the christmas connection
the christmas connection, part two
The first post in the Babylon connection series
Ephraim’s punishment is now over. He was scattered among the Gentiles like seed, until he had his fill of living like a Gentile. For the past 2000 years God has been calling the Gentiles to Himself through Jesus Christ our Lord. You know, all who come to the Lord by the grace of Jesus Christ, even though they might begin as Gentiles, once they attach themselves to the God of Israel, God does not consider them Gentiles any longer. He considers them His chosen, Israel. So we have had a change of status, people. We began as Gentiles and pagans, and are now sons of the living God. So let us not refer to ourselves as Gentiles any longer.
Now that we belong to God, what do we do about the Babylon connection to Christmas? This is what I am seeing from the word of God:
“Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing, Declare, proclaim this, Utter it to the end of the earth; Say, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!”” Isa 48:20
“Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.” Zec 2:7
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” 2 Cor 6:14-18
“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her [Babylon], my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”” Rev 18:4-5
Jesus told us it would be like the days of Lot before His return. Lot was a righteous man living in the midst of a city which practiced the sins the ancient world learned from Babylon. The time came for God to judge the city, but before He did, He called His righteous out of the city so that the righteous would not be condemned with the wicked. And now God is calling His righteous out of Babylon again. Will we listen, and leave? Will we, like Abraham, leave our fathers’ household and our fathers’ city behind, that of our Gentile heritage, and go to the place the Lord will show us, and so prove to be Abraham’s children indeed?
With the Lord’s help, we can. This year, before the next Christmas season rolls around, I hope to blog occasionally about leaving behind pagan traditions and the all- important sticky question of what to do about family and friends who do not share our views. Stay tuned!
If this is new and alarming to you, please be reassured that Torah preaches the Gospel of grace through faith. Start with The righteousness that is of faith series, and then you might be interested in The feasts of the LORD index which proclaim Messiah and His ministry. As well, join me in a daily Bible study from Genesis through Revelation in 2019!
Hi Christine,
My husband and I have been moving toward Hebrew roots since the beginning of our marriage. It has been slow going. This summer we started keeping sabbath and learned about the pagan roots of Christmas and Easter. We have both been convinced and convicted and do not want to take part in them anymore. Honestly we have been questioning both holidays for a few years and were slowly pulling back from them but since about July we have been fervent in not wanting to celebrate.
I talked and shared with my parents what we have learned in early October and told them we could not celebrate in good conscience and told them why. My dad was upset, my mom seemed to be on board and excited. The closer we get to the date though the more adamant she is that they are celebrating it and we are hurting them by saying we don’t want to take part. I try to just listen and am doing my best to be gentle but she has started to make comments against my husband (he was raised catholic/ baptized as an infant). Saying we should be more focused on that issue. I gave that issue to God a long time ago and believe God will work that out in His own time. My husband does not know that she has said this to me as I think it would do some serious harm.
My husband and I are in agreement on Christmas. He has said I can go with our sons if I feel I should but he will not be going. I do not feel I should go without him for various reasons. He very much feels and has felt since getting married that my mom does not respect him as the head of our family. Back story is my mom does not show respect to my dad in this area either though at times she will pay him lip service if it suits her.
My mom says she feels judged by us. I’ve tried hard to be gracious and kind while showing her what we have come to believe. She says I’m confusing my sisters… one who is very much involved in the occult, the other who is struggling in all areas of life.
I could go on but probably shouldn’t.
I need help as to how to handle this. I keep thinking God first, my husband second, then our sons. I also feel like we are in a time of testing. I just don’t know what to do.
I’d prefer this not be posted to your blog but I am not sure how else to contact you. Iwas hoping we could maybe exchange some emails on the subject.
I know I’m a stranger and things are busy but I need help. This is breaking my heart.
Thank you in advance.
April, please email me at alittleperspective@gmail.com so I can reply to you in private. {{{ Hugs }}} sister. <3
Wow wow wow! My mind is blown! I have never heard any of the Gentiles-become-Israel thing before. Wow! Wonderful. And God has been speaking to me about Christmas in the last week or two and your blog post was all it took to convince me. Thank you!!
So happy you stopped by and were blessed Alisha. Please do stop by again. Love, Christine <3