A Season to Believe... part 2 

Greetings from HomeWorship 101™

"And there shall be signs in the sun,

and in the moon, and in the stars"  - Matthew 24:11,25

It was prophesized by the righteous Prophet Mica (5:2) that the King of Israel, and Savior of the world, would someday be born in Bethlehem.  And in came to pass, long ago in Judea, in the little village a few miles south of Jerusalem called Bethlehem.  It was a small town of about 400 families.  It was a very busy time because the census was to be taken and everyone had to return to their native homes.  Coming back to Bethlehem was a couple of young teenagers, Joseph and Merriam.  They were engaged to be married, and she was already very pregnant (Isa.7:14)  Merriam was near labor and was in dire need of a place to stay, and there were no rooms available at the inn.  So they made due with an animal manger.  An animal manger was like a small shallow cave.  They put down some fresh straw and built a fire at the mouth of the cave, and after a while the King of Israel, and the worlds Messiah was born (Luk.2:2-20). And, as the saying goes, “the rest is history.”  But there is a problem, the dark minions were not happy about this event.

“The liberty enjoyed by the people of these states

of worshiping Almighty God agreeably to their conscience,

is not only among the choicest of their blessings,

but also of their rights.” —George Washington

It’s Christmas time again, and during this season of peace and goodwill, the fighting continues.  I talked a lot about religious freedom in these past newsletters, and now at Christmas time there doesn’t seem to be too much religious freedom.  I do not mean the wars raging in the battlefields, I mean the hometown fighting in the public squares over Christmas.  Year after year the debates continue: Should we say happy holidays, or is it Merry Christmas?  The nativity must come down because it’s religious!  But the Hanukah Light can stay.  Ramadan is in - Christmas is out!  And then there is the if one religious display is not allowed, then no holiday displays can be allowed argument, etc, etc.  Many times the public issues become political and then they have to be resolved in our courts of law.  The judge is strongly influenced by lawyers for powerful interest groups.  The lawyers are plotting legal strategy behind the scenes and maneuvering with their allied politicians to win public opinion.  Boorrrring - the politicians do not understand, it’s not about them. Such is the season of peace and goodwill.    

“One definition of a free society is where it is safe to be unpopular.”

If one gets tired of the public debating and seeks calm in the sanctuary of their houses of worship they find the spiritual battle continuing.  The purists would say Christ was not born on December 25^th, it’s a pagan holiday with its roots in Babylon, not Jerusalem.  Sometimes a Messianic believer will come along and say, “if you take all the paganism out Christianity there would be nothing left.”  Isn’t nice that in this country, with the religious freedoms the Protestant Christians so wisely put into our Constitution, a person can say that about the great majority and no one really cares. 

Sometimes the fighting can even spill over into our homes.  In my climb up the spiritual mountain, I remember meeting with a Christian Sabbath keeping group, who also kept the Biblical Holy Days.  Some of the member’s relayed stories of how they had arguments, or had broken ties with their parents, or other close friends and relatives who continued to be Christmas keepers.  Personally, I think this is sad.  Some may accuse me of being a little new-ageish, because I don't choose sides in the faith wars.  But I'm not some new-ager, I'm a realist.  I know that you will never begin to teach someone something new if you begin by insulting them.  Remember the term “religious freedom?”  Learning about our CREATOR and Messiah should not break up families, it should bring them together! 

How did all this get so out of hand?  Christmas is not in the Bible, and nobody is going to hell for observing it.  The better question is “how” are you observing it?  Do you measure your Christmas success by the price tag of your present, or by your good deeds?  Technically speaking, Christmas is a 'traditional' religious holiday based on a Biblical story, and like everything in this world there are good points to it and bad points.  Oy vey, I try to stay out of the ‘religious’ mishegoss, but here it goes...

A Précis History

Think back in time for a moment.  The year was 321 C.E., and the Roman Emperor Constantine worried over civil unrest in the heartland.  There were the usual problems plaguing the empire for the last few hundred years, disease, pestilence, corruption, bandits, tribal warfare, etc.  In hard times the people needed a scapegoat to blame their troubles on.  When times got hard, the tradition among the Gentiles was that they would tear down the statue of their existing, non-performing god, and replace it with another god, which gives them hope for a better future.  Now the emperor wondered what to do to bring peace to the empire.  They had used up most of the Greek and Roman gods, and they really didn't work anyway.  Joining up with the Jews was not an option.  But maybe adopting the Gospel story of the Messiah-Christ would work.

By now, most all of the Jewish-Christians had been killed, or driven deep underground.  Torah learned Gentiles were few, so there would not be much of a protest if some Gospel events were given that "special" Roman touch.  The emperor’s sales pitch to his advisors might have been something like this: "We'll disregard the complexity of Hebrew scrolls (the Old Testament), and concentrate only on the end of the story - the belief in the Messiah!  Yesterday's - pagan - priests will become today's Gospel priests.  Yesterday's temple to Zeus will be replaced with today's Je'zeus.  Yesterday's - pagan - holidays will be rewritten with today's Gospel stories of Jesus.  He was the Son of God, and had much the same life story as Hercules.  You already know the story; his father is a god. He lived to do good works for the oppressed.  He died before finishing his work.  Went to hell to battle evil, and now sits with his father in heaven.  All you have to do is change the names."  Learn more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvFJE-RapBi_EyUjCHhfGJRXSKeQD8TMMAJG0

One can debate if the emperor was inspired by Satan to corrupt pure Christian – Messianic - teaching, or by GOD to pull people towards righteousness inspite of their misguided - pagan - habits, but if you think about it, the emperor’s idea worked!  The Romans never again tore down their Christ-centered worship places and replaced them with some other god.

Now getting back to critics of the Christmas observance, today they are getting their wishes.  The news headlines tell the stories of more and more communities taking down or not allowing Christian symbolism in the schools or public squares.  The Muslim Crest and the Jewish Chanukah is ok, but the cross, Ten Commandments, and the nativity are out.  So now what?  Do you think we are better off as a community?  Do you think all the Christians will now suddenly adopt the Biblical Holy Days?  It would be nice, but I think not.  Some of us had the Divine calling to study the Bible more and have learned the spiritual mysteries of the Biblical Holy Days, but to the general Christian population that well has already been poisoned and they are not goin’ there (Act.15:1-35).  Besides, did you ever think of the fact that Satan and his dark followers might not like YHWH’S Messiah being celebrated on their holy day, and maybe they have been seething over it ever since? 

Don’t step on someone else’s dream just because it is not yours.

Now in our modern time here in America, we have the freedom to study the Bible, and other ancient texts.  Computers make it very easy to compare different Bible translations.  And with the Jews back in their homeland, we have discoveries in Biblical archeology, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are helping to prove the Biblical accounts and prophecies.  After careful examination, clear thinking Bible readers can see the prejudice and methods of control in different religions, and now find themselves questioning long held beliefs.  For example, the Christmas tree, I grew up believing that it was a quaint German tradition from the 17^th century.  I was astonished to learn that the Prophet Jeremiah was already preaching against it 600 years before Christ was born (Jer.10:2-4) - at least today, no one prays to the holiday trees anymore.  I have many German relatives who still keep to their traditions and I know they are not pagans.  My spiritual calling is different then most, I gave up my Christmas tree in 1992 and I do not use it as a prideful club.  I still wish my friends and relatives peace and goodwill for the season of believing.

Throughout history, various groups - churches, trade unions, governments, etc. - come to power by instituting reforms to help people.  In time, the organizations lose their way and become controlling, rigid, and top heavy - no longer serving the people.  Then the roles reverse, and it is the people who wind up serving the organization.  For example: I was raised Lutheran (the people who spawned the Protestant revolution), and my biggest question is: "What have you done for me lately?  Originally, Martin Luther (the early years), had 90-odd good ideas, but he could have gone even further.  It’s been a few hundred years now, what have you done since?”  Sadly, it seemed to me that the religious leaders are more revenue, then Bible, orientated.”  Frustrated, I put on my hiking boots and blazed my own trail up the spiritual mountain of knowledge.  I hope that I have been listening to my good Angel and have an "inspired" point of view, but I didn't stand in a beam of light to get this spiritual enlightenment, I worked at it!  It took many books, and many years of study and prayer to get this far. 

No religious group is perfect (Rev.ch.17), false doctrines aside, I see organized religion more as a Bible learning experience.  The Romans brought the Bible down to its lowest common dominator, and let's call that the grade school level.  The Protestants are like high school.  The Sabbath keepers, the Holy Day keepers, the Sacred Names keepers, are like junior college.  And studying Hebrew, Biblical archeology, and natural healing, are like the university level.  I can't help but wonder, do the university professors look down their noses at the grade school teacher?  Do the college students, confident in their educational superiority, insult the grade school students?  One must remember that the faithful are worldwide body of believers at different levels of understanding.  Or to put it another way…

Remember: GOD is…, like eating a pizza! 

Some people like it with just plain cheese; others like to load it up with everything.

Some like the thin crust, some like only the regular crust, some others like the double thick crust, and there are those who like all three. 

Some like to eat carefully with a knife and fork, some others just grab hold and chomp away - sitting is optional. 

Sometimes you like to eat it at home, sometimes you feel like going out fancy and eating it in a restaurant. 

And for those who do not like pizza - we will pray for you. 

Be aware, if you are a pizza lover, then Satan wants you!

The moral of the story is that in the above George Washington was right, having the people free to worship and feed on our CREATOR’S knowledge, even if it is in their own particular style is better then no Divine Worship & Knowledge.  And he also knew, that Satan hates all Believers - he does not care which brand of Believer you are.

In the beginning, teaching about the original Jesus used to be very frustrating for me, then I learned about our CREATOR’S natural healing (using herbs, biblical diet laws, organic meats and oils, grasses and vegetables, etc., to heal yourself an maintain good health).  Now lets talk frustration!!!  Just try to tell people that when you get sick you would be better off running to the supermarket then the doctor. (In other words go to an herbalist / healer and get the medicines you need in the natural and organic food section of your supermarket and prepare your own medicines.  For example, the simple garlic bulb is a medicine chest unto itself.)  Eventually I learned how to teach the Bible from an herbalist.  The frustrating reality is that in this Age of Grace, Divine teachings requires a patient, and gentle touch – you cannot use your higher calling as a club, even if you see the people dying from poor medical advise right in front of you.

One constant truth I have discovered is that no matter who’s work you are studying, "Divine Knowledge: humbles great men, astonishes the common man, and puffs up the little man."  (For more info see "Ego Religion" web page: http://www.homeworship101.com/wp_ego_religion.htm )

Maybe this holiday has pagan roots, but people are not sacrificing children and virgins anymore, they are celebrating righteousness.  Discounting the characterless mass-marketing, they are celebrating the Divine concept of giving, instead of receiving (Act.20:35).  One must remember, if giving up long held traditions was so easy, there wouldn't be a very special reward for it (Rev.2:17).  We should always look to the example of our Master-Teacher.  When Yahshua-Jesus was talking to a general audience about Heaven, with all His spiritual knowledge, He didn't look down his nose at them and demand ritual purity.  He spoke of His FATHER's Kingdom as a blessing to the people (Mat.5:1-12). 

Presently, this world is a compromise.  The righteous do not have it completely their way, and neither does the dark side (Mat.13:36-43).  There is no doubt, when the conquering Messiah arrives, He will destroy this corrupt system and things will change, but until then, getting to Heaven is a matter of the heart (Dan.2:34; Heb.4:12; Zec.14:16-19).  If getting there was because of a perfect theology, then we would a-l-l be in serious trouble.   

I’m not a holiday-Nazi! (Except for Halloween.)  In the old days, when the emperor made his change to Christianity, many pagan priests were not happy, and in some circles, there has been a seething resentment ever since.  Today in our politically-religiously correct world, we have come full circle.  The nonbelievers are succeeding in removing public naivety scenes, and Christmas music; and in schools, Christmas value stories of giving, sacrifice, and hope are shunned.  What will replace them I wonder, a new humanism - the ole’ - Babylonian - religion of the self?  Is this modern, new-millennium, cultural improvement?  It seems to me that we are devolving. 

Because of my generalized approach, sometimes someone will ask if I’m part of some universal - world wide - church movement, or a Christian Apologetic.  No on both counts, I know what the UN world church movement will become, just read my prophecy pages.  But I do address “religious abuse” in my Internet travels and conversations.  What I mean by religious abuse is, when religious churches and organizations mentally abuse its members.  Not child sex abuse, but spiritual torment on adults, both young and old, to force them to submit to the will of their church or they will burn in hell.  Quite frankly it is one of the things that YHWH hates (Prov.6:16-19). 

When I talk to victims of religious abuse I always begin by telling them about the Rainbow Covenant, because that is the basis of our spiritual promise leading to our CREATOR’S Kingdom and no earthly church, and no mere mortal, has any power over it. There is only one man who has the power, and after the revolution (the 2^nd coming,) we will all be celebrating Christ’s-mass, amongst other things, during Tabernacles, until then a little love and kindness, a little understanding and patience doesn’t hurt. 

This is the season of believing.  Believe that YHWH is on our side.  And, remember: Adam and Eve, after being created, immediately knew their CREATOR.  After their fall from grace, humanity now has to have 'faith' in our CREATOR, and the 'heart' for HIS Righteous path (Heb.11:1).  During the Millennium Rule the people will immediately know their Messiah.  That is what makes the faithful special during this Age of Grace, because we believe without seeing (Jon.20:29,1Pet.2:9).

“I will honor Christmas in my heart,

and try to keep it all the year.” —Charles Dickens

.

True Believers are not religious once a year, or once a week.

True faith is something you live with and it guides you all the time.

Take care.  Peace and blessings, Errol.

**********************************************

Errol Mueller, chronicler extraordinaire

  e-mail: errol@homeworship101.com

website: www.homeworship101.com

**********************************************

WSC Newsletter 2007-16b, posted 12/23/07.

 

Copyright © 2007 Errol Mueller.  All rights reserved.  Short quotations, page copying, or redistribution for personal or non-commercial group study is permitted and encouraged, provided they are copied in total with no alterations or deletions.  Author’s name, website address, and copyright notice must be included.  If any other use is desired, written permission is required.

For information, email or call toll free (877) 375-7878.  White Stone Communications (Rev.2:17), Dothan, AL.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Back to index.  Previous newsletter

Copyright © 2007  White Stone Communications - HomeWorship101.com