Should we celebrate Christmas?

Should we Celebrate Christmas?
FROM ELIYAH.COM
Edited by: Paul D. Newman
(Also see related study, "Should There Be Idolatry in Our Worship?")
Click here for RealAudio version

Tradition
Sometimes tradition is acceptable and perhaps even pleasing in the sight of YHVH. Sometimes it is not acceptable and is even hated by Him. The evil of traditions that transgress the commandment of YHVH was a key teaching of Yahshua HaMashiach:
Matt 15:1 (NKJV) Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Yerushalayim came to Yahshua, saying, 2 "Why do Your talmidim transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."
I hear people ask me this, "Why do you not celebrate Christmas (transgress the traditions of our elders)?". Nowhere in the pages of scripture do we find a command to keep the celebration of Christmas. Nowhere in the pages of scripture do we find an example of any talmid keeping Christmas. The only time Christmas is even mentioned in the pages of scripture is to condemn it (as we will see). So, my answer to this question would be, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of YHVH because of your tradition?".
3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of Elohim because of your tradition? 4 "For Elohim commanded, saying, `Honor your father and your mother'; and, `He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 5 "But you say, `Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to Elohim" 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of Elohim of none effect by your tradition.
This was an example of how the scribes and Pharisees forsook the commandment of YHVH in favor of their tradition. As I will share, Christmas is also transgressing the commandment of YHVH in favor of tradition. What does Yahshua think about this?
7 "Hypocrites! Well did YeshaYahu (Isaiah) prophesy about you, saying: 8 `These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.' "
Christmas is honoring with the lips but it is one of many vain doctrines and commandments of men. Again, there is not a single scripture in the scriptures that tells us that we are to celebrate the birth nor the resurrection of Yahshua HaMashiach. Let alone in a pagan way!
So yes, I do believe we must question these traditions that have been handed down to this generation even though few dare to. Many Christians speak against the Catholic traditions of Lent, Ash Wednesday, etc. but fail to (or refuse to) recognize that the same types of pagan elements exist in the celebration of Christmas and Easter! But how did these festivals get their start?

Origin of Christmas
The following is a quote from the 2000 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 11 ; page 390.
"During the later periods of Roman history, sun worship gained in importance and ultimately led to what has been called a 'solar monotheism.' Nearly all the gods of the period were possessed of Solar qualities, and both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities. The feast of Sol and Victus (open unconquered Sun) on December 25th was celebrated with great joy, and eventually this date was taken over by the "Christians" as Christmas, the birthday of Christ."
Notice how it says "both Christ and Mithra acquired the traits of solar deities"? The "Christians" were apparently trying to get more converts so they tried to "paganize" the Mashiach to make Him more attractive to pagans. They even officially brought the feast of the unconquered sun into their worship in 336 AD. This is the origin of Christmas.
But the real question is, "Who converted who?" Do we murder to bring a murderer to Yahshua? Do we rape to bring a rapist to the Mashiach? It is true that by 336AD, the mainstream beliefs of "Christianity" were already far from the truth the apostles taught anyway. However, even giving them that, shouldn't true believers be teaching the unbelievers the true way of YHVH rather than the unbelievers teaching believers these pagan customs and practices? Certainly! Yet, the "Christians" not only learned these heathen ways, they also incorporated them into their worship. Scripture says:
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Today, Christmas is a very popular holiday. However, as is often the case, what is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular. Christmas means 'mass for Christ'. The name of the holiday is much newer than the holiday itself. The customs associated with Christmas, in one form or another, have been celebrated for literally thousands of years. 'Christmas' is just a new name for an old holiday.
There is no doubt that the customs that are associated with Christmas, as well as the idea of a deity being born on December 25th are of pagan origin. One need only look to an encyclopedia or even many local newspapers in the 12th month of the year to find this truth. The real issue is whether or not we should walk in these customs. So what is so bad about it? Is it just for the children? What should we be teaching our children? Truth or lies?
The truth is that the Mashiach was not born on December 25th. December 25th is the birthday of nearly every pagan god ever invented! In fact, the pagan customs associated with Christmas are clearly condemned in the scriptures. Paganism/Idolatry is something that is against YHVH. If we know that the roots of Christmas are of pagan origin, shouldn't the roots of our worship be in the scriptures, rather than paganism? Consider the scriptures that I will quote that clearly proclaim that the keeping of these festivals is sinful. Perhaps a section on the origins of these festivals will be added to my Home Page in the future. However, for now I ask that you seek this out for yourself. [Alexander Hissop's "The Two Babylons" is an excellent source.] YHVH's people should always seek the truth. Consider these scriptures:
YermeYahu 10:1 Hear the word which YHVH speaks to you, O house of Yisra'el. 2 Thus says YHVH: "Do not learn the way of the Goyim; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Goyim are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. 4 They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. First of all, YHVH is telling us in this verse "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles" Don't even learn it, let alone practice it and incorporate it into the worship of YHVH! Secondly, it says that the Gentiles were dismayed at the signs of heaven. History tells us that when the sun began to go further away from the earth and the days grew shorter in the winter, the sun worshipping Gentiles were "dismayed", and feared that the sun would not return. So they held certain festivals just after the time of the Winter Solstice when it did begin to return. This return of the sun is why December 25th is the birthday of so many solar deities. One of the customs the pagans has was to decorate a tree that they had cut down and fasten it so that would not topple. YHVH tells us not to learn the way of the heathen. And here He even goes so far as describe a custom that is a way of the heathen. Yet, we see this same custom exist even today which is called the Christmas tree. Have you ever wondered why in the world someone would do something as strange as cut down a tree and put it in their house and then decorate it with all different types of ornaments? Not only is it odd, it is wrong. This custom, along with other pagan customs like it are clearly condemned in this passage. We don't need a prophet to come and tell us today that this custom is wrong. YermeYahu (Jeremiah) said so a long time ago!
This custom, along with other pagan customs like it are clearly condemned in this passage. Other customs include Mistletoe, the Yule log and Santa Claus. If you seek, you will find that these things are rooted in idolatry also.

Santa Claus
All over the world, Santa Claus is God to the children of the world (move the n to the end of Santa). Others say 'Father Christmas'. Parents purposely and deliberately lie to their children and tell them that they should fear Santa Claus because "he knows if you've been bad or good". These same parents also lie to their children about the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy. Then they wonder why their children become liars and don't believe the Mashiach is real later on in life. This is clearly a total abomination to YHVH. You don't have to look very far in the word of YHVH to find out how much he loathes idolatry and lies. YHVH is the only true Mighty One. Our children look to us and believe every word we say. Do they not deserve the truth? How abominable it is for a believer to teach their children to fear Santa Claus and in so doing creep an idol into the conscience of a child!

Lies, lies everything is lies
The very foundation of the Christmas holiday is a lie. The Mashiach was not born December 25th. He did not ask us to celebrate his birthday. He did not say to set up a tree in our house and decorate it and our houses with anything. Santa Claus does not exist. He doesn't have reindeer that fly and he isn't going to come on December 25th and leave any gifts. Everything is a lie. Is YHVH the originator of this holiday? Or is it the father of lies? Yahshua condemned the leaders of that generation for teaching lies:
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
It's high time that we forsake these lies and abide in the truth! Let's forsake this foolish practice of yoking the Mashiach (who said "I am the TRUTH") together with lies, for He has nothing to do with lies.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his mitzvot, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 5 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
The book of Revelation also predicts that those who hate YHVH will be glad when the two witnesses of YHVH die, for they will make merry and have a gift exchange:
Revelation 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

Sound familiar?

Mixed worship condemned in scripture
Now let's take this a step further. Not only is it sinful in the eyes of YHVH to practice these traditions, it is also a sin to take these traditions of pagans and apply them to the worship of YHVH.
Devarim (Deut) 12:29 "When YHVH your Elohim cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land,
(This is YHVH warning the children of Yisra'el about what NOT to do when going into the promised land)
30 "take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, `How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.'
Not "Let us serve their elohim (gods)" but "HOW did these nations serve there elohim"
31 "You shall not worship YHVH your Elohim in that way; for every abomination to YHVH which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. Very CLEAR. "Thou shalt not do so unto YHVH thy Elohim:" It is abundantly clear. Do not worship YHVH in that way, the way of the heathen! Do not add to His commandments and do not take away from His commandments. Both Christmas and Easter take pagan festivals and traditions and apply them to the worship of YHVH. This is clearly condemned here. Would it be right to take a Satanic holiday that Satanists have invented and then incorporate that holiday into the worship of YHVH? Surely not. Yet all paganism is Satanism. Satan is behind all pagan worship. And whatever god the idolaters worship, they are actually worshipping Satan.
1 Corinthians 10:20 Rather, that the things which the Goyim sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to Elohim, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.
Now consider this next verse:
1Cor 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of YHVH and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of YHVH's table and of the table of demons.
Which table will you choose? I hope it is YHVH's table..