Christmas Paganism

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On Fri, 13 Sep 1996 10:35:41 PST, you wrote:

>I would compare the celebration of christmas with Jewish feast days in
>the old testament. 

That comparison would not really be viable. The feast days were a
required and God given component of the anual cycle which provided the
TRUE worship of God for the nation of Israel. These feast days were as
important to them as the fact of fellowship, fasting and praying are
for us.

It is hard to justify a comparison to careless participation in
ceremony and calendar holidays which derive not fdorm the commandment
of God, but the infusion of pagan religions into an emulation of the
WAY that the Apostles had preached, lived and died in.


> What harm is there in a little festivity/ It doesn't
>necessarily save a soul from hell, but it makes life more fun.

I think that the conflict arises where there is a suggestion that this
ceremonial life might promote error. Some mistake the pagentry for
worship, and holiness, when it is projected as the WORK of the church.

I dont take a stand on this, in particular, but do understand the need
to be sober about this, and to understand the issues.

The calendar that our Christianized culture follows DOES make it
appealing to attempt outreach activities and special efforts to
minister to people on the times surrounding the celebration of the
birth of Jesus Christ, and the ressurection of the Lord.

We must never forget that Apostolics have a social ministy too. For
too long some have imagined that we do not serve the society as our
message is only spiritual. A ministry to our world means dealing with
what is there, and WHO people really are. If this means making a
special service to provide for people who only come to church on
"Easter" to hear the gospel, I will do that, no matter what kind of
condemnation it brings from critics.

We are looking forward to the time when we are the principle clergy
across this land, should the Lord tarry. I expect it in the Holy
Ghost. When that happens, we will draw the calendars.

-mwb