{"id":4217,"date":"2008-12-20T16:57:36","date_gmt":"2008-12-20T16:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/?p=4217"},"modified":"2026-01-24T17:01:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T17:01:55","slug":"origins-of-christ-mass-bible-study-the-christ-mass-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/2008\/12\/20\/origins-of-christ-mass-bible-study-the-christ-mass-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"Origins of Christ \u2018mass\u2019 Bible Study  &#8211;  The Christ \u2018mass\u2019 Tree"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Origins of Christ \u2018mass\u2019 Bible Study\u00a0 &#8212;\u00a0 The Christ \u2018mass\u2019 Tree<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Holiday (Holy Day)<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Originally, a religious anniversary; now, a day set apart for exemption from labor or for a formal or informal celebration.<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Webster\u2019s University Dictionary Unabridged, 1942<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">As with the origins of most all religiously celebrated \u2018Christian\u2019 holy days there are often different historical backgrounds to traditions that often were mixed with various cultures to form what is now known.\u00a0 Pagan nations often kept many of their pagan traditions and \u2018christianized\u2019 them while the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) heavily participated in continuing a good majority of such traditions while giving so-called Christian themes to them.\u00a0 This bible study is going to take an in-depth look at the origin of the \u201cchristmas tree\u201d.<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Every year people all over the world purchase a tree, decorate it with lights and often an angel on top, and display this tree as the centerpiece of their living room.\u00a0 What exactly does a tree have to do with the birth of Jesus?<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">One origin of the tree was \u2018an early Roman ritual\u2026to exchange green tree branches on January 1.\u00a0 They believed this would bring them good luck.\u20191\u00a0 Another were the Scandinavian\u2019s who worshipped evergreen trees.\u00a0 \u2018They believed god-like spirits inhabited them so people brought trees into their homes to please the spirits and seek their blessing.\u20192<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tree entered America through the German immigrants.\u00a0 The popular origin of the \u201cchristmas tree\u201d stems from a German, Martin Luther (1483-1546).\u00a0 \u2018One clear, brisk Christmas Eve, Martin Luther was walking home under the star-studded sky.\u00a0 It was so wonderful.\u00a0 As he walked he tried to think how he could catch the beauty of the eve and bring it home to his children.\u00a0 Suddenly he thought of a large evergreen tree gleaming with candles.\u00a0 He proceeded to find a tree, cut it down and take it home to decorate it.\u00a0 His children were delighted.\u00a0 Hence we have the beginnings of our modern \u201cChristmas Tree\u201d with all the trimmings.\u20193\u00a0 However with a little bit of research we can easily prove that Martin Luther was not the only one to ever think of putting a tree in the home with candles on it.\u00a0 In fact, as we will soon learn, this stems from a much older tradition.\u00a0 Take a look at your Christ \u2018mass\u2019 lights, they still resemble miniature candles.<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Jeremiah 10:3-4 we learn that the worship of trees is spoken against, long before the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord.\u00a0 <strong><em>\u201cFor the customs of the people are vain; for one cuts a tree out of the forest with the ax, the work of the hands of the craftsman.\u00a0 They make it beautiful with silver and gold they fasten it with nails and hammers, so that it will not totter.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>4<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Modern books often leave out much of the historical facts regarding the origins of Christ \u2018mass\u2019 and the traditions that go along with it.\u00a0 In order to make this bible study the author has sought various sources of information that was obtained largely through the Chicagoland area libraries where old books may still be found and cited.\u00a0 The following information comes from such a book.<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018A Scandinavian myth of great antiquity speaks of a \u201cservice-tree\u201d sprung from the blood-drenched soil where two lovers had been killed by violence.\u00a0 At certain nights in the Christmas season mysterious lights were seen flaming in its branches that no wind could extinguish.\u20195<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018The French have their legend as well.\u00a0 In a romance of the thirteenth century the hero finds a gigantic tree whose branches are covered with burning candles, some standing erect, the others upside down, and on the top the vision of a child with a halo around his curly head.\u00a0 The knight asked the Pope for an explanation, who declared that the tree undoubtedly represented\u00a0 mankind, the child the Saviour, and the candles good and bad human beings.\u20196<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018Wolfram von Eschenbach, the famous minstrel, sings of a prevailing custom of welcoming guests with branches ornamented with burning candles.\u20197<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">As stated before Martin Luther was certainly not the first to come up with the idea of having a decorated tree.\u00a0 \u2018An older German legend makes St. Winfrid the inventor of the idea.\u00a0 In the midst of a crowd of converts he hewed down a giant oak which had formerly been the object of their Druidic worship.\u00a0 \u201cThen the sole wonder in Winfrid\u2019s life came to pass.\u00a0 For as the bright blade circled above his head, and the flakes of wood flew from the deepening gash in the body of the tree, a whirling wind passed over the forest.\u00a0 It gripped the oak from its foundations.\u00a0 Backward it fell like a tower, groaning as it split asunder in four pieces.\u00a0 But just behind it, and unharmed by the ruin, stood a young fir-tree, pointing a green spire towards the stars.\u00a0 Winfrid let the axe drop, and turned to speak to the people.\u00a0 \u2018This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be your holy tree to-night.\u00a0 It is wood of peace, for your houses are built of the fir.\u00a0 It is the sign of an endless life, for it leaves are ever green.\u00a0 See how it points upward to heaven.\u00a0 Let this be called the tree of the Christ-child; gather about it, not in the wild wood, but in your own homes; there it will shelter no deeds of blood, but loving gifts and rites of kindness.\u2019\u201d\u20198<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tree \u2018\u2026may have some remote connection with the great tree Yggdrasil of Norse mythology.\u00a0 It may be a revival of the pine-trees in the Roman Saturnalia which were decorated with images of Bacchus, as described by Virgil in the Georgics:\u20199<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>In jolly hymns they praise the god of wine,<\/em><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>Whose earthen images adorn the pine,<\/em><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>And these are hung on high in honor of the vine.<\/em><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0(Dryden\u2019s translation.)<\/em><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">He continues \u2018\u201dTwo other suggestions are offered by Sir George Birdswood in the <em>Asiatic Quarterly Review<\/em> (vol. i. pp. 19-20) \u201cIt has been explained\u201d, he says, \u201cas being derived from the ancient Egyptian practice of decking houses at the time of the winter solstice with branches of the date-palm, the symbol of life triumphant over death, and therefore of perennial life in the renewal of each bounteous year; and the supporters of tehse suggestions point to the fact that pyramids of green paper, covered all over with wreaths and festoons of flowers and strings of sweetmeats, are often substituted in Germany for the Christmas tree.\u00a0 But similar pyramids, together with similar trees, the latter usually altogether artificial, and often constructed of the costliest materials, even of gems and gold, are carried about at marriage ceremonies in India and at many festivals, such as the Huli, or annual festival of the vernal equinox.\u00a0 These pyramids represent Mount Meru and the earth, and the trees, the Kalpadrama, or Tree of Ages, and the fragrant Parijata, the tree of every perfect gift, which grew on the slopes of Mount Meru; and in their inlarged sense they symbolize the splendor of the outstretched heavens, as of a tree, laden with golden fruit, deep-rooted in the earth.\u00a0 Both pyramids and trees are also phallic emblems of life, individual, terrestrial, and celestial.\u00a0 Therefore, if a relationship exists between the Egyptian practice of decking houses at the winter solstice with branches of the date-palm, and the German and English customs of using gift-bearing and brilliantly illuminated evergreen trees, which are nearly always firs, as a Christmas decoration, it is most probably due to collateral rather than to direct descent; and this is indicated by the Egyptians having regarded the date-palm not only as an emblem of immortality, but also of starlit firmament.\u2019\u201d10<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018The suggestion as to collateral rather than direct descent is eminently plausible.\u00a0 The legends already quoted show that even in medieval times there was a tradition of holiness investing an illuminated tree which made it mystically appropriate to the season of the winter solstice\u2026about this time the Jews celebrated their feats of Chanuckah (q. v.), or Lights, also known as the Feast of the Dedication.\u00a0 Lighted candles are a feature of the Jewish feast.\u00a0 Innumerable lights must therefore have been twinkling in every Jewish house in Bethlehem and Nazareth at about the reputed time of the Saviour\u2019s birth.\u00a0 It is worthy of note that the German name for Christmas is Weihnacht, the Night of Dedication, and that the Greeks call Christmas the Feast of Lights.\u00a0 These vague traditions margining together finally led to the permanent establishment of the Christmas-tree.\u00a0 As a regular institution, however, it can be traced back only to the sixteenth century.\u00a0 During the Middle Ages it suddenly appears in Strassburg.\u00a0 A valuable authentic manuscript of 1608, by a Strassburg burgher, now in a private collection in Friedberg, Hesse, describes the tree as a feature of the Christmas season.\u00a0 The manuscript of a book entitled \u201cThe Milk of Catechism,\u201d by the Strassburg theologian Dannbauer, mentions the same subject in a similar way.\u00a0 For two hundred years the fashion maintained itself along the Rhine, when suddenly, at the beginning of this century, itspread all over Germany, and fifty years later had conquered Christendom.\u2019 11<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018The first description of a Christmas-tree in modern literature is to be found in \u201cThe Nut-Cracker,\u201d a fairy-tale by Fouque and Hofffmann.\u201912<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018In 1830 the Christmas-tree was introduced by Queen Caroline into Munich.\u00a0 At the same time it beat its path through Bohemia into Hungary, where it became fashionable among the Magyar aristocracy.\u00a0 In 1840 the Duchess Helena of Orleans, brought it to the Tuileries.\u00a0 Empress Eugenie also patronized it, but the middle class it was still considered an intruder of Alsatian origin.\u00a0 In 1860 the German residents of Paris could procure a Christmas-tree only with the greatest difficulty.\u00a0 However, nine years later the trees were regularly sold in the market.\u201913\u00a0 Furthermore, \u2018It was the marriage of Queen Victoria to a German prince which led to the introduction of the German custom into England.\u201914<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">A more modern source concurs \u2018Baal-Berith (the Babylonian Tammuz) was symbolized as an evergreen, or immortal tree.\u00a0 The Christmas tree, then decked with gold (diety), and silver (unlimited provision), represents the deified, reincarnation life of Nimrod, which has sprung forth from the dead tree stump.\u201915\u00a0 From yet another online source the following information is cited, \u2018Since the earliest of times, trees, especially green evergreens, were worshipped by the pagans.\u00a0 To them it represented life and freshness.\u00a0 Since it was EVER green, it always had life.\u00a0 The trees were worshipped as symbols as symbols of life, fertility, sexual potency and reproduction (emphasis in original).\u201916<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring back to another old source we turn to Alexander Hislop.\u00a0 He has this to say about the origin of the Christ \u2018mass\u2019 tree, \u2018The Christmas tree, now so common amoung us, was equally common in PAGAN ROME AND PAGAN EGYPT (emphasis in original).\u00a0 In Egypt that tree was the palm tree; in Rome it was the fir; the palm tree denoting the Pagan Messiah as Baal-Tamar the fir referring to him as Ball-Berith.\u00a0 The mother of Adonis, the sun god and great mediatorial divinity, was mystically said to have been changed into a TREE, and when in that state to have brought forth her divine son.\u00a0 If the mother was a tree, the son must have been recognized as the \u2018Man the branch.\u2019\u00a0 And this entirely accounts for putting the Yule Log into the fire on Christmas-eve, and the appearance of the Christmas tree the next morning.\u00a0 The Christmas tree, as has been stated, was generally at Rome a different tree, even the fir; but the very same idea as was implied in the palm-tree was implied in the Christmas fir; for that covertly symbolized the new-born God as BAAL-BERITH, \u2018Lord of the Covenant,\u2019 and thus shadowed forth the perpetuity and everlasting nature of his power, now that after having fallen before his enemies, he has risen triumphant over them all.\u00a0 Therefore, the 25<sup>th<\/sup> of December, the day that was observed at Rome as the day when the victorious god appeared on eath, was held as the Natalis invicti solis, \u2018The birthday of the Unconquerable Sun.\u00a0 Now the Yule Log is the dead stock of Nimrod, deified as the sun god, but cut down by his enemies; the Christmas tree is Nimrod redivivus \u2013 the slain god comes to life again.\u201917<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Please note here that in different cultures the same pagan gods were often worshipped with different names.\u00a0 Once again a modern source will be cited for the final time.\u00a0 \u2018The first decorating of an evergreen tree was done by pagans in honor of their god Adonis, who after being slain was brought to life by the serpent Aesculapius.\u00a0 The representation of this slain god was a dead stump of a tree.\u00a0 Around this stump coiled the snake Aesculapius symbol of life restoring.\u00a0 And lo \u2013 from the roots of the dead tree comes forth another and different tree \u2013 an evergreen tree symbolic to pagans of a god who cannot die!\u00a0 In Egypt this god was worshipped in a palm tree as Baal-Tamar.\u00a0 The fir tree was worshipped in Rome as the same new born god as Baal-Berith, who was restored to life by the same serpent, and a feast was held in honor of him on December 25<sup>th<\/sup> called the \u201cBirthday of the unconquered Sun.\u201d\u00a0 Now in Babylon\u2019s \u201cMystery\u201d system of idol worship the sun was called \u201cBaal,\u201d\u2026so when Tammuz the son of the queen of heaven was worshiped as God he was also reverenced by the name of Baal.\u00a0 \u2026.the Roman Catholic Church has brought down through the ages to us, the paganism of Baal or the worship of the sun, mingled with the worship of Aesculapius the serpent.\u201918<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Once again referring back to a few more pieces of information contained in old books we will finish up with the origin of the Christ \u2018mass\u2019 tree.\u00a0 As with the lights that are put on the tree this source sheds some light, no pun intended, on the situation, \u2018The lighting of it with candles undoubtedly grew out of the belief that candles appeared miraculously on various trees at the Christmas season.\u201919\u00a0 Going back to not only the tree itself but a brief mention of the origins of the green (oft times another color) garland that also accompanies many homes the following information is bestowed, \u2018The decking of churches, houses, and shops with evergreens at Christmas, springs from a period far anterior to the revelation of Christianity, and seems proximately to be derived from the customs prevalent during the Saturnalia of the inhabitants of Rome ornamenting their temples and dwelling with green boughs.\u00a0 From this latter circumstance, we find several early ecclesiastical councils prohibiting the members of the church to imitate the pagans in thus ornamenting their houses.\u00a0 But in process of time, the pagan custom was like others of a similar origin, introduced into and incorporated with the ceremonies of the church itself.\u00a0 The sanction of our Saviour likewise came to be pleaded for the practice, he having entered Jerusalem in triumph amid the shouts of the people, who strewed palm-branches in his way.\u00a0 It is evident that the use of flowers and green boughs as a means of decoration, is almost instinctive in human nature, and we accordingly find scarcely any nation, civilized or savage, with which it has not become more or less familiar.\u00a0 The Jews employed it in their Feast of Tabernacles, in the month of September; the ancient Druids and other Celtic nations hung up the mistletoes and green branches of different kinds over their doors to propitiate the woodland spirits; and a similar usage prevailed, as we have seen, in Rome.\u2019\u00a0 Continuing, \u2018Stow, that invaluable chronicler, informs us in his Survey of London, that \u201cagainst the feast of Christmas every man\u2019s house, as also their parish churches, were decked with holme (the evergreen oak), ivy, bayes, and whatsoever the season of year afforded to be green.\u00a0 The conduits and standards in the streets were likewise garnished: among the which I read, that in the year 1444, by tempest of thunder and lightning, towards the morning of Candlemas-day, at the Leadenhall, in Cornhill, a standard of tree, being set up in the midst of the pavement, fast in the ground, nailed full of holme and ivie, for disport of Christmass to the people, was torne up and cast downe by the malignant spirit (as was thought), and the stones of the pavement all about were cast in the streets, and into divers houses, so that the people were sore aghast at the great tempest.\u201d\u201920<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now that an in-depth look at the various origins of the Christ \u2018mass\u2019 tree have been stated the following question must be asked.\u00a0 Which of the origins had a Christian origin?\u00a0 Well the answer is none, in fact the origin of the Christ \u2018mass\u2019 tree predates the birth of Jesus.\u00a0 Please note that this study only covers one aspect of one holiday.\u00a0 So what do Christians do in regards to this pagan practice?\u00a0 From here let\u2019s explore the Holy Scriptures and see what God has to say regarding pagan practices.<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cAnd it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>Israel<\/em><\/strong><strong><em> turned back and committed adultery with the Baals, and established Baal-Berith as their god.\u201d\u00a0 Judges <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>8:33<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cBut the path of the just is as the brightness of dawn, that keeps getting brighter until it is fully daytime.\u00a0 The way of the wicked is darkness; they do not know at what they stumble.\u201d\u00a0 Proverbs 4:18-19<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cFor we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done whether good or bad.\u201d\u00a0 2 Corinthians 5:10<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cYou shall not follow the majority in doing evil\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Exodus 23:2a<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cYou shall burn the graven images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to Jehovah your God.\u00a0 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be utterly destroyed like it.\u00a0 You shall detest it unto abomination and loathe it unto abhorrence, for it is a prohibited thing.\u201d \u00a0Deuteronomy 7:25-26<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201ctake heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods?\u00a0 I also will do likewise.\u00a0 You shall not do so unto Jehovah your God; for everything that is an abomination to Jehovah which He has hated, they have done unto their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire unto their gods.\u201d\u00a0 Deuteronomy 12:30-31<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cTo whom then will you compare the Mighty God?\u00a0 Or what likeness will you compare to Him?\u201d\u00a0 Isaiah 40:18<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cWhoever is too poor for such an offering chooses a tree that will not rot; he looks for a skillful workman to prepare a graven image that will not totter.:\u00a0 Isaiah 40:20<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cTo whom then will you compare Me, or with who am I equal? Says the Holy One.\u201d\u00a0 Isaiah 40:25<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">A reminder that nowhere in the Word of God are we told to remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u00a0 We are commanded to remember His death, however.\u00a0 (<strong><em>Luke 22:18-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26<\/em><\/strong>)<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">This bible study will close with the following verses.<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cAnd what agreement has Christ with Belial?\u201d\u00a0 2 Corinthians 6:15a<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cBut test all things; hold fast what is good.\u00a0 Abstain from every form of evil.\u201d\u00a0 2 Thessalonians 5:21-22<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><em>\u201cCome out of her, my people, so that you not share in her sins, and so you not receive of her plagues.\u201d\u00a0 Revelation 18:4b<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">A final thought:<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cFor preventing disorders, arising in several places within this jurisdiction by reason of some still observing such festivals as were superstitiously kept in other communities, to the great dishonor of God and offense of others: it is therefore ordered by this court and the authority thereof that whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way, upon any such account as aforesaid, every such person so offending shall pay for every such offence five shilling as a fine to the county.\u201d<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the records of the General Court,<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">Massachusetts Bay Colony<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">May 11, 1659<\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>References:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>\n<h3>Logos Communication Consortium brochure<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Holy Scriptures, VW, 2006<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Curiosities of Popular Customs, Walsh, 1897<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>http:\/\/www.demonbuster.com\/christmas.html<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>http:\/\/www.jesus-is-lord.com\/tree.htm<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>The Two Babylons, Hislop, 1919<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>http:\/\/www.jesus-is-lord.com\/christm3.htm<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Source Unknown \u2013 Unfortunately the copies made from the original book do not include the title of the book or the author.<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>The Book of Days, Chambers, 1879<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>All scripture is taken from the VW 2006 edition of the Holy Scriptures.\u00a0 www.a-voice.org<\/strong><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Origins of Christ \u2018mass\u2019 Bible Study\u00a0 &#8212;\u00a0 The Christ \u2018mass\u2019 Tree &nbsp; Holiday (Holy Day) &nbsp; Originally, a religious anniversary; now, a day set apart for exemption from labor or for a formal or informal celebration. &nbsp; Webster\u2019s University Dictionary Unabridged, 1942 &nbsp; As with the origins of most all religiously celebrated \u2018Christian\u2019 holy days [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1328],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holiday"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4217"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4222,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4217\/revisions\/4222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}