idolatry, a sacrifice upon idol altars. {Ms8a-1894} But from their youth up they have been educated to the popular idea that the appointed holidays must be treated with respect and be observed. From the light that the Lord has given me, these days have no more influence for good than would the worship of heathen deities; for this is really nothing less. These days are Satan’s special harvest seasons. {Ms8a-1894} Through the observance of holidays the people both of the world and of the churches have been educated to believe that these lazy days are essential to health and happiness; but the results reveal that they are full of evil, which is ruining the country. {Ms8a-1894} - Shall we not keep holy festivals unto God? Shall we not show that we have some enthusiasm in His service? With the grand ennobling theme of salvation before us, shall we be as cold as statues of marble? If men can become so excited over a cricket match, or a horse race, or over foolish things that bring no good to anyone, shall we be unmoved when the plan of salvation is unfolded before us? Let the school and the church henceforth have festivals of rejoicing unto the Lord. {Ms73-1896} Well would it be for us to have a feast of tabernacles, a joyous commemoration of the blessings of God to us as a people. As the children of Israel celebrated the deliverance that God wrought for their fathers, and his miraculous preservation of them during their journeyings from Egypt to the promised land, so should the people of God at the present time gratefully call to mind the various ways he has devised to bring them out from the world, out from the darkness of error, into the precious light of truth. { RH November 17, 1885, par. 14 }
@@beltoftruthministries At the same time those EGW quotes were written (mid-1890s), A.T. Jones published this: About the middle of the fourth century, the church of Rome adopted this festival, making the birthday of the Sun, December 25, the birthday of Christ. And in a few years the celebration of this festival of the sun had spread among the churches throughout the whole empire-east as well as west. In one of the homilies of Chrysostom, supposed to have been delivered on this festival day in A.D. 386, he expresses his own pleasure and "congratulates the people upon the progress made, through their zeal in establishing this new festival, which they had borrowed from the Western Church"; and "seems to speak of it as a custom imported from the West within ten years." The perverse-minded clergy readily sanctioned the practice and relieved all doubts, with the assurance that the festival which had been formerly celebrated as the birth of the real sun was a type of the festival of the birth of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. And thus was established the Church festival of Christmas. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.6} There are other items connected with the celebration of the day, whose origin and meaning are also worth mentioning. One of these is the Christmas tree. Just as the day itself and its celebration were adopted from pagan Rome, the use of the tree was adopted from the pagan Germans. And just as the day is a relic of sun-worship, so also is the tree. In The Ladies Home Journal, for December, Mrs. Lyman Abbott says of "The Christmas Tree": "A German friend tells me that the true Christmas tree is 'not a mere show, decorated for the momentary amusement of children. It is a sublime symbol of the soul life of the Germanic people for a thousand years.' . . . The tree itself 'is the celestial sun-tree.'" {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.7} Another item is the decoration of the houses and churches with vines, branches of trees, etc. This is derived from the sun-worshiping Druids of Britain. An early English writer says that the "trimmyng of the temples with hangyngs, flowers, boughs, and garlands, was taken of the heathen people, whiche decked their idols and houses with suche array." The ivy particularly was used in honor of Bacchus. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.8} Thus it is that Christmas day, the celebration of the day, and the appurtenances thereto, are all heathen and only relics of sun-worship. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.9} Waggoner published this around that time as well: "Christmas.-At the winter solstice, they celebrated in Pagan Rome the feast of Saturn, the sun god, or Baal of the Babylonians. This feast, as regulated by Caligula, lasted five days; loose reins were given to drunkenness and revelry. This was precisely the way in which, according to Berosus, the drunken festival of the month Thebeth, answering to our December, in other words, the festival of Bacchus, was celebrated in Babylon; and many of the other observances still kept up in so-called Christian lands came from the very same quarter. {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.1} "The candles, in some parts of England, lighted on Christmas Eve and used so long as the festive season lasts, were equally lighted by the Pagans on the eve of the festival of the Babylonian god, to do honour to him; for it was one of the distinguishing peculiarities of his worship to have lighted wax candles on his altars. The Christmas tree, now so common among us, was equally common in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt. {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.2} "Many more irrefutable proofs might be given of the absolute identity of this so-called Christian festival with the festival observed at the same time of the year in Babylon of old, and in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt." {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.3} He published many more articles on the pagan and papal origins of Xmas through the 1890s. Seventh-day Adventists were abandoning it.
@@beltoftruthministries Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days and months and times and years.” The observance of holidays in this country is a great evil. want not to give sanction to the days and many traditions that are brought in. need not pay any heed to them. {Ms41a-1896} There are men handling sacred responsibilities in the cause here who, had they worked industriously, and taken no stock in the many holidays that curse these Colonies, might have laid by something upon which to draw in case of necessity. {Ms24-1894} The liquor drinking, the smoking, the gambling, the horse racing, the theater-going, the many holidays, all tend in a downward direction. Devotion to these things is a species of idolatry, a sacrifice upon idol altars. {Ms8a-1894} But from their youth up they have been educated to the popular idea that the appointed holidays must be treated with respect and be observed. From the light that the Lord has given me, these days have no more influence for good than would the worship of heathen deities; for this is really nothing less. These days are Satan’s special harvest seasons. {Ms8a-1894} Through the observance of holidays the people both of the world and of the churches have been educated to believe that these lazy days are essential to health and happiness; but the results reveal that they are full of evil, which is ruining the country. {Ms8a-1894} - Shall we not keep holy festivals unto God? Shall we not show that we have some enthusiasm in service? With the grand ennobling theme of salvation before us, shall we be as cold as statues of marble? If men can become so excited over a cricket match, or a horse race, or over foolish things that bring no good to anyone, shall we be unmoved when the plan of salvation is unfolded before us? Let the school and the church henceforth have festivals of rejoicing unto the Lord. {Ms73-1896} - At the same time those EGW quotes were written (mid-1890s), A.T. Jones published this: About the middle of the fourth century, the church of Rome adopted this festival, making the birthday of the Sun, December 25, the birthday of Christ. And in a few years the celebration of this festival of the sun had spread among the churches throughout the whole empire-east as well as west. In one of the homilies of Chrysostom, supposed to have been delivered on this festival day in A.D. 386, he expresses his own pleasure and "congratulates the people upon the progress made, through their zeal in establishing this new festival, which they had borrowed from the Western Church"; and "seems to speak of it as a custom imported from the West within ten years." The perverse-minded clergy readily sanctioned the practice and relieved all doubts, with the assurance that the festival which had been formerly celebrated as the birth of the real sun was a type of the festival of the birth of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. And thus was established the Church festival of Christmas. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.6} There are other items connected with the celebration of the day, whose origin and meaning are also worth mentioning. One of these is the Christmas tree. Just as the day itself and its celebration were adopted from pagan Rome, the use of the tree was adopted from the pagan Germans. And just as the day is a relic of sun-worship, so also is the tree. In The Ladies Home Journal, for December, Mrs. Lyman Abbott says of "The Christmas Tree": "A German friend tells me that the true Christmas tree is 'not a mere show, decorated for the momentary amusement of children. It is a sublime symbol of the soul life of the Germanic people for a thousand years.' . . . The tree itself 'is the celestial sun-tree.'" {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.7} Another item is the decoration of the houses and churches with vines, branches of trees, etc. This is derived from the sun-worshiping Druids of Britain. An early English writer says that the "trimmyng of the temples with hangyngs, flowers, boughs, and garlands, was taken of the heathen people, whiche decked their idols and houses with suche array." The ivy particularly was used in honor of Bacchus. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.8} Thus it is that Christmas day, the celebration of the day, and the appurtenances thereto, are all heathen and only relics of sun-worship. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.9} Waggoner published this around that time as well: "Christmas.-At the winter solstice, they celebrated in Pagan Rome the feast of Saturn, the sun god, or Baal of the Babylonians. This feast, as regulated by Caligula, lasted five days; loose reins were given to drunkenness and revelry. This was precisely the way in which, according to Berosus, the drunken festival of the month Thebeth, answering to our December, in other words, the festival of Bacchus, was celebrated in Babylon; and many of the other observances still kept up in so-called Christian lands came from the very same quarter. {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.1} "The candles, in some parts of England, lighted on Christmas Eve and used so long as the festive season lasts, were equally lighted by the Pagans on the eve of the festival of the Babylonian god, to do honour to him; for it was one of the distinguishing peculiarities of his worship to have lighted wax candles on his altars. The Christmas tree, now so common among us, was equally common in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt. {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.2} "Many more irrefutable proofs might be given of the absolute identity of this so-called Christian festival with the festival observed at the same time of the year in Babylon of old, and in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt." {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.3}
Christmas is Pagan, and we can’t accept the fact that Our Lord Jesus is associated with this. Scripture clearly teaches that He wasn’t born this time of year. Christians who know the TRUTH should educate their friends and families. Be a light. Don’t conform to the world. It is very challenging I know. Jesus is my King. He is KING of kings and LORD of lords. We ought to give Him glory by being truthful, brave and strong in opposition. All this is an exercise in faith how we will be ready for when the mark of the beast will come. If we can’t stand firm now, how will true Christians stand later? The BIBLE is our guide for truth
Lies. Asherah trees not next to the altar. You can’t change a pig snout.. Jeremiah 10:4 “They adorn the idol with silver and with gold; They fasten it with hammers and nails So that it will not fall apart. 5 “They are like scarecrows in a cucumber field; They cannot speak; They have to be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not be afraid of them, For they can do no harm or evil, Nor can they do any good.” 6 ¶ There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your mighty and powerful name. 7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For it is appropriate and it is Your due! For among all the wise men of the nations And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You.
th-cam.com/video/9_X4ozO5_Hs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=8I6JLnUZGo0cqcDc We can be different to the world and only God can help us to be by his side! th-cam.com/video/9_X4ozO5_Hs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=8I6JLnUZGo0cqcDc
I have already seen the explanation of the original that Ellen White wrote. Unfortunately, the words were increased to deceive. When people also gave money to the Great Controversy the made the great hope. God help us.
One thing I forgot to say about Santa Clause is when kids learn that it’s fake they are more likely to be tempted to put Bible stories and the existence of God in the same file of “stuff I haven’t seen with my eyes so they’re not true.”
Also remember guys be careful with pitting an interpretation of the Bible against SoP. This chapter needs to harmonize with your belief if you accept SoP as authoritative.
We never observed Halloween, no Santa at Christmas, christ only christ at Easter. Btw tooth fairy isn't real either. Thankfully my in laws and parents always respected our choices for our children even though they were not sda. I always felt this was bc my children were so respectful of their grandparents. Many of their other grandchildren were not. I was blessed with good kids. Some of that was that their grandparents were 2nd generation European migrants and my children kissed hello and goodbye as was European custom and were eager to help. My mother in law always said my children helped her remember her childhood home.
My experience exactly
Very good point! And today there is a big push from "adults" to promote that lie, even from the governments and officials of the world. But looking at it from a kid's perspective, it seems like if I had been taught that Santa was real and then discovered that was a lie, then I would also have the same reaction if I had been taught that Christmas was the birthday celebration of Jesus only to discover that the truth of the matter is that Christ could never have been born in winter because it is the rainy season in Israel and contrary to the Bible's story of "shepherds in the fields", the shepherds have their flocks in stables during the winter months. Seems like to me, just from a common sense perspective, that if Santa is a lie, then Christ-mass is a lie as well. Why do we not just make up any "birthday" for Christ and celebrate it any time of the year?
Dear Scott. You are not going to like this, but we are deeply sadend by this. Do you know the story of a guy sitting on a fence. It was time to choose a side. Satan came and told him to go with him. He asked why? satan answered "The fence belongs to me". I always think of Cain and Abel. Was it important to them or God what the sacrifice was. We can try our best to rationalise this with "good works" but it stays pagan. Love you my brother.
So basically, though God said Not to take up Any pagan practices - the trees, St Nick (the patron saint of, among other things, prostitution.) and His chosen people suffered greatly for disobeying His ways, Because it Does Not Honor Him, We Should take up those practices, because Ellen White said it was ok?
Did I miss something? I must've missed something because, in the last 28 years in the SDA church, I haven't seen anything But More and more holiday decorations that yes, they just happen to have roots in paganism.
I think Sister White hits the subject right at the heart. The idea is that God gave His son for us all. We should use the season to testify of this and open our hearts to giving in charitable gifts to the needy.
@@qhazwel amen
@@beltoftruthministries He (God) hid the precious day of Jesus birth, so that the day would not receive the honor that should be given to Christ as the redeemer of the world. Soul Worship Must Be Rendered To Jesus As The Son Of The Infinite God. Ellen White Review And Herald, 12/09/1884. Im already 76 years old and i had the trouble of looking for it to send it to you. Our church is true but unfortunately is going to Rome and participating in ecumenism. I hope they regret it.
@ thanks! Yeah that’s the the opening part of the chapter
In our home, we decided long ago that if the celebration is about remembering the birth of Jesus, (although it is not the actual day) we thought why should be giving gifts to ourself- it is not our birthdays!
So we separated a special offering and we choose a family somewhere in need or in the mission field to share our blessings.
My children loves when every year we come together to choose to whom our gift will go.
Amazing, God bless you
Great information! Thank you for sharing it with us!
@@ardellakoskinen5359 you’re welcome
No we shouldn't, I'm a New SDA & & was happy to finally find a thus saith the Lord only church and I was in shock when I see all SDA churches decorate and celebrate Christmas like the world & Sunday churches!!! It bothers me every year,😢
Our church do not have decorations 😃 there are still a few that live by “thus sayith the Lord”. Reminds me of the story of Elijah…. There are still some left which God raised up to stand strong. Be encouraged 🙏🏻
Unfortunately you've been brought into a now mostly liberal ecumenical SDA church, most are like this. I don't go anymore because there is no real message given. Been SDA 65 yrs. I believe in present truth, the truth that our pioneer's started, the pure truth, 3 Angel's messages, ( which G. Dioup said he doesn't preach anymore) sanctuary message, Sabbath, state of the dead etc. I listen to online sermons by Prophesyagaintv. I am spiritually fed and learning more how to give Bible studies. Pastor Henriques can explain the Mark of the beast in 5 min with the Bible verses. We need to be able to teach and have an experience as well.
Blessing to watch this. The biggest takeaway is what do you think of when you hear Christmas today? Christ is what most people think of, as it is controversial to some to say “Merry Christmas,”. Use it to evangelize!!! It is a season of giving. Parallel to Hanukkah, one might ask why these holidays are close to the same time frame? Being legalistic tends to close out potential evangelical moments. Why not use Christmas at a minimum to bring people to Christ through giving and quench the legalistic aspect that on the flip side turns them away.
Def not celebrating Christmas. There are 7 feasts in the bible. 4 have their fulfillment in Christ's first coming but none of them are centered around His birth. 3 find their fulfillment in Christ's second coming and also none of them celebrate His birth. If we tried today to encourage people to keep the feast days - even the ones not yet fulfilled - people would be up in arms about how all that was nailed to the cross. So if we can't keep the feasts Christ instructed us to keep, then why would i want to keep a feast that Christ didn't call us to keep. Christmas is a man made holy day and everyone wants to justify it and die on that hill of family tradition and blah blah blah. You can speak about Christ at this time and use the cultural day to evangelize people WITHOUT celebrating Christmas. Live in the world but be not of the world.
True
It is a pagan celebration
Track its origine. It is a pagan feast. And look how the False system, Catholicism has its spot on it
I find your comment thought provoking and noble. Thank you!
Amen and Amen!!
Our family stopped celebrating Christmas about 15 years ago when we learned about its history and origins. Christmas gets its origins from Babylon when Nimrod was reincarnated as the sun. When the Bible says to come out of Babylon yet we continue in its practices, is that really coming out? Christmas comes from Christ’s Mass which is a celebration of his death or sacrifice. December25th is the birthday of the sun god in every culture that worships the sun. It’s very hard to reconcile what sister White has to say about Christmas when the origins are clearly very pagan. Paganism entered the church through compromise and there is nothing new under the sun. The Bible says that we shouldn’t do as the heathen do. 29 When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
I’d definitely leave this to each individual’s conscience. Blessings!
@@melpu310I find it not very hard to reconcile since I see the ancient paganism as having no power like the food sacrificed to idols has no inherent evil to it Paul said, since an idol is nothing. Naaman was even told to go in peace over the matter of kneeling in the temple of Rimmom, since the heart was not worshipping. We get too superstitious about paganism and give it power it doesn’t have I think.
@@beltoftruthministries I respectfully disagree. By those standards Easter and Halloween would be alright to celebrate, wouldn’t you agree?
@@melpu310 Halloween is presently pagan and spiritualist. Totally different. Easter slight difference: it ‘sanctifies’ Sunday. And SoP gives no advice about Easter like it does about Christmas.
@@beltoftruthministries when you consider Christmas carols such as “Oh Christmas Tree” and the glorification of Santa, which is a counterfeit of Christ who knows when you are sleeping, and knows when you’re awake, and knows if you’ve been bad or good (all knowing) wouldn’t you consider this “presently pagan?”
@ good call.
I believe that with the light we have received since these writings around this subject, that it should not be celebrated. We can give donations and gifts as recommended but don't need Christmas trees etc.
@@alanahonestreviews9950 it says there’s no sin in the tree but you’re right it isn’t positively needed.
@@beltoftruthministries. Sin isn’t in tree.This is our definition that green tree is symbol of life and came from pagan religion.We don’t need dress Babylonian tradition in Christian way because how we call people come out from Babylon if Babylon couldn’t come from us.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
yes, I agree : we have learned so much from History and the foundations of this Pagan Holiday, which it has been studied that the puritans were against it, but for reasons of tradition our church continues to hold on to celebrating it in some form.
@@sda4ever the puritans were against it, inspired prophet was for it, I’ll go with the Holy Spirit over the puritans.
@@beltoftruthministries Sorry, but the Holy Spirit never go against the Bible.
Thank you so much Brother Scott, this was a blessing. Why should we look like a bunch of mourners when the rest of the world is rejoicing, it makes perfect sense to uplift Jesus Christ and win souls for him.
@@phinnysakana2229 you’re welcome sister
Amen! Thank You brother Scott!
If a person looks like a "mourner" when they abandon the "celebration" of Christmas, then they abandoned it for the wrong reason and are trying to work their way to heaven by their own works. I have never been happier than I have been since the Lord set me free from those "bonds" - and you can always find me happy and smiling as I freely walk through the store past the isles of junk food and Christmas decorations that are no longer any temptation, while other shoppers are fighting and bickering over various "holiday" issues. God's Word is supposed to be a blessing, not a burden. It is only those who view God's requirements as a burden that take on that "mourner" look.
@ amen this is great
Hi ! I think that the problem could be that people get carried away with presents. It starts to pull away from the thoughts on Christ. I love the idea of giving our books for gifts.❤
@@constancestinger5976 absolutely
Commandment number one you shall have no other gods before me!! This is a celebration of Sol Invictus Mithras!! Saturnalia and Brumalia ! God is not MOCKED
I don’t celebrate Christmas, the only day to celebrate is the Sabbath day, sometimes I also forgot about my birthday! I think we need to do good on this holidays times, but it is not necessary to put a tree and decorations! No only in Christmas also in others holidays, minimalistic live is the best! Everything is for please self, sister White talk about that but at the time progress she give another counsel that that holidays doesn’t have anymore validity!
We don’t have trees not decoration is like always, but for the Sabbath day yes we have special things in home! God can guide us in his ways.
@@milagroscordovasolorzano4576 thanks for joining us!
Thank-you for your message. It’s alway sad when people at church can decorate for x-mass and spend time practicing their x-mass carols but they don’t have the interest or time to help pack up gift bags for evangelism.
@ right on
Thank you so much for sharing this. Growing up in a non Christian home, I first began to know about Jesus through the Christmas carols we sang at school. It is sad to me that for several years in my conservative church they won't even sing the hymns about the birth of Christ that are in the hymnal. I understand that Jesus was likely born in the fall on the feast of tabernacles. I would be happy to sing about Jesus' birth then too :)
@@wendya1250 right on
Love the balance Sis White brings. Watching from New Zealand. Praising the Lord for your Ministry.
@@fleurjennings3661 welcome!
By all means, celebrate Christmas like you do anything else, with the truth!
If with children. If no children you don't need it. It's a pagan.
Regardless how balanced the SOP addresses this subject, you will still have those who will say that those who acknowledge the holidays are some how sinners. Every year around this time those individual come out their shells with bags of stones. Remember Jesus beloved. Ohh, look at that, time to go put up my 9ft tree. Blessings.
Putting up the tree and separating from pagan and babilonian practices is very confusing. We are either SDA Christians or not.
SDA Christianity completely follows Catholic Holy Days (said as a former Catholic and now SDA for almost 30 years )
@@larryandsjalomo6739
thank-you, I just hear double speak with these kinds of videos.
SDA Christians follow SoP.
Adventist home is a compilation done in 1952. Sister White died in 1915.
Who knows what was added. Even if Sister White said so do we obey man or woman rather than God
Thank you so much Pastor. This was an eye opener.
You’re welcome
But I just saw one of your shorts saying that we shouldn't celebrate easter becoz of its origin. Is Christmass not the same too. Like isnt that Christmass has a pagan origin. How is it different now with Christmass
@@tinashechinamasa6684 SoP doesn’t advise doing with Easter what it advises for Christmas.
It’s because Ellen White said it’s ok🤔
@@hiker56781 correct. She wouldn’t put it quite that way, but yeah when I’m in doubt on what the Bible is teaching I do go with an inspired author; has never steered me wrong. Test her writings by the Bible as she said. Toss them out of the supernatural origin to them is of Satan. Accept them if they are of God, pointing you to the Bible.
Better consult your Bible and sacred history first.
Remember this quote that is often used during Evangelistic meetings?
Will, we should read it all the way to the end.
"Dear Friend, I have offered and still offer $1000 to any one who can prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound, under grievous sin to keep Sunday holy.
It was the Catholic Church which made the law obliging us to keep Sunday holy. The church made this law long after the Bible was written. Hence said law is not in the Bible.
Christ, our Lord empowered his church to make laws binding in conscience. He said to his apostles and their lawful sucessors in the priesthood "Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be binding in heaven." Mth. 16:19. Mth. 18:17. Luke 16:19. The Cath. Church abolished not only the Sabbath, BUT ALL THE OTHER JEWISH FESTIVALS.
Pray and study. I shall be always glad to help you as long as you honestly seek the truth.
Respectfully,
T. Enright CssR
"He shall speak great words against the most High, . . . and think to change times and laws." Daniel 7: 25.
I would agree with your comment. We are all growing in our knowledge and understanding as we progress up the Narrow Way. It seems very interesting to me that in the early days of Sister White’s ministry, she seemed OK with the Christmas holiday, yet as time went on and she herself grew in her knowledge and understanding of various issues, her statements about it take on more and more of a less favorable tone, and by the year 1908, when she makes her very last comment on that holiday, she is treating it just like any ordinary working day and specifically states that she “...never thought of making any provision for Christmas.” (Letter 374) The last almost 7 years of her life (1908-1915), she doesn’t even mention the word “Christmas.” Though I greatly appreciate all SOP writings and I consider this book Scott is reading from (Adventist Home) a great book for getting a broad overview of the topic - it is important to recognize that it is a 1952 compilation of “cherry-picked” quotes that have been taken out of their original context and arranged in a form that coincides with the modern compiler’s personal opinions. This is perfectly fine, just as long as any reader understands that fact and after reading them in this book then follows those quotes back to their original EGW source and compares the rest of the context with them - which would also include the dates that quote originated from - as Sister White points out, “...time and place must be considered.”
It is also very intriguing to me that it was Constantine who incorporated pagan practices into Christianity by bringing the “venerable day of the sun” (Sunday worship) into the Christian church in 321 ad to and it was the exact same “Christianized pagan” who combined the pagan December festivities of Saturnalia and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (birth of Mithras) and brought them into the Christian church in 336 ad - renaming them “Christ Mass”(a re-crucifixion of Christ). What is even more intriguing is that so many people will take a stand against the un-Biblical Sunday worship, yet look for excuses to observe another pagan institution brought into the same church by the exact same man. We need to wake up, because in a court of law, the prosecution would consider such a person very hypocritical - which is exactly what they will do to us if we still are keeping pagan celebrations when we try to take a stand against the Sunday Law.
The commercialization of Christmas is oppressive. It’s easier not to celebrate it than trying to be balanced about it .
It's time to follow the Bible & to stop living in duality. The Lord hates idolatry. Christmas is a pagan holiday that commemorates the birth of Tammuz. Read Ezekiel 8. It's disheartening to see SDA churches participating in a pagan celebration, including the Xmas trees & the decorations. "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Very well spoken!
Alright, good evening from Botswana, Africa.
Just met your video after our Sabata an hour ago.
Christmas and it's trees, lights, gifts and culture honestly we don't know. Most families who keep it here in Botswana have an American European influence.
The Botswana culture recognises the year end with cultural music in gatherings mostly family full (children, mothers, uncles, aunts the whole clan).
No tree, no lights, no snow, no santa-claus, no Jesus song, maybe a gift or 2 for year end not Krismas.
As a Seventh-day Adventist in my family we don't do santa-claus, tree, lights etc but because everyone is home we now find time for devotional, interpersonal relations and spiritual relations and plans etc...
The Adventist Home Chapter on Christmas is more for those in America Europe as a guide and lesser counsel for us in southern Africa because basically we do not know it unless Mrs White says keep it then like the sabbath or any holy thing even so Amen.
Really helpful. Thank you
What books of inspiration can be shared on Easter for us? If there is not any, what kind of reasoning would be applied to the silence?
@@kentdavis9624 none. Avoid easter is what I take from that.
Happy Sabbath from Bribie island Queensland Australia 🙏
@@juliecahill5691 welcome! :)
Happy Sabbath from SA 👋😊
@ welcome!
Happy Sabbath everyone from Malawi.
@@Johnny_55 welcome!
I make my own conscious decision not to take part of anything X-mass or holiday related; I don’t need the SOP to tell me it’s right or wrong. I know it is wrong and I am not going to be a hypocrite and pretend to help people on x-mass and then forget about them for the rest of the year or be a part of the churches that play these mind games.
@@sda4ever I don’t believe she said forget about them the rest of the year.
I am not referring to Sister White saying to forget the needy for the rest of the year, I am referring to the hypocrisy that the church as a corporation does these things and makes a mockery of Christ, in both their”spirit” x-mass and in using Ellen White to tell us to give a gift on X-mass etc.
take advantage of every holiday we can to point people in the direction of Jesus Christ and truth as it is in him. i'm 68 and have come to the point that i wish i had come to this conclusion 40+ years ago when my daughters were young. we were against most holidays and in our home had no celebrations for them. other than thanksgiving. i wish we had been more wise and come up with ways we could have done things differently. my youngest daughter and i spoke of this recently, she saying she didn't want to have the "traditional" Easter celebration with her children, yet she wanted them to have something for them and with their friends, to not just disregard it or forget about it. suggestion i brought was to do the egg hunt differently. take the plastic ones that open and put scriptures about the death and resurrection on paper and put them inside. keep a record of how many you make by putting a number on each strip of paper with the scripture. when they're all collected, not before, have each child read the scripture and when done have them talk about what they say. it helps them not only to learn but to begin to form their ideas, opinions based not on what someone has told them but on scripture alone. and of course, before you start, let them know that if they find them all, at the end there will be a special surprise for everyone, some treat, not too sweet, some home baked cookies, a piece of pie or some frozen yogurt, anything you would like. just not so sweet they get that sugar high. as for taking advantage of every situation, I'll just say recently I've watched 2 segments on a news channel where much was made of RFK jr. and making America healthy again. the 2 segments spoke of 1) todays medicines, in particular, over the counter meds not being affective, such as Sudafed and how they changed one of the ingredients years ago because it was being used by those who cook up meth. the company knew it wasn't effective but produced it and marketed it anyway. but this isn't the only company who uses this practice. 2) food manufacturing/processing. it spoke of how so much of our food products have been treated, additives added during processing or even meats being injected with concoctions for flavoring that are detrimental to our health. some even making us more hungry for the very thing we just ate, which has resulted in so many health problems, heart disease, cancers, diabetes, obesity and more. for years government food and health agencies have known the health problems the red dye used in foods, especially candies and other sweets cause yet did nothing. and just the other day now Biden had instructed it be discontinued. (have not checked on this. just relaying what was in the segment) this is an excellent opportunity to present the health message and trying more natural ways to treat most all of the minor ailments and even some of the major. grab the opportunities that come our way
How can I request Great Controvesy from you
@@tinashechinamasa6684 email me first and last name @Gmail and share your address to ship it to
BLAIRSVILLE PA HAPPY sABBAth brothers n sisters 😊🙋🏻
Welcome!
How can we as a professed people of Yah(God) justify this Holiday year after year. This has nothing to do with his Son m.th-cam.com/video/Yei17uJeKuw/w-d-xo.html How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
@@believeobey9813 are you talking to me or Sister White or both?
“God’s Word is the unerring standard. The Testimonies are not to take the place of the Word….Our position and faith is in the Bible. And never do we want any soul to bring in the Testimonies ahead of the Bible.” (Evan. 256)
We cannot expect the Yah’s blessings on gifts reserved for his honor, when they are served to Him on the altar of Baal. There is no agreement with the altar of Yahuah, and the altar of Baal, they are contrary one to another. When Elijah stood on Mt. Carmel against Baal’s prophets in defense of true worship, he purposefully refused to use the same altar dedicated to Baal worship for the offering of sacrifices dedicated to Yah. We are told, “And he [Elijah] repaired the altar of Yahuah that was broken down… And with the stones he built an altar in the name of YHWH.” 1 Kings 18:30, 32.
@@believeobey9813 you are free to depart from the testimonies if you think they go against the Bible. I hope you do not, but we all have freedom.
Is there anywhere else we can find E.G.W talks about Christmas than this one reading? Could there be a possibility that this one reading came after her death and it's a fake?
I'm adventist 3 generation and I have been "celebrating" Christmas but when I have my own family I started to questioning this topic. I did my research and prayers, and I stopped this celebration at my house 5 years ago. It was hard but I believe it's not good and I'm waiting for bigger celebration to be in the heaven with Jesus.
May God open our mind to understand what's good and what's bad for us and our families. We should prepaire us and people around for Jesus coming and not spend our time for house decoration on Christmas.
Why?
Why even celebrate if it's not when Jesus was born?! I truly appreciate the counsel of the SOP, however, I am baffled by this counsel in particular; It just seems far removed from what I expect, considering the exactness of The Great Controversy. This is the A.I. overview from Google. ~>
The birthday of Mithras, the Persian sun god, was celebrated on December 25, which is also the winter solstice. Christians later adopted this date to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, taking advantage of the popularity of the date and Mithras's popularity with Roman soldiers:
Mithras ~ The birthday of Mithra was the most important celebration of the Mithraic cult. Mithra was a god of light and loyalty, and was often depicted as being born from a rock.
Roman Empire ~ The Roman Empire celebrated the rebirth of the Unconquered Sun (Sol Invictus) on December 25. This holiday marked the return of longer days after the winter solstice, and followed the popular Roman festival of Saturnalia.
Church in Rome ~ The church in Rome began celebrating Christmas on December 25 in 336. Some speculate that the date was chosen to weaken the established pagan celebrations.
Eastern Empire ~ Christmas was not widely accepted in the Eastern Empire for another half-century, and did not become a major Christian festival until the 9th century.
Tradition of celebrating Jesus' birth later in the year ~ The tradition of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ later in the year started in the fourth century.
I believe we need to STAND OUT, not settle in! What kind of witness hides under a tree? I must say, Scott, I am disturbed by this.
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. 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.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 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. Jeremiah 10
When we do not participate in things of this nature, we become a light in the darkness. People want to know why we don't do go with the masses. They ask why and we tell them the biblical history and origins of the anti-christ. This is an amazing witnessing tool, done right! Yes, they don't want to know... but they won't forget it either!
Dear brother. Kindly provide information on vitamin D daily intake as per Dr Lewis advice
Ke
@@patmahlangus6520 Wes Youngberg is my go to guy on vitamin d. 5000 to 10,000 IUs per day but testing is the way to determine. Get blood levels to 50-100 ng/ml
Thanks for talking about current events! I believe that it's also time to mark differences with those who embrace the ecumenical movement, and point out Christmas as a way to honor sunday (being the celebration of the day of the sun)
Could you teach us principles of the Spirit of Prophecy about commemorating the new year?
@@Belén-l4s yes! Will do!
I agree, I was listening to the ministry, It is written and Mr. Bradshaw answered a caller’s question with his answer being that it is ok to go to interfaith meetings as it pertains to visiting other churches and sitting in the pews. The question from the caller has a tone of asking the interfaith question based on the Ganome Diop drama and his persistence on Ecumenism. It’s sad that the SDA churches have just become a Church enterprise just puppeting after eachother and in complete fear of thinking outside of the script that has been programmed.
U didn’t save the chat. Can u please begin doing so? Would appreciate it so much. Thanks for considering.
@@theway5563 I am not sure how to do that yet
EGW's writings need to be taken in their historical context. GOD is moving us away from worldly holidays to His holy days.
Why shouldn’t we make purchases during the sabbath hours ? Any biblical backing for that statement?
As it written in Isaiah 58:13 “ if you turn your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath, a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;
When I read this, it made sense to me why I should not be going and shopping or eating out because when I do that during the week, it’s because I am doing it of my own pleasure. On the sabbath day, I should be doing something God wants me to do.
“…nor your manservant nor maidservants…” (Exodus 20:8-11)
@@jonathankincaid161 thank you
@@beltoftruthministries thank you as well
Sunset in Maine this time of the year is 4:07 pm
Wow that’s early. And Lubec and Eastport Maine are 3:43!! Just looked that one up haha
@@beltoftruthministries the time I gave was for this Sabbath in the town where I live
The "TIME" isn't, Hebrew times of ur etc. Jesus was, born, somewhere in the fall. What was going on at the time of His birth? Why were they going to Bethlehem?
THAT Time of yr is STILL observed today.
..... March is the first month of the Hebrew calendar
I do not understand why we even discuss about something, which is not in the Bible? Even egw thought the why she did? Is this a spiritual revelation?
@@evatsopanakis7322 yes she had the prophetic gift so her counsel on the Bible principles to apply during Christmas time are something I personally take to the bank.
I can simply say that in this instance Ellen White did not say, “I was shown…” or that “the Lord instructed me….”, etc. Neither was she quoting from, and or commenting on any relevant Scripture bearing on the subject. She simply gave her own private opinion on the matter, an opinion which is clearly discredited in the face of Scriptures.
As she matured in knowledge on these things, Ellen White would later condemn these holidays as the worship of heathen deities, for that is really what they are! Contrasting her revised and illuminated understanding on the Christmas tree, with what she formerly held, one can clearly see the progression of Ellen White’s understanding of the pagan holidays. in 1879 thru 1884 she gave broad and sweeping approval of them, then ten years later, in 1894 she would say “these days have no more influence for good than would the worship of heathen deities; for this is really nothing less.”
“The youth in this country [Australia] require more earnest spiritual labor than in any other country we have yet visited. Temptations are strong and numerous; the many holidays and the habits of idleness are most unfavorable for the young. …But from their youth up they have been educated to the popular idea that the appointed holidays must be treated with respect and be observed. From the light that the Lord has given me, these days have no more influence for good than would the worship of heathen deities; for this is really nothing less. These days are Satan’s special harvest seasons. The money drawn from men and women is expended for that which is not bread. The youth are educated to love those things which are demoralizing, things which the word of God condemns. The influence is evil and only evil continually.” {FE 320.3-321, (1923); originally written in “Special Testimonies On Education, February 1894”
@@believeobey9813 addressing the notion that it was just her own private opinion: “I do not write one article in the paper expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision-the precious rays of light shining from the throne.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 67).
@believeobey981 thank you for this. I have been having a very difficult time trying to meld the keeping of holidays that are a mix of paganism with the Word of God. Just not possible after reading He says not to pick up any pagan habits and think to honor Him with them.
Brother Scott, I have to ask why a couple of the comments I have posted have been deleted? What was the reasoning for that?
My guess is, Christ was born on The Day of Atonement. It's approximately 6 months after the birth of John the Baptist. And somewhat fitting as to represent a time when God came to be 'At One' with mankind. However, we haven't really done the Christmas thing for many years, never promoted Santa as that's a lie that children remember as a lie when they learn the truth and first understand their parents lied to them.
Brother Scott, can you provide the book and pages you read,please
@@jaimea5382 The Adventist Home chapter 77 in its entirety :)
@beltoftruthministries Thank you
Thank you for this topic sir, really interesting. Did your ancestors by any chance come from Friesland? Witch is now part of the Netherlands. I believe Ritsema to be a Friesian name
@@wippy-yo7vh yes! They sure did!
AMEN PASTOR!!!!
God permits divorces due to our stiff neck condition, but it was not His plan from the beginning. Same with pagan holidays, we are in the end times be ye separate
no why not? yes why not?
Scott may I please ask what you mean by offerings on the tree please?
Also may I please ask for prayers ,Me ,and my husband have four children and we are going thru the hardest trials of our life right now ,our 4 kids have been taken away from cps and put into temporarily foster care we are able to have no contact for right now .We will be in court 2 times in the next 2 weeks .Please pray I know God has a plan ,but it’s hard to see sometimes
Will keep you and your family in prayer. Hold on to God, his promises are sure.
@ thank you so much !
I don’t partake in the communion service because they light up candles and it reminds me of candle magic and feels like magic or sorcery.
one of my churches has an invitation to help at the community center and to cook Turkeys and dress like elves, but you can’t speak of Jesus or tell anyone your a Seventh-day Adventist. This kind of things is offensive to me and my love of Jesus. You really know what church you’re in when Christmas time comes around and when the Harvest festivals start in the SDA christian schools; to much compromising with the world than lines get blurred and it’s confusing.
If we have the necessary Christlike spirit 24/7, 365 days a year, there is no need for the counsel given. Our issue is we lack much and allow the way of the world to dictate how we live. All that EGWhite mentions need not be done only during this time of the year. If we have issues with pagan taditions, let us not pick and choose what is ok and which isn't. Be mindful!
from my understanding scott is that Christ was born around March or April and what is the book national sunday law?
The dumb sheep follow the foolish shepherd and Christ sheep hear and follow only Christ voice. Do not be discouraged by the others who gaslight you for your beliefs and live by your conscience in Christ Jesus name. It is now the time to awaken and see that any strongholds to X-mass will link you and inch you closer to Sunday worship. They are twins sister with a different color bow.
John 10:3-5
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
It's a happy time Jesus wouldn't be a scrooge let it be a spring board for witness it's a time we can tell people about the Saviour take the opportunity to do this make a Christmas mission tree have a balance
Nicholas?
We are definitely not supposed to celebrate Christmas or say meeey Christmas to anyone
Moses was not resurrected and taken to heaven. That myth is not found in the Holy Bible.
There are a number of pagan gods with the birth date of 25 December.
Why would you add Jesus to that list of pagan gods, and use Christmas trees?
If 25 December is the birthday of Jesus, why does everyone else get gifts? What about Jesus?
No, this lie is not for me.
EGW's later writings moved away from Xmas (I should say, all worldly holidays) and the commandment came to celebrate our own festivals. Our main festival should be our Festival of Tabernacles, which EGW mentions specifically. That festival can celebrate both Advents. No need for Xmas. It honors the Papacy and will be associated with the mark of the beast.
@@BrightBeamsMission mind sharing her later writings that reversed her previous position?
@@beltoftruthministriesHowbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days and months and times and years.” The observance of holidays in this country is a great evil. We want not to give sanction to the days and many traditions that are brought in. We need not pay any heed to them. {Ms41a-1896}
There are men handling sacred responsibilities in the cause here who, had they worked industriously, and taken no stock in the many holidays that curse these Colonies, might have laid by something upon which to draw in case of necessity. {Ms24-1894}
The liquor drinking, the smoking, the gambling, the horse racing, the theater-going, the many holidays, all tend in a downward direction. Devotion to these things is a species of idolatry, a sacrifice upon idol altars. {Ms8a-1894}
But from their youth up they have been educated to the popular idea that the appointed holidays must be treated with respect and be observed. From the light that the Lord has given me, these days have no more influence for good than would the worship of heathen deities; for this is really nothing less. These days are Satan’s special harvest seasons. {Ms8a-1894}
Through the observance of holidays the people both of the world and of the churches have been educated to believe that these lazy days are essential to health and happiness; but the results reveal that they are full of evil, which is ruining the country. {Ms8a-1894}
-
Shall we not keep holy festivals unto God? Shall we not show that we have some enthusiasm in His service? With the grand ennobling theme of salvation before us, shall we be as cold as statues of marble? If men can become so excited over a cricket match, or a horse race, or over foolish things that bring no good to anyone, shall we be unmoved when the plan of salvation is unfolded before us? Let the school and the church henceforth have festivals of rejoicing unto the Lord. {Ms73-1896}
Well would it be for us to have a feast of tabernacles, a joyous commemoration of the blessings of God to us as a people. As the children of Israel celebrated the deliverance that God wrought for their fathers, and his miraculous preservation of them during their journeyings from Egypt to the promised land, so should the people of God at the present time gratefully call to mind the various ways he has devised to bring them out from the world, out from the darkness of error, into the precious light of truth. { RH November 17, 1885, par. 14 }
@@beltoftruthministries At the same time those EGW quotes were written (mid-1890s), A.T. Jones published this:
About the middle of the fourth century, the church of Rome adopted this festival, making the birthday of the Sun, December 25, the birthday of Christ. And in a few years the celebration of this festival of the sun had spread among the churches throughout the whole empire-east as well as west. In one of the homilies of Chrysostom, supposed to have been delivered on this festival day in A.D. 386, he expresses his own pleasure and "congratulates the people upon the progress made, through their zeal in establishing this new festival, which they had borrowed from the Western Church"; and "seems to speak of it as a custom imported from the West within ten years." The perverse-minded clergy readily sanctioned the practice and relieved all doubts, with the assurance that the festival which had been formerly celebrated as the birth of the real sun was a type of the festival of the birth of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. And thus was established the Church festival of Christmas. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.6}
There are other items connected with the celebration of the day, whose origin and meaning are also worth mentioning. One of these is the Christmas tree. Just as the day itself and its celebration were adopted from pagan Rome, the use of the tree was adopted from the pagan Germans. And just as the day is a relic of sun-worship, so also is the tree. In The Ladies Home Journal, for December, Mrs. Lyman Abbott says of "The Christmas Tree": "A German friend tells me that the true Christmas tree is 'not a mere show, decorated for the momentary amusement of children. It is a sublime symbol of the soul life of the Germanic people for a thousand years.' . . . The tree itself 'is the celestial sun-tree.'" {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.7}
Another item is the decoration of the houses and churches with vines, branches of trees, etc. This is derived from the sun-worshiping Druids of Britain. An early English writer says that the "trimmyng of the temples with hangyngs, flowers, boughs, and garlands, was taken of the heathen people, whiche decked their idols and houses with suche array." The ivy particularly was used in honor of Bacchus. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.8}
Thus it is that Christmas day, the celebration of the day, and the appurtenances thereto, are all heathen and only relics of sun-worship. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.9}
Waggoner published this around that time as well:
"Christmas.-At the winter solstice, they celebrated in Pagan Rome the feast of Saturn, the sun god, or Baal of the Babylonians. This feast, as regulated by Caligula, lasted five days; loose reins were given to drunkenness and revelry. This was precisely the way in which, according to Berosus, the drunken festival of the month Thebeth, answering to our December, in other words, the festival of Bacchus, was celebrated in Babylon; and many of the other observances still kept up in so-called Christian lands came from the very same quarter. {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.1}
"The candles, in some parts of England, lighted on Christmas Eve and used so long as the festive season lasts, were equally lighted by the Pagans on the eve of the festival of the Babylonian god, to do honour to him; for it was one of the distinguishing peculiarities of his worship to have lighted wax candles on his altars. The Christmas tree, now so common among us, was equally common in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt. {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.2}
"Many more irrefutable proofs might be given of the absolute identity of this so-called Christian festival with the festival observed at the same time of the year in Babylon of old, and in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt." {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.3}
He published many more articles on the pagan and papal origins of Xmas through the 1890s.
Seventh-day Adventists were abandoning it.
@@beltoftruthministries Somehow my comment is not showing.
@@beltoftruthministries Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days and months and times and years.” The observance of holidays in this country is a great evil. want not to give sanction to the days and many traditions that are brought in. need not pay any heed to them. {Ms41a-1896}
There are men handling sacred responsibilities in the cause here who, had they worked industriously, and taken no stock in the many holidays that curse these Colonies, might have laid by something upon which to draw in case of necessity. {Ms24-1894}
The liquor drinking, the smoking, the gambling, the horse racing, the theater-going, the many holidays, all tend in a downward direction. Devotion to these things is a species of idolatry, a sacrifice upon idol altars. {Ms8a-1894}
But from their youth up they have been educated to the popular idea that the appointed holidays must be treated with respect and be observed. From the light that the Lord has given me, these days have no more influence for good than would the worship of heathen deities; for this is really nothing less. These days are Satan’s special harvest seasons. {Ms8a-1894}
Through the observance of holidays the people both of the world and of the churches have been educated to believe that these lazy days are essential to health and happiness; but the results reveal that they are full of evil, which is ruining the country. {Ms8a-1894}
-
Shall we not keep holy festivals unto God? Shall we not show that we have some enthusiasm in service? With the grand ennobling theme of salvation before us, shall we be as cold as statues of marble? If men can become so excited over a cricket match, or a horse race, or over foolish things that bring no good to anyone, shall we be unmoved when the plan of salvation is unfolded before us? Let the school and the church henceforth have festivals of rejoicing unto the Lord. {Ms73-1896}
-
At the same time those EGW quotes were written (mid-1890s), A.T. Jones published this:
About the middle of the fourth century, the church of Rome adopted this festival, making the birthday of the Sun, December 25, the birthday of Christ. And in a few years the celebration of this festival of the sun had spread among the churches throughout the whole empire-east as well as west. In one of the homilies of Chrysostom, supposed to have been delivered on this festival day in A.D. 386, he expresses his own pleasure and "congratulates the people upon the progress made, through their zeal in establishing this new festival, which they had borrowed from the Western Church"; and "seems to speak of it as a custom imported from the West within ten years." The perverse-minded clergy readily sanctioned the practice and relieved all doubts, with the assurance that the festival which had been formerly celebrated as the birth of the real sun was a type of the festival of the birth of Christ, the Sun of Righteousness. And thus was established the Church festival of Christmas. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.6}
There are other items connected with the celebration of the day, whose origin and meaning are also worth mentioning. One of these is the Christmas tree. Just as the day itself and its celebration were adopted from pagan Rome, the use of the tree was adopted from the pagan Germans. And just as the day is a relic of sun-worship, so also is the tree. In The Ladies Home Journal, for December, Mrs. Lyman Abbott says of "The Christmas Tree": "A German friend tells me that the true Christmas tree is 'not a mere show, decorated for the momentary amusement of children. It is a sublime symbol of the soul life of the Germanic people for a thousand years.' . . . The tree itself 'is the celestial sun-tree.'" {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.7}
Another item is the decoration of the houses and churches with vines, branches of trees, etc. This is derived from the sun-worshiping Druids of Britain. An early English writer says that the "trimmyng of the temples with hangyngs, flowers, boughs, and garlands, was taken of the heathen people, whiche decked their idols and houses with suche array." The ivy particularly was used in honor of Bacchus. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.8}
Thus it is that Christmas day, the celebration of the day, and the appurtenances thereto, are all heathen and only relics of sun-worship. {December 24, 1896 ATJ, AMS 401.9}
Waggoner published this around that time as well:
"Christmas.-At the winter solstice, they celebrated in Pagan Rome the feast of Saturn, the sun god, or Baal of the Babylonians. This feast, as regulated by Caligula, lasted five days; loose reins were given to drunkenness and revelry. This was precisely the way in which, according to Berosus, the drunken festival of the month Thebeth, answering to our December, in other words, the festival of Bacchus, was celebrated in Babylon; and many of the other observances still kept up in so-called Christian lands came from the very same quarter. {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.1}
"The candles, in some parts of England, lighted on Christmas Eve and used so long as the festive season lasts, were equally lighted by the Pagans on the eve of the festival of the Babylonian god, to do honour to him; for it was one of the distinguishing peculiarities of his worship to have lighted wax candles on his altars. The Christmas tree, now so common among us, was equally common in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt. {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.2}
"Many more irrefutable proofs might be given of the absolute identity of this so-called Christian festival with the festival observed at the same time of the year in Babylon of old, and in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt." {July 27, 1893 EJW, PTUK 264.3}
Christmas is Pagan, and we can’t accept the fact that Our Lord Jesus is associated with this.
Scripture clearly teaches that He wasn’t born this time of year.
Christians who know the TRUTH should educate their friends and families.
Be a light. Don’t conform to the world. It is very challenging I know.
Jesus is my King. He is KING of kings and LORD of lords.
We ought to give Him glory by being truthful, brave and strong in opposition.
All this is an exercise in faith how we will be ready for when the mark of the beast will come. If we can’t stand firm now, how will true Christians stand later?
The BIBLE is our guide for truth
Do you not understand when you say merry Christmas your saying with joy Jesus is dead we aren't supposed to celebrate Jesus birthdays or our own
No we should celebrate purim
Amen
Adventist home was not written by Ellen White it was a compilation of writings it's paganism 25 th of December is a pagan high day
Lies. Asherah trees not next to the altar. You can’t change a pig snout.. Jeremiah 10:4 “They adorn the idol with silver and with gold;
They fasten it with hammers and nails
So that it will not fall apart.
5 “They are like scarecrows in a cucumber field;
They cannot speak;
They have to be carried,
Because they cannot walk!
Do not be afraid of them,
For they can do no harm or evil,
Nor can they do any good.”
6 ¶ There is none like You, O LORD;
You are great, and great is Your mighty and powerful name.
7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?
For it is appropriate and it is Your due!
For among all the wise men of the nations
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You.
🇺🇸🐭🐻💕 U!!!
Nicholiatans 😮
@@yvesrutagengwa978 me and Sister White?
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We can be different to the world and only God can help us to be by his side! th-cam.com/video/9_X4ozO5_Hs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=8I6JLnUZGo0cqcDc
I have already seen the explanation of the original that Ellen White wrote. Unfortunately, the words were increased to deceive. When people also gave money to the Great Controversy the made the great hope. God help us.