What's that popular mantra these days? Something like "Keep the Mass in Christmas", or did we miss that part on purpose?
This is only part of why I do not celebrate Christmas. Hear me out please before jumping to conclusions...
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. Proverbs 18:13
"Christmas" is a compound word originating in the term "Christ's Mass". It is derived from the Middle English Cristemasse, which is from Old English Crīstesmæsse... Crīst... is from Greek Khrīstos...and mæsse is from Latin missa, the celebration of the Eucharist...(Wikipedia via other sources).
More on the etymology of the word itself:
Christmas (n.) late Old English Cristes mæsse, from Christ (and retaining the original vowel sound) + mass (n.2). Written as one word from mid-14c. As a verb from 1590s. Father Christmas first attested in a carol attributed to Richard Smart, Rector of Plymtree (Devon) from 1435-77. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Christmas
Christmas comes from the Old English words Cristes moesse, 'the mass or festival of Christ'. The first celebration took place in Rome about the middle of the fourth century. http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/e05.html
I am reposting this due with the hopes of getting people to think deeper on these things. The Bible says to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil”. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
This irony of the day is that it is truly materialistically and emotionally focused but it is traditionally disguised and thus excused as the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
The mass part of the word originates from the celebration of the Eucharist which is the extra-biblical Catholic celebration of the supposed actual body and blood of Jesus appearing (transubstantiation) in the ritual called ‘mass’.
Herein lies more irony. A word that is catholic in etymology is embraced by the Protestants and evangelicals who adamantly insist on keeping the ‘Christ’ in Christmas but somehow excuse any attention to be given to the ‘mass’ part of the equation.
The irony goes even deeper and more sinister still.
The Bible tells us through Paul’s writing that the correct use of the bread and wine was that we were to symbolically use these to remind us of what Jesus did for us to be saved and to do so until Jesus returns. It is quite interesting that we are specifically told to remember his death until he comes again but no where are we told to celebrate his birth. If we are honest about it and call it what it is, it as a compromise alongside the world’s materialistic and emotional day of so-called giving (yet the getting is why most do it, I was there once myself...).
In short, Christmas is a word that denotes the celebration of the Death of Jesus in the pure make up of the word itself yet somehow we have, through the traditions of man, twisted it in order to excuse the celebration of the day where many a Christian find themselves on their knees in front of a tree excited about what material surprise will come forth. All this with Satan Clause (anagram intended) cheering us on. Santa Clause is technically an anti-Christ as he is given the attributes of omniscience (he knows if you’ve been bad or good) and omnipresence (he gets to everyone’s house in one night, essentially you would have be everywhere at the same time to do that or at least somewhere in that ballpark). These attributes as any Christian should know are only possessed by God himself and even to pretend to give these to someone or something else is what the apostle John and the entirety of the council of God (Bible) tells us is the spirit of the anti-christ is (against God, false god, false christ, image of a god or something close, etc).
I have arrived at an honest conclusion for myself that this day is a compromise for me as a Christian to partake in. I have no Biblical command or encouragement to celebrate it but I do have the specific command to remember the death of Jesus. My Saviour was born for the sole purpose of dying for my sins. I am thankful He was born but more importantly I am forever grateful to be saved through His death. I choose not to detract in any way from that focus.
The mass part of the word originates from the celebration of the Eucharist which is the extra-biblical Catholic celebration of the supposed actual body and blood of Jesus appearing (transubstantiation) in the ritual called ‘mass’.
Herein lies more irony. A word that is catholic in etymology is embraced by the Protestants and evangelicals who adamantly insist on keeping the ‘Christ’ in Christmas but somehow excuse any attention to be given to the ‘mass’ part of the equation.
The irony goes even deeper and more sinister still.
The Bible tells us through Paul’s writing that the correct use of the bread and wine was that we were to symbolically use these to remind us of what Jesus did for us to be saved and to do so until Jesus returns. It is quite interesting that we are specifically told to remember his death until he comes again but no where are we told to celebrate his birth. If we are honest about it and call it what it is, it as a compromise alongside the world’s materialistic and emotional day of so-called giving (yet the getting is why most do it, I was there once myself...).
In short, Christmas is a word that denotes the celebration of the Death of Jesus in the pure make up of the word itself yet somehow we have, through the traditions of man, twisted it in order to excuse the celebration of the day where many a Christian find themselves on their knees in front of a tree excited about what material surprise will come forth. All this with Satan Clause (anagram intended) cheering us on. Santa Clause is technically an anti-Christ as he is given the attributes of omniscience (he knows if you’ve been bad or good) and omnipresence (he gets to everyone’s house in one night, essentially you would have be everywhere at the same time to do that or at least somewhere in that ballpark). These attributes as any Christian should know are only possessed by God himself and even to pretend to give these to someone or something else is what the apostle John and the entirety of the council of God (Bible) tells us is the spirit of the anti-christ is (against God, false god, false christ, image of a god or something close, etc).
I have arrived at an honest conclusion for myself that this day is a compromise for me as a Christian to partake in. I have no Biblical command or encouragement to celebrate it but I do have the specific command to remember the death of Jesus. My Saviour was born for the sole purpose of dying for my sins. I am thankful He was born but more importantly I am forever grateful to be saved through His death. I choose not to detract in any way from that focus.
So the way most today approach the so-called defense of their right to celebrate this day is both spiritually and intellectually dishonest. Logic dictates a fair look at this, if you are a believer in the death and resurrection of Christ and understand the intense severity of what He did for us on the cross some two thousand so years ago then it does matter...
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
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