Mike Winger of BibleThinker.org is doing yeoman work combatting myths about Christmas.
Old Myths that Will Not Die
Here’s his YouTube video in which he takes on “the usual suspects,” i.e., those myths that we have to refute every year:
Is Christmas PAGAN? In defense of Christmas.
“Is Jesus just a rehashed pagan deity? Is December 25th the birthday of pagan gods? Christmas trees are pagan? Where did Santa come from? Is there anything wrong with celebrating Christmas? What is the REAL threat to Christmas today?”
Mike provides accurate information about Mithras and Horus and Dionysus, pagan deities that some Atheists claim were the model for Jesus. Unlike the New Testament documentary evidence for Jesus, there are no actual ancient sources for these myths.
Even the specific claims about these deities show they don’t parallel the virgin birth of Jesus.
December 25th is not the Roman celebration of Saturnalia. Saturnalia isn’t remotely like the celebration of Christmas, for that matter.
No, the Bible doesn’t forbid us from celebrating feasts/holidays beyond the ones specifically mentioned in the Old Testament.
Christmas trees are not pagan.
A New Myth
Here’s his video posted on 12/17/18 in which he takes on a more recent myth, namely, that Christmas Trees are frowned upon all the way back in the book of Jeremiah:
Christmas Trees Are Not in The Bible:
“When we read Jeremiah 10 in context it is obvious that it is not about Christmas trees or anything like it.”
Mike says that the context of Jeremiah 10 is clearly about the practice of idolatry. The ideas of Christmas trees didn’t exist back in the times of Jeremiah. Mike notes that the people pushing this idea are trying to take a modern idea and force-fit it back into the Old Testament.
Timeless Wisdom
Pastor Greg Laurie said it well: “Text without context can be a dangerous pretext.”
I encourage you to check out each video and then discuss them with family and friends. Doing so can help prevent the Grinch from messing with your Christmas joy!
I also encourage everyone to subscribe to Mike Winger’s YouTube channel, Bible thinker – Clearly Teaching and Defending Biblical Truth.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7u2HaYBKDaLPcWmldxgGEA
Merry Christmas!
Michael Oswald
Michael Oswald is a follower of Jesus who lives in Boise, Idaho. Unless otherwise specified, the opinions expressed in this article are his own.
© 2018 Michael S. Oswald
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