In a small southern town there was a “Nativity Scene” that showed great skill and talent had gone into creating it. One small feature bothered me. The three wise men were wearing firemen’s helmets.
Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, I left. At a “Quik Stop” on the edge of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets.
She exploded into a rage, yelling at me, “You darn Yankees never do read the Bible!”
I assured her that I did, but simply couldn’t recall anything about firemen in the Bible.
She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled thru some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in my face she said “See, it says right here, ‘The three wise man came from afar.'”
Jesus taught that we are to observe all things whatsoever He has commanded (Matt. 28:20). We are also told to do all things, whether in word or deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). This means to do things by His authority. There is no authority for the celebration of Jesus birth. “Whosoever goeth onward, and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9). Paul warned the Corinthian brethren “not to go beyond the things which are written” (1 Corinthians 4:6). To celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25 or any other day violates these scriptures.
Agreed. I have known that Christmas, Advent, Easter, etc. are not in the Bible ever since I was little. The birth story should be taught periodically, though, since both Matthew and Luke included it in their gospels.
were there 3 wise men or was there wise men with 3 gifts…?
You have to read this. Absolutely southern.
It’s a funny story, but also insightful regarding how people read the Bible.
The wise men. There were three gifts, but no mention of how many men gave those gifts.
Jesus taught that we are to observe all things whatsoever He has commanded (Matt. 28:20). We are also told to do all things, whether in word or deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). This means to do things by His authority. There is no authority for the celebration of Jesus birth. “Whosoever goeth onward, and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9). Paul warned the Corinthian brethren “not to go beyond the things which are written” (1 Corinthians 4:6). To celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25 or any other day violates these scriptures.
Agreed. I have known that Christmas, Advent, Easter, etc. are not in the Bible ever since I was little. The birth story should be taught periodically, though, since both Matthew and Luke included it in their gospels.
Locksley S Stubblefield Yes.. strictly as God’s word. The truth does not have versions.