Testimony II
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This excerpt was taken from S.A.L.T. – Sisters Abiding in Love and Truth, a quarterly newsletter for women, Vol. 3, Number 2, April - June 1999.
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Have You Been A Faithful Bride?
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Christian Holidays vs. Pagan "UN-HOLY" Days
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In the 5th chapter of the book of Ephesians, the church is described as the bride of Christ; without spot or wrinkle... holy and without blemish. She is a church that has remained faithful and has not forgotten the covenant made from the beginning, "to have no other gods" (Ex. 20:3).
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In the very beginning, Adam had Eve only, and she was "meet" (suitable) for him; she met all of his needs. But after the fall of man, men found it necessary to have many wives to satisfy their lusts (remember David, Solomon, and others). Unfortunately, so is it today with Christ and His bride, the church. All that we need is in Christ, yet men choose to worship other gods.
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However, as we examine history more closely, we find that modern man has followed some of the same paths of his forefathers. The vast majority of Christians worldwide are guilty of mixing pagan traditions with the Word of God, thus putting the bride of Christ in a state of "spiritual adultery" --- and God is not pleased!
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Thus saith the Lord, "Many are in adulterous relationships. They say that they love me with their mouths, but their hearts are far from me. They embrace doctrines that are not of me. I have called them mine (Ezekiel 16:8), but they love other gods. They forfeit so much, for I will not tolerate adulterous relationships! I am God, and I will not have other gods before me!"
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One of the best examples of spiritual adultery in the church is found in the celebration of holidays. A quick scan through an ordinary encyclopedia would easily reveal that most of our major holidays (Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, etc.) have their roots and origins deeply embedded in paganism;; and most of them were found to exist many years before Jesus was even born!
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For instance, isn't it interesting that the spring festival commonly known as Easter, was recently celebrated by both Christians and heathens, in similar fashion. The devil has clearly disguised many ancient pagan practices, using them to slowly infiltrate the church of God. Because of the hearts of men, the church has lost its ability to discern good from evil, and has allowed the devil to influence it's thinking.
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Consider the following: what does Easter eggs and bunny rabbits have in common with the resurrection of Jesus? Absolutely nothing! Where in the Bible does it mention that Jesus was born on December 25th? Nowhere! Was St. Nicholas really a saint of the Most High God? Study your history books!
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Most of the pagan practices found in the church today were originally adopted by the Roman Catholic Church. "Catholic scholars recognize that their church developed from a mixture of paganism and Christianity. But from their point of view, these things were triumphs for Christianity, because the church was able to Christianize pagan practices."1
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However, as Protestant denominations developed, breaking away from Catholicism (in protest of doctrinal issues), various pagan practices were maintained, thus defiling the bride of Christ. "They are polluted. I find no pleasure in their sacrifices. They have honored me with their mouth, but their hearts have polluted their ways of worshipping me. I have no pleasure in the ways they have chosen to celebrate, saith the Lord."
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A study of the history of Easter reveals that, "the modern English word, Easter, is a modern form of (the ancient pagan celebrations) Eostre, Ostera, Astarte, and Ishtar."2 The custom of coloring, hiding, hunting, and eating Easter eggs was an ancient pagan practice that was not found in the early church.
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The egg was a sacred symbol in Babylon, representing the goddess Easter, and is now celebrated all over the world today. The bunny rabbit is one of the oldest pagan symbols representing Simaramis, the fertility goddess; it is said the bunny rabbits were chosen because they are among the fastest reproducing mammals known.
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As for Christmas, (formerly, more properly known as Christ's Mass)... Why didn't the Christians in the Bible celebrate Jesus' birthday? Because the Bible makes no mention of the actual date of His birth. As a matter of fact, most evidence would lead one to believe that He was probably and most likely born in the fall, not the winter.
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"December 25th was the day the Romans celebrated the birth of their sun-god."3 The Roman Catholic Church chose December 25th as the day of Jesus' birthday to include Christians in the pagan celebration (hence, another pagan mixture). The customs of exchanging gifts, use of holly and mistletoe, and decorating Christmas trees, were all heathen practices, again, which started years before the birth of Christ.
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In Jeremiah 10:3,4, our Lord specifically commands His people not to adopt the ways of the heathen, by cutting down and erecting Christmas trees, decking them with silver and gold. In Deut. 7:26, He warns, "neither shalt thou bring an abomination in thy house"; for they are "cursed thing(s)" and can be a snare to you. Yet, Christians worldwide choose to compromise and justify their actions, without regard to the Word of God. But thus saith the Lord, "I have given them my Spirit, which is the Spirit of truth. They have no excuse. Their sins are ever before me, and I will recompense, saith the Lord."
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Will the Lord find a faithful bride when He returns? Will He find a church undefiled... without spot, wrinkle, or blemish? "A faithful wife will have no other gods, for she delights in me, and my ways are not grievous unto her. I have found faithfulness only in a few (Mt. 7:14). From the beginning, I have found faithfulness only in a few. Jerusalem is my holy place, but it has been polluted by other gods. I will cut off those who say they are mine, but worship other gods."
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Today there are many brides (churches), but still one true and living God. It is by the Holy Spirit that we become one with Him, for Christ has reconciled all things in the Spirit.
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The decision to whether or not to celebrate the holidays should not become an issue of contention among the saints; it is a personal issue between each individual and God. The true bride of Christ will be "glorious" (Eph. 5:27), "clothed in righteousness" (Rev. 19:7,8), and faithful to ONE GOD! May you be found worthy, faithful, and true!
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Woodrow, Ralph, Babylon Mystery Religion, pg. 156.
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Hislop, The Two Babylons, pg. 103
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The Encyclopedia Americana, vol. 6, pg. 623.
Althea Harris
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[Christmas - Testimony I] [Christmas - Testimony II] [Christmas - Testimony III]