WHYIDON’
TCELEBRATECHRI
STMAS
I
nt
r
oduct
i
on
Iam of
t
enaskedwhyIdon’
tcel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
mas.Thi
sar
t
i
cl
er
epr
esent
smyhear
t
f
el
tdesi
r
et
opr
ov
i
dean
answert
ot
hatquest
i
on.Ther
ear
emanyot
herr
easonsi
naddi
t
i
ont
ot
heonescont
ai
nedi
nt
hi
sar
t
i
cl
e,
butt
heseshoul
dbesuf
f
i
ci
entt
odemonst
r
at
et
hatt
her
ei
saBi
bl
i
cal
basi
sf
ornotdoi
ngso.
So,
whydon’
tIcel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
mas?Her
ear
eaf
ewoft
her
easons.
1.Chr
i
st
masi
snotBi
bl
i
cal
.
Whydopr
of
essi
ngChr
i
st
i
anscel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
mas?I
si
ti
nt
heBi
bl
e,
orar
ewei
nst
r
uct
edbyGodt
odo
so?Absol
ut
el
ynot
.Tr
yasy
oumi
ght
,
y
ouwi
l
l
notf
i
ndev
enonei
nst
ancei
nt
heent
i
r
eBi
bl
ewher
eany
one
cel
ebr
at
edChr
i
st
mas-ev
er
.Theapost
l
ePaul
di
dn'
tcel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
mas,
Pet
erdi
dn'
tcel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
mas,
nordi
danyoft
heot
herear
l
yChr
i
st
i
ans.ThebookofAct
sr
ecor
dst
hemaj
orev
ent
sofappr
oxi
mat
el
yt
he
f
i
r
st30y
ear
sofChr
i
st
i
ani
t
y
,
y
ett
her
ei
snotonesi
ngl
er
ef
er
encei
nt
heent
i
r
ebookt
oany
oneev
er
cel
ebr
at
i
ngt
hebi
r
t
hofChr
i
st
.Why
?Theansweri
ssi
mpl
e.Theear
l
yChr
i
st
i
ansdi
dnotcel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
'
s
bi
r
t
h.
Sur
e,
wedof
i
ndt
hedet
ai
l
ssur
r
oundi
ngt
hebi
r
t
hofChr
i
str
ecor
dedi
nscr
i
pt
ur
e,
butt
heear
l
ybel
i
ev
er
s
nev
ercel
ebr
at
edt
hatdayasay
ear
l
ycel
ebr
at
i
on.Asamat
t
eroff
act
,
Nooneknowsf
orsur
ewhatday
Jesuswasbor
n.Godhaspur
posel
ychosent
okeept
heexactdat
eofChr
i
st
’
sbi
r
t
hasecr
et-Ki
ndofa
st
r
anget
hi
ngf
orGodt
odoi
fHewant
edpeopl
et
ocel
ebr
at
eHi
sSon’
sbi
r
t
hday
,
don’
ty
out
hi
nk?I
tal
most
l
ooksl
i
keGodwasseeki
ngt
okeeppeopl
ef
r
om cel
ebr
at
i
ngt
hatday
,
doesn’
ti
t
?Jesuscl
ear
l
ywasn’
tbor
n
onDecember25th.Wewi
l
l
di
scusst
hatdat
ei
nal
at
ersect
i
on.
I
fGodwant
edust
ocel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
mas,
wewoul
dexpectt
of
i
ndsomei
nst
r
uct
i
oni
nt
heBi
bl
et
odoso.
Butonceagai
n,
t
her
ei
snone.Thi
si
sv
er
yi
nt
er
est
i
ng,
f
orwhenGoddi
ddesi
r
ef
orHi
speopl
et
okeepa
par
t
i
cul
ardayundert
heOl
dCov
enant(
wear
enol
ongerundert
heOl
dCov
enant
)
,
Hegav
et
hem gr
eat
speci
f
i
cs.Forexampl
e,
concer
ni
ngt
hef
eastoft
hePassov
erandUnl
eav
enedBr
ead(
r
ecor
dedi
nEx
odus
12)Godt
ol
dt
hem:
1.Theexactdat
esandt
i
mest
heywer
et
ocel
ebr
at
ei
t(
v
er
se18)
.
2.Whatt
heywer
et
oeatandwer
enott
oeat(
v
er
ses3,
8&1820)
.
3.Howt
heywer
et
opr
epar
et
hef
ood(
v
er
se9)
.
4.Whatt
heywer
et
owear(
v
er
se11)
.
5.Whatt
heycoul
dnothav
ei
nt
hei
rhouses(
v
er
ses1920)
.
6.Whenandwher
et
heycoul
dgo(
v
er
se22)
.
7.Whatday
st
heycoul
dwor
kandnotwor
k(
v
er
se16)
.
et
c.et
c.et
c.
So,
whenGodwant
sHi
speopl
et
okeepar
el
i
gi
ousday
,
Hegi
v
est
hem gr
eatspeci
f
i
cs.Butwheni
tcomes
t
oChr
i
st
mas,
t
her
ei
snotonei
nst
r
uct
i
ont
okeepi
tany
wher
ei
nscr
i
pt
ur
e,
andnoneoft
heear
l
yChr
i
st
i
ans
ev
erdi
d.Cl
ear
l
yt
hen,
Chr
i
st
masi
snotBi
bl
i
cal
.I
tdoesnotcomef
r
om t
heBi
bl
e.
2.Chr
i
st
masi
sPagani
nOr
i
gi
n.
Si
nceChr
i
st
masdoesn'
tcomef
r
om t
heBi
bl
e,
wher
edi
di
tcomef
r
om?Thi
scanbev
er
i
f
i
edbymostany
goodency
cl
opedi
aandshoul
dshockev
er
yhonestBi
bl
ebel
i
ev
i
ngChr
i
st
i
anbut-Chr
i
st
masi
spagani
n
or
i
gi
n!Chr
i
st
masbeganasanat
t
emptt
o"
Chr
i
st
i
ani
ze"t
heheat
hencel
ebr
at
i
onsofRomewhi
cht
ook
pl
acear
oundt
het
i
meoft
hewi
nt
ersol
st
i
ce.
Thef
eastofSol
I
nv
i
ct
uswashel
donDecember25t
ht
ocel
ebr
at
et
hebi
r
t
hof"
DeusSol
I
nv
i
ct
us"(
t
he
Unconquer
edSunGod)
.Thewor
shi
poft
hi
sf
al
seheat
hensungodunderav
ar
i
et
yofnames(
Sol
,
Mi
t
hr
as,
El
ahGabal
,
et
c.
)hadr
ecent
l
ysuppl
ant
edt
heRomanf
eastofSat
ur
nal
i
a,
buthadi
ncor
por
at
ed
manyofi
t
scust
oms.
Thi
spaganhol
i
daycel
ebr
at
i
oni
nv
ol
v
edamongot
hert
hi
ngs,
"
decki
ngt
hehal
l
s"wi
t
hhol
l
ybr
anches,
hangi
ngev
er
gr
eenwr
eat
hs,
exchangi
nggi
f
t
s,
goi
ngt
hr
ought
hest
r
eet
swi
t
hl
i
tcandl
essi
ngi
nghol
i
day
car
ol
s,
homedecor
at
i
on,
andev
en(
y
ouguessedi
t
)decor
at
edev
er
gr
eent
r
ees.
Vi
r
t
ual
l
yev
er
yChr
i
st
mascust
om canbet
r
acedbackt
osomepaganmanmader
i
t
eort
r
adi
t
i
on.For
exampl
e,
paganswor
shi
ppedwi
t
ht
heuseoft
r
ees.Thi
spr
act
i
cei
scondemnedr
epeat
edl
yi
nscr
i
pt
ur
e
(
Deut
.12:
2,
4;
1Ki
ngs14:
2223;
Deut
.16:
21;
et
c.
)
.Whatdoest
heBi
bl
esayaboutGod'
speopl
eadopt
i
ng
suchheat
henpr
act
i
ces?
Jer
.10:
24Thussai
t
ht
heLORD,
Lear
nnott
hewayoft
heheat
hen,
andbenotdi
smay
edatt
he
si
gnsofheav
en;
f
ort
heheat
henar
edi
smay
edatt
hem.Fort
hecust
omsoft
hepeopl
ear
e
v
ai
n:
f
oronecut
t
et
hat
r
eeoutoft
hef
or
est
,
t
hewor
koft
hehandsoft
hewor
kman,
wi
t
ht
he
axe.Theydecki
twi
t
hsi
l
v
erandwi
t
hgol
d;
t
heyf
ast
eni
twi
t
hnai
l
sandwi
t
hhammer
s,
t
hati
t
mov
enot
.
Soundsl
i
keamoder
ndayChr
i
st
mast
r
eedoesn'
ti
t
?I
tdoes,
andGodt
el
l
sHi
speopl
enott
odosuch
t
hi
ngs.Godcl
ear
l
yt
el
l
sHi
speopl
enott
ol
ear
nt
hewayoft
heheat
hen.Theyar
enott
opi
ckupt
hesev
ai
n
cust
omsf
r
om t
hem.Pagansdi
dt
heset
hi
ngs,
butGod'
speopl
ear
enott
o.
Deut
.12:
24Yeshal
l
ut
t
er
l
ydest
r
oyal
l
t
hepl
aces,
wher
ei
nt
henat
i
onswhi
chy
eshal
l
possess
ser
v
edt
hei
rgods,
upont
hehi
ghmount
ai
ns,
andupont
hehi
l
l
s,
andunderev
er
ygr
eent
r
ee:
And
y
eshal
l
ov
er
t
hr
owt
hei
ral
t
ar
s,
andbr
eakt
hei
rpi
l
l
ar
s,
andbur
nt
hei
rgr
ov
eswi
t
hf
i
r
e;
andy
eshal
l
hewdownt
hegr
av
eni
magesoft
hei
rgods,
anddest
r
oyt
henamesoft
hem outoft
hatpl
ace.Ye
shal
lnotdosount
ot
heLORDy
ourGod.
Accor
di
ngt
ot
heabov
epassage,
God'
speopl
ear
ef
or
bi
ddent
owor
shi
pHi
mi
nanywaywhi
chwas
f
or
mer
l
yusedbyt
heheat
hen(
pagans)t
owor
shi
pt
hei
rf
al
segods.Wear
enott
ot
aket
hesepagan
cust
omsandt
r
yt
o"
Chr
i
st
i
ani
ze"t
hem.
Deut
.12:
30…andt
hatt
houi
nqui
r
enotaf
t
ert
hei
rgods,
say
i
ng,
Howdi
dt
hesenat
i
onsser
v
et
hei
r
gods?ev
ensowi
l
l
Idol
i
kewi
se.
Deut
.12:
31Thoushal
tnotdosount
ot
heLORDt
hyGod…
Idon'
tknowhowt
heBi
bl
ecoul
dpossi
bl
ysayi
tanycl
ear
er
!I
tspeci
f
i
cal
l
ysay
st
hatwear
enotper
mi
t
t
ed
t
opi
ckupt
hecust
omst
hatwer
ef
or
mer
l
yusedbyt
hepaganst
owor
shi
pt
hei
rf
al
segodsandt
r
yand
wor
shi
pt
het
r
ueGodi
nt
hesameway
.I
ti
sf
or
bi
dden!
3.Chr
i
st
masi
sRomanCat
hol
i
ci
nOr
i
gi
n.
AsIst
at
edear
l
i
er
,
Chr
i
st
masbeganasanat
t
emptt
o"
Chr
i
st
i
ani
ze"t
hepagancel
ebr
at
i
onsofRome.I
t
wasRomanCat
hol
i
ci
sm (
"
R.
C.
"f
r
om her
eon)t
hatcr
eat
edsuchanunbi
bl
i
cal
mi
xt
ur
e.Despi
t
et
hemany
Scr
i
pt
ur
al
admoni
t
i
onsagai
nstsuchpr
act
i
ces,
R.
C.soughtt
oexpandt
hr
ought
hepr
ocessof
"
assi
mi
l
at
i
on"
.Rat
hert
hancal
l
i
ngpeopl
et
or
epentandt
ur
nf
r
om t
hei
rheat
henway
st
of
ol
l
owChr
i
st
,
R.
C.
adopt
edt
hecust
omsoft
hepeopl
eandgav
et
hem "
Chr
i
st
i
an"names.
TheChur
chofRome'
sf
i
r
stof
f
i
ci
al
cel
ebr
at
i
onoft
hebi
r
t
hofChr
i
stonDecember25t
ht
ookpl
acei
n336
A.
D.Dur
i
ngt
hey
ear
st
hatf
ol
l
owed,
t
hi
scel
ebr
at
i
onspr
eadt
hr
oughoutt
heRomanEmpi
r
eandev
ent
ual
l
y
t
hewor
l
d.Thewor
d“
Chr
i
st
mas”i
t
sel
for
i
gi
nat
edasacompoundoft
hewor
ds"
Chr
i
st
'
sMass"or"
Massof
Chr
i
st
"aRomanCat
hol
i
cobser
v
ance.TheR.
C.Massi
snott
hesameas"
TheLor
d'
sSupper
"or
"
communi
on"i
nt
heBi
bl
e,
buti
sabl
asphemouscer
emonywhi
chi
sv
er
ydi
shonor
i
ngt
oChr
i
st
.
Accor
di
ngt
ot
heBi
bl
e,
Jesus'
deat
hupont
hecr
ossat
onedf
oral
l
abel
i
ev
er
ssi
ns¬past
,
pr
esent&f
ut
ur
e
(
Heb.9:
12,
26,
28;
10:
13,
10,
14;
et
c.
)
.ButR.
C.t
eachesj
ustt
heopposi
t
e(
t
heyt
eachaf
al
segospel
)
.The
f
ol
l
owi
ngquot
at
i
onsar
et
akenf
r
om t
heof
f
i
ci
al
"
Cat
echi
sm oft
heCat
hol
i
cChur
ch"Pr
omul
gat
edbyPope
JohnPaul
2,
copy
r
i
ght2000(
bol
d&under
l
i
nesaddedf
oremphasi
s)
.
1393Hol
yCommuni
onsepar
at
esusf
r
om si
n.ThebodyofChr
i
stwer
ecei
v
ei
nHol
yCommuni
on
i
s"
gi
v
enf
orus"andt
hebl
oodwedr
i
nk"
shedf
ort
hemanyf
ort
hef
or
gi
v
enessofsi
ns.
"Fort
hi
s
r
easont
heEuchar
i
stcannotuni
t
eust
oChr
i
stwi
t
houtatt
hesamet
i
mecl
eansi
ngusf
r
om past
si
nsandpr
eser
v
i
ngusf
r
om f
ut
ur
esi
ns:
1394Asbodi
l
ynour
i
shmentr
est
or
esl
ostst
r
engt
h,
sot
heEuchar
i
stst
r
engt
hensourchar
i
t
y
,
whi
cht
endst
obeweakenedi
ndai
l
yl
i
f
e;
andt
hi
sl
i
v
i
ngchar
i
t
ywi
pesawayv
eni
alsi
ns.Bygi
v
i
ng
hi
msel
ft
ousChr
i
str
ev
i
v
esourl
ov
eandenabl
esust
obr
eakourdi
sor
der
edat
t
achment
st
o
cr
eat
ur
esandr
ootour
sel
v
esi
nhi
m:
Accor
di
ngt
oof
f
i
ci
al
RomanCat
hol
i
ct
eachi
ng,
whenaper
soncomest
oMass,
t
heyar
er
ecei
v
i
ng
cl
eansi
ngoft
hei
rsi
ns.Thei
rCat
echi
sm goesont
osayt
hatt
heMassi
snotonl
yasacr
i
f
i
cef
orsi
nsbut
al
sot
hatt
hewaf
erofbr
eadandt
hewi
near
eel
ev
at
edi
nwor
shi
pbecauset
heyhav
ebecomeChr
i
st
.That
i
si
dol
at
r
y
!
Theset
hi
ngsf
l
yi
nt
hef
aceoft
hecl
eart
eachi
ngofScr
i
pt
ur
e,
di
shonorChr
i
st
,
andar
eacompl
et
e
cont
r
adi
ct
i
ont
oHi
sonet
i
mesacr
i
f
i
cef
orsi
ns.Thi
si
spar
tandpar
cel
oft
hef
al
segospel
ofR.
C.whi
ch
t
heBi
bl
est
er
nl
ycondemns(
Gal
.1:
68)
.Tot
akesucht
hi
ngsandl
i
nkt
hem wi
t
hChr
i
sti
nacel
ebr
at
i
on
named"
Chr
i
st
mass,
"i
sbl
asphemous.TheMassi
sapar
tofRome'
sf
al
segospel
,
nott
het
r
uegospel
of
JesusChr
i
st
.
4)Chr
i
st
masi
saTr
adi
t
i
onofMen.
I
ft
hecel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
masdoesnotcomef
r
om t
heBi
bl
e(
andi
tdoesn'
t
)
,
t
hatmakesi
tat
r
adi
t
i
onof
men.Whatdoest
heBi
bl
ehav
et
osayaboutt
r
adi
t
i
onsofmen?
Mar
k7:
68Heanswer
edandsai
dunt
ot
hem,
Wel
l
hat
hEsai
aspr
ophesi
edofy
ouhy
pocr
i
t
es,
asi
t
i
swr
i
t
t
en,
Thi
speopl
ehonour
et
hmewi
t
ht
hei
rl
i
ps,
butt
hei
rhear
ti
sf
arf
r
om me.Howbei
ti
nv
ai
n
dot
heywor
shi
pme,
t
eachi
ngf
ordoct
r
i
nest
hecommandment
sofmen.Forl
ay
i
ngasi
det
he
commandmentofGod,
y
ehol
dt
het
r
adi
t
i
onofmen,
ast
hewashi
ng'
ofpot
sandcups:
andmany
ot
hersuchl
i
ket
hi
ngsy
edo.
Thi
spassagespeci
f
i
cal
l
yst
at
est
hatt
hosewhoi
ncor
por
at
emanmadet
r
adi
t
i
onsi
nt
ot
hei
rwor
shi
pof
Godar
e"
wor
shi
ppi
ngGodi
nv
ai
n"
.Suchwor
shi
pi
sunaccept
abl
eandi
sr
ej
ect
edbyGod.TheBi
bl
e
doesn'
thav
et
osay"
nott
odo"t
heset
hi
ngs.I
ft
heBi
bl
edoesnotaut
hor
i
zet
hem,
ort
el
l
us"
t
odo"t
hem,
t
heyar
ef
or
bi
dden.Wemaynotcr
eat
eourownmanmader
el
i
gi
ouspr
act
i
ces.
Whatwasi
tt
hatt
hesepeopl
ewer
edoi
ng?Wedonothav
et
i
mei
nashor
tar
t
i
cl
el
i
ket
hi
st
oexpl
ai
nal
l
t
he
det
ai
l
sandcont
extoft
hi
spassage.Buti
nshor
t
,
i
tsay
st
heywer
el
ay
i
ngasi
det
hecommandmentofGod
sot
hatt
heymi
ghtkeept
hei
rownt
r
adi
t
i
on.Buti
sn'
tt
hatt
hesamet
hi
ngt
hatt
hosewhoi
gnor
et
he
scr
i
pt
ur
al
admoni
t
i
onsgi
v
ent
husf
ari
nt
hi
sar
t
i
cl
eandcont
i
nuet
ocel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
masar
edoi
ng?
CommandmentofGod-Donotwor
shi
pGodi
nanywaywhi
chwasf
or
mer
l
yusedbyt
heheat
hen
(
pagans)t
owor
shi
pt
hei
rf
al
segods.
Tr
adi
t
i
onofmen-Cel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
mas
Tol
ayasi
det
hecommandmentofGodnott
odot
heset
hi
ngs,
andcont
i
nuet
okeepChr
i
st
mas(
at
r
adi
t
i
on
ofmen)i
st
odot
heexactt
hi
ngt
hi
spassagei
sr
ebuki
ng.I
ti
st
owor
shi
pGodi
nv
ai
n.Goddoesnot
r
ecei
v
esuchwor
shi
p,
butr
at
herr
ej
ect
si
tasunaccept
abl
e.
Peopl
ewi
l
l
of
t
ensayt
ome,
"
Butt
heBi
bl
edoesn'
tsayt
haty
oucan'
tcel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
mas.
"
.Act
ual
l
y
,
i
t
doesaswehav
epr
ev
i
ousl
yshowni
nt
hi
sar
t
i
cl
e.Butl
ookatt
hepassageabov
e.Whatwasi
tt
hatJesus
wasr
ebuki
ngt
hepeopl
ef
ordoi
ng?
Mar
k7:
8Forl
ay
i
ngasi
det
hecommandmentofGod,
y
ehol
dt
het
r
adi
t
i
onofmen,
ast
hewashi
ng
ofpot
sandcups:andmanyot
hersuchl
i
ket
hi
ngsy
edo.
Jesusr
ebukedt
hem f
orcr
eat
i
ngr
el
i
gi
ouspr
act
i
cesconcer
ni
ngwashi
ngpot
sandcupsandot
hersuch
t
hi
ngs.Letmeasky
ouaquest
i
on.Wher
edoest
heBi
bl
ef
or
bi
ddoi
ngsucht
hi
ngs?I
tdoesn'
t
.ButJesus
st
i
l
l
r
ebukedt
hem f
ori
t
.Why
?Her
ebukedt
hem becausewear
enotper
mi
t
t
edt
ocr
eat
eourownr
el
i
gi
ous
pr
act
i
ces.Al
l
r
el
i
gi
ouspr
act
i
cesmustbeaut
hor
i
zedbyscr
i
pt
ur
eort
heyar
ef
or
bi
dden.Thi
spr
i
nci
pl
e,
of
t
enr
ef
er
r
edt
oast
her
egul
at
i
v
epr
i
nci
pl
eofwor
shi
p,
i
sf
oundt
hr
oughoutt
heBi
bl
e.
Deut
.12:
32Whatt
hi
ngsoev
erIcommandy
ou,
obser
v
et
odoi
t
:
t
houshal
tnotaddt
her
et
o,
nor
di
mi
ni
shf
r
om i
t
.
Thi
spassagest
at
est
her
egul
at
i
v
epr
i
nci
pl
er
at
herpl
ai
nl
y
.I
nor
derf
orourwor
shi
pt
obeaccept
abl
et
o
God,
i
tmustbeaccor
di
ngt
ot
hewor
dofGod.
John4:
24Godi
saSpi
r
i
t
:
andt
heyt
hatwor
shi
phi
m mustwor
shi
phi
mi
nspi
r
i
tandi
nt
r
ut
h.
John17:
17Sanct
i
f
yt
hem t
hr
ought
hyt
r
ut
h:
t
hywor
di
st
r
ut
h.
Wemustwor
shi
pGodaccor
di
ngt
ot
het
r
ut
hofHi
swor
d,
ot
her
wi
seourwor
shi
pi
sv
ai
n,
unaccept
abl
e,
andGodwi
l
l
notaccepti
t
.
Lev
.10:
12AndNadabandAbi
hu,
t
hesonsofAar
on,
t
ookei
t
heroft
hem hi
scenser
,
andputf
i
r
e
t
her
ei
n,
andputi
ncenset
her
eon,
andof
f
er
edst
r
angef
i
r
ebef
or
et
heLORD,
whi
chhecommanded
t
hem not
.Andt
her
ewentoutf
i
r
ef
r
om t
heLORD,
anddev
our
edt
hem,
andt
heydi
edbef
or
et
he
LORD.
Thephr
ase"
whi
chhecommandedt
hem not
"i
ssay
i
ngt
hatGodhadnotcommandedt
hem t
odot
hese
t
hi
ngs.Theydi
dsomet
hi
ngwhi
chGodhadnotcommandedt
hem t
odo.Theyj
ustcameupwi
t
ht
hei
dea
ont
hei
rown,
apar
tf
r
om scr
i
pt
ur
e,
andGodj
udgedt
hem f
ori
t
.Thi
spr
i
nci
pl
er
unst
hr
oughoutt
heent
i
r
e
Bi
bl
e.Weseei
ti
nGen.4:
17wi
t
ht
heunaccept
abl
ewor
shi
pofCai
n,
i
n2Sam 6:
27wi
t
ht
hedeat
h
ofUzzah,
et
c.et
c.I
nr
egar
dt
ot
hecaseofUzzah,
Dav
i
df
i
nal
l
yr
eal
i
zest
hei
rer
r
orandsay
si
napar
al
l
el
passage:
1Chr
on.15:
13Forbecausey
edi
di
tnotatt
hef
i
r
st
,
t
heLORDourGodmadeabr
eachuponus,
f
ort
hatwesoughthi
m notaf
t
ert
hedueor
der
.
Thedueor
deri
sl
i
mi
t
i
ngourr
el
i
gi
ouspr
act
i
cest
ot
hosewhi
char
eaut
hor
i
zedbyt
heBi
bl
e.Wesi
mpl
y
ar
enotper
mi
t
t
edt
ocomeupwi
t
hourownmanmadet
r
adi
t
i
ons,
andChr
i
st
mas(
hav
i
ngnobasi
si
n
Scr
i
pt
ur
e)i
scl
ear
l
yat
r
adi
t
i
onofmen.
ManyChr
i
st
i
ansHav
eOpposedChr
i
st
masThr
oughoutHi
st
or
y
.
Today
,
whenaChr
i
st
i
anment
i
onst
hatt
heyar
eopposedt
ot
hecel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
mas,
peopl
el
ookat
t
hem asi
ft
heyar
enut
sandsuspectt
hatt
heymustbei
nacul
tl
i
ket
heJehov
ah’
sWi
t
nesses.Butwhat
t
heydon'
tr
eal
i
zei
st
haty
ear
sagot
heexactopposi
t
ewast
r
ue.Thr
oughoutmuchofhi
st
or
y
,
t
hemaj
or
i
t
y
ofChr
i
st
i
answer
eopposedt
oChr
i
st
mas.
Aswesawi
napr
ev
i
oussect
i
on,
scr
i
pt
ur
edemonst
r
at
est
hatf
ort
hef
i
r
st30y
ear
sofChr
i
st
i
ani
t
y
,
t
her
ei
s
noment
i
onofChr
i
st
i
ansev
ercel
ebr
at
i
ngChr
i
st
mas.Theear
l
ychur
chdi
dn’
tdoi
t
.Chr
i
st
maswasnot
obser
v
edunt
i
l
atl
eastt
hr
eecent
ur
i
es"
af
t
er
"Jesus’
bi
r
t
h.
Thr
oughoutt
hedar
kagesR.
C.spr
eadacr
ossmuchoft
hewor
l
dandt
hecel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
maswi
t
hi
t
,
(
al
t
houghf
ai
t
hf
ul
f
ol
l
ower
sofGodopposedi
t
)
.Ast
hePr
ot
est
antRef
or
mat
i
onbegant
ospr
i
ngupacr
oss
t
hegl
obe,
Bi
bl
ebel
i
ev
i
ngChr
i
st
i
ansr
oseupi
nopposi
t
i
ont
ot
hi
spaganhol
i
day
.Her
ear
ej
ustaf
ew
exampl
es.
1.Ther
ef
or
mat
i
oni
nSwi
t
zer
l
andr
ej
ect
edChr
i
st
masbanni
ngi
ti
nGenev
ai
n1550.
2.I
n1560,
t
her
ef
or
mat
i
oni
nScot
l
andwasopposedt
oChr
i
st
mas.JohnKnox,
t
hel
eaderoft
heScot
t
i
sh
r
ef
or
mat
i
onwr
ot
eagai
nstt
hepr
act
i
cenumer
oust
i
mes.
3.I
nEngl
and,
manypr
eacher
sspokeoutagai
nstt
hepr
act
i
ceofChr
i
st
masaswel
l
.Rebukesagai
nstt
he
pr
act
i
cecanbef
oundi
nt
hepr
eachi
ngandwr
i
t
i
ngsofsuchpr
omi
nentpr
eacher
sandt
eacher
ssuchas
Dav
i
dCal
der
wood(
15751651)
,
Geor
geGi
l
l
espi
e(
16131649)
,
ThomasCar
t
wr
i
ght(
15351603)
,
and
Wi
l
l
i
am Ames(
15761633)
,
et
c.et
c.
4.Chr
i
st
maswasev
ent
ual
l
ybannedi
nEngl
andbyanactofPar
l
i
amenti
nJuneof1647.Par
l
i
amentatt
he
t
i
mewasf
i
l
l
edwi
t
hChr
i
st
i
ans,
manyoft
hem Pur
i
t
ans.Ol
i
v
erCr
omwel
l
wasanout
spokenopponentof
Chr
i
st
mas.
5.ThePur
i
t
ans,
f
i
r
sti
nEngl
andandt
heni
nNewEngl
and,
wer
eopposedt
ot
hecel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
mas,
t
hei
rmov
ementl
ast
i
ngf
orwel
l
ov
er100y
ear
s.
6.OnMay11,
1659t
heMassachuset
t
sl
egi
sl
at
orbannedt
hecel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
masi
nMassachuset
t
s.
7.I
n1806,
Samuel
Mi
l
l
er(
moder
at
oroft
hePr
esby
t
er
i
anGener
al
Assembl
yandl
at
erPr
of
essorat
Pr
i
ncet
onSemi
nar
y
)wr
ot
eabookent
i
t
l
ed"
TheWor
shi
poft
hePr
esby
t
er
i
anChur
ch"
.I
nt
hebookhe
expl
ai
nswhyPr
esby
t
er
i
answer
eopposedt
ot
hecel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
mas.
8.Chr
i
st
maswasnotwi
del
ycel
ebr
at
edi
nNewEngl
andunt
i
l
1852.
9.I
twasnotunt
i
l
1836t
hatAl
abamabecamet
hef
i
r
stst
at
et
or
ecogni
zeChr
i
st
mas.I
tdi
dnotbecomea
f
eder
al
hol
i
dayunt
i
l
1870.
10.Asl
at
eas1870mostnonR.
C.chur
chesi
nt
heUni
t
edSt
at
es(
exceptt
heLut
her
ansandEpi
scopal
i
ans)
st
i
l
l
r
ef
usedt
ocel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
mas.
11.I
nt
he1870’
sChar
l
esHaddonSpur
geon,
whoi
sof
t
enr
ef
er
r
edt
oasThePr
i
nceofPr
eacher
s,
pr
eachedandwr
ot
econdemni
ngt
hecel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
mas.
12.TheChur
chofScot
l
andcont
i
nuedi
t
sopposi
t
i
ont
oChr
i
st
masandi
tcont
i
nuedasar
egul
arwor
ki
ng
dayunt
i
l
1958.
13.I
n1919Dr
.Har
r
yI
r
onsi
de,
past
orofMoodyMemor
i
al
Chur
chi
nChi
cago,
t
aughthi
scongr
egat
i
ont
hat
"
suchaf
est
i
v
al
comesundert
hecondemnat
i
onofGal
.4:
911andshoul
dhav
enopl
acei
naChr
i
st
i
an
chur
ch"
.
14.Thehi
ghl
yest
eemedpr
eacherA.
W.Pi
nk,
whodi
edi
n1952,
wasopposedt
oandwr
ot
eagai
nstt
he
cel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
mas.
15.Tot
hi
sday
,
manyPr
esby
t
er
i
an,
Bapt
i
st
,
andot
hernondenomi
nat
i
onal
chur
chesar
eopposedt
ot
he
cel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
mas.
Thi
si
sj
ustasmal
l
sampl
eofChr
i
st
i
answhower
eandar
eagai
nstt
hecel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
mas.
AsIst
at
edatt
hebegi
nni
ngoft
hi
ssect
i
on,
whenaChr
i
st
i
ani
nourdayment
i
onst
hatt
heyar
eopposedt
o
t
hecel
ebr
at
i
onofChr
i
st
mas,
t
heyar
el
ookeduponasanoddbal
l
.Buti
fy
ouwer
eaper
sonwhocel
ebr
at
ed
Chr
i
st
masandl
i
v
eddur
i
ngmanyoft
het
i
mesandpl
acesment
i
onedabov
e,
y
ouwoul
dhav
ebeent
heone
consi
der
edanoddbal
l
.Youwoul
dhav
ebeenl
ookeduponasaper
sonwhowasdi
sobey
i
ngGodanddoi
ng
t
hatwhi
chi
swr
ongandsi
nf
ul
.Oh,
howt
i
meshav
echanged.Butt
hi
nkabouti
t
.God’
swor
ddoesnot
change.I
fi
twaswr
ongandsi
nf
ul
t
ocel
ebr
at
eChr
i
st
masbackt
hen,
i
ti
sst
i
l
l
wr
ongandsi
nf
ul
t
odoso
now.Theonl
yquest
i
oni
s,
wi
l
l
y
our
ecei
v
eandobeywhatGod’
swor
dsay
sr
egar
di
ngt
hemat
t
er
?
WORSHI
PPI
NGGOD.
Howar
ewet
oWor
shi
pGod?
Howar
ewet
owor
shi
pGod?Doesi
tmat
t
er
?Canwewor
shi
pGodi
nanywaywewi
sh,
ori
st
her
ea
r
est
r
i
ct
i
onuponwhati
saccept
abl
eandwhati
snotaccept
abl
e?Wheni
tcomest
ot
hemat
t
erofwor
shi
p,
t
her
ear
et
wopossi
bi
l
i
t
i
es.
1. What
ev
eri
snotf
or
bi
ddeni
nscr
i
pt
ur
ei
sper
mi
t
t
ed.
2. What
ev
eri
snotaut
hor
i
zedbyscr
i
pt
ur
ei
sf
or
bi
dden.
Thesecondst
at
ementi
sof
t
enr
ef
er
r
edt
oas.“
TheRegul
at
i
v
ePr
i
nci
pl
eofWor
shi
p.
”
Whi
choft
heset
wov
i
ewsi
scor
r
ect
?Whi
chdoest
heBi
bl
et
each?Scr
i
pt
ur
ehasal
ott
osayaboutwor
shi
p.
Oncewet
akeal
ookatsomeoft
hoset
hi
ngs,
i
twi
l
l
bei
mmedi
at
el
ycl
earwhi
chv
i
ewi
sr
i
ght
.
Wor
shi
ppi
ngOnl
yasGodCommands
Deut
.12:
30Takeheedt
ot
hy
sel
ft
hatt
houbenotsnar
edbyf
ol
l
owi
ngt
hem,
af
t
ert
hatt
heybe
dest
r
oy
edf
r
om bef
or
et
hee;
andt
hatt
houi
nqui
r
enotaf
t
ert
hei
rgods,
say
i
ng,
Howdi
dt
hese
nat
i
onsser
v
e[
wor
shi
p]t
hei
rgods?ev
ensowi
l
l
Idol
i
kewi
se.
Deut
.12:
31Thoushal
tnotdosount
ot
heLORDt
hyGod:
f
orev
er
yabomi
nat
i
ont
ot
heLORD,
whi
chhehat
et
h,
hav
et
heydoneunt
ot
hei
rgods;
f
orev
ent
hei
rsonsandt
hei
rdaught
er
st
heyhav
e
bur
nti
nt
hef
i
r
et
ot
hei
rgods.
Thi
spassagedeal
swi
t
hourexactquest
i
on,
howmayGodbewor
shi
pped?Af
t
eri
nf
or
mi
ngt
hem t
hatt
hey
maynotwor
shi
pHi
mi
nt
hewayt
hatt
heheat
henwor
shi
ppedt
hei
rf
al
segods,
Godt
henl
ay
sdownt
he
f
ol
l
owi
ngr
est
r
i
ct
i
oni
nr
egar
dt
owor
shi
p.
Deut
.12:
32Whatt
hi
ngsoev
erIcommandy
ou,
obser
v
et
odoi
t
:
t
houshal
tnotaddt
her
et
o,
nor
di
mi
ni
shf
r
om i
t
.
I
not
herwor
ds,
wor
shi
pi
sl
i
mi
t
edt
ot
hewayi
nwhi
chGodcommandsi
tt
obedone.Manmaynotaddhi
s
ownway
sofdoi
ngi
t
,
normayhef
ai
l
t
odoi
tGod’
sway
.
Att
hebegi
nni
ngoft
hi
sar
t
i
cl
e,
wesetf
or
t
ht
wopossi
bi
l
i
t
i
esconcer
ni
ngwor
shi
p.
1. What
ev
eri
snotf
or
bi
ddeni
nscr
i
pt
ur
ei
sper
mi
t
t
ed.
2. What
ev
eri
snotaut
hor
i
zedbyscr
i
pt
ur
ei
sf
or
bi
dden.
Theabov
epassagecl
ear
l
yaf
f
i
r
msnumber2.I
fwemayonl
ydowhatGodhascommandedandar
enot
f
r
eet
ocomeupwi
t
hourownway
sofwor
shi
ppi
ngGod,
t
hencl
ear
l
y
,
“
What
ev
eri
snotaut
hor
i
zedby
scr
i
pt
ur
ei
sf
or
bi
dden.
”
St
r
angeFi
r
e
Lev
.10:
12AndNadabandAbi
hu,
t
hesonsofAar
on,
t
ookei
t
heroft
hem hi
scenser
,
andputf
i
r
e
t
her
ei
n,
andputi
ncenset
her
eon,
andof
f
er
edst
r
ange[
di
f
f
er
ent
]f
i
r
ebef
or
et
heLORD,
whi
chhe
commandedt
hem not
.Andt
her
ewentoutf
i
r
ef
r
om t
heLORD,
anddev
our
edt
hem,
andt
heydi
ed
bef
or
et
heLORD.
Thephr
ase"
whi
chhecommandedt
hem not
"i
ssay
i
ngt
hatGodhadnotcommandedt
hem t
odot
hese
t
hi
ngs.Theyj
ustcameupwi
t
ht
hei
deaofhowt
odoi
ngt
hi
ngsapar
tf
r
om scr
i
pt
ur
eandGodj
udgedt
hem
f
ori
t
.Theypr
esent
edt
hef
i
r
ebef
or
eGodi
nast
r
ange/
di
f
f
er
entwaywhi
chHehadnotcommandedt
hem
t
odo.
Onceagai
n,
doest
hi
st
eachi
ngl
i
neupwi
t
hv
i
ewnumber1orv
i
ewnumber2abov
e?I
tcl
ear
l
yal
i
gnswi
t
h
v
i
ewnumber2,
“
What
ev
eri
snotaut
hor
i
zedbyscr
i
pt
ur
ei
sf
or
bi
dden.
”Ther
ei
snopl
acei
nscr
i
pt
ur
ewher
e
Godf
or
badet
hem t
odot
hi
s.Buti
twassomet
hi
ngt
hatGodhadnoti
nst
r
uct
edt
hem t
odo,
t
her
ef
or
e,
i
t
wasf
or
bi
dden.
TheUnaccept
abl
eWor
shi
pofCai
n
Gen.4:
3Andi
npr
ocessoft
i
mei
tcamet
opass,
t
hatCai
nbr
oughtoft
hef
r
ui
toft
hegr
oundan
of
f
er
i
ngunt
ot
heLORD.
Gen.4:
4AndAbel
,
heal
sobr
oughtoft
hef
i
r
st
l
i
ngsofhi
sf
l
ockandoft
hef
att
her
eof
.Andt
he
LORDhadr
espectunt
oAbel
andt
ohi
sof
f
er
i
ng:
Gen.4:
5Butunt
oCai
nandt
ohi
sof
f
er
i
nghehadnotr
espect
.AndCai
nwasv
er
ywr
ot
h,
andhi
s
count
enancef
el
l
.
Her
eweseebot
hCai
nandAbl
ewor
shi
ppi
ngGod.Al
t
houghGodaccept
edAbel
’
sof
f
er
i
ng,
Hewoul
dnot
r
ecei
v
eCai
n’
s.Why
?Let
’
sl
ookatt
hecont
ext
.
Gen.4:
6Andt
heLORDsai
dunt
oCai
n,
Whyar
tt
houwr
ot
h?andwhyi
st
hycount
enancef
al
l
en?
Gen.4:
7I
ft
houdoestwel
l
,
shal
tt
hounotbeaccept
ed?andi
ft
houdoestnotwel
l
,
si
nl
i
et
hatt
he
door
.Andunt
ot
heeshal
l
behi
sdesi
r
e,
andt
houshal
tr
ul
eov
erhi
m.
Godi
nf
or
medCai
nt
hati
fHewoul
ddowel
l
(
dot
hi
ngspr
oper
l
y
)hi
sof
f
er
i
ngwoul
dbeaccept
edaswel
l
.I
n
ot
herwor
ds,
Cai
nwasdoi
ngsomet
hi
ngwr
ongr
egar
di
ngHi
sof
f
er
i
ng.ThebookofHebr
ewspr
ov
i
desus
wi
t
hmor
ei
nf
or
mat
i
onr
egar
di
ngt
heset
hi
ngs.
Heb.11:
4Byf
ai
t
hAbel
of
f
er
edunt
oGodamor
eexcel
l
entsacr
i
f
i
cet
hanCai
n,
bywhi
chhe
obt
ai
nedwi
t
nesst
hathewasr
i
ght
eous,
Godt
est
i
f
y
i
ngofhi
sgi
f
t
s:
andbyi
thebei
ngdead
y
etspeaket
h.
Thi
sv
er
set
el
l
sust
hatt
hewayAbel
br
oughthi
ssacr
i
f
i
cebor
et
est
i
monyt
hathewasr
i
ght
eous.I
tal
so
t
el
l
sust
hatheof
f
er
edi
tbyf
ai
t
h.Howdoesonegetf
ai
t
h?
Rom.10:
17Sot
henf
ai
t
hcomet
hbyhear
i
ng,
andhear
i
ngbyt
hewor
dofGod.
Wecanonl
yhav
ef
ai
t
hi
nwhatGodsay
s.So,
i
nor
derf
orAbel
t
ohav
emadehi
sof
f
er
i
ngbyf
ai
t
h,
t
henGod
musthav
et
ol
dhi
m howwor
shi
pwast
obedone.Youcanonl
yhav
ef
ai
t
hr
egar
di
ngsomet
hi
ngi
fGodhas
spokenconcer
ni
ngi
t
.Wedon’
tknowal
l
t
hatGodt
ol
dCai
nandAbel
aboutwor
shi
p,
butwedoknowt
he
f
ol
l
owi
ng.
1. Godcl
ot
hedAdam andEv
ewi
t
hani
mal
ski
nsaf
t
ert
heysi
nnedt
hust
y
pi
f
y
i
ngt
hatbl
oodmustbe
shedf
ort
hecov
er
i
ngofsi
ns(
Gen.3:
21)
.
2. Abelof
f
er
edhi
ssacr
i
f
i
cebyf
ai
t
hwhi
chonl
ycomesbyhear
i
ngt
hewor
dofGod.SoGodmust
hav
et
ol
dt
hem howt
hei
rwor
shi
pwast
obeper
f
or
med.
3. Scr
i
pt
ur
ei
mpl
i
est
hatCai
nal
r
eadyknewhowhewast
odot
hi
ngs,
f
orGoddi
dnott
el
l
Hi
m howt
o
dot
hi
ngsbutonl
yr
emi
ndshi
mt
hathewoul
dbeaccept
edal
soi
fhewoul
dj
ustdot
hatwhi
chwas
r
i
ght
.
4. Cai
nchoset
owor
shi
pGodi
nawaywhi
chwasnotaccor
di
ngt
oGod’
swor
d(
ot
her
wi
seCai
n’
s
of
f
er
i
ngwoul
dhav
ebeenbyf
ai
t
haswel
l
)andGodwoul
dnotr
ecei
v
ei
t
.
So,
onceagai
nweseet
hatwor
shi
pi
snotaccept
abl
eunl
essi
ti
sdoneaccor
di
ngt
ot
hewor
dofGod.And
whi
choft
het
wov
i
ewsofwor
shi
pdoest
hi
spassageaf
f
i
r
m?I
taf
f
i
r
msnumber2,
“
What
ev
eri
snot
aut
hor
i
zedbyscr
i
pt
ur
ei
sf
or
bi
dden.
”
1John3:
12NotasCai
n,
whowasoft
hatwi
ckedone,
andsl
ewhi
sbr
ot
her
.Andwher
ef
or
esl
ew
hehi
m?Becausehi
sownwor
kswer
eev
i
l
,
andhi
sbr
ot
her
'
sr
i
ght
eous.
Thev
er
seabov
et
el
l
sust
wot
hi
ngs.Fi
r
st
,
i
tt
el
l
sust
hatCai
nwasnotsav
edbutwasachi
l
doft
hedev
i
l
(
John8:
44)
.Secondl
y
,
i
tt
el
l
sust
hatCai
n’
swor
kspr
i
ort
oki
l
l
i
nghi
sbr
ot
herwer
eev
i
l
.Si
ncet
heonl
ywor
k
ofCai
nr
ecor
dedpr
i
ort
oki
l
l
i
nghi
sbr
ot
herwashi
sunaccept
abl
ewor
shi
pofGod,
t
hi
spassagei
ssay
i
ng
t
hatsuchwor
shi
pi
sev
i
l
(
si
nf
ul
)
.So,
accor
di
ngt
ot
hewor
dofGod,
i
ti
sev
i
l
(
si
nf
ul
)t
owor
shi
pGodi
nany
wayt
hati
sourowni
nv
ent
i
onandnotaccor
di
ngt
oHi
swor
d.
Jude1:
11Woeunt
ot
hem!f
ort
heyhav
egonei
nt
hewayofCai
n,
andr
angr
eedi
l
yaf
t
ert
heer
r
or
ofBal
aam f
orr
ewar
d,
andper
i
shedi
nt
hegai
nsay
i
ngofCor
e.
Scr
i
pt
ur
eal
sowar
nsust
hatf
al
set
eacher
swal
ki
nt
hewayofCai
n.Thi
swoul
dmeant
hatt
heyt
oo
wor
shi
pGodhowev
ert
heywant
,
i
nst
eadofhowGod’
swor
dsay
s.
TheDueOr
der
1Chr
oni
cl
es13:
610
6AndDav
i
dwentup,
andal
l
I
sr
ael
,
t
oBaal
ah,
t
hati
s,
t
oKi
r
j
at
hj
ear
i
m,
whi
chbel
ongedt
oJudah,
t
o
br
i
ngupt
hencet
hear
kofGodt
heLORD,
t
hatdwel
l
et
hbet
weent
hecher
ubi
ms,
whosenamei
s
cal
l
edoni
t
.
7Andt
heycar
r
i
edt
hear
kofGodi
nanewcar
toutoft
hehouseofAbi
nadab:
andUzzaandAhi
odr
av
et
hecar
t
.
8AndDav
i
dandal
l
I
sr
ael
pl
ay
edbef
or
eGodwi
t
hal
l
t
hei
rmi
ght
,
andwi
t
hsi
ngi
ng,
andwi
t
hhar
ps,
andwi
t
hpsal
t
er
i
es,
andwi
t
ht
i
mbr
el
s,
andwi
t
hcy
mbal
s,
andwi
t
ht
r
umpet
s.
9Andwhent
heycameunt
ot
het
hr
eshi
ngf
l
oorofChi
don,
Uzzaputf
or
t
hhi
shandt
ohol
dt
hear
k;
f
ort
heoxenst
umbl
ed.
10Andt
heangeroft
heLORDwaski
ndl
edagai
nstUzza,
andhesmot
ehi
m,
becauseheputhi
s
handt
ot
hear
k:
andt
her
ehedi
edbef
or
eGod.
I
nt
heabov
epassage,
weseeKi
ngDav
i
dandhi
smenat
t
empt
i
ngt
obr
i
ngt
hear
kofGodunt
oJer
usal
em.
Thi
swasagoodt
hi
ngt
odo,
butt
her
ewasapr
obl
em wi
t
ht
hewayt
heyt
r
i
edt
odoi
t
.Theyputt
hear
kon
acar
ti
nor
dert
ot
r
anspor
ti
t
.But
,
t
hi
si
snott
hewayi
twast
obedoneandUzzapai
df
ort
hei
rer
r
orwi
t
h
hi
sl
i
f
e.Pl
easenot
i
cet
hatDav
i
dandhi
smenwer
esi
ncer
e,
pl
ay
i
ngmusi
candsi
ngi
ngunt
ot
heLor
dwi
t
h
al
l
t
hei
rmi
ght
.Butsi
ncer
i
t
yal
onei
snotenough,
wemustal
sowor
shi
pGodaccor
di
ngt
oHi
swor
dorour
wor
shi
pi
snotaccept
abl
e.
Lat
erDav
i
dandhi
smendi
scov
erwhatt
heydi
dwr
ong.
1Chr
oni
cl
es15:
2ThenDav
i
dsai
d,
Noneoughtt
ocar
r
yt
hear
kofGodbutt
heLev
i
t
es:
f
ort
hem
hat
ht
heLORDchosent
ocar
r
yt
hear
kofGod,
andt
omi
ni
st
erunt
ohi
mf
orev
er
.
1Chr
oni
cl
es15:
13Forbecausey
edi
di
tnotatt
hef
i
r
st
,
t
heLORDourGodmadeabr
eachupon
us,
f
ort
hatwesoughthi
m notaf
t
ert
hedueor
der
.
Thedueor
deri
sl
i
mi
t
i
ngourr
el
i
gi
ouspr
act
i
cest
ot
hosewhi
char
eaut
hor
i
zedbyt
heBi
bl
e.Wesi
mpl
y
ar
enotper
mi
t
t
edt
ocomeupwi
t
hourownmanmader
el
i
gi
ouspr
act
i
ces.Godhadsai
dt
hatt
heLev
i
t
es
wer
et
ot
r
anspor
tt
hear
kwi
t
hst
av
es(
pol
es)whi
cht
heywer
et
oputt
hr
ought
her
i
ngsont
hesi
desoft
he
ar
k(
Exod.37:
45;
Deut
.10:
8)
.Goddi
dnothav
et
ol
i
stev
er
yot
herpossi
bl
ewayt
hear
kmi
ghtbecar
r
i
ed
andf
or
bi
dt
hem al
l
.Hesi
mpl
yt
ol
dt
hem howt
odoi
ti
nscr
i
pt
ur
eandev
er
yot
herwaywasaut
omat
i
cal
l
y
f
or
bi
dden.
Whi
choft
het
woway
sofwor
shi
pdoest
hi
spassaget
eachus?
1. What
ev
eri
snotf
or
bi
ddeni
nscr
i
pt
ur
ei
sper
mi
t
t
ed.
2. What
ev
eri
snotaut
hor
i
zedbyscr
i
pt
ur
ei
sf
or
bi
dden.
Theabov
epassagecl
ear
l
yaf
f
i
r
msnumber2.Theywer
et
odot
hi
ngst
hewayGodsai
dandi
nnoot
her
way
.
Vai
nWor
shi
p
I
ti
satt
hi
spoi
ntt
hatpeopl
ewi
l
l
of
t
enobj
ect
,
“
Butt
hosev
er
sesar
eal
l
f
r
om t
heOl
dTest
ament
,
don’
ty
ou
hav
eanyv
er
sesf
r
om t
heNewTest
ament
?
”Suchast
at
ementr
ev
eal
sal
ackofunder
st
andi
ngabouthow
t
heOl
dTest
amentscr
i
pt
ur
esappl
yt
obel
i
ev
er
sundert
heNewTest
ament(
2Ti
m.3:
1617;
Rom.15:
4;
1
Cor
.10:
6,
11;
Mat
t
.5:
1719)
.I
ti
sbey
ondt
hescopeoft
hi
sar
t
i
cl
et
oexpl
ai
nwhatt
heBi
bl
et
eaches
r
egar
di
ngt
hatmat
t
eri
ndet
ai
l
,
buti
tshoul
dbenot
edt
hatbot
hpr
i
nci
pl
es(
suchasThe
Regul
at
i
v
ePr
i
nci
pl
e)andmor
al
sf
r
om t
heOl
dCov
enantr
emai
ni
nt
actundert
heNewCov
enant
.Mor
al
s
andpr
i
nci
pl
esdonotpassaway
.
Wasi
twr
ongt
ost
eal
,
t
el
l
al
i
e,
mur
der
,
andcommi
tadul
t
er
yundert
heOl
dCov
enant
?I
ti
sst
i
l
l
wr
ong
undert
heNewCov
enant
?Yesi
ti
s.Why
?
,
becausemor
al
sandpr
i
nci
pl
esst
at
edi
nt
heOl
dTest
ament
scr
i
pt
ur
esar
est
i
l
l
v
al
i
dnow.Mor
al
sandpr
i
nci
pl
esdonotpassaway
.Thepr
i
nci
pl
est
at
edi
nDeut
.25:
4i
s
st
i
l
l
v
al
i
di
n1Cor
.9:
9and1Ti
m.5:
18.Thepr
i
nci
pl
est
at
edi
nJob4:
8i
sst
i
l
l
v
al
i
di
nGal
.6:
7,
et
c.et
c.
But
,
i
nanswert
ot
hequest
i
on,
y
es,
t
hi
spr
i
nci
pl
ei
saf
f
i
r
medi
nt
heNewTest
amentscr
i
pt
ur
esaswel
l
.
Mar
k7:
68Heanswer
edandsai
dunt
ot
hem,
Wel
l
hat
hEsai
aspr
ophesi
edofy
ouhy
pocr
i
t
es,
asi
t
i
swr
i
t
t
en,
Thi
speopl
ehonour
et
hmewi
t
ht
hei
rl
i
ps,
butt
hei
rhear
ti
sf
arf
r
om me.Howbei
ti
nv
ai
n
dot
heywor
shi
pme,
t
eachi
ngf
ordoct
r
i
nest
hecommandment
sofmen.Forl
ay
i
ngasi
det
he
commandmentofGod,
y
ehol
dt
het
r
adi
t
i
onofmen,
ast
hewashi
ng'
ofpot
sandcups:
andmany
ot
hersuchl
i
ket
hi
ngsy
edo.
Thesubj
ectmat
t
eroft
hi
spassagei
st
hewor
shi
pofGod.Jesussay
st
hatt
hosewhowor
shi
pGod
accor
di
ngt
ot
het
r
adi
t
i
onsofmen(
i
nway
swhi
chdon’
tcomef
r
om scr
i
pt
ur
e)ar
ewor
shi
ppi
ngHi
mi
nv
ai
n.
Godwi
l
l
notr
ecei
v
et
hei
rwor
shi
p.Forwor
shi
pt
obeaccept
abl
et
oGod,
i
tmustbeaccor
di
ngt
oGod’
s
commandment
s(
Hi
swor
d)
.Thati
st
hesamet
hi
ngwef
oundi
nt
heOl
dTest
amentscr
i
pt
ur
es.
Thi
spr
i
nci
pl
er
emai
nsi
nt
act
.
Somewoul
dobj
ectatt
hepoi
ntandsayt
hatal
l
t
hi
st
al
kofcommandment
sbel
ongundert
heOl
d
Cov
enantandnotundert
heNewCov
enant
.Onceagai
n,
suchar
esponser
ev
eal
sacompl
et
el
ackof
under
st
andi
ngr
egar
di
ngt
heNewCov
enant(
1Cor
.7:
10,
19;
1Cor
.14:
37;
Col
.4:
10;
1Thess.4:
2;
2Thess.
3:
4,
6,
12;
1Ti
m.4:
1;
1John2:
34)
.Let
’
sl
ookatj
ustoneoft
hosepassages.
THENEW TESTAMENTORCOVENANT:
Exo.34:
28,
Deut
.4:
13,
5:
13,
Jer
.31:
3134;
Theol
dcov
enanti
sFULFI
LLED.
Mat
t
hew26:
2629;
Chr
i
sti
ni
t
i
at
edaNEW COVENANT
Heb.9:
1517;
NEECOVENANTst
ar
t
edATTHECROSS,
whenChr
i
stbr
eat
hedHI
SLAST.
Heb.8:
513;
TheOLDCOVENANThasbeenSUPERSEDEDBYTHENEW COVENANT.
Addi
t
i
onal
passages:
Eph2,
Col
2,
Act
s15,
ROM 7,
2Co.3,
TheBookofGal
at
i
ansandt
heBookof
Hebr
ews.
WEARETODOTHI
NGSBYTHEAUTHORI
TY(NAME)OFCHRI
STALONE(Col
ossi
ans3:
17)andWEARE
TOREMAI
NI
NTHEDOCTRI
NEOFCHRI
ST(ASREVEALEDI
NTHENEW COVENANT/TESTAMENT(2
John911)
.
1Cor
.14:
37I
fanymant
hi
nkhi
msel
ft
obeapr
ophet
,
orspi
r
i
t
ual
,
l
ethi
m acknowl
edget
hatt
he
t
hi
ngst
hatIwr
i
t
eunt
oy
ouar
et
hecommandment
soft
heLor
d.
Paul
say
st
hati
faper
soni
st
r
ul
yspi
r
i
t
ual
t
heywi
l
l
acknowl
edget
hatt
het
hi
ngshewr
ot
e(
hi
sepi
st
l
esmuchoft
heNewTest
amentscr
i
pt
ur
es)ar
et
hecommandment
soft
heLor
d.Bef
or
ewel
eav
et
hi
s
passagei
nMar
k,
Iwoul
dl
i
ket
opoi
ntoutonef
i
nal
t
hi
ng.
Mar
k7:
68Heanswer
edandsai
dunt
ot
hem,
Wel
l
hat
hEsai
aspr
ophesi
edofy
ouhy
pocr
i
t
es,
asi
t
i
swr
i
t
t
en,
Thi
speopl
ehonour
et
hmewi
t
ht
hei
rl
i
ps,
butt
hei
rhear
ti
sf
arf
r
om me.Howbei
ti
nv
ai
n
dot
heywor
shi
pme,
t
eachi
ngf
ordoct
r
i
nest
hecommandment
sofmen.Forl
ay
i
ngasi
det
he
commandmentofGod,
y
ehol
dt
het
r
adi
t
i
onofmen,
ast
hewashi
ng'
ofpot
sandcups:andmany
ot
hersuchl
i
ket
hi
ngsy
edo.
Asanexampl
eofamanmadet
r
adi
t
i
on,
Jesusment
i
onst
hePhar
i
see’
s(
whom Hei
sr
ebuki
ngher
e)
r
el
i
gi
ouspr
act
i
ceofwashi
ngpot
sandcups(
cer
emoni
al
l
y
)
Letmeasky
ouaquest
i
on.Wher
edoest
heBi
bl
ef
or
bi
ddoi
ngsucht
hi
ngs?I
tdoesn'
t
.ButJesusst
i
l
l
r
ebukedt
hem f
ori
tany
way
.Why
?Her
ebukedt
hem becausewear
enotper
mi
t
t
edt
ocr
eat
eourown
r
el
i
gi
ouspr
act
i
ces.Al
l
r
el
i
gi
ouspr
act
i
cesmustbeaut
hor
i
z
edbyscr
i
pt
ur
eort
heyar
ef
or
bi
dden.Once
agai
n,
v
i
ewnumber2,
“
What
ev
eri
snotaut
hor
i
zedbyscr
i
pt
ur
ei
sf
or
bi
dden.
”Appar
ent
l
y
,
Jesusdi
dn’
t
t
hi
nkt
hat“
TheBi
bl
edoesn’
tsayy
oucan’
t
”woul
dbeal
egi
t
i
mat
eexcusef
orcr
eat
i
ngourownr
el
i
gi
ous
pr
act
i
ces.Thati
sv
i
ewnumber1,
byt
heway
.
Tr
ueVer
susFal
seWor
shi
p
John4:
23Butt
hehourcomet
h,
andnowi
s,
whent
het
r
uewor
shi
pper
sshal
l
wor
shi
pt
heFat
her
i
nspi
r
i
tandi
nt
r
ut
h:
f
ort
heFat
herseeket
hsucht
owor
shi
phi
m.
Theabov
ev
er
sespeaksof“
t
r
uewor
shi
pper
s.
”I
ft
her
ear
e“
t
r
uewor
shi
pper
s”(
t
hosewhosewor
shi
pGod
doesaccept
)
,
doest
hatnotal
soi
mpl
yt
hatt
her
ear
eal
so“
f
al
sewor
shi
pper
s”(
t
hosewhosewor
shi
pGod
doesn’
taccept
)
?Yes,
i
tdoes.Thepassagegoesont
ot
el
l
ust
hedi
f
f
er
encebet
weent
het
wo.
John4:
24Godi
saSpi
r
i
t
:
andt
heyt
hatwor
shi
phi
m mustwor
shi
phi
mi
nspi
r
i
tandi
nt
r
ut
h.
I
nt
heabov
epassage,
Jesusl
ay
sdownt
woessent
i
al
s(
must
s)f
orwor
shi
ppi
ngGod.
1. I
tmustbedonei
nspi
r
i
t
.
2. I
tmustbedonei
nt
r
ut
h.
Wor
shi
ppi
ngGod“
i
nspi
r
i
t
”hast
odowi
t
hwor
shi
ppi
ngGodsi
ncer
el
yf
r
om t
hehear
t(
Rom.6:
17;
Eph.6:
6)
.
I
ti
snotenought
oj
ustgot
hr
oughabunchofout
war
dr
i
t
ual
s.Wor
shi
ppi
ngGod“
i
nt
r
ut
h”hast
odowi
t
h
wor
shi
ppi
ngGodaccor
di
ngt
oHi
swor
dwhi
chi
st
hesour
ceoft
r
ut
h.
John17:
17Sanct
i
f
yt
hem t
hr
ought
hyt
r
ut
h:
t
hywor
di
st
r
ut
h.
Onceagai
nweseet
hatGodmustbewor
shi
ppedaccor
di
ngt
oHi
swor
d.Tobeaccept
abl
e,
wor
shi
pmust
beaccor
di
ngt
ot
hewor
dofGod.
Summar
y
Wehav
eseenov
erandov
eragai
n,
f
r
om scr
i
pt
ur
e,
t
hatGodmayonl
ybewor
shi
ppedi
nt
hewayHe
i
nst
r
uct
sust
owor
shi
pHi
mi
nHi
swor
d.TheRegul
at
i
v
ePr
i
nci
pl
eofwor
shi
pi
snot
hi
ngmor
et
hant
hi
s
pr
i
nci
pl
ewhi
chscr
i
pt
ur
ei
t
sel
ft
eachesusr
egar
di
nghowGodmustbewor
shi
pped.Her
ei
samor
e
compl
et
est
at
ementoft
hi
spr
i
nci
pl
e.
”
Theaccept
abl
ewayofwor
shi
ppi
ngt
het
r
ueGodhasbeeni
nst
i
t
ut
edbyHi
msel
fand,
t
her
ef
or
e,
ourmet
hodofwor
shi
pi
sl
i
mi
t
edbyhi
sownr
ev
eal
edwi
l
l
.Hemaynotbe
wor
shi
ppedaccor
di
ngt
ot
hei
magi
nat
i
onanddev
i
cesofmen,
nort
hesuggest
i
onsofSat
an,
underanyv
i
si
bl
er
epr
esent
at
i
ons,
oranyot
herwaynotpr
escr
i
bedi
nt
heHol
yScr
i
pt
ur
es.
”
Aswehav
eseeni
nt
hi
sar
t
i
cl
e,
t
hi
spr
i
nci
pl
ei
st
aughti
nbot
ht
heOl
dandNewTest
ament
s.Ther
ef
or
e,
al
l
ofourr
el
i
gi
ous/
chur
chpr
act
i
cesar
el
i
mi
t
edt
ot
hosewhi
char
eaut
hor
i
zedbyscr
i
pt
ur
e.The“
i
magi
nat
i
on
ofmen”r
ef
er
st
omencomi
ngupwi
t
hr
el
i
gi
ous/
chur
chpr
act
i
cesoutoft
hei
rownhear
ti
nst
eadoff
r
om
scr
i
pt
ur
e.Aswehav
eal
r
eadyseen,
wear
ecl
ear
l
yf
or
bi
ddent
odoso.