Well, really, I just present an argument from a Fundamentalist Baptist stance.
First off, Zo’s video:
Some very funny stuff in that video…
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Okay, this is something that a Baptist Pastor sent to me. Please be advised, I might not agree with ALL of this, but they do have a good point…
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Jer 10:2 KJV – 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.
Jer 10:3 KJV – 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.
Jer 10:4 KJV – They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Please watch the videos and read this email I made it as short as I could and still maintain the information needed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo8M0fJxXjA
Christmas is a pagan evil demonic holiday have nothing to do with it. It is not the Birthday of Jesus Christ. And pastors and church elders, men of faith who are head of their families, God will hold you responsible to teach what is holy. Remain separate from the ways of the world. Do not conform to the doctrine of the Nicolaitan’s God has told us he hates those that do.
Rev 2:6 KJV – But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:14 KJV – But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Rev 2:15 KJV – So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Nicolaitans:
nik-o-la’-i-tanz Nikolaitai):
1. The Sect:
A Christian, by name, sect or party of evil influence in early Christianity, especially in the 7 churches of Asia. Their practices were strongly condemned by John, who praised the church in Ephesus for “hating their works” (Rev 2:6), and blamed the church in Pergamum for accepting in some measure their teaching (Rev 2:15).
2. References:
Reference to Nicolaitans is frequent in post-apostolic literature (writings that were written by the churches shortly after the apostils died). According to Irenaeus (Adv. Haer., i.26,3; iii.10,7), followed by Hippolytus (Philos., vii.36), the Nicolaitans are referenced to their Gnostic tendencies regarding the eating of meats offered to idols and the participation in heathen public festivals and holidays.
3. Nicolaitan Controversy:
The problem underlying the Nicolaitan controversy concerned the whole relation of Christianity to paganism and their usages of Festival and holiday pagan traditions. The Nicolaitans disobeyed the command issued to the Gentile churches, by the apostolic council held at Jerusalem in 49-50 AD, that they should refrain from the eating of “things sacrificed to idols” (Acts 15:29).
Act 15:27 KJV – We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell [you] the same things by mouth.
Act 15:28 KJV – For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29 KJV – That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Such a restriction, though seemingly hard, in that it prevented the Christian communities from joining in public festivals, and so brought upon them suspicion and dislike, was yet necessary to prevent a return to a pagan laxity of morals. To this danger the Nicolaitans were themselves a glaring witness, and therefore John was justified in condemning them. In writing to the Corinthians, Paul gives warning against the same evil practices, basing his arguments on consideration for the weaker brethren (compare 1 Cor 8).
1Cr 8:10 KJV – For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
1Cr 8:11 KJV – And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
1Cr 8:12 KJV – But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
4. Nicolaitan the Origin of the Name:
The Pagan Nicolaitan cult comes from the name of the false god they worshiped Nicolas (conqueror of the people) it is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Balsam (“destroyer of the people,” bela’ ‘am); as we find both the Hebrew and Greek names refer to the same false god. Other notable names for this false god are Abaddon, Apollyon; Satan, and Devil. Nicolas is a specific symbolical name given to this false god to represent his role as the god of holidays or feasting and festivals. A Hebrew interpretation of the root meaning of the name is nikola, meaning “let us eat”. Nicolas introduced a false freedom into the Christian Church, i.e. licentiousness (Lacking or ignoring moral discipline. Having no regard for the laws)
Such seducers are described as followers of Balsam or Balaam (“the son of Bosor”, “son of carnality”: bosor means “flesh”). They persuade many Christians to partake in pagan holidays. Many even indulge in “eating idol meats,”; some even join in the “fornication” of the holidays, they do and teach these things as permitted by Christ’s “law of grace”. The Nicolaitans combined evil “deeds” which Jesus “hates” with evil “doctrine.”, also in 2 Peter 2:12-13; 2 Peter 2:15-17
2Pe 2:1 KJV – But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:12 KJV – But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2Pe 2:13 KJV – And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
2Pe 2:14 KJV – Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
2Pe 2:15 KJV – Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pe 2:16 KJV – But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
2Pe 2:17 KJV – These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
The Nicolaitans are in part responsible (together with the Catholic Church) for “Christianity’s” acceptance of Christmas, Easter, Halloween and other unbiblical practices. More importantly, Nicolaitanism, representative of a much broader philosophy, can be blamed for the organized and systematic removal of God’s laws as a central pillar of the Christian way of life. Replaced by a “law of grace” which teaches to not bother following or even learning God’s law as they no longer apply.
5. St Nicolas: the Origin of the Christmas Holiday
The corrupt Catholic Church (the Mystery Babylon, the Great Whore – not covered in this email but Biblically true) in a attempt at conquering the world’s religions and bring about a world religion, as it does with all false gods and holidays of the pagans around the world, merged the pagan rituals with their church. They selected a person from their church with the name Nicolas and made him a saint. Creating St. Nicolas, allowing pagans to have their holiday for the false god Nicolas, only now people would start calling him St. Nicolas. Further they moved the day from the Winter Solstice (the 21st or 22nd) to the 24th, to appease those pagans who refused to merge the holidays, and to prevent offending those Christians who were aware of the pagan Winter Solstice Holiday by simple saying it was a different holiday on a different day. Then to make it appear Christian in origin they announced it was the birthday of Jesus (who was clearly not born in December according to the Bible, but his birthday is obscure enough that only those who studied the bible would know this.)
December 21/22 — Winter Solstice – Yule (The Catholic Church moved the day to the 24th and called it Christmas)
The sun is at its nadir, the year’s longest night. Pagans internalize and synthesize the outward-directed activities of the previous summer months. Some hold a Festival of Lights to commemorate the “mother goddess” (called the queen of heaven in the Bible – This is why the Catholic Church worships Mary as the mother goddess) as giving birth to the “sun god”. Others celebrate the victory of the “Lord of Light” (in the Bible we know him as Lucifer the light bearer) over the darkness as the turning point from which the days will lengthen. The name “Yule” derives from the Norse word for “wheel” (as in the “Wheel of Time” which turns and spins the pattern of the universe – this is where the terms “the universe will sort it out” and “I will leave it up to the universe” comes from ), and many Pagan customs (like those of the Christmas holiday) derive from Norse and Celtic Pagan practices most notable of course is Nicolas or Santa Clause (see video above)
- the Yule log – A Yule log, is a large log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Pagan Yule (or Christmas) celebrations. The Yule log originates from a custom amongst the Germanic peoples in tribute to the god Thor associated with Yule. Thor was associated with oak trees, such as Thor’s Oak.
- the Christmas tree (or Yule tree) – as a evergreen tree does not die (loose its leaves in winter) placing one in your home during this time of year offers protection from death and misfortune to the household Christmas trees used to be hung upside from the ceiling beams (this belief can still be seen sometimes year round by the placing of a pine tree on the top of skyscrapers in many US cities)
- Christmas tree ornaments – pagans would also place magic talismans on the tree to provide additional magical protection to the household
- the custom of Wassailing – Here We Come A-Wassailing (or Here We Come A-Caroling) is a Christmas carol and New Years song. It refers to the ‘wassail’, an alcoholic drink (typically mulled cider) that would be used in ritualistic worship assembly ceremonies of the pagans. The wassail party passes around a bundle of ash sticks, twigs or branches—the ashen faggot—bound with green ash withies, which is then placed onto the fire. As each binding bursts, the watchers toast it with a drink. The unmarried women each choosing a withy, and the first one whose tie snapped would be married the next year. When the bindings have all burst and the bundle has fallen loose, each person who plans to host the festivities next year takes one of the half-burned ash sticks and saves it until the following Christmas, when it will go in the centre of their own ashen faggot. Pagans believe that not burning the ashen faggot in your house brought bad luck, or that having an ashen faggot in the house kept the Devil away. Wiccans believe the ash tree has magical associations: perhaps the most important is the Yggdrasil of Norse mythology, also known as the World Ash Tree. Or World Tree
- the Yule Ham – A Christmas Ham or Yule Ham (Ham is meat sacrificed to a idol and should never be eaten by Christians during the holiday season) is a traditional dish associated with modern Christmas, Yule. The tradition is from the Norse as a tribute to the god Freyr who is associated with boars, harvest and fertility.
- and many others I only provided a few for a understanding.
As Christians the Bible tells us to remain separate from the pagan traditions and as such we should never place a Christmas tree in or around our House, we should never place up Christmas lights in any form, we should never teach our children of St. Nicolas or Santa Clause if we do so we are cursing them. No Christmas Caroling, No Yule log, No elves (which are demons), No means No, Obey God’s Laws.
Rom 12:2 KJV – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
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Again, I do agree with some of that. I personally do not get into the Holiday, as I celebrate Christ in my heart daily.