From the Pastor: Weekly Word 12-25-2019

Greetings!

Today is the day that much of the world celebrates the holiday of Christmas. By some estimates more than 5 billion people in the world observe Christmas in one form or another..including up to 90% in the United States alone.

These people include religious Christians, non-religious Christians, Muslim, Jews, atheists and agnostics. In fact you can probably find someone that celebrates Christmas among any belief system in the world.

But what does the God of the bible say?

Jeremiah 10:1  Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 

Jeremiah 10:2  Thus says the LORD: "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. 

Jeremiah 10:3  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. 

Jeremiah 10:4  They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. 

The LORD in verses 1 and 2 is the Christ, the messiah. He tells his followers to NOT learn the ways of those who do NOT follow him. The catchall term for non-followers is gentiles, or heathens.

A quick internet search will reveal that yes, Christmas traditions and customs have clear non-biblical origins. As such, the Lord says, they are futile. Futile in this sense means "emptiness or vanity"...something that is "transitory and unsatisfactory".

If we are Christians we should understand that these words are directed toward us. The Lord has given his followers specific holy days that are NOT futile. Holy days that serve a purpose for us and for the Lord. These days are listed in your bible in Leviticus chapter 23.

So as Christians we should study the word of the Lord and learn not the ways of the heathen!

Take care and see you soon!

Doug