Re: [TruthTalk] Christmas Trees

[Marlin Halverson]

David M.: But what seems odd in what you wrote was that they would say that Jesus is the Christ, and then at the same time say that they are the Christ. The false Christs, the ones coming bearing his name as their own, do not say that Jesus is the Christ, do they?  Marlin:  Yes there are two categories here.  1) Those saying that He is the Christ.  Note the definite article "the," and what follows, the many deceive many by saying He is the Christ.  2) False Christs.   Note the plural nature of the word Christs.     a) Some teach fake Christs instead of the real Christ, counterfeits that look like the genuine     b) Some personify saviors, and "shew great signs and wonders," and get followings after themselves instead of leading others to the true Christ.  This type of the false Christs could refer back to the many who deceive the many by saying He is the Christ.   David M.: Clearly this Word was spoken to Israel concerning the heathen nations which cut down trees and built false gods out of them.  This in no way corresponds to Gentiles celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ.  The similarity of trees being involved is no more compelling to your argument than if they were building a house out of the trees and you were against building houses out of trees. Marlin: You presume to be a Gentile.  In the early Church, those Gentiles who turned to God did not identify with their past heritage or ways.  They repented.  Notice: Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.  1CO 12:2    And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  2CO 6:16    For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;  1TH 1:9     Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.  1JO 5:21    They turned from their idolatrous ways.  David M.: But you make it sound like one substitutes Christmas for the Eucharist. That is not at all what happens.  In fact, many churches celebrate the Eucharist on Christmas Eve. They are not mutually exclusive celebrations. I make no such sound.  All those counterfiets are not the genuine truth. David M.: Hanukah was not a divinely commanded celebration.  Marlin: True.  It is not commanded.  It is Jewish tradition.  It is something foreign to me.   David M.:  What do you mean, "real remembrance" over a counterfeit?  What is the real remembrance of his birth? Do you or anybody else know?..... Well then, tell us.  What is the real remembrance of which you speak? Marlin: The real remembrance is in the holy days and Sabbaths that God commanded to be kept as memorials.  These are the days that men reject infavor of fables.  Notice: And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2TI 4:4 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.  TIT 1:14 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  2PE 1:16