Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
This particular scam involves the stealing of the time, scam and it has come to our attention that it is not just something locally operative, but globally, and that it has been operative for some time. money, among other things, from other people, and in the process, sells those same people into slavery. The worst part of it is that those who fall prey to these frauds end up promoting their scam and most don’t even realize, believe, or care they are doing it, yet, still suffer the effects of slavery, often not knowing what the scam is, where it comes from, and thus, get no deliverance or freedom from it and eventually die from it.
Another strategy of his is to call those who seek to reveal the truth as party-poopers, legalists, and so forth,…to scare them away and those who are inquisitive are afraid to know the truth lest they be, in turn, ridiculed like these people, and so go back and get lost in the festivities again.
I. The Evidence of the Scam
A. The largest piece of evidence is linked to the rampant idolatry against God. Every sin has idolatry in it somewhere. Idolatry is strictly and clearly forbidden in the very first commandment, Thou shalt have no other gods before Me—Exodus 20:3.
B. This is further evidenced by violations against the second commandment in Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,…one case in point: idols of shepherds, wise men, supposed representations of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus scattered around during this time of year, and yet, it is presented as acceptable, even admirable, in some cases.
C. Have you noticed that there are a lot of people walking around, spending money they don’t have.
E. No one is holding a gun to them, but they are willingly, as if by some unseen influence, putting themselves into debt as if they are obligated to give these credit card companies their money.
F. They even camp out in front of the stores, and trample upon each other, fight with each other for things that they will only use in this short life.
G. There is another odd thing going on at this same time of year, and we believe there is a connection. Multitudes of people are buying evergreen trees, even ones which have been cut down, with no apparent protest from the tree huggers. Very strange, indeed!
I. Businesses are advertising at a maddening pace, with certain music that is played only at this time of year, decorating, and raking in the money that comprises over 50% of their annual earnings!
J. Then, there are these guys with red suits and white beards all claiming to be the same person from the North Pole with elves and reindeer working for him. The odd thing about is that everyone seems to be okay with his well-known false impersonations and wild tales of flying reindeer all over the world in one night to deliver toys to all the children all over the world, and forgeries of letters left at many homes.
K. There is an unusual increase of drunkenness, drug abuse, sexual immorality, marital infidelity, murders, suicide, and overall crime during this time of year.
L. Another interesting phenomenon in this is public displays of religion proclaiming joy, peace, and good will towards all. Sounds like a possible attraction of distraction to mask the real perpetrator.
II. The Identity of the Scam
A. The fact that this scam has gone under different names over time and across people and cultures makes it difficult to trace down and identify the culprit.
C. There are some witnesses that testify that we need to look more closely at the kingpin himself and not be ignorant of his devices.
D. We have the witness of Jeremiah the prophet who says in Jeremiah 10:2-4 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
E. This identifies the scam, among other things mentioned beforehand, to be none other than the mass celebrated on December 25th.
III. The Origins of the Scam
A. As Jeremiah indicates and our text, the origins can be traced to false religion, which can be traced to man, and ultimately to Satan the Great Deceiver.
B. According to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, the Roman Catholic Christmas links to the Roman Festival of Saturnalia. It was celebrated by Romans from 17th to 25th of December, which had no traits of Christian custom, but actually celebrates the festival of Saturnus.
The so-called nativity scene is an idolatrous display of an idol of Christ in the manger.
Y. In Alexander Hislops famous book "The Two Babylons" the following quotation concerning the birth of Christ is on page 91 . . . "There is not a word in the Scriptures about the precise day of His birth, or the time of the year He was born."
EE. And as we watch parents, who loudly proclaim the necessity of truthfulness in children, deliberately teach their unsuspecting little ones the monstrous Santa Claus lie.
FF. The name Christmas. This very name is an abomination to our Holy God. The reason for this is that this word Christmas is an unholy and pagan combination of the two words "Christ" and "Mass." Christ died once for our sins (Heb. 9:26). By that ONE offering He has perfected forever every believer (Heb. 10:14).
1. The 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.
II. The Holy Spirit by the mouth of Paul once said, "Ye observe days. and months, and times. and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain" (Gal. 4:10,11).
The godly wise men from the East gave their gifts to the child Jesus Himself -- not to one another or to their friends. They gave to Him from hearts moved by the Holy Spirit. Their gifts were a part of their worship of the new found Messiah. Neither were their gifts common trinkets but presents of great value showing their heart's true love for their Lord. They did not bring to the Christ child presents that they might receive from Him something in return.
2. It was not the wise men but the shepherds who came to visit the babe Jesus in His manger cradle in Bethlehem.
IV. The Escape from the Scam
B. Maybe you have realized that your religion is a scam, you’ve been deceived by the great deceiver, Satan, you’ve deceived yourself, and you’ve been deceived by others.
C. The Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can save you from your sins, your idolatry, your enslavement thereto and the impending doom and death that awaits every sinner without Christ.
D. Christ was born, yes, of a virgin, yes, but He lived a perfect, sinless life, died as the sacrifice for sin and for sinners, in the place of sinners, to grant them escape and deliverance from their sins and the wrath to come upon sinners.
E. Jesus did that by taking on the punishment for sin for all who would turn from their sins and trust in Him and Him alone to save them from their sins.
F. "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Exodus 23:2).
The Pilgrims outlawed the celebration of the mass on December 25th. In fact, no Baptists in America ever celebrated it until the 1800’s.
By the grace of God, refuse to be scammed anymore and may the truth make you free, the Truth of Christ, the Truth of the Holy Scriptures.
How absurd to think we could do it in the spirit of the world, with a Jack Frost clown, a deceptive worldly Santa Claus, and a mixed program of sacred truth with fun, deception and fiction. If it be possible to honor Christ in the giving of gifts, I cannot see how while the gift, giver, and recipient are all in the spirit of the world. The Catholics and high Church Episcopalians may have their Christmas one day in 365 but we have a Christ gift the entire year". C. H. Spurgeon Dec. 24, 1871
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