Answering Jesse Johnson's "7 Questions from Christ-mass Haters"

Once again it is the time of year when most all people take up the practice and tradition of Christ-mass.
(Read on to see why we call it Christ-mass) There is a constant age old battle between the MANY who have found a way to make this un-biblical holiday acceptable & redeemable vs the few who obediently stand on the Word and thus against what God has NEVER ordained to be done. As always in this article we will take a biblical look at the facts regarding Christ-mass and how to apply them to our lives for God's glory.

 The following article was written by a modern evangelical pastor in Virginia (Jesse Johnson) and we thought it would be interesting to post his article (from his website) for you to read. He is basically defending the practices he does with the world "in Christ's name" at this time of the year. There he claims to answer 7 questions in a attempt to legitimize & bible-tize (made that word up) this holiday. In love we have to say he fails miserably!

Please read his answers below then see in blue our biblical answer under each point. We think you will see then it is very clear if you are using only God's Word vs man made false ways; Christ-mass in NOT to be practiced for God's true Holy (set apart) people. The article begins here:  

"Every year, Grace Church gets a handful of letters from people asking why our church celebrates Christmas. In fact, it is not unusual for some people to actually picket our church’s Christmas concerts (picture a hippi-esque anti-war ensemble replete with protest signs), and those people would probably keel over if they saw the giant Christmas trees we have in our plaza.
Today, for the Christian haters of Christmas, I give as my gift my answers to the most common questions from those that object to the celebration of Christmas:"

 Note: At the time of this article's writing Jesse was involved with Grace Community in California. (He is now a modern pastor at Immanuel Bible in Virginia.) They themselves have many un-biblical issues which we have researched and you can read about at our site. Click to see that link here:
  We would encourage you to look into Grace Community/John MacArthur and his ways as we have done that already. While John M has much correct he is also misleading many people with his very compromised (like Christ-mass and tree's) and worldly carnal ways. This includes them having youth dancing around pig heads for entertainment at rallies (he runs) and many other troubling issues. See our post that documents it all here. See John MacArthur exposed here: 

 1. What is Christmas?
Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ incarnation. This is actually the most critical of all the questions. When Christmas is simply seen as the celebration of God becoming man, the rest of the questions should grow wings and take flight.

 *Christ-mass today is really the pagan roman catholic ritual practice done by people who either follow their roman pope-ish false system or by her daugther's who are of the reformers ways and have adopted the pagan rituals as their own. (It is pagan and un-biblical either way.)  

Amazingly Jesse avoids both biblical and the historical truth altogether on what is Christ-mass. 
Christmas (or Christ-mass which is really more correct) is NOT now and NEVER was a scriptural biblical holiday nor did God tell His true people to celebrate such an event. He can try to "pretend" they are just recognizing that God came to the world as a man but the event they are partaking in Christ-mass is still pagan. It was and still is rooted in the pagan roman catholic faith where they re-sacrifice Jesus over and over in their mass. It actually means merry Christ's death! The truth is biblically God's people are told to proclaim His death (1 Corinthians 11) NOT celebrate his birth at all. The Holy Word tells His people to come out of pagan ways (2 Corinthians 6) and in Revelation 22:14-15 it says practicing lies gets you hell not heaven. Jesse to say you are just celebrating God's incarnation when the truth is 1) God never told us to do so 2) you do it with the pagans timing  3) you do it just like the pagans do and 4) it is all a lie. This is to be in both spiritual error and plain falsehood at the same time. If your simply celebrating God becoming a man (which God never said to do) why don't you all do it at another time and get rid of all the pagan practices as God always calls His people out of the world... does He not? (See the Israeli's and Romans 12:2) The truth is the modern religious systems (like Jesse runs) won't do this as they need and want the emotional boost at this time of year. They work hard to unite with the pagan world at this time of year (with all of the music, lights and trees) in the hope it will both make the people in their pews happy (many are false converts) and it will draw others to them so they can grow their religious complex. They admit that they use it as a evangelism tool when God's people are told to "preach the gospel" to draw others to God. (1 Corinthians 15) Oh yes, it is easy to fill up pews when you use concerts, lights and joyous festivals of pagans. Jesse, if you just preach the narrow road biblical, kill your flesh to full holiness/obedience gospel your pews won't be so full will they? This pagan Christ-mass event is a terrible, lie filled, emotional hype and error filled reason for so called godly evangelism. It is pragmatism in action at its worst which is very un-biblical. 
 Click here for our post on pragmatism


 2. Why is there a Christmas?
There is a Christmas because for there to be a sacrifice for sins, the sacrifice had to be sinless. Thus, the Messiah had to be both God and man. Moreover, he had to come to earth, born to a child of Eve, as Gen 3;15 prophesied. This is the main event prophesied in the OT, and the coming of the Messiah to earth (and his subsequent death and resurrection) is the subject of the entire NT. Obviously, Jesus Christ is the most significant person in history, and his life gives the believer every possible reason to celebrate.

 *There is a Christ-mass because roman pagans merged their ways into Christianity centuries ago and even through the reformation (that had various unbiblical issues) men still carry it on today in great error against God's Word to leave paganism.

 The truth is there is a Christ-mass you celebrate today because the world (and modern false religion) has embraced pagan ways. There is NO Christ-mass holiday in God's Word Jesse. Only a historical account of His birth. Celebrating in your manor; Christ having to come to die for your sins with pretty lights, bows, beautiful wreaths, lots of food, shiny trees and happy concerts is like celebrating a fireman giving his life to save you/your family because you were stupid and set your house on fire by being careless. So in gladness you throw a "fun and festive party" for you and your friends saying.... we are so glad that fireman died so we could live.....honey, turn on the tree lights now and pass the snowflake cookies with sprinkles! And as a side note; his dying wish was that you celebrate "safety" not his heroism but ignore that and you do it your own way NOT his! Do you see the foolishness and arrogance here Jesse? 

Again I am also surprised that Mr. Johnson (who claims to be a biblical Titus 1 elder) missed the mark here on what God's Word says in full.  His answers here may satisfy people who come and sit in a pew for a hour or so as their worship but they won't do for a discerning biblical person who tests all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21)  It is true, the Messiah had to come due to man's sin but His people are told to follow His commands if they love Him (John 14:15) not to love the ways of the world (1 John 2:15) The trappings of this holiday are of the world and yet Jesse and his kind strive hard to do them and defend their use, annually. It is a hill many choose to die on spiritually and it is very sad. They are linked to and friends with the world in its various pagan ways like Christ-mass. Jesse doesn't the bible say to be friends with the world is to be God's enemy? (James 4:4) Didn't Christ also say what man esteems God hates? ( Luke 16:15) What does mankind esteem much more than this emotional time of year we would ask? You even admit it is loved by the entire world so there is a sign for you. While Christ's coming is indeed a reason to be thankful; being an Acts 17 Berean means we know we are never told to celebrate His birth at all, but proclaim His death. (Matthew 26) You are correct, the entire New Testament is about His life, death, resurrection and He showed us how to live for the Father. But it is not to be done while you embrace the ways of the fallen world, great error and paganism Jesse. His redeemed people are to be holy, obedient and come out of it all not embrace their ways. Heb 5:9 says He made the way of eternal life to those....who obey Him.
By celebrating Christ-mass in their time frame and in their false ways you are obedient to pagans; not the True Living God. In our experiences reaching out to modern pastors they know they will NOT be popular if they were to teach/preach against this ever popular Christ-mass event. As 2 Timothy 4 says; those itchy ears must be scratched in their pews or they will be out of a job. But then their modern pastor role is not biblical anyway as we expose on this link! 
Please click here to test modern religious bodies to God's Word with 10 biblical points:  


3. What day was Jesus born?
We don’t know what actual day of the year Jesus was literally born. From piecing together the historical data, we can tell the year with relative certainty (3 BC, most likely—and if you disagree, please don’t hijack the comment thread). Some argue for a spring birth by saying that shepherds generally were not in the fields during winter, but that has never been persuasive to me (aren’t shepherds always in the fields?). Ultimately, we don’t know the date, the month, or even the season with certainty.

 *While we do not know the exact day Christ was born we know it is the "pagan picked" day of  Dec 25th that they celebrated their false god worship so why are you honoring that day?

 The truth is the date you are lifting up Jesse is NOT His birthday at all. God never told us His birthday and that should be a sign we are not to honor it at all. Many scholars have been saying for years we can know Christ's "approximate birth time"  if you time it off of John the Baptists conception/birth. That would put it about Sept/Oct in line with passover which makes perfect sense. He was the passover lamb was He not? (But that matters not at all and it is a topic for another day perhaps)
I would ask how can a man of God seeking truth avoid the obvious fact about the pagan Dec 25th date when discussing this topic? History is clear and it stands against your trying to bible-tize Christ-mass. It was pagan rome that marked Dec 25th as their other roman false gods were indeed worshiped on Dec 25th! So in truth you are saying "happy birthday to Jesus" (who never told you to do so) on a false day when really the false god's were lifted up on that very same day. How is that being holy (set apart for God) in all your conduct we would ask you? (1 Peter 1:15) It seems disobedient and pagan to us so share chapter and verse if you disagree please?

 4. If it is Jesus’ birthday, why do we give gifts to each other?
Christmas is not so much Jesus’ birthday, as it is a celebration of God giving his son to the world. “Birthday” sort of trivializes it. But we give gifts because Christmas is a celebration of God’s gift to us. Christmas is an occasion to show love and joy to those whom we love, and it is a time of celebration. Gifts are simply a way to express that joyful celebration.
Beyond that, Christians are celebratory people. We sing (do any other religions do that?), we send cards, we give gifts, we have parties, and we orient a significant amount of our life around the celebration of God becoming man. Gifts are simply one element of that.

 *People give gifts as a adaption from the wise men giving to Christ and today it is to make lots of money for retailers through commercialization of the pagan holiday. (Now it is both pagan and secular in many ways.)

 The only gift God wants you to give Him today is your entire life lived for Christ in total obedience and not to practice vain religious ways of man (as your doing each Sunday) or in observing pagan holidays like Christ-mass. It is not His birthday as we have already determined it is a lie/false day started by pagans. 

Indeed true believers are to celebrate this "life in Christ" but just how Jesse? By doing what both the pagans and the world (who reject Jesus) do which is celebrating with ritual services, lights and buying gifts? Or is it better done by being holy daily living sacrifices to God per His Word? (see Romans 12:1) Man made ritual religion does not help you in that at all. As for celebrating God in Christ, His people should celebrate Him but they should do it biblically by keeping His Word. Why do you cling so VERY tightly to so many things in God's Word like "NO lady pastors" 1 Corinthians 14 / Titus 1 or we must "assemble ourselves together" / Hebrews 10:25 (which does not mean a religious gathering by the way/click here see our post on that:)  yet when it comes to being obedient to His commands to avoid pagan ways like a Christmas tree; you compromise and say 'well it is alright to do it in His name'? (See Jeremiah 10 for a good description of what NOT to do if your God's people) This is compromised religion in action and it is to be avoided.
Click here to see our article link on Christ-mass tree.  

5. Is Christmas taught in the Bible?
The incarnation is described in Matthew, Luke, and Phil 2, as well as other passages. It is prophesied in the OT, and described without the traditional accompaniment of wise men and angels in John 1.
By this question, some people I think are trying to use the regulative principle. Their implication is if scripture doesn’t describe setting aside a particular day for celebration, then Christians should not do so either. Austin helpfully deals with the regulative principle, but regardless, if this question is understood as celebrating a particular day, then it becomes a Romans 14 issue, where each of us is allowed to do what seems best.

 *No it is not in any way shape or form taught in the bible. Neither did ANY of the first century saints practice it at all.

 Jesse, didn't Paul say imitate me as I imitate Christ? So why are you doing pagan ways? The false roman faith started this pagan fest up and you and the world carry it on today! Lets not muddy the waters here but let us stay crystal clear. The "birth of Christ" is in the bible as a historical record. The "celebration of Christ-mass" or ANY instruction to do so is NOT found anywhere in God's Word is it Jesse? Strangely as we said before, your religious system is often found holding so tight to things like "the pastor's role" in the bible (all one verse of it in Ephesians 4) yet you totally ignore in the Word and whatever works against what you love or what makes your role, perhaps, un popular. God told Noah use Gopher wood and he used... Gopher wood, not pine! God told His people do not do as pagans do and practice falsehood ( see Psalm 119:128 "Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way") yet today your system of religion is doing many pagan false ways as people in the pews crave it don't they? It seems to be a form of entertainment that you use just like having your 50-60's music, petting zoos and classic car shows at your body to draw crowds correct? (See the link above on Immanuel Bible that documents it all.) 

In love we must say this is very inconsistent and unholy on your part. You can raise the regulative principle but I think your missing the big issue here. We will be the first to say you and your family can set aside a day to celebrate anything you would like to from God's Holy Word. But the believer will use Philippians 4:8 (whatever is good pure and true) as a guide for how they live daily and not follow what the pagan/fallen culture does and embraces. It is not that you want to honor God becoming a man that is the real issue here Jesse; though we are NEVER told to celebrate or proclaim that are we?  It is that you are deceiving yourself and others into following the worlds pagan ways to do it along with the entire lost world. Your linked to them in this spiritual practice aren't you? The fact that you can make pagan practices "acceptable" in Christ's name for what appears to be man's tradition and the favor of people in the pews is plain irresponsible and spiritually very dangerous. I knew you would raise Romans 14 as most do when they try to defend sin as liberty. Are we not to take God's Word in context Jesse? Romans 14 is NOT at all about practicing pagan ways is it? It is about not putting all the OT ways on gentiles (foods and Sabbaths) click here see our link on Liberty
You cannot use that text to defend your trying to bible-tize what is indeed paganism.  
If I came to your body carrying a golden calf would you allow it? What if I said, it's ok Jesse! See we just view it as a way to honor God "rescuing us" from idolatry and we do not worship the golden calf at all. My family/culture just likes to make one each year and carry it around on Dec 25th as a remembrance. I am pretty sure you would throw me out yet that is what your doing with all of the pagan Christ-mass ways you have brought right inside that modern religious body. I know the seminaries must either NOT teach you about this truth at all or they teach you to compromise/use it as a tool to reach others and grow your numbers. Which was it for you Jesse at John MacArthur's seminary? (We know John M is quite worldly so it goes to reason your ways would be liken to his/we want better for you sir.)   

6. By celebrating Christmas, is the church teaching a tradition?
Christmas itself is a celebration of the incarnation, and Peter says that we did not receive cleverly invented tales or traditions, but rather that the gospel is divinely inspired and testified through the Bible (2 Peter 1;16).
There are traditions associated with the way in which we celebrate Christmas (such as trees, fancy dinners, school breaks, December 25, stockings, cards, etc.), and of course these are not taught in the Bible. They are cultural celebrations that we enjoy, and that we use to point other people to Jesus. My family loves the stockings, tree, and advent calendar, but eschews santa, as that seems to distract us from Jesus. But it is an area of personal freedom in Christ, so we don’t make a big deal of it.

 *Yes the Christ-mass ways that you are teaching and practicing is a pure pagan tradition being taught .

 What you are doing is teaching a false tradition indeed and that you cannot defend with the Word in context can you? It is true that trees, Dec 25th, stockings and most all of the trappings of this holiday have NOTHING to do with God and His Holy ways at all. You mention they are "cultural ways you use to point people to Jesus". We are told in the Holy Word to reject the culture around us in spiritual things as we are not of this world. As for using cultural things to proclaim the gospel, we see Paul do it correctly in Acts 17 on Mars Hill. He used their pagan worship of unknown gods to call them out and point to Christ but, he did not practice their pagan ways with them did he Jesse? We are to model Paul and Christ not Luther who loved Christ-mass, prayed to Mary and was in fact a Jew hater. Many of your ways come from the roman pagans and the reformation don't they? (pulpits, lines of pews, religious buildings, one man doing all teaching, fast food communion, practiced choirs etc etc) Do you realize Jesse the first century true church rejected all of the cultures spiritual ways of the day? Your modern system today has embraced much of the cultures ways ever since the reformation and that is a error you all need to repent of just like we had to do when we left man made religion years ago.
see our link here on life in the first century church 
 
7. Is Christmas a pagan holiday?
Obviously the celebration of Christmas has jumped the banks of Christianity, and is pretty well embraced by everyone—pagan and Christian alike (I hear it is huge in China, for example). I guess in that sense it is like the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Memorial day, Labor Day, etc. Christians are generally pretty good about using it (along with Thanksgiving and some other days) to point back to Jesus. It has becomes an evangelistic time.
Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation of the second person of the trinity, which is hardly a pagan concept. The fact that our culture even embraces Christmas aids the evangelistic spirit of the season. Obviously Wal-Marts and Santa sleights get the message wrong most of the time. But as Christians, I think it is wonderful to take time every year to celebrate the fact that God became a man.

 *Yes as we have documented it is a total pagan holiday. (not biblical in anyway)

 And to practice and do historically pagan spiritual ways is sin! (this is the most basic of common sense)
Fact: the celebration of Christ-mass was never biblical to begin with. The other holidays you note really do not have a bible concept to them so they do not fall in the spiritual realm. (even thanksgiving was not a true biblical holiday at all) What is dangerous about your pointing people back to Jesus by partaking in pagan ways is two fold dangerous Jesse. 1) it is disobedient to God who says DON'T DO HEATHEN WAYS (Jer 10) and 2) the system of faith your pointing people to is NOT a biblical one at all.  By doing what the pagans started and still do today, you are validating for them that they have it right. They see your modern mainstream/denominational folks practicing pagan ways and not being holy (set apart) or biblical and so it emboldens them in their great spiritual error. You need to show them you are separate and called out not just like them in your ways!You have all compromised on this pagan holiday for traditions sake, to feed your flesh and to draw people in haven't you? Your ritual system has also left the true model of Christ's church to follow the ways of both pagan roman and the murderous reformers (yes I said murderous) who were quite un-biblical themselves which modern pastors just won't teach the people today will they? click here to see our link on Luther/Calvin 

 In 2 Thessalonians 2:15 the Apostle Paul told us to keep the traditions he gave us:
"Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."
Jesse, where is this pagan Christ-mass holiday in those holy teachings of the Apostle Paul?
We can't find them?

 What we take away from Mr. Johnson's un-biblical attempt to save pagan Christ-mass is a kind of joking about paganism and error. He commented at the start the protestors outside would "keel over at all the Christ-mass tree's they had inside"! This along with his last comment of "it is a wonderful time of the year to celebrate God became a man" makes it clear that his religious systems and vain traditions of man miss far greater biblical truths. Are we NOT to live for and celebrate Christ everyday by taking every thought captive? (2 Corinthians 10:5) I also do not think Jesse realizes how VERY serious we, New Testament Christ followers take holiness, obedience, any ill doctrine and sin. We battle his religious false systems daily in our witnessing just as we are sure those people of old once battled both the blood thirsty pagan roman catholics and the murderous reformers un-biblical ways. It cost them their lives at the stake while today we are just mocked and called "rebellious" as we stand on ALL biblical truth. Much is shown by their modern tradition fruit or the lack of godly fruit we should say. We know as we lived that life once as modern church goers till we repented of it all. The little focused upon truth that God requires spirit and truth worship just as Jesus commanded us to do in John 4:24 is seemingly lost to them. ALL Truth is not happening in these places that have left God's NT body that Christ established. They weekly practice mans compromised ways in the attempt to make people come back, feel comfortable, fill up pews and raise up ever bigger buildings even with much error abounding. They dabble in pagan events as they try to convince each other it is acceptable to a HOLY God for worship.(Also see easter.) The other lost way of the Lord is holiness and obedience to His Word in full. They use lip service on those topics at times but just like Jesus spoke of in Mark 7, their hearts are far from God in such places of man made religion who reject the truth and we fear for them!

 You see the entire ritual system they stand upon has left the truth and they are blinded by their traditions and worldly ways. Christ-mass is a stark and sad example of this. They cannot see very clearly through the Colossian 2:8 "ways of men" to get back to the true foundation but we try hard to point them in that direction as we care for them. ALL truth matters and if you claim Christ and you must serve Him according to His Word / Ways and not your own made up vain traditions. Our blog exposes this for you using Gods Word so please go and read it will you? We would ask you Jesse, have you ever read about the many forms of unacceptable worship people offered and that God rejected? It is a very dangerous place to be, even costing some their very lives. click here to see our post on worship

 As we close, please know again, we do care about people very much and that is why we do what we do here at www.nopews.blogspot.com. We are not trying to be mean spirited but the saving truth can be hurtful at times to your flesh and we understand that. We had to kill a lot of ours over the years for God's glory. Here are several articles/recordings that would help any person who attends a body like Mr Johnson's to come out into the full biblical truth. To be clear, that would be any mainstream, denominational or evangelical body that exercises building centered worship, has lukewarm compromised standards, practices pagan ways, is modeled after roman and the reformers not the Apostolic church Jesus created, they have a modern pastor role in place, they idly sit in pews and watch shows weekly, they do ritual timed out worship, their men and woman are NOT fully biblical, they have youth pastors and practiced choirs and are most often they are quite worldly in their daily lives away from their religious ritual services and building. What we just described is Jesse Johnson's  Immanuel Bible body as well as almost every body in America today. We cant help but think of 2 Timothy 3 and those with the appearance of God in the last days or Matthew 7 where Christ rejects many who claim to be His and why? ......... because they were lawless!  (pagan ways are lawless)

Please go to these and read or listen to what is God's true plan and ways for His people vs these man made religious systems that Jesse Johnson and others are promoting as biblical when they clearly are not. 

 Click here for Building Centered Worship is NOT Biblical

 Click here for Characteristics of a True New Testament Body

 Click here for Why Denominationalism is False

 Click here to see Why the Modern Pastor Role is NOT Biblical 

 Click here for our many Discernment Blog Articles

Click here to Test your Faith or Body with 10 biblical Points

 Click here to listen to the Biblical Gospel Message for Eternal Life to Come

We hope this rebuttal of Jesse Johnson "7 questions from Christ-mass haters" has opened your eyes to some greater biblical truth. Please let us know how we can assist you in anyway at all.

Let us know if we can help you.

 Go here for the saving gospel of Jesus Christ
http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html

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