WCG/GCI Meaning of Christmas

Worldwide Church of God Transformed from Truth to Fairy Tales

Saw an email today from GCI (Grace Communion International, the group that temporarily ran the new WCG) that stated the following:

Speaking of Life, with Dr. Joseph Tkach
The Meaning of Christmas

May this Christmas season be a wonderful time of joy in which we remember and celebrate what the birth of Jesus Christ means for all the world.

What is the meaning of Christmas?

GCI’s website, in at least one article, correctly teaches that:

The date of Jesus’ birth is not mentioned in the Bible.
No early Christian celebrated Christmas.
Scholars recognize that December 25th was chosen to compromise with pagan sun god worshippers.

Of course, it is not just GCI who knows this. Even The Catholic Encyclopedia admits that December 25 was Mithras’ birthday and that pagan sun worship practices are tied into a reason for the December 25th date.

GCI itself would not have adopted the December 25th date based upon the Bible, but only because others, like the Church of Rome were observing it.

So, what is the MEANING OF CHRISTMAS?

Christmas was MEANT to be a compromise with pagan sun-god worshippers. Pagans liked the mid-winter partying, and those under that influence of sun-god worshippers picked the date so that they could claim that the celebration was transformed from a pagan holiday to supposedly being a Christian one. People often accept it now as a compromise with the world.

Furthermore, not only did early Christians not celebrate Christmas, they also did not celebrate birthdays. The observance of birthdays, too, was a compromise with a pagan emperor who was a worshipper of the sun god Mithras–the one whose birthday was December 25th.

Satan apparently influenced all of this and it appears that his meaning of Christmas was to water down biblical truth, compromise biblical truth, and incorporate enough paganism into the belief system of most who profess Christ so that they would not bother to properly observe the festivals that the original Christians kept.

The original “yearly Christian festivals” included Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day (see Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible?).

Most of which most who profess Christianity today either have never heard or know little about. Sadly, the real “meaning of Christmas” is part of the reason.

Some articles of related interest may include:

What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them? Is December 25th Jesus’ birthday or that of the sun god?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. December 25th was celebrated as his birthday. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by the Tkach WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?