Download - Christmas Trees & Circumcision Eph. 5:6-11
Christmas Trees & Circumcision
Eph. 5:6-11
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth). 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Eph. 5:6-11
The Spread of Christianity
The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men
The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men
• They went everywhere
The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men
• They went everywhere
• Usually faced fierce persecution
The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men
• They went everywhere
• Usually faced fierce persecution
• Problem was being distinct from Judaism
The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men
• They went everywhere
• Usually faced fierce persecution
• Problem was being distinct from Judaism
• Fewer problems with paganism
The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men
• They went everywhere
• Usually faced fierce persecution
• Problem was being distinct from Judaism
• Fewer problems with paganism
• Every person knew of the church
The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men
• They went everywhere
• Usually faced fierce persecution
• Problem was being distinct from Judaism
• Fewer problems with paganism
• Every person knew of the church
• Christianity conquered the pagan world
The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men
• They went everywhere
• Usually faced fierce persecution
• Problem was being distinct from Judaism
• Fewer problems with paganism
• Every person knew of the church
• Christianity conquered the pagan world
• Danger of desire to be accepted by world
Church in Pagan ItalySaturnalia
Church in Pagan ItalySaturnalia
• Roman pagans first introduced the holiday of Saturnalia, a week
long period of lawlessness celebrated between December 17-25. During
this period, Roman courts were closed, and Roman law dictated that no
one could be punished for damaging property or injuring people during
the weeklong celebration. The festival began when Roman authorities
chose “an enemy of the Roman people” to represent the “Lord of
Misrule.” Each Roman community selected a victim whom they forced to
indulge in food and other physical pleasures throughout the week. At the
festival’s conclusion, December 25th, Roman authorities believed they
were destroying the forces of darkness by brutally murdering this
innocent man or woman.
Church in Pagan ItalySaturnalia
• In the 4th century AD, Christianity imported the Saturnalia
festival hoping to take the pagan masses in with it. Christian
leaders succeeded in converting to Christianity large numbers of
pagans by promising them that they could continue to celebrate
the Saturnalia as Christians.
• The problem was that there was nothing intrinsically Christian
about Saturnalia. To remedy this, these Christian leaders named
Saturnalia’s concluding day, December 25th, to be Jesus’ birthday.
Church in Pagan ItalySaturnalia
• Christians had little success, however, refining the practices
of Saturnalia. As Stephen Nissenbaum, professor history at the
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, writes, “In return for
ensuring massive observance of the anniversary of the Savior’s
birth by assigning it to this resonant date, the Church for its part
tacitly agreed to allow the holiday to be celebrated more or less
the way it had always been.” The earliest Christmas holidays
were celebrated by drinking, sexual indulgence, singing naked in
the streets (a precursor of modern caroling), etc.
Church in Pagan N. Europe Dies Natalis Solis Invictus means "the birthday of the
unconquered Sun." The use of the title Sol Invictus allowed
several solar deities to be worshipped collectively, including Elah-
Gabal, a Syrian sun god; Sol, the god of Emperor Aurelian; and
Mithras, a soldiers' god of Persian origin. Emperor Elagabalus
(218–222) introduced the festival, and it reached the height of its
popularity under Aurelian, who promoted it as an empire-wide
holiday. This day had held no significance in the Roman festive
calendar until it was introduced in the third century.
Church in Pagan N. Europe A winter festival was the most popular festival of the year in
many cultures. Reasons included the fact that less agricultural work
needs to be done during the winter, as well as an expectation of better
weather as spring approached. Modern Christmas customs include: gift-
giving and merrymaking from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and
charity from the Roman New Year; and Yule logs and various foods from
Germanic feasts. Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called
Yule, held in the late December to early January period. As Northern
Europe was the last part to Christianize, its pagan traditions had a major
influence on Christmas. Scandinavians still call Christmas Jul. In English,
the word Yule is synonymous with Christmas, a usage first recorded in
900.
Christmas Trees Today?
Christmas Trees Today?Circumcision Today?
Christmas Trees Today?Circumcision Today?
• Both Have a “Religious” Background
Christmas Trees Today?Circumcision Today?
• Both Have a “Religious” Background
• Paul and Titus/Timothy
Christmas Trees Today?Circumcision Today?
• Both Have a “Religious” Background
• Paul and Titus/Timothy
• Christians in Early Centuries/Today
His Plan of Salvation
• Believe in Him John 3:16
• Turn (repent) from sin Acts 17:30
• Confess Christ Rom. 10:9
• Baptized into Christ Gal. 3:27
Added to His Kingdom, His Church
• Live faithfully until death Rev. 2:10