Love the Brethern and Shine As Lights

We put up our holiday tree tonight and afterward sat in the dark and looked at the lights on the tree and
visited, talking about things in our lives. It was really enjoyable. This got me to thinking about all of the
things that are wrong with Christmas and all the things that are right. So, in my euphoric mood I am
going to share the good, the bad and the best about Christmas.
I was listening to a biblical teaching from the 1970’s where the teacher said that some day they, those
who are anti-Christ, will work to get rid of the usage of A.D. and B.C. because that is the usage of Jesus
Christ as a marker for telling time. I heard this teaching twenty years ago and thought that was a little
farfetched. However, there is a movement, currently, to do just that! Do away with B.C. and A.D. for
something like B.C.E. or other such nonsense just to get Christ out of the thoughts of any and everybody.
So, what Christmas does is to bring to remembrance, to the average person, Christ! Although shrouded
by commercialism, still the underlying tone is of Christ. For this I am thankful.
Now the bad. Jesus Christ was not born on December 25th! This was instituted by the Roman Catholic
Church to take advantage of the pagan holidays. You see, the pagans worshipped the sun god and
December 25th was the first day that a person could tell that the sun was starting to rise in it’s zenith
rather than continuing into oblivion and consequently utter darkness for those on Earth. So, the pagans
would have a festival on December 25th to the sun god. Because the Roman Catholics were lacking in
enrollment they decided to change the date of Christ’s birth from September, actually September 11th to
December 25th turning the festival of the sun god into the festival of the son of God, thus, getting more
converts. Pretty shrewd I would say. Not accurate, shrewd.
So, most of the things that we relate to Christmas are pagan. The tree is a phallic symbol. The
decorations and the presents date back to a time of phallic embellishment. Santa Claus was given his red
suit by Coca-Cola back in the 1940’s in an add campaign. Now commercialism has taken over and makes
you feel guilty for not spending enough money on presents. Where can you read that in the Bible? You
can’t!
If this is truly a Holy Day than all would be or at least could be blessed during the season. However, this
time of the year, to be happy, is predicated on having loved ones, basically, boyfriends, girlfriends,
husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, children, etc.. However, how many people are in the perfect position
to enjoy the “holiday season” as promoted? Not very many I can guarantee you.
So, other than a remembrance of Christ what is Christmas and the holiday season good for? Well, if you
look at it from a biblical point of view, a lot! First, let me put in perspective, what the Bible says about
this.
Colossians 2:13-23 (KJV)
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing
over them in it.16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new
moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels,
intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment
ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in
the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of
the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
What Colossians is saying here is that the Christians live above the commandments of men as well as
their ordinances. Not only that – we live above the law.
Galatians 3:23-29 (KJV)
23 But before faith (the faith of Jesus Christ) came, we were kept under the law, shut up(shut off from)
unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto (until, it was the schoolmaster UNTIL)
Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith (of Jesus Christ) is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye
are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
John 8:36 (KJV)
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Have you confessed Jesus as Lord believing in your heart that God has raised him from the dead? Then
you are free from having to observe days and times. So, what can we do to make this holiday season
blessed and accurate according to God’s Word? Let me just say it in one word “family.” WHAT? Well
didn’t I just say a lot of people don’t have family to spend the holiday with? Yep, I did! However, God
designed the Church of Grace so that WE take care of our own! When you read the Pauline Epistles you
will see that much of the epistles are dealing with how the Household of God is to treat one another.
Romans 15:14 (KJV)
14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all
knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
1 Corinthians 16:20 (KJV)
20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.Ephesians 4:1-3 (KJV)
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation
wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering (patience,) forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Colossians 3:16 (KJV)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 (KJV)
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Peter 1:22 (KJV)
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the
brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 John 1:7 (KJV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (KJV)
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the
household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (KJV)
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being
many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether
we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the
body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of
the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where
were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I
have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow
more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given
more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care
one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured,
all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Colossians 3:12-17 (KJV)
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any:
even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and
be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God and the Father by him.
The Christians are to take care of each other! We are to love one another. We are to admonish
one another. We are to love one another. We are to cherish one another. We are ALL part of the
body of Christ and if one member hurts we all hurt. I can relate to this. My wife and I took the
dogs out to the desert for a walk the other day and being 80 pound puppies, they started wrestling
behind me and bowled me over in less time than it takes to say “Wow.” I had a few parts of my
body hurting and you know what? My whole body hurt because of those parts that were hurt.
The Body of Christ is like that. When one of us hurt we all hurt!
This holiday season we can make it better for Christians by doing what is taught by God. Love
one another with a pure heart fervently. Not just your natural family, but, your spiritual family.
By doing this you will fill the voids in peoples lives and truly make this a blessed season.
There is one last thing. I have been teaching you to love one another, however, we, as Christians,
have enough love to bless the unbelievers, those outside the pail, as well.
Matthew 15:22-28 (KJV)
22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have
mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for
she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.
And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Do those things that the Bible teaches and whether it is a holiday or not you will bring light and
love to those in a dark and oppressing world!
Philippians 2:12-16 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a
crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in
vain, neither laboured in vain