I cant believe its already december, and i still dont feel that its december because of the climate. And what's the most celebrated season every december is Christmas, the alleged "BIRTHDAY of our lord Jesus Christ", Christmas celebrators are happy when this season comes because of the things that makes them happy.
Catholics and Protestants are hypocrites if they will say they celebrate Christmas only and for remembering the birthday of Christ. Yes, it is true that "Christmas" is for "Christ" but the thing is, is "Christ" really the spirit of "Christmas" nowadays?
We all know the answer and the TRUTH. NO.
The true spirit of Christmas nowadays are the following:
-reunions
-receiving and giving gifts
-delicious foods that served only in this season
-children asking for gifts or "pamasko" to their ninong and ninangs
-gatherings
-singing and listening to Christmas songs
-singing Christmas carols while asking money for a donation on houses, roads and streets
-putting Christmas decors
-Christmas shoppings
-watching Christmas shows
-Christmas parties/events
-drinking alcoholic drinks
-believing in Santa Claus
and etc...
And the only reason why Catholics attend masses(here in the Philippines) to what they call "simbang gabi" or literally "simbang madaling araw" is because of the belief that if you complete to attend 9 masses, your wishes will come true. Its also a tradition after these masses to have some bibingka and puto bumbong and etc. which only served during Christmas season. Only hypocrites Christmas celebrators will say they attend masses because of Christ or to REMEMBER CHRIST.
It is also interesting to note that Catholics here in the Philippines filled their chapels when "simbang gabi" comes, wait im wrong, "...Catholics here in the Philippines filled their chapels ONLY WHEN "simbang gabi" comes..." now its better! Those ignorant and non practicing catholics are forced to attend masses because of the belief their wishes will come true if they completed the 9 masses.
They say the true spirit of Christmas is about love, peace, unity and giving. But should we do these only in these season? no. We can do these anytime, every time, and every day. I am not against to others celebrating Christmas, but i am against to their claim that Dec.25 is the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ, i am also against to their claim that Christmas is to remember Christ and for Christ, because these two things are not TRUE.
Its true that during Christmas season, its amazing because we can see wonderful christmas lights and christmas decors, the atmosphere is positive, its pleasant to hear christmas songs, its enjoyable to receive gifts and so on... But the thing is, do you think this tradition is correct? Does the church teaches us the truth about these? Does God PLEASED with all these?
Let me tell you the TRUTH:
Dec. 25 is not Christ's birthday and not celebrated even by the apostles or the church in the 1st century.
“The most widespread myth in the Christendom is that of Christmas. Those who take the Bethlehem birth story as history readily accept the traditional date of Christ’s birthday. But all branches of the church agree that no data exists for determining the day, month, or year of the event, nor was such festival celebrated in Apostolic or early post-apostolic times.” source: Paganism to Christianity in the roman empire
Pagan traditions adopted in Christmas celebrations
“The Christianization of the worship of the sun god produced the Christmas festival… Aurelian (270-5) made Dec. 25th, the sun god’s birthday; an imperial festival. After the victory of the church it was taken over as the birthday of the true sun, as Christmas.” source: Early Christian Art
Candles and Christmas Trees came from Pagans
"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 honor 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. In Egypt that tree was the palm tree; in Rome it was a fir; the palm tree denoting the Pagan messiah, as Baal-Tamar, the fir referring to him as baal-Berith.” source: The two babylons or the papal worship
The bible said we should not live like pagans
“In particular, I want to urge you in the name of the lord, not to on living the aimless kind of life that pagans live. Intellectually they are in the dark, and they are estranged from the life of God, without knowledge because they have shut their hearts to it.” Eph. 4:17-18, Jerusalem bible
These are the reasons why the INC do not participate and do not celebrate Christmas, besides being unbiblical, it is AGAINST TEACHINGS OF GOD. So, you cannot blame us for "ignoring birthday of Christ"(as what others alleged), we only FOLLOW what was written in the bible...
Its interesting to observe that it is more likely Santa Claus is the one who have a birthday every Dec. 25, because they more believe on him, and we can see in their houses that they had a Santa Claus figurines and so on, rather than Christ. If this is the case, then they are celebrating every Dec. 25 the birthday of Santa Claus and therefore the word "Christmas" should be changed to "Clausmas"^^
MOST IMPORTANT:
Saying that Dec.25 is the birthday of our lord Jesus Christ is like saying Jesus Christ is a creation and not a creator therefore not God. Why? Because God has no beginning (Ps.90:2), if Christ has a birthday then Christ, on Dec.25 A.D was created and born in the world.^^
This so called "Chritsmas" has become a celebration of human gratification, not true joy and Spirit-led worship.
ReplyDeleteMat 16:23 Datapuwa't lumingon siya, at sinabi kay Pedro, Lumagay ka sa likuran ko, Satanas: ikaw ay tisod sa akin: sapagka't hindi mo pinagiisip ang mga bagay ng Dios, kundi ang mga bagay ng tao.
mam shirley biblically speaking po, san ba makikita sa biblia na december 25 ipinagutos na i- celebrate ang kapanganakan ni Jesus?
nag exchange gift po ba ang mga apostol?
na tumapat sa mga bahay bahay at mag caroling?
na pumunta sa mga ninong at ninang para humingi ng aginaldo ang mga unang cristiano?
may nakita ka po bang christmas party na naalala si jesus sa kapanganakan nya? na nanalangin sila at nagpasalamat sa mga biyaya? diba inuman? sayawan? kainan?
galing po ako dyan dati at alam ko, ngayon ay convert po ako sa Iglesia ni Cristo
saka kala ko po JIL ka bakit nyo sinusunod ang christmas eh imbensyon lang yan ng katoliko, kaya nga protestante po kayo diba? nag protesta na kayo sa simbahang katoliko eh...
bago po sana mag comment dito basahin muna ang biblia o ang history...peace
You are amazing man!
ReplyDeletesana maunawaan rin yan ng mga Born Again/Christians
ReplyDeleteHi! I happened to stumble upon this blog post because I was just curious about this "INC not celebrating Christmas" thing. Yes, I do agree with you that the true meaning of Christmas seems to be overshadowed by a lot of materialism and worldliness. Those practices you mentioned during the Yuletide season have long become the "standards" of how Filipinos celebrate Christmas, and thus, are already embedded in our culture. Even though some of these practices were not rooted from Christian origins.
ReplyDeleteI think I got the whole picture of why you are so against the mainstream celebration of Christmas, thanks to your very profound post. But I am just too concerned about a series of arguments you stated above. I am a Roman Catholic, and it was apparent to me that you have too many misconceptions and misinterpretations about our Church, our practices and our beliefs. I respect your faith, and it is just saddening and unfair if you just state these kinds of things without sufficient knowledge and understanding. Both sides have to speak out in order to gain understanding. You could consult a Catholic priest, or someone more knowledgeable than me about our stand regarding Christmas and the events that go along with it. I am not going to enumerate what statements would need clarifications, at least for us, because you stated that you do not want debates and arguments.
Thank you for reading this, and God bless you.
Daddy's little girl,
DeleteThanks for you comment, if you want to know more why we do not celebrate Christmas, please visit this link:
http://www.readmeiglesianicristo.blogspot.com/2012/12/ayaw-nga-bang-alalahanin-ng-mga-iglesia.html
1. Wala sa bibliya at hindi iniutos sa bibliya.
(Cannot be found in the bible and was not a commandment from the bible)
2. Hindi rin ipinagdiwang ng mga apostol at ng Iglesia noong unang siglo dahil noong 3rd century lang naimbento.
(It was not celebrated by the apostles and the church in the 1st century because it was only invented in the 3rd century.)
3. Galing sa mga pagano ibang mga practices at traditions na nakapaloob dito.
(Some of the practices and traditions connected to it came from pagans)
4. Hindi kami naniniwala na Dec.25 ngang talaga ang kapanganakan ni Kristo.
(We do not believe that DEC 25 is the REAL DATE of Christ's birthday)
5. Ang history ng CHRISTMAS tuwing DEC. 25 ay napakalaki ng koneksyon sa mga pista ng pagano.
(The history of Christmas every Dec. 25 has a big connection to pagan feasts.)
At higit sa lahat, LABAG SA ARAL NG DIYOS.
(and above all, it is against God's teachings)
Thank you for your concerns but i know what im talking about and i know the explanation of your priests and even catholic apologists regarding "Christmas". But if we will look at the "FACTS", its saddening that Christmas celebrators particularly Catholics still celebrate it even they discovered those as FACTS.
"If we decide to continue sinning after we have learned the truth, then there is no other sacrifice that will take away sins. If we continue sinning, all that is left for us is a fearful time of waiting for the judgment and the angry fire that will destroy those who live against God." Heb. 10:26-27