(Disclaimer: Some articles and links to articles published in this ezine may contain false doctrine. They are included due to some valuable content. The fact that they are printed here does not mean that we accept or endorse their doctrine. All writings of men, including ours, should be carefully compared to the New Testament writings.)



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First of all, don't crawl my hide and accuse me of making Holidays (Holy days) observance a fellowship issue. I do take them much more seriously than most people. I do definitely consider them an issue worthy of determining fellowship IF they are observed religiously. Every one of those national holidays in the above header are rooted in either paganism or Roman Catholicism or both! Not one of them are even inferred in the Holy Scriptures that they should be observed. Yet millions of people attend some church services on Easter and Christmas even when they don't go any other time. And millions more combine them with their regular services.

I will reluctantly concede, with reservations, to many of our gospel preachers who are far more intelligent and knowledgeable of the scriptures than I, that it may be possible to participate in these things so long as we attach no religious significance to them. But it still bothers me. How do you participate in some widely accepted practices that have strong religious significance to the majority of people, and still maintain a secular appearance? The bunnies and eggs are ancient symbols recognizing the Greek goddess of fertility, Ishtar. When we participate in these activities, does a simple mental reservation excuse us? When we decorate our homes with Christmas or Halloween symbols and greet people with "Merry Christmas" etc., how many recognize that you are placing no religious significance to them? We are supposed to be peculiar people!

In studying the Old Testament, you will find many instances when the Israelites turned to participation in the religious rituals of the pagans. They still knew of Jehovah and I strongly suspect, especially when they first began to participate in those things, that they had no intention of allowing them to replace their true God. They were simply enjoying the celebrations and revelry involved. They finally lost their land and their recognition as a nation because of this idolatrous worship. I feel much better to warn people that they are playing with fire when they participate in any of these things. Be careful. At least do yourself the favor to read about the origins of these pagan celebrations before blindly chooosing to enjoy them.

Now, unless you have something very profound to tell me, I hope you will not challenge my stand with simply saying you can participate in these without bothering your conscience. I've heard all of those things, time and again. They do not satisfy me. Consider the remarks in my musings column below, and read these articles linked here.

Those of us who live today have no doubt that the earth is round and that it is suspended in the heavens, spinning as it circles the sun. However, the people of long ago had various theories about the earth. It was only after the time of Columbus (or perhaps the Viking explorers) that man began to realize that the earth is:

1) round
2) suspended in the heavens

In taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior...Sir Francis Bacon

Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more man's nature runs to the more ought law to weed it out...Sir Francis Bacon

1. It's encouraging when a brand-new Christian takes hold immediately and just keeps on growing.
2. It's encouraging to see a wayward brother or sister come home and be restored to faithful service once again.
3. It's encouraging when a member who has not been attending on Wednesday nights starts coming.
4. It's encouraging when someone who has never taught in our Bible school bravely takes on the challenge-and discovers the joy of teaching!
5. It's encouraging to hear good news from our mission work.
6. It's encouraging when non-members visit our services for the first time-and then keep coming!
7. It's encouraging when we announce a need for taking meals to a family in crisis, and several volunteer.
8. It's encouraging to hear compliments on our congregation from people in the community.
9. It's encouraging when our giving exceeds the budget for the week.
10. It's encouraging to see parents and children all singing praise to God together.
11. It's encouraging to watch as a very young man gets up and leads his first song.
12. It's encouraging to learn about members who take food to shut-ins and provide transportation to the doctor.

(Reprinted from "Sermons and Articles" of Church of Christ USA)

We see many of our liberal brethren who fraternize with, and even participate in unauthorized activities with, our friends in denominationalism. And we criticize them. We say that we would never be caught doing such. Yet we will imitate and participate in celebrations of superstitious pagans, of Catholics who have usurped the authority of Jesus Christ, and teach our children to do the same. When the children learn that bunnies and eggs were used to symbolize the fertility goddess Ishtar, will they cease to practice these things? Their parents didn't.

Many people observe the holiday, Christmas, with all the decorations of the season, even to having a decorated tree. But, many will refuse to put a star in the top of it, or an angel, or a cross. Why? Then people would think they were observing it as Jesus Birthday? But without the star, they don't? That is surely trying to milk every last drop, isn't it?

In order to justify these activities, some refer to our usage of the names for our days of the week. They were named after gods and goddesses. That isn't the same and you should know it. No one has exclusive use of names. My name is Joel, but that does not mean I am the prophet of the Bible. I have been personally acquainted with several hispanics named Jesus. I served in the army during the Korean war with one. Yet no one mistakes them for the Christ. No one thinks that I refer to the sun god, when I say Sunday. I even say Christmas, because that is the name given to the holiday that comes on December 25. That is it's name even if it should not have been.

People almost always ask, what is wrong with giving gifts? What is wrong with hiding colored eggs? The wrong is, you desire to join in these pagan festivities, that's what. If you say no, tell me why you do not rather, teach your children to hide ABC blocks on the first Saturday of June? Why do you not do your gift giving on August 25th and call them gifts from God? Certainly not Santa. You cannot justify these things no matter how hard you try, other than just that "you enjoy doing them". And they glorify pagan gods and goddesses, Santa Claus, and Roman Catholicism and grieve God and Jesus Christ.

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California is a fine place to live--if you happen to be an orange.

Television is the triumph of machine over people.

You can take all the sincerity in Hollywood, place it in the navel of a firefly and still have room enough for three caraway seeds and a producer's heart.