WEBVTT
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♪
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Many people know that
Christmas is pagan.
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The origins of this
popular December holiday
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are not hidden.
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In fact, when Christmas
comes around each year,
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we usually see magazine
articles or Internet blogs
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explaining where these
traditions came from.
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Many people are not
confused about that.
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The bigger question for some
is, why does it matter?
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Should anyone even care where
Christmas traditions came from?
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After all, isn't the big issue
about honoring Christ?
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Maybe the other
details are trivial.
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If you've ever wondered, "What
should I do about Christmas?"
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Then stay tuned.
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Today on Tomorrow's
World, we're going to
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examine that question.
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And we'll look for the answers
straight from the Bible.
00:45.445 --> 00:47.981
And later in the program,
we'll give you an opportunity
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to order your free copy
of the study guide,
00:50.350 --> 00:52.352
Is Christmas Christian?
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So, stay with us, as we dig
deeper into the question,
00:56.122 --> 00:58.825
"What Should We Do
About Christmas?"
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I'll be right back.
01:00.527 --> 01:06.399
♪
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Welcome to Tomorrow's World,
where we help you make
01:09.636 --> 01:12.672
sense of your world through
the pages of the Bible.
01:12.739 --> 01:15.275
Some people don't
keep Christmas.
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That may not come
as a shock to you.
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You might be one of them.
01:19.446 --> 01:21.548
You might have come to
that conclusion through your
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own study, in looking into
the pagan origins of Christmas.
01:26.085 --> 01:28.154
And it might've caused
you to think twice
01:28.221 --> 01:30.723
about keeping this
popular holiday.
01:30.790 --> 01:33.159
If you have,
you're not alone.
01:33.226 --> 01:36.463
Of course, many people
still do keep Christmas.
01:36.529 --> 01:39.232
In fact, the vast majority
of people in our
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Western nations do.
01:41.234 --> 01:44.070
According to the Gallup
organization, as of
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December 2019, 93%
of Americans celebrate
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Christmas in one
way or another.
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And that figure has been more or
less consistent for decades.
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In Great Britain as well,
93% of the population
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celebrate the
Christmas season.
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In Canada, it's a
little less, 92%.
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In Mexico, 93% of those surveyed
were planning to keep Christmas.
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What about Russia?
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About two-thirds of their
population celebrate Christmas.
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And in Germany, the
figure stands at about
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78% of the population.
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These are just a few
countries around the world.
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The point is, Christmas
is widely celebrated.
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And yet, many people know
that its origins are not
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Christian at all.
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You probably do as well.
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If you don't, or if
you're not sure, just
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pick up virtually any
encyclopedia, or look online.
02:38.157 --> 02:40.760
Here is a quote from
the online Encyclopedia
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Britannica, under the
heading, "Does Christmas
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have pagan roots?"
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"In ancient Rome, December 25
was a celebration of the
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Unconquered Sun, marking
the return of longer days.
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It followed Saturnalia,
a festival where
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people feasted and
exchanged gifts.
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The church in Rome began
celebrating Christmas on
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December 25 in the 4th
century during the reign
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of Constantine, the first
Christian emperor..."
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December 25?
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Feasting?
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Exchanging gifts?
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That's describing pagan
holidays observed under
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the Roman empire.
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And this date was only
adopted by the mainstream
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Christian church
in the 4th century.
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But why?
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Why was December 25 chosen as a
date to celebrate Christmas?
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Note this CBS News article
from 2018 for the answer:
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"Though December 25 is the
day Christians celebrate
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the birth of Jesus Christ,
the date itself and
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several of the customs
we've come to associate
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with Christmas actually
evolved from pagan
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traditions celebrating
the winter solstice.
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'Christmas is really
about bringing out your
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inner pagan,' historian
Kenneth C. Davis
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told 'CBS This Morning.'
According to Davis,
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Christmas was celebrated
as early as the
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fourth century, suggesting
that it had almost nothing
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to do with Jesus Christ."
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Christmas is about
"bringing out your inner
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pagan." Christmas has
"almost nothing to do with
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Jesus Christ." These
are remarkable quotes.
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Again, this probably
doesn't surprise you,
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especially if you are
a regular viewer of
04:19.158 --> 04:20.259
Tomorrow's World.
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You've probably seen
articles and videos
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explaining the pagan
origins of the Christmas
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traditions before.
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And not just from our
material at Tomorrow's
04:29.402 --> 04:32.338
World--it's out there
in the world at large.
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Such as this article from
the CBS News website.
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It's not a secret.
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But that raises
another question:
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What do we do with
this information?
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Should it matter at all?
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You see, most people
who know the origins of
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Christmas have somehow
rationalized to
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themselves, why they
should still keep it.
04:53.493 --> 04:56.129
Perhaps they think,
"Well, it's not really a
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religious observance, it's
just a fun, relaxed time
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to be with friends
and family."
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"It's a social event." That's
what a lot of people think.
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A 2013 survey of American
millennials--that is,
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those born from 1981 to
1996--revealed that
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although 9 in 10 of
them observe Christmas,
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only 4 in 10 do so for
religious reasons.
05:20.186 --> 05:22.555
So, more and more
people are coming to see
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Christmas as just a social
and secular observance.
05:26.325 --> 05:28.795
On the other hand, for
those who are religious,
05:28.861 --> 05:32.031
many of them also know
the origins are pagan.
05:32.098 --> 05:35.034
But some of them convince
themselves that it's not
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a problem, arguing,
"Well, as long as I do
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it for Christ, it's ok."
05:39.972 --> 05:41.808
But is it ok?
05:41.874 --> 05:44.377
Should we stop and think
if this line of reasoning
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even makes sense?
05:46.079 --> 05:51.317
As one source says,
"Christmas makes no sense...
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the basic facts of the
annual ritual just seem to
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defy logic and meaning.
05:57.123 --> 06:00.326
What do brightly lit trees
and mistletoe have to do
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with the birth of a
prophet in Bethlehem
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thousands of years ago?
06:04.163 --> 06:07.834
What does a jolly, portly
man in red and white garb
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have to do with
Christianity?
06:09.836 --> 06:11.938
What's the meaning
behind the Yule log?
06:12.004 --> 06:15.675
... Many people have a
general inkling about the
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way old pagan traditions
and celebrations fed into
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Christmas as we
know it today..."
06:21.547 --> 06:24.917
Many people really do know
the roots of Christmas are
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pagan, but they
keep it anyway.
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What about you?
06:28.488 --> 06:31.224
What should you do
about Christmas?
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To answer that question,
let's break it down to two
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other questions, for the
remainder of this program:
06:37.063 --> 06:40.633
Does God ever
condone lies? and,
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Does God say "keep any day"
as long as you honor Christ?
06:45.171 --> 06:47.840
But before we get into
those questions, let me
06:47.907 --> 06:51.811
offer you our free study guide,
Is Christmas Christian?
06:51.878 --> 06:54.147
Maybe you're not real
sure about the real
06:54.213 --> 06:55.548
origins of Christmas.
06:55.615 --> 06:58.417
Maybe this has piqued your
curiosity, and you want
06:58.484 --> 06:59.352
to know more.
06:59.418 --> 07:00.787
Look into it yourself.
07:00.853 --> 07:02.955
This study guide
will help you.
07:03.022 --> 07:06.125
It will ask the tough questions
and find the answers.
07:06.192 --> 07:09.028
This study guide asks,
what is "the reason
07:09.095 --> 07:10.196
for the season?"
07:10.263 --> 07:13.900
It digs into the question,
"Why December 25?"
07:13.966 --> 07:16.736
and asks, "When
Was Jesus Born?"
07:16.803 --> 07:20.239
If this is one of the most
important holidays of the year,
07:20.306 --> 07:24.010
isn't it worth finding
out why you keep it?
07:24.076 --> 07:26.913
Especially if you are
intending to keep it to
07:26.979 --> 07:28.414
honor your Saviour?
07:28.481 --> 07:30.383
You need this booklet.
07:30.449 --> 07:31.584
It's free of charge.
07:31.651 --> 07:36.989
So go to TWTV.org/Christmas
or call the number on
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your screen to get
your free copy.
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Order today.
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♪
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For today's free
offer call...
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Or go to...
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This clear and
straight-forward resource
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will help you understand
this vital truth--
07:59.278 --> 08:02.481
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
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If you're calling for the
first time, you will also
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receive a free annual
subscription to Tomorrow's
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World magazine.
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Six inspiring issues
discussing news, science,
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and modern culture will
help you make sense of
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your world from a
biblical perspective.
08:19.165 --> 08:22.235
Call today and join
millions around the world
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who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
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truth, prophecy, and hope
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Call now!
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Or go to...
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♪
08:41.153 --> 08:43.623
In the last segment we
discussed the fact that
08:43.689 --> 08:47.193
many people know Christmas
comes from pagan origins.
08:47.260 --> 08:49.395
But they keep it anyway.
08:49.462 --> 08:51.864
What should you do
about Christmas?
08:51.931 --> 08:54.934
To help you answer that,
let's consider our first
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fundamental question:
08:56.269 --> 08:59.538
1. Does God condone lies?
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Everyone knows that Santa
Claus does not really come
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down our chimneys
on Christmas Eve.
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Or, at least everyone
knows except our children.
09:09.315 --> 09:12.385
Thalia Goldstein is the
assistant professor
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of applied developmental
psychology at George Mason
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University in
Fairfax, Virginia.
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Ms. Goldstein notes that
about 85% of American
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5-year old kids
believe Santa is real:
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"Children's belief in
Santa starts when they're
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between 3 and 4 years old.
09:30.703 --> 09:33.873
It's very strong when they're
between about 4 and 8.
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Then, at 8 years old is
when we start to see the
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drop-off in belief,
when children start to
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understand the reality
of Santa Claus."
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So, a high percentage of
kids in the United States
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are still taught to
believe, at a young age,
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in something
that is not true.
09:51.257 --> 09:54.393
What about children outside
of the United States?
09:54.460 --> 09:58.698
According to a research
paper presented in 1999 in
09:58.764 --> 10:02.601
Finland, at the European
Early Childhood Education
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Research Association:
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"Of 161 parents in the
United Kingdom, 92.5%
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thought Father Christmas
was real for their
10:12.845 --> 10:15.448
children up to
the age of 8...."
10:15.514 --> 10:17.817
But it's not just
the Santa myth.
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In addition, there's no
proof that December 25 was
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the date of the
birth of Christ.
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In fact, Luke 2:8 records
that the shepherds were
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out in the fields
at his birth.
10:29.695 --> 10:31.530
And that would never have
happened in the rainy,
10:31.597 --> 10:33.032
cold winter months.
10:33.099 --> 10:35.601
What about the three
kings from the east,
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visiting the baby
Jesus in the manger?
10:38.304 --> 10:41.040
That didn't happen, at
least not in the way the
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Christmas story tells it.
10:42.775 --> 10:46.712
The book of Matthew says they
were wise men, not kings.
10:46.779 --> 10:50.616
And it doesn't mention how many
there were. And it says:
10:50.683 --> 10:52.585
"when they had
come into the house,
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they saw the young Child
with Mary His mother."
10:55.921 --> 10:57.823
That's in Matthew 2:11.
10:57.890 --> 11:00.726
The Christmas traditions
are riddled with errors,
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misspeaks and
outright lies.
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The context shows He was
upwards to two years old here,
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and in a house,
not a manger.
11:09.468 --> 11:13.939
Now, with an open mind ask
yourself, would God really
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be behind such a
convoluted tradition?
11:16.809 --> 11:20.646
Notice what
Titus 1:2 says:
11:20.713 --> 11:24.817
"In hope of eternal life
which God, who cannot lie,
11:24.884 --> 11:27.486
promised before
time began."
11:27.553 --> 11:29.388
God cannot lie.
11:29.455 --> 11:31.323
God will not lie.
11:31.390 --> 11:32.925
God never lies.
11:32.992 --> 11:35.394
And yet, we are made
to believe He condones
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millions of parents
telling their children
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outright lies and
convoluted myths,
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supposedly about His Son?
11:43.202 --> 11:46.639
Now think about it. One
of the Ten Commandments
11:46.705 --> 11:50.276
specifically forbids
being a false witness.
11:50.342 --> 11:54.947
You can find that
in Exodus 20:16,
11:55.014 --> 11:59.051
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."
11:59.118 --> 12:04.156
The specific topic here in
Exodus 20:16 bearing false
12:04.223 --> 12:05.791
witness against
your neighbor.
12:05.858 --> 12:07.726
But certainly the
principle is that we must
12:07.793 --> 12:10.729
tell the truth in
all circumstances.
12:10.796 --> 12:14.333
It's sobering that the apostle
John records the following,
12:14.400 --> 12:17.470
in Revelation 21:8:
12:17.536 --> 12:21.674
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers,
12:21.740 --> 12:26.278
sexually immoral, sorcerers,
idolaters, and all liars
12:26.345 --> 12:29.315
shall have their part in
the lake which burns with
12:29.381 --> 12:32.952
fire and brimstone, which
is the second death."
12:33.018 --> 12:36.288
So, who is standing up
and warning our parents,
12:36.355 --> 12:40.392
to stop the lies of
Christmas? Almost no one.
12:40.459 --> 12:43.329
Instead, we have experts
like Jacqueline Woolley,
12:43.395 --> 12:47.299
professor and department
of psychology Chair at
12:47.366 --> 12:49.502
the University of
Texas at Austin.
12:49.568 --> 12:51.103
Here is what she says:
12:51.170 --> 12:53.873
"Some parents wonder
whether they are harming
12:53.939 --> 12:56.775
their children by engaging
in the Santa myth.
12:56.842 --> 13:00.112
Philosophers and bloggers
alike have mounted
13:00.179 --> 13:02.581
arguments against
perpetuating the
13:02.648 --> 13:05.584
'Santa-lie,' some even
claiming that it could
13:05.651 --> 13:09.121
lead to permanent distrust of
parents and other authorities.
13:09.188 --> 13:11.023
So, what should
parents do?"
13:11.090 --> 13:14.093
Yes, what should
parents do?
13:14.160 --> 13:16.962
If they know Christmas
comes from error, and
13:17.029 --> 13:19.265
falsehood, and even
outright lies, maybe
13:19.331 --> 13:22.568
parents should tell
their children the truth.
13:22.635 --> 13:24.970
Instead of
perpetuating the lie.
13:25.037 --> 13:27.506
But that's not Ms.
Woolley's conclusion.
13:27.573 --> 13:29.275
Notice her next statement:
13:29.341 --> 13:33.846
"There is no evidence
that belief, and eventual
13:33.913 --> 13:37.750
disbelief in Santa,
affects parental trust in
13:37.816 --> 13:39.185
any significant way."
13:39.251 --> 13:41.754
Now stop and think about
this for a moment.
13:41.820 --> 13:44.256
Have you ever had
someone lie to you?
13:44.323 --> 13:46.158
How did it feel?
13:46.225 --> 13:48.360
When you found out,
did it affect your
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ability to trust them?
13:50.095 --> 13:53.365
Even if it was for a
so-called good reason,
13:53.432 --> 13:56.502
did it make you stop and think
the next time they told
13:56.569 --> 13:58.771
you something-are they
telling me the truth,
13:58.837 --> 14:01.473
or is this another lie?
14:01.540 --> 14:05.344
If it affects us that way
as adults, why wouldn't
14:05.411 --> 14:07.846
we think it would
affect our children?
14:07.913 --> 14:10.216
One more statement
from Ms. Woolley:
14:10.282 --> 14:13.752
"Furthermore, not only do
children have the tools to
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ferret out the truth; but
engaging with the Santa story
14:17.022 --> 14:20.059
may give them a chance
to exercise these abilities.
14:20.125 --> 14:23.062
So, if you think it would
be fun for you and your
14:23.128 --> 14:25.764
family to invite Santa
Claus into your home at
14:25.831 --> 14:28.167
Christmas time,
you should do so.
14:28.234 --> 14:30.269
Your children
will be fine.
14:30.336 --> 14:32.404
And they might even
learn something."
14:32.471 --> 14:34.206
What an amazing statement.
14:34.273 --> 14:38.177
Perpetuating the Santa and
Christmas lie will actually
14:38.244 --> 14:41.547
be good for your children,
at least according to her.
14:41.614 --> 14:44.850
I hope you're seeing
that what's good for your
14:44.917 --> 14:48.120
children is teaching them
truth and to be truthful.
14:48.187 --> 14:50.456
And what is the
foundation of truth?
14:50.522 --> 14:54.627
Well God's word is truth.
That's from John 17:17.
14:54.693 --> 14:58.764
God cannot lie--we already
saw that in Titus 1:2.
14:58.831 --> 15:03.802
But there is a being, a
powerful evil spirit who not
15:03.869 --> 15:07.573
only lies but is described
as the father of lies.
15:07.640 --> 15:11.176
We find that in John 8:44.
15:11.243 --> 15:13.912
Jesus was being confronted
by the Pharisees.
15:13.979 --> 15:16.849
They were hypocritical,
selfish and seeking to
15:16.915 --> 15:19.652
destroy Him. And notice
what He told them:
15:19.718 --> 15:23.188
"You are of your father
the devil, and the desires
15:23.255 --> 15:24.823
of your father
you want to do.
15:24.890 --> 15:27.860
He was a murderer from the
beginning, and does not
15:27.926 --> 15:31.030
stand in the truth, because
there is no truth in him.
15:31.096 --> 15:34.033
When he speaks a lie,
he speaks from his own
15:34.099 --> 15:38.537
resources, for he is a liar
and the father of it."
15:38.604 --> 15:41.640
Satan the devil is
the father of lies.
15:41.707 --> 15:43.375
And we don't want
any part of him.
15:43.442 --> 15:46.378
So we shouldn't want any
part of a tradition that
15:46.445 --> 15:50.249
is based on lies, no matter
how we sugar coat it.
15:50.316 --> 15:53.752
We can either be for the
truth, or for the lie.
15:53.819 --> 15:56.188
We can be seeking to live
the way of truth--the way
15:56.255 --> 15:58.624
that God reveals in His
word, seeking to follow
15:58.691 --> 16:00.993
His Spirit and be
conformed to His
16:01.060 --> 16:03.429
righteousness and the
righteousness of His Son.
16:03.495 --> 16:06.098
Or, we can fall into
living the way of the
16:06.165 --> 16:09.935
lie--following error,
falsehood, lies, often
16:10.002 --> 16:12.738
masquerading as good
traditions and holidays.
16:12.805 --> 16:16.375
And we can pass on those
errors to our children.
16:16.442 --> 16:18.911
So, we might know, that
the origins of Christmas
16:18.977 --> 16:20.946
are not Christian at all.
16:21.013 --> 16:23.148
But what should
we do about it?
16:23.215 --> 16:26.285
Well, let's let the
Bible speak for itself.
16:26.352 --> 16:29.388
You won't ever find a word
of the Bible where God
16:29.455 --> 16:33.125
tells you to do something
deceitful or dishonest
16:33.192 --> 16:34.426
or promoting error.
16:34.493 --> 16:37.329
And that should give us
guidance on how we
16:37.396 --> 16:40.466
judge what to do
about Christmas.
16:40.532 --> 16:43.902
Again, as you evaluate
your family traditions and
16:43.969 --> 16:45.704
rituals, we want to help.
16:45.771 --> 16:48.040
Tomorrow's World
has produced a free,
16:48.107 --> 16:51.276
information-rich study
guide to help you get to
16:51.343 --> 16:52.711
the bottom of this issue.
16:52.778 --> 16:55.814
It's entitled,
Is Christmas Christian?
16:55.881 --> 16:59.651
It examines the affect on
children when parents tell
16:59.718 --> 17:02.187
the Santa lie, in
a section entitled
17:02.254 --> 17:05.224
"Santa Claus or Ho, Ho, Hoax?"
17:05.290 --> 17:08.861
It explains the ancient
idolatrous worship passed
17:08.927 --> 17:11.096
down to the modern
age, in the section
17:11.163 --> 17:14.166
"Evergreens and Other
Christmas Traditions."
17:14.233 --> 17:16.335
These are not
trivial questions.
17:16.402 --> 17:19.338
They strike at the very
core of one of the most
17:19.405 --> 17:21.473
important holidays
of the world today.
17:21.540 --> 17:24.076
It's not enough to know
the origin of these
17:24.143 --> 17:27.379
traditions--you need to
know what to do about it.
17:27.446 --> 17:30.349
So call the number on
your screen or go to
17:30.416 --> 17:34.620
TWTV.org/Christmas
to order today.
17:34.686 --> 17:35.788
♪
17:35.854 --> 17:37.489
This clear and
straight-forward resource
17:37.556 --> 17:40.192
will help you understand
this vital truth--
17:40.259 --> 17:42.761
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
17:42.828 --> 17:43.762
Call now!
17:43.829 --> 17:47.800
Or go to...
17:47.866 --> 17:50.135
♪
17:50.202 --> 17:52.237
In the last segment, we
addressed the question,
17:52.304 --> 17:54.373
"Does God ever
condone lies?"
17:54.440 --> 17:55.908
And we came to the
conclusion, from
17:55.974 --> 17:58.243
God's word, that,
No, He does not.
17:58.310 --> 18:01.380
Then how could God or
Christ have anything
18:01.447 --> 18:02.781
to do with Christmas?
18:02.848 --> 18:05.384
And what should that tell
us, about what we should
18:05.451 --> 18:06.752
do with Christmas?
18:06.819 --> 18:09.888
Let's move on to our second
fundamental question:
18:09.955 --> 18:14.293
Does God ever say "keep
any day" as long as
18:14.359 --> 18:15.494
you honor Christ?
18:15.561 --> 18:18.697
This is a reason some use
to explain they're holding
18:18.764 --> 18:21.066
on to Christmas in
spite of its error.
18:21.133 --> 18:24.970
Well, they reason, as long as we
honor Christ in it, it's ok.
18:25.037 --> 18:27.172
But is it ok?
18:27.239 --> 18:29.708
We find some powerful
principles in the Bible
18:29.775 --> 18:32.044
that give us the
guidance we need.
18:32.110 --> 18:34.880
One is found in the
history of Israel.
18:34.947 --> 18:38.350
The ancient nation of
Israel was led by God out
18:38.417 --> 18:42.054
of enslavement from Egypt
about 3,400 years ago.
18:42.120 --> 18:45.324
But before they went
into what was called the
18:45.390 --> 18:48.427
Promised Land, God gave
them a serious warning.
18:48.494 --> 18:52.564
He said don't mix worship
of Me with the worship
18:52.631 --> 18:54.066
of the nations
around you.
18:54.132 --> 18:58.170
We'll pick it up in
Deuteronomy 12:30,
18:58.237 --> 19:01.673
"Take heed... that you do not inquire after their gods,
19:01.740 --> 19:05.244
saying, How did these
nations serve their gods?
19:05.310 --> 19:07.045
I also will do likewise.
19:07.112 --> 19:11.383
You shall not worship the
LORD your God in that way;"
19:11.450 --> 19:15.153
Notice, the principle is
not just "don't worship idols",
19:15.220 --> 19:18.590
it's "don't worship
the true God with
19:18.657 --> 19:22.094
idolatrous practices".
Can you see the difference?
19:22.160 --> 19:24.129
But in the history of
the Christian church,
19:24.196 --> 19:26.398
that is what
exactly happened.
19:26.465 --> 19:30.836
Worship of Christ was mixed
with traditions of the pagans.
19:30.903 --> 19:34.573
In the book The Battle
for Christmas, author
19:34.640 --> 19:36.675
Stephen Nissenbaum
writes this:
19:36.742 --> 19:39.811
"It was only in the fourth
century that the Church
19:39.878 --> 19:43.782
officially decided to observe
Christmas on December 25.
19:43.849 --> 19:47.452
And this date was chosen
not for religious reasons
19:47.519 --> 19:50.956
but simply because it happened
to mark the approximate
19:51.023 --> 19:53.959
arrival of the winter
solstice, an event that
19:54.026 --> 19:57.930
was celebrated long before
the advent of Christianity"
19:57.996 --> 20:01.066
"The Puritans were correct
when they point out--and
20:01.133 --> 20:04.202
they point it out often--
that Christmas was nothing
20:04.269 --> 20:08.273
but a pagan festival covered
with a Christian veneer."
20:08.340 --> 20:11.476
He then refers to the
Puritan minister Increase
20:11.543 --> 20:14.913
Mather, from the early
days of colonial America:
20:14.980 --> 20:17.516
"[Increase Mather]
accurately observed
20:17.583 --> 20:21.587
in 1687 that the early
Christians who first
20:21.653 --> 20:25.891
observed the Nativity on
December 25 did not do so
20:25.958 --> 20:28.660
'thinking that Christ was
born in that Month,
20:28.727 --> 20:32.731
but because the Heathens Saturnalia was at that time
20:32.798 --> 20:35.467
kept in Rome, and they were willing to have those
20:35.534 --> 20:39.705
Pagan Holidays metamorphosed into Christian [ones].'"
20:39.771 --> 20:42.841
So, Christmas was not
put on December 25
20:42.908 --> 20:44.843
to reflect the
birth of Christ.
20:44.910 --> 20:47.646
It was put there to
absorb the worshippers
20:47.713 --> 20:51.617
of Saturnalia and easily
bring them into the church.
20:51.683 --> 20:54.152
Precisely the opposite
of God's instructions
20:54.219 --> 20:55.587
back in Deuteronomy.
20:55.654 --> 20:59.658
How did the expanding,
visible church deal
20:59.725 --> 21:01.994
with the traditions of
the pagans around them?
21:02.060 --> 21:04.129
Well, it accommodated them.
21:04.196 --> 21:05.964
Notice this statement
from the book,
21:06.031 --> 21:08.166
The Pageantry of Christmas:
21:08.233 --> 21:11.536
"Most of the Christian
missionaries who moved into
21:11.603 --> 21:14.906
Central and Western Europe
as the Roman Empire crumbled,
21:14.973 --> 21:18.176
followed the advice of
[Pope] Gregory the Great.
21:18.243 --> 21:22.514
He wrote, in 597, that
they should not try to put
21:22.581 --> 21:26.318
down pagan customs 'upon
the sudden,' but adapt
21:26.385 --> 21:28.286
them 'to the praise of God.'"
21:28.353 --> 21:31.023
Adapt the pagan customs?
21:31.089 --> 21:34.493
But that is exactly what
happened, and that's why we
21:34.559 --> 21:38.130
have the strange mix of
pagan rituals with the
21:38.196 --> 21:40.966
mention of Christ,
in Christmas today.
21:41.033 --> 21:43.602
But is that
what God wanted?
21:43.669 --> 21:44.836
No.
21:44.903 --> 21:50.409
Notice God's instruction
in Jeremiah 10:1,
21:50.475 --> 21:52.944
"Hear the word which the
LORD speaks to you,
21:53.011 --> 21:54.413
O house of Israel.
21:54.479 --> 21:57.883
Thus says the LORD; 'Do not
learn the way of the Gentiles...
21:57.949 --> 22:00.786
For the customs of the
peoples are futile;
22:00.852 --> 22:03.755
For one cuts a tree from
the forest, the work of
22:03.822 --> 22:05.857
the hands of the
workman, with the ax.
22:05.924 --> 22:08.160
They decorate it with
silver and gold;
22:08.226 --> 22:11.196
They fasten it with nails
and hammers so that it
22:11.263 --> 22:12.597
will not topple.
22:12.664 --> 22:15.467
They are upright,
like a palm tree..."
22:15.534 --> 22:18.270
Remarkable parallels with
the customs of Christmas
22:18.336 --> 22:20.205
that jump right
off the page.
22:20.272 --> 22:24.076
God told ancient Israel
through Jeremiah, don't
22:24.142 --> 22:27.813
learn how to worship Me by
watching how the nations
22:27.879 --> 22:29.347
around you do it.
22:29.414 --> 22:32.884
But in the Christian era,
that's exactly what some did.
22:32.951 --> 22:36.388
They transformed the
worship of Christ into
22:36.455 --> 22:39.891
a mix of the true God with
the worship of Saturn,
22:39.958 --> 22:41.626
Mithra, and others.
22:41.693 --> 22:45.731
God's standard is truth,
as defined by the Bible.
22:45.797 --> 22:47.899
Not traditions.
Not customs.
22:47.966 --> 22:51.703
Notice John 4:23,
22:51.770 --> 22:55.173
"...the hour is coming, and
now is, when the true
22:55.240 --> 22:57.576
worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and
22:57.642 --> 23:01.213
truth; for the Father is
seeking such to worship Him."
23:01.279 --> 23:05.117
When we show honor to God,
we have to do it His way.
23:05.183 --> 23:08.120
We have to honor Him
on the days He wants
23:08.186 --> 23:09.521
us to honor Him.
23:09.588 --> 23:12.958
There's much more to this
subject than we can cover
23:13.024 --> 23:14.092
in this short program.
23:14.159 --> 23:15.660
And that's why we are
offering you the
23:15.727 --> 23:18.930
free study guide,
Is Christmas Christian?
23:18.997 --> 23:22.534
It will open your eyes to
the true origin of many of
23:22.601 --> 23:24.002
the customs of Christmas.
23:24.069 --> 23:28.406
And just as important, it will
show you what to do about it.
23:28.473 --> 23:31.510
It will show you that
"God offers a Better Way."
23:31.576 --> 23:34.980
It discusses the memorial
that Christ did command
23:35.046 --> 23:38.617
to keep--the memorial of
His death, not His birth.
23:38.683 --> 23:41.887
And it explains that not
everyone is just going
23:41.953 --> 23:43.021
along with Christmas.
23:43.088 --> 23:46.324
In fact, "Many are
opting out of Christmas".
23:46.391 --> 23:47.559
So what about you?
23:47.626 --> 23:49.494
Judge these things
for yourself.
23:49.561 --> 23:50.829
Don't take our
word for it.
23:50.896 --> 23:54.232
This is important.
You need this information.
23:54.299 --> 23:59.104
So, request your free copy of
"Is Christmas Christian."
23:59.171 --> 24:01.706
Call the number on
your screen or go to
24:01.773 --> 24:05.877
TWTV.org/Christmas
to order today.
24:05.944 --> 24:06.845
♪
24:06.912 --> 24:13.418
For today's free
offer call...
24:13.485 --> 24:19.124
Or go to...
24:19.191 --> 24:21.626
This clear and
straight-forward resource
24:21.693 --> 24:24.262
will help you understand
this vital truth--
24:24.329 --> 24:27.399
straight from the
pages of the Bible.
24:27.465 --> 24:30.168
If you're calling for the
first time, you will also
24:30.235 --> 24:33.004
receive a free annual
subscription to Tomorrow's
24:33.071 --> 24:34.539
World magazine.
24:34.606 --> 24:38.043
Six inspiring issues
discussing news, science,
24:38.109 --> 24:40.745
and modern culture will
help you make sense of
24:40.812 --> 24:44.549
your world from a
biblical perspective.
24:44.616 --> 24:47.319
Call today and join
millions around the world
24:47.385 --> 24:49.955
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
24:50.021 --> 24:55.760
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
24:55.827 --> 24:57.095
Call now!
24:57.162 --> 25:00.932
Or go to...
25:00.999 --> 25:06.371
♪
25:06.438 --> 25:09.174
So, what should we
do about Christmas?
25:09.241 --> 25:10.442
Simple.
25:10.508 --> 25:12.611
God offers
something better.
25:12.677 --> 25:15.413
We don't have to settle
for a festival steeped in
25:15.480 --> 25:17.015
pagan traditions.
25:17.082 --> 25:18.483
We can be different.
25:18.550 --> 25:22.587
God outlines His days--
His biblical holy days--
25:22.654 --> 25:25.857
which teach us about Him
and His plan of salvation.
25:25.924 --> 25:27.259
You might have
heard of them.
25:27.325 --> 25:29.427
Passover. Pentecost.
25:29.494 --> 25:32.030
The Feast of Tabernacles.
The Day of Atonement.
25:32.097 --> 25:33.398
These are just a few.
25:33.465 --> 25:37.569
The apostle Paul took the
Gospel message primarily
25:37.636 --> 25:39.137
to a Gentile world.
25:39.204 --> 25:41.840
Meaning, the brethren he
worked with and wrote
25:41.907 --> 25:44.709
to were coming out
of pagan practices.
25:44.776 --> 25:48.046
He worked in the Roman
world of the 1st century.
25:48.113 --> 25:51.683
And the people in that world
were keeping the Saturnalia.
25:51.750 --> 25:55.287
Many of them were worshiping Mithra, and other false gods.
25:55.353 --> 25:58.857
And they had to come out
of that to become part of
25:58.924 --> 26:01.359
the body of Christ,
the Church of God.
26:01.426 --> 26:03.862
But he had to encourage
them to not fall
26:03.929 --> 26:06.298
back into their
former practices.
26:06.364 --> 26:09.267
He had to tell them, don't
get discouraged if people
26:09.334 --> 26:11.603
don't understand
what you're doing.
26:11.670 --> 26:14.806
Even if that means friends,
neighbors, or family.
26:14.873 --> 26:18.410
Notice what he said in the
book of Colossians to
26:18.476 --> 26:20.178
the church at Colosse.
26:20.245 --> 26:23.415
Colossians 2:16,
and I'm reading from
26:23.481 --> 26:25.317
the King James Version:
26:25.383 --> 26:28.486
"Let no man therefore
judge you in meat, or in
26:28.553 --> 26:31.423
drink, or in respect of
an holyday, or of the new
26:31.489 --> 26:34.659
moon, or of the sabbath
days: Which are a shadow
26:34.726 --> 26:38.196
of things to come; but
the body is of Christ."
26:38.263 --> 26:40.899
The word "is"
is in italics.
26:40.966 --> 26:42.500
It's not in the
original text.
26:42.567 --> 26:45.971
It should read, "but
the body of Christ".
26:46.037 --> 26:48.440
The church is the body.
26:48.506 --> 26:52.477
We are to let the church
teach us, to guide us, and to
26:52.544 --> 26:56.548
show us how to keep the Holy
Days as outlined in the Bible.
26:56.614 --> 26:58.683
And we should not be
discouraged if the world
26:58.750 --> 27:02.654
judges us for not
keeping worldly days.
27:02.721 --> 27:05.590
So, don't let the world
judge you, if you walk
27:05.657 --> 27:06.925
away from Christmas.
27:06.992 --> 27:09.694
If you make the
determination, I'm done
27:09.761 --> 27:12.530
following the traditions
of man, and I want to
27:12.597 --> 27:13.732
learn the ways of God.
27:13.798 --> 27:15.266
Don't be discouraged.
27:15.333 --> 27:18.336
Your friends and even
relatives may not like it.
27:18.403 --> 27:20.939
But God is looking for
those who are willing to
27:21.006 --> 27:23.208
follow Him, come what may.
27:23.274 --> 27:25.910
Christmas does not
lead us to truth.
27:25.977 --> 27:27.712
It only obscures
the truth.
27:27.779 --> 27:30.749
It's not enough to know
the origins of Christmas.
27:30.815 --> 27:33.218
We have to act
on what we know.
27:33.284 --> 27:35.620
And that means,
follow the truth.
27:35.687 --> 27:38.156
That's what we should
do about Christmas.
27:38.223 --> 27:40.525
Thank you for watching--
and don't forget to order
27:40.592 --> 27:44.062
your free study guide,
Is Christmas Christian?
27:44.129 --> 27:47.499
And keep watching for more
Tomorrow's World episodes.
27:47.565 --> 27:50.735
As Gerald Weston, Richard
Ames, Wallace Smith and I
27:50.802 --> 27:54.105
explain the Good News of Tomorrow's World, and the
27:54.172 --> 27:57.375
truth, comfort, and hope
it can bring to you
27:57.442 --> 27:58.376
and your family.
27:58.443 --> 27:59.677
See you next time.
27:59.744 --> 28:00.645
♪
28:00.712 --> 28:06.818
For today's free
offer call...
28:06.885 --> 28:11.689
Or go to...
28:11.756 --> 28:14.292
Call today and join
millions around the world
28:14.359 --> 28:17.062
who are turning to
Tomorrow's World for
28:17.128 --> 28:20.965
truth, prophecy, and hope
in these confusing times.
28:21.032 --> 28:22.834
♪
28:22.901 --> 28:25.603
The preceding program
is produced by the
28:25.670 --> 28:26.604
Living Church of God.
28:26.671 --> 28:28.940
♪