John Thiel mp3
Scripture Reading:
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
This is the benchmark of the subject of the hour to understand God’s perfect will in reference to how we deal with Christmas. It says there that we are not to be conformed to the world. Rather we are to be conformed to whom?
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Here comes the important connection being made conformable unto His death. Conformable – we are not to be conformed to this world. We are to be conformed to Jesus Christ to His death. That’s what Apostle Paul says. I want the fellowship of His sufferings. I want to be made conformable unto his death.
Apostle Paul deals again with that in Romans 6. To be conformable to the death of Jesus has to do with what we as His children have done when we became baptised. Reflect back on your experience when you became baptised because there in Romans 6:3 to 8 the conformability to His death is addressed.
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (1 Corinthians 6:14) 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
See what it means to be conformable to His death? For He that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. Being made conformable to His death, we then can be resurrected together with Christ and made to live with Him in newness of life.
A total change not to be conformed to this world but be renewed transformed in our mind through the conformability to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So it is that by the renewing of our mind, by being conformed to Jesus death and rise raised again, there is a transition through this conformability to death. There is a transition of thinking. We haven’t renewed our mind. Our thinking changes and as I turn attention to the change or the transition of thinking to other thoughts:
This is the transition from our previous life to the new one.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
It says let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man, what his thoughts were. To forsake the thoughts of the past and transition them into the new and let him return unto the Lord and He will have mercy upon him and to our God and He will abundantly pardon.
Now comes the thoughts that we are to adopt – for my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord.
When we bow conformable to the death of Jesus Christ, we enter into a change of thoughts, a change of thoughts to the thoughts that come from God not ours and this is what is the again described by the Apostle Paul.
They associated a quote from Sister White that puts us right in tune with God’s thoughts.
1st Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
God thoughts are higher than our thoughts therefore as it is written, eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. This takes us to another scripture.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
God’s thoughts, the deep things of God, the Spirit of God knows.
1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
That we might know God’s thoughts because the Spirit who knows the thoughts of God comes and reveals them to us. This is our privilege; this is our experience if we’re going to be true Christians. This sentence seals the thought:
Only under the direction of the Omniscient One shall we, in the study of His works, be enabled to think His thoughts after Him. Ed 134.5
What a privilege. My thoughts are not your thoughts. Isn’t that thrilling. The majesty of heaven; His thoughts that are higher from the earth than heaven is from the earth. Those thoughts, we are able to think His thoughts after Him. That’s what is written. Try to comprehend it.
It is my purpose this divine service to seek to comprehend God’s thoughts regarding Christmas and the end of the year holiday season.
God’s Thoughts
Are you interested what are God’s thoughts regarding Christmas and the New Year season? What should be our thoughts, our mind set regarding this subject? In the ranks of modern Seventh-Day Adventism, there are many variants of thought. There are many various decisions that people are making, and they look to the Spirit of Prophecy and even draw conclusions from there.
One is that they engage joyfully in the celebration of Christmas. That’s one mindset. They do it, they give gifts, they have their Christmas tree etc. There is another mindset which with austerity repulse any association with Christmas. It’s pagan, it’s the birthday of Mithra, it’s nothing to do with God’s people. With austerity they repulse Christmas altogether.
Then there’s a third one. The one that where they quote Sister White’s writings and justify some recognition of Christmas and they point to the Spirit of Prophecy. It is our purpose at this time to search up the position that God wants us to take.
What is God’s thought? Is it your choice to embrace God’s thoughts? Where am I going to get God’s thoughts from? We can read the Bible, but it doesn’t say anything about Christmas there really, but we can read the Spirit of Prophecy and what is the Spirit of Prophecy according to Revelation? It is the Testimony of Jesus. Well then if we read the Testimony of Jesus, we can explore to get God’s thoughts on that can we not? It’s the Testimony of Jesus, God thoughts. Let’s explore together the testimony of Jesus on the matter of Christmas and the holiday season.
Shen the pioneers of Seventh-Day Adventism launched out in 1844 they commenced a journey, a journey of discovery of God’s thoughts for these last days. How did they come to their discoveries? Their discovery was their terrible disappointment that Jesus did not come as they expected in 1844. So they had to study closely and what was the subject that led them out into this journey?
The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. GC 423.1
As they studied the sanctuary in heaven it unlocked the mystery of their disappointment and what did it do?
It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God’s hand had directed the great advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people. GC 423.1
This statement is profound. It opens up the important thoughts of God, for God’s people in the last days because as they studied the subject of the sanctuary in heaven, it opened to you a complete system of truth that would show the position and work of God’s people. A complete system of truth.
I can refer to this with great rejoicing because by God’s grace when I was first shown this at the age of about 22/23, we can find the complete system of truth and know God’s people where they are and know the position of work. As they launched out at that, beginning of 1844 onwards…
But the people were not yet ready to meet their Lord. There was still a work of preparation to be accomplished for them. GC 424.4
They were not ready for Jesus to come. There was a work of preparation to be accomplished for them.
New Duties
Light was to be given, directing their minds to the temple of God in heaven; and as they should by faith follow their High Priest in His ministration there, new duties would be revealed. Another message of warning and instruction was to be given to the church. GC 424.4
I’m sharing this preamble and reference to Christmas so that we are clear that on this subject of Christmas. God would reveal to them their duty in reference to this. It would show also how the Christmas subject fits into this whole system of truth which they were showing.
I remind you of a quote from the Spirit of Prophecy that it took 50 years for this system of truth to be thoroughly explored and put into the alliance. It took 50 years, the quote from 1904. Sister White where says:
Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?”—Counsels to Writers and Editors, 53. CIHS 17.1
That’s where our safety lies. These are the connected harmonious truths that we are to rely upon. As they were traveling along, this unfolding of truth to their minds along that journey of establishment they had to exercise continual revival and reformation along the path. They had to reform in the beginning. They were still eating meat and even pork, but the Lord showed a change gradually to vegetarianism. The dress reform came in, many other duties were revealed.
Did Christmas have anything to do with that? Was it also in the course of their experience. Revival and reformation was to be their experience. What do we understand with revival and reformation?
A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.—The Review and Herald, February 25, 1902. ChS 42.2
This was the experience of God’s early pioneers that established this platform of truth as they travelled through those fifty years. They experienced revival and reformation. Spiritual life came to them through the Holy Spirit and then they made a change of their ideas. Their theories, their habits and their practices that was changing through those fifty years as they came from the churches that they came from. There were the Methodists, Baptist’s, Episcopalians they came from all these different churches and in those churches their practices in reference to Christmas was entrenched. It happened in America.
A White Christmas
If you are a person who has had what they call a white Christmas; Christmas in the snow, that was special. I grew up with that up to the age of eight. Christmas was something beautiful. Icy cold and snowy outside with the beautiful figures on the ice, ice on the windows and a beautiful Christmas tree up to the ceiling in the house. At nighttime, the glittering sparkles. The candles, carols, gifts, it was beautiful. I grew up with that. I know the feeling and that’s where they came out of. That kind of experience keeping Christmas like that.
A Reformation
Mesmerised with the associated glamour of Christmas festivity but they undertook a reformation. They taught as the Lord showed them that these are pagan festivities. Christmas, Easter, Lent all those festivities that they grew up with that were special to their affections, they learned this is of pagan origin and they taught that. They taught that we are not to participate on the 25th of December as a Christmas day. They taught that it’s pagan. A birthday of Mithra. It’s got nothing to do with the birthday of Jesus and as they were discovering and teaching these things, quickly God in His wisdom gave through the Testimony of Jesus, His source as they were awakening out of their false pleasure.
Very quickly through the Spirit of Prophecy God gave a direction perfectly in harmony with what they were studying because in Adventist Home page 477.2 it says:
The twenty-fifth of December is supposed to be the day of the birth of Jesus Christ, and its observance has become customary and popular. AH 477.2
The 25th of December is supposed to be the day of the birth of Jesus Christ and it’s observance has become customary and popular.
Now you get the picture, it is supposed to be the birth of Christ, and its observance has become customary and popular. Mark these thoughts because this is important.
But yet there is no certainty that we are keeping the veritable day of our Saviour’s birth. History gives us no certain assurance of this. The Bible does not give us the precise time. Had the Lord deemed this knowledge essential to our salvation, He would have spoken through His prophets and apostles, that we might know all about the matter. But the silence of the Scriptures upon this point evidences to us that it is hidden from us for the wisest purposes. AH 477.2
In His wisdom the Lord concealed the place where He buried Moses. AH 477.3
She enlarges that the birth of Jesus, the day of His birth was concealed just like the place where Moses was buried so that it doesn’t become a place of idolatrous worship. Very quickly under inspiration, the Lord identified that this 25th of December has got nothing to do with my illumination. Nothing to do with it. I read a quote from Review and Herald December 26 1882 and incidentally some of the quotes of Adventist Home can came from review and Herald December 26 1882 December 11, December 9 1884 and December 11 1879.
Many people read from Adventist Home and they don’t read the Review and Herald where these statements were segmented out of. Consequently, they come up with conclusions that are not the way that Sister White actually meant or the way God meant. Here we have a quote from the Spirit of Prophecy that leaves us with no question that the 25th December is not the day of Christ’s birth and in this one of these statements,
As Christians we cannot honour a custom which is not approved of heaven. Review and Herald December 26 1882
That came from the context of what is in Adventist Home. It is not a custom that heaven approves of. What we want to do, as this is made very clear, we want to follow very carefully God’s thought of dealing with the entrenched affections that have been established while they were in these other churches.
God’s thoughts with the entrenched affections for Christmas we go directly to Adventist Home again. It comes from these Review and Herald statements (RH December 9, 1884, par. 5):
As the twenty-fifth of December is observed to commemorate the birth of Christ, as the children have been instructed by precept and example that this was indeed a day of gladness and rejoicing, you will find it a difficult matter to pass over this period without giving it some attention. It can be made to serve a very good purpose. AH 478.1
Did you get the important statement here? The 25th of December has been installed into the children and young people’s mind by precept and example that this is a day of gladness and rejoicing. I grew up with that feeling and I still talk to some of my relatives, my brothers and sisters who have a wonderful memory of Christmas and they have a Christmas tree and they have these things because of it brings back all those happy memories.
The youth should be treated very carefully. They should not be left on Christmas to find their own amusement in vanity and pleasure seeking, in amusements which will be detrimental to their spirituality. Parents can control this matter by turning the minds and the offerings of their children to God and His cause and the salvation of souls. AH 478.2
Can you see the wisdom of God here; the testimony of Jesus? Be careful how you deal with Christmas when they have got it entrenched in their system as a pleasurable occasion.
The desire for amusement, instead of being quenched and arbitrarily ruled down, should be controlled and directed by painstaking effort upon the part of the parents. Their desire to make gifts may be turned into pure and holy channels and made to result in good to our fellow men by supplying the treasury in the great, grand work for which Christ came into our world. Self-denial and self-sacrifice marked His course of action. Let it mark ours who profess to love Jesus because in Him is centered our hope of eternal life.2 AH 478.3
Are you picking up on God’s thoughts? His people were coming out of a festive minded Christmas and the children are now as they discovered, this is not really Christ’s birthday. The children are going to be dropped arbitrarily. That it’s no more of God’s will. What’s God’s thought here? Be careful how you proceed. That’s what it’s about, that’s what Sister White was writing under God’s direction. Turn the affections of giving gifts to wonderful loving Jesus, to give gifts to Him so that those gifts are monetary gifts to enlarge God’s kingdom. That’s the council that is given here in dealing with the change away from Christmas.
God’s wonderful thought expressed. While the world and the church enjoy the affections and the festive season, we are told here be careful of the young people. Turn the attention of the children away from selfishness from indulgence of the festive season. Take care of the young in the change. Notice carefully what the young people in her day and of course the young people of today who are not in that advanced knowledge that we stand in today, how these young people as they come out of the wrong into the right, have to be dealt with because you can lose them according to God’s knowledge.
We are living in an unfortunate age for children. A heavy current is setting downward to perdition, and more than childhood’s experience and strength is needed to press against this current, and not be borne down by it. The youth generally seem to be Satan’s captives, and he and his angels are leading them to certain destruction. Satan and his hosts are warring against the government of God, and all who have a desire to yield their hearts to Him and obey His requirements Satan will try to perplex and overcome with his temptations, that they may become discouraged and give up the warfare.CG 471.1
To learn that Christmas is not a time for us to have the festivities that the people are doing in the world, they want to do the changing and the children, the young people are in danger for both from Satan too because they want to follow God’s government and Satan is warring against.
This is real. This is real how much I have had to struggle through my youthful years as I saw that downward trend that was. I love the Lord, I really did. I loved Him dearly when I was 15/16 and even earlier than that but I was too wrapped up in practices that were not of God and I wanted to follow Him and then when I was introduced to the high standards, oh it was overwhelming, and we have to be very careful.
We never needed close connection with God more than we need it today. One of the greatest dangers that besets God’s people has ever been from conformity to worldly maxims and customs. The youth especially are in constant peril. Fathers and mothers should be on their guard against the wiles of Satan. While he is seeking to accomplish the ruin of their children, let not parents flatter themselves that there is no particular danger. Let them not give thought and care to the things of this world, while the higher, eternal interests of their children are neglected.2 CG 471.2
Here we have a very clear reference to the battle of change to follow God’s way that people will get discouraged in as Satan will make it hard for them to follow God’s will and God’s way therefore we are told that we should deal wisely with the change. That’s what God was telling Sister White in her day, in their day. Be careful now as you change out of Christmas to reject what is not of God and to in transition to help the young people to direct their affections that are wrapped up with Christmas in the right direction.
I saw that our holidays should not be spent in patterning after the world, yet they should not be passed by unnoticed, for this will bring dissatisfaction to our children. AH 472.1
Forget that the children who are used to by precept and example to enjoy the way of the world are now told to change so be careful.
On these days when there is danger that our children will be exposed to evil influences and become corrupted by the pleasures and excitement of the world, let the parents study to get up something to take the place of more dangerous amusements. Give your children to understand that you have their good and happiness in view.1
Under God’s guidance she was shown that why we should not be patterning after the world in the holiday season, we should not follow it yet we should be careful not to pass it by unnoticed because:
On these days when there is danger that our children will be exposed to evil influences and become corrupted by the pleasures and excitement of the world, let the parents study to get up something to take the place of more dangerous amusements. Give your children to understand that you have their good and happiness in view. AH 472.1
Through the observance of holidays the people both of the world and of the churches have been educated to believe that these lazy days are essential to health and happiness, but the results reveal that they are full of evil.2 AH 472.2
Isn’t that right? They look upon it as a family dying. Christmas is a family day; it’s for health and happiness but the result reveal that they are full of evil.
We have tried earnestly to make the holidays as interesting as possible to the youth and children, while changing this order of things. Our object has been to keep them away from scenes of amusement among unbelievers. AH 472.3
Are you picking up God’s thoughts in regards to Christmas? So it was with this in mind that Christmas was carefully handled in Sister White’s time. The glamour of the Christmas tree, and it is a glamorous thing was to be turned and diverted to a better purpose. What was the diversion that is given in the Spirit of Prophecy to a better purpose? They were still attached to this Christmas tree in their affections. What was to be done?
You can teach your children a lesson while you explain to them the reason why you have made a change in the value of their presents, telling them that you are convinced that you have hitherto considered their pleasure more than the glory of God. Tell them that you have thought more of your own pleasure and of their gratification and of keeping in harmony with the customs and traditions of the world, in making presents to those who did not need them, than you have of advancing the cause of God. Like the wise men of old, you may offer to God your best gifts and show by your offerings to Him that you appreciate His Gift to a sinful world. Set your children’s thoughts running in a new, unselfish channel by inciting them to present offerings to God for the gift of His only-begotten Son.8 AH 481.4
In this statement lies the fact that Sister White says to help the children to divert their attention away from selfish concentration of festivity to giving to Jesus the gifts away from themselves. Notice people draw your attention to this false application but here Sister White says in the light of everything she had said.
God would be well pleased if on Christmas each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of worship. AH 482.1
The houses of worship needed to be finished in their payment. The debt needs to be removed. On Christmas day, turn the attention of the festivity of the children to something positive to raise the money for the offerings of the worship places. Let the churches put a Christmas tree in there with the offerings hanging on the tree.
Can you see the diversion that is here being suggested in the transition and I repeat in the transition so that the children can still see something of God’s wonderful goodness to them in the this period of Christmas.
Letters of inquiry have come to us asking, Shall we have a Christmas tree? Will it not be like the world? AH 482.1
The people are illuminated this is the world. Is it not like the world?
We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen and placing it in our churches, but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree. AH 482.1
The tree may be as tall and its branches as wide as shall best suit the occasion; but let its boughs be laden with the golden and silver fruit of your beneficence, and present this to Him as your Christmas gift. Let your donations be sanctified by prayer.9 AH 482.2
Christmas and New Year celebrations can and should be held in behalf of those who are helpless. God is glorified when we give to help those who have large families to support.10 AH 482.3
Are you picking up God thoughts? Is God in harmony with the custom of Christmas? No but in the process of change, in the process of transition for the children’s sake, make their transition as smooth and as meaningful as possible. That’s what is being torn down.
I read widely through those in Review and Herald declarations from which tone was taken and that’s what it was all about. The transition to help the young people because they will be perplexed and confused. If there was just an a great arbitrary change, that’s what it was about.
Sister White says there is no sin in putting a tree in the in the church. Did you remember that statement? No sin. It’s what the tree was there for that makes it a sin. If you’re celebrating Christmas as such, well here is this principle, It’s directly relevant to this subject.
Many in the world set their affections on things that in themselves are not evil; 6T 54.3
There’s nothing evil in the tree and they’ve got the affections on the tree but they become satisfied with these things and do not seek the greater and higher good that Christ desires to give them instead. Notice how under inspiration the greater and higher good was turned through the use of the Christmas tree which is not in itself evil.
Now we must not rudely seek to deprive them of what they hold dear. 6T 54.3
That’s the transition they held. Don’t’ deprive them m of it.
Lead them to behold Christ in His loveliness; then they will turn from everything that would draw their affections away from Him. This is the principle of the Saviour’s dealing with men; 6T 54.3
This is God’s thoughts. This is what Christmas, what Sister White had been writing there. As the principle of God’s thoughts for the people to transition them out of the wrong through the channel of their affections that were associated with the Christmas tree.
That’s what it’s about, that’s the principle and it says it is the principle that must be brought into the church; that principle.
Lead them to behold Christ in His loveliness; then they will turn from everything that would draw their affections away from Him. 6T 54.3
Once that has been achieved, once the church has achieved this to turn their attention away from the Christmas celebration mentality to Christ, once that has been done, they turn away happily because they’re concentrating now on doing what God wants them to do.
When Christmas time comes around, when the change has firmly been established in God’s church, the change has been firmly established in God’s church, Christmas has no more attractions any more.
Tell me children, are you attracted to Christmas? Do you find Christmas something special? You haven’t been brought up with that have you. We know the 25th is the day that has nothing to do with Jesus birth.
Those Tinsel Things
I’m not attracted to those tinsel things of the world. I’m not interested in those things anymore. If I ever have been, especially those of us who’ve been brought up in the church that doesn’t do this, if we’ve all been brought up in a church that does this, we have to be careful that we help the children gently. That’s what it’s about and when they have turned away from this and Christmas has no attractions anymore, shall we in the church today, shall we bring a Christmas tree into our into our church? Should we, what for we’ve lost all attractions to, Christmas; we’re not interested in anymore and the children have grown up without any attractions to it. It’s been achieved. The church has walked away from this corruption by the gentle process of God’s transition to reinstitute a tree would be confusing to those who see no value in Christmas.
Can you see it would be confusing? That’s as confusing as the people who have to give up their habits of the past and having to do it abruptly. We abruptly put a Christmas tree in the church. If we have a need of giving offerings, we give it without the Christmas tree. That was done for the purpose of the transition back there. Our scripture reading is very plain. As I said, that was the benchmark of what we’re reading because it says in verse 2:
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
What’s the perfect will of God? Christmas has nothing to do with it. That’s God’s perfect will but in transition, move carefully according to the council of the Spirit of Prophecy. God’s perfect will attained we move on and continue from that progress to the next step. As the journey of early Adventists went and you read this in the Bible. Apostle Paul deals with it in Philippians 3 where we were reading that not to be conformable but conformable to the death of Christ.
Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing
I reach forward to that which God wants me to do, that which I have already achieved. He’s moving forward from one thing to the next in his progress just like the early Adventists did.
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
If I have attained to the rejection of Christmas, walk by that rule now. Don’t continue to bring it back in again. That’s what the Spirit of God is saying.
1st Corinthians 13 is very plain. If as a child I was attracted to the festivities of Christmas because our parents did it, then as I grew up out of that childhood into the beauty of Christ, what does it say?
1 Corinthians 13: 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
We don’t need a Christmas tree to attract the children anymore. As mature adults we put away childish things. That’s so simple. Straight from the Spirit of Prophecy as it is written in the Bible.
A Christmas Tree
So many will use the spirit of prophecy to justify a Christmas tree in the way that we read it in Adventist home; ‘I’m not conscious of the background knowledge of what Sister White was describing.’ they say.
People can take out of my sermons segments. They’ve done that on the internet haven’t they? They’ve made me say things that I didn’t mean the way that they put it by cutting out segments. When Adventists cut out the segments out of Review and Herald in Adventist Home, they missed important little background understandings of the of the context. But when you read the context, is what I have just shared with you.
Sister White said it very plainly about her statements and when reading them.
Regarding the testimonies, nothing is ignored; nothing is cast aside; but time and place must be considered. Nothing must be done untimely. Some matters must be withheld because some persons would make an improper use of the light given. 1SM 57.2
What she has suggested is that when you read her statements, remember that what she wrote for the time and the place that you don’t misinterpret her writings for another time and place and reapply those statements. That’s what they’ve done. That is the reality of what has happened when I first read on this subject very early in my ministry. I read the context of the Review and Herald statements and I saw exactly what Sister White meant but people were misconstruing it because they read the segments out of Adventist Home.
Reading in =context gives you the thoughts behind what God has put down there.
Summary
In summary, Christmas is a pagan festival attached to Christianity exactly the same as Sunday is the day of worship in the place of Sabbath. Exactly the same thing.
God gently restores and reforms by the process of weaning, putting in place other things so that it can turn the people away from that which they have once held as very dear in His communications. For weaning we must not use these communications to reapply that which was intended as a transition.
Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Apostle Paul says as a child, as a baby; you’d had the milk of the word the milk of the Word. By reason of use you took hold of the meat of the Word, you no longer want the milk do you. The milk of the Word is nothing else but what we read about Christmas and Sister Whites writings that was to help the people who were in transition of growing in their journey out of the darkness of the falsehood of Christmas.
Always bear in mind the thoughts of God in reference to our entrenched habits are expressed by Jesus in John. John 16:12 to 14 where He says I have many things that I need to tell you but you are not yet able to bear them but the Holy Spirit will come and he will show you and guide you into all truth.
God’s mind and thought for humanity is I can’t give you everything at once, I can’t make abrupt changes in your life. I have to lead you gently and that was what He did in the journey of Adventism from the beginning to the end.
The desire for amusement, instead of being quenched and arbitrarily ruled down, should be controlled and directed by painstaking effort upon the part of the parents. AH 478.3
It is God’s mind in the transition.
Things That Are Not Wrong in Themselves
A Christmas tree up the front is not wrong, it’s not a sin. Sister White says it’s not wrong in itself. Don’t take it away from people abruptly. Show them Jesus and show them the attractions of Jesus and then they will turn away from those childish things. This is God’s thought and when we read Sister White’s writings, we must be careful that we don’t read them in their wrong context.
This is just one of such examples may God bless our understanding and when we meet people who are attached to Christmas let’s meet them with the same mind that God met the early Adventists.
Well wish them. Wish them a Merry Christmas, that’s fine but by your example show them that you have no interest in Christmas because oh yes they will agree with you the 25th is not the death of Christ, they will agree with you and by a happy cheerful following of Jesus they will see that we’ve got something better than they have and gradually they will also be led if they are children of God out of their darkness.
This is God’s way these are God’s thoughts. May God bless us to follow that example.
