Christmas in July: Part 8
Are you still here? Welcome back for the 8th installment of Christmas in July. I truly appreciate that you keep coming back and do not take it lightly that you give me this opportunity to share. I hope that you will be challenged and blessed by what you may learn. Most importantly, my prayer is that YHVH will receive greater honor and glory through the lives of those of us who follow Him as we learn obedience to His ways instead of our own.
In Part 7, we looked at the festivals of Saturnalia and the Kalends of January through the lens of Mr. Clement A. Miles and his book, Christmas in Ritual and Tradition: Christian and Pagan. After re-reading that blog, I feel like I need to back up and mention a few things that I have only lightly touched upon to this point.
#1 -- Ancient people were more closely tied to agriculture than we are today. They understood that both the sun and rain were essential in food production and human survival. Of course, we understand this now, but we also trade food on a global level. A drought in one nation may cause higher prices, but food will generally be available due to our global economy. For ancient peoples, this was not the case.
#2 -- Saturnalia, The Kalends of January, and many other fall/winter festivals were directly tied to worship of the sun. The ancients watched the sunny part of the day grow smaller and smaller as the fall and winter came on. They placed their hope in the sun being "reborn" following the winter solstice. This rebirth would mean crops would have the opportunity to grow, and thus provide food security, meaning human survival, for another year.
So, did these ancient people know any better? Can they really be held accountable for worshiping the sun instead of The Creator of the sun? Paul tells us in the book of Romans that they indeed are held accountable:
In Part 7, we looked at the festivals of Saturnalia and the Kalends of January through the lens of Mr. Clement A. Miles and his book, Christmas in Ritual and Tradition: Christian and Pagan. After re-reading that blog, I feel like I need to back up and mention a few things that I have only lightly touched upon to this point.
#1 -- Ancient people were more closely tied to agriculture than we are today. They understood that both the sun and rain were essential in food production and human survival. Of course, we understand this now, but we also trade food on a global level. A drought in one nation may cause higher prices, but food will generally be available due to our global economy. For ancient peoples, this was not the case.
#2 -- Saturnalia, The Kalends of January, and many other fall/winter festivals were directly tied to worship of the sun. The ancients watched the sunny part of the day grow smaller and smaller as the fall and winter came on. They placed their hope in the sun being "reborn" following the winter solstice. This rebirth would mean crops would have the opportunity to grow, and thus provide food security, meaning human survival, for another year.
So, did these ancient people know any better? Can they really be held accountable for worshiping the sun instead of The Creator of the sun? Paul tells us in the book of Romans that they indeed are held accountable:
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[Rom 1:20-25 KJV]
This is why believers must make certain that we are using the Bible as our ultimate authority for truth. We cannot trust our own thoughts, senses, and hearts to determine truth. We just can't.
So the larger question we must all face is this:
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| A random picture from my own Bible |
Do we give the Bible ultimate authority for determining truth in our lives?
And
If we say that we do, can we continue to ignore the way we have transitioned away from YHVH's feasts and continue in the ignorant traditions of the ancients who "changed the truth of God into a lie" by worshiping the sun instead of the Creator of the sun?
Jesus said this:
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
[Mat 7:17-20 KJV]
How does our fruit look, Friends? Are we living our faith out in such a way that we are able to fulfill this scripture written by Paul in the book of Romans?
11 I say then, Have they [they is referring to Israel - note added by Debbie] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
[Rom 11:11 KJV]
[Rom 11:11 KJV]
You see, we have a responsibility to our brother Israel. It is our job to 💙love 💚Jesus 💛so 💜beautifully that we provoke Israel to become jealous and want what we have. How does it look to them when we reject everything that is Jewish about the Messiah, ignore the feast days of YHVH, and cling to customs "christianized" by the Romans...the very people, by the way, who conquered the Jewish nation and persecuted her mercilessly?
Freedom in Christ isn't for your comfort, Friends.
Freedom in Christ is a tool for reaching Israel and the nations with the good news of The Kingdom of God.
How are we doing with that?
I know I told you that I would share my approach to Christmas...and I will, I promise. But, The Holy Spirit had other plans for today. I will invite you back soon to...
How are we doing with that?
I know I told you that I would share my approach to Christmas...and I will, I promise. But, The Holy Spirit had other plans for today. I will invite you back soon to...
Come Seek With Me!
Ready to Move Forward:
Need to Catch Up:
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