Christmas Trees & Circumcision

Eph. 5:6-11

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth). 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Eph. 5:6-11

The Spread of Christianity

The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men

The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men

• They went everywhere

The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men

• They went everywhere

• Usually faced fierce persecution

The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men

• They went everywhere

• Usually faced fierce persecution

• Problem was being distinct from Judaism

The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men

• They went everywhere

• Usually faced fierce persecution

• Problem was being distinct from Judaism

• Fewer problems with paganism

The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men

• They went everywhere

• Usually faced fierce persecution

• Problem was being distinct from Judaism

• Fewer problems with paganism

• Every person knew of the church

The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men

• They went everywhere

• Usually faced fierce persecution

• Problem was being distinct from Judaism

• Fewer problems with paganism

• Every person knew of the church

• Christianity conquered the pagan world

The Spread of Christianity• From 500 to 5,000 men

• They went everywhere

• Usually faced fierce persecution

• Problem was being distinct from Judaism

• Fewer problems with paganism

• Every person knew of the church

• Christianity conquered the pagan world

• Danger of desire to be accepted by world

Church in Pagan ItalySaturnalia

Church in Pagan ItalySaturnalia

• Roman pagans first introduced the holiday of Saturnalia, a week

long period of lawlessness celebrated between December 17-25.  During

this period, Roman courts were closed, and Roman law dictated that no

one could be punished for damaging property or injuring people during

the weeklong celebration.  The festival began when Roman authorities

chose “an enemy of the Roman people” to represent the “Lord of

Misrule.”  Each Roman community selected a victim whom they forced to

indulge in food and other physical pleasures throughout the week.  At the

festival’s conclusion, December 25th, Roman authorities believed they

were destroying the forces of darkness by brutally murdering this

innocent man or woman.

Church in Pagan ItalySaturnalia

• In the 4th century AD, Christianity imported the Saturnalia

festival hoping to take the pagan masses in with it.  Christian

leaders succeeded in converting to Christianity large numbers of

pagans by promising them that they could continue to celebrate

the Saturnalia as Christians.

•    The problem was that there was nothing intrinsically Christian

about Saturnalia. To remedy this, these Christian leaders named

Saturnalia’s concluding day, December 25th, to be Jesus’ birthday.

Church in Pagan ItalySaturnalia

• Christians had little success, however, refining the practices

of Saturnalia.  As Stephen Nissenbaum, professor history at the

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, writes, “In return for

ensuring massive observance of the anniversary of the Savior’s

birth by assigning it to this resonant date, the Church for its part

tacitly agreed to allow the holiday to be celebrated more or less

the way it had always been.”  The earliest Christmas holidays

were celebrated by drinking, sexual indulgence, singing naked in

the streets (a precursor of modern caroling), etc.

Church in Pagan N. Europe Dies Natalis Solis Invictus means "the birthday of the

unconquered Sun." The use of the title Sol Invictus allowed

several solar deities to be worshipped collectively, including Elah-

Gabal, a Syrian sun god; Sol, the god of Emperor Aurelian; and

Mithras, a soldiers' god of Persian origin. Emperor Elagabalus

(218–222) introduced the festival, and it reached the height of its

popularity under Aurelian, who promoted it as an empire-wide

holiday. This day had held no significance in the Roman festive

calendar until it was introduced in the third century.

Church in Pagan N. Europe A winter festival was the most popular festival of the year in

many cultures. Reasons included the fact that less agricultural work

needs to be done during the winter, as well as an expectation of better

weather as spring approached. Modern Christmas customs include: gift-

giving and merrymaking from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and

charity from the Roman New Year; and Yule logs and various foods from

Germanic feasts. Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called

Yule, held in the late December to early January period. As Northern

Europe was the last part to Christianize, its pagan traditions had a major

influence on Christmas. Scandinavians still call Christmas Jul. In English,

the word Yule is synonymous with Christmas, a usage first recorded in

900.

Christmas Trees Today?

Christmas Trees Today?Circumcision Today?

Christmas Trees Today?Circumcision Today?

• Both Have a “Religious” Background

Christmas Trees Today?Circumcision Today?

• Both Have a “Religious” Background

• Paul and Titus/Timothy

Christmas Trees Today?Circumcision Today?

• Both Have a “Religious” Background

• Paul and Titus/Timothy

• Christians in Early Centuries/Today

His Plan of Salvation

• Believe in Him John 3:16

• Turn (repent) from sin Acts 17:30

• Confess Christ Rom. 10:9

• Baptized into Christ Gal. 3:27

Added to His Kingdom, His Church

• Live faithfully until death Rev. 2:10