As the Roman calendar year comes to a close, much of the Western world gets caught up in the revelry of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Although the Christmas season is erroneously linked with the birth of Jesus, few seem to know or care today that these festivities date back to pagan pre-Christian practices that the Bible actually condemns (Jeremiah 10:2). Long ago, God commanded His “chosen people”not to borrow pagan practices to worship Him (Deuteronomy 12:1-2, 29-32). Yet over the centuries, misguided religious leaders adopted these pagan practices and gave them “Christian” names—ignoring biblical commands and spreading lies about when Christ was born and what He taught—confirming the biblical statement that Satan has deceived the entire world (Revelation 12:9). At this time of year, when the world revels in borrowed pagan customs, we have much to be thankful for. We have been called out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9) to understand the truth of God (John 16:13). Jesus told His disciples, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32)—free from the deception that Satan has fostered on an unsuspecting world. We can certainly “rejoice” in our calling and the wonderful truth found in God’s Word (1 Corinthians 13:6).
[24 December 2010]
