DOES GOD EXIST?

The Milky Way arching at a high inclination across the night sky.

Leonard V. Johnson

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From a child, I had a great passion for understanding. Always wanting to know the “why” about things. At the age of 12, I suddenly became fired up with great excitement to learn what God’s living word – the Holy Bible – actually says. In those young years of my life I came face to face with an important question – and a question I hope that you had – Does God exist? I thought I knew. Also, I desired to know the truth – one way or the other – concerning the theory of evolution. In truth, wanting to know beyond a shadow of a doubt the existence of God is the very starting point for the acquisition of knowledge. I have come to understand that it is the FOUNDATION FOR UNDERSTANDING.

In 1992 I was told by a friend that I had been conformed to Armstrongism. Always an inquisitor, I desired to know whether he was right! He questioned everything I had learned – i.e. the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, angels, life, death, God’s Law, the Sabbath, etc. All the foundational doctrines that I had come to understand in my 3 ½ years of learning. Therefore, I accepted the challenge of a multi-month intense Bible study. Breaking down and methodically going through each doctrine of God’s living word – I truly wanted to understand and to know biblical truth and knowledge and to properly distinguish, differentiate, and discern between biblical truth and biblical error. I needed to erase the chalkboard – but not forget – everything I was taught for those 3 ½ years. I started with the elementary principles of Christ – cf. Hebrews 6:1-2, and began to learn the truth of God as shown to me through God the Father and Jesus Christ as I read, studied, and prayed in connection with God’s living word – Them being my Teacher. Not what some Armstrong said – but through Them!

There are two possibilities of origin – it’s either like what Professor Stephen Hawking hawked, he concluded that the Big Bang was an inevitable consequence of the laws of physics. In his work, The Grand Design, he wrote, “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing.” Or it’s a special creation by a Creator God. Of course, the former is much more popular. And it has won popular acceptance in science and in higher education.

We Must Know!

I have come to see and understand that the majority of this world’s so-called religious people are only assuming that God exists! Why? Well, it’s simply because they were taught it since childhood – without proving it to themselves. Also, in the circles in which they have lived. In my home, too, growing up, it was unquestionably taught – God exists. I came to understand that I was only assuming that God exists. Very few have actually looked for proof!

How do you look for proof that God exists? Is it the physical things we see all around us – is this proof!? Is it Darwin’s theory of evolution, of which any elementary or junior high school textbook alleged or proposed, theorized, or assumed, of which I was told to accept every bit of it without question!?

This morning I saw a female Lutheran preacher who was proudly proclaiming to be an LGBTQ “identified and affirmed” person at one of their rallies. And when she was confronted by a young man questioning her, she shuts him down! And this struck a chord with me – because we know well that people in general believe only what they are willing to believe. And only what they are willing to accept. In the majority of cases, people feel no compulsion or desire to refuse what is accepted in their social or geographical environment. Most dyed-in-the-wool homosexuals or lesbians will not accept the living truth of God – because of their reluctance or willingness to be corrected. She invited the young man to her church – surely so that she would have a Legion behind her  -  all with the same general belief! The old idiom - there's strength in numbers.

The worldwide Book that is professing to be the very living word of the Creator of the universe – the very One who created all things, “and without Him nothing was made that was made” says unequivocally, “the carnal mind is enmity [hostile] against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” – Romans 8:7. No facts, positive evidence, rational reasonings, or proof, will induce such a person (a person like that female Lutheran preacher who shuts you down even before listening to you) to accept that against which they are prejudiced. As I’ve said before - prejudism is a strong barrier to growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I Personally Found Proof of God’s Existence!

I desired to examine the facts. I restudied the very question of “evolution” rereading large portions of The Origins of Species by Charles Darwin and still was impressed by his command of contemporary studies in geology, botany, and zoology. He was blessed with an insatiable and unbounded appetite to test all kinds of things using science. Though much makes one scratch their head and appears seemingly convincing, when examined under the microscope of God’s living word – his hypothesis, theories, and explanations fall dead.

With the creation and launch of the James Webb telescope, some of the early images received are now questioning the theory of the Big Bang! Yet, some dyed-in-the-wool physicists are insisting, “No, the Big Bang theory is not ‘broken.’”

I recently watched the"Astrum" channel on YouTube (I really like this channel, because he doesn’t try and sell the theory of evolution or the Big Bang theory), in which the James Webb telescope is aiding in studying the recently found massive groups of rogue planets without a star – some are binary planets. In one October 2023 article in Science Alert, “JWST observations of the star-forming heart of the Orion nebula have given us something we've never seen before. There, in the Trapezium cluster, scientists have found dozens of planet-like objects roughly the mass of Jupiter untethered to any star, drifting through the galaxy in gravitationally bound pairs like it's a perfectly normal thing to do. But it isn't. There is no known formation mechanism that can lead to these binary masses – never mind 42 of them.” 1 European Space Agency scientist Samuel Pearson adds, “The main thing that we learn from this is that there is something fundamentally wrong with either our understanding of planet formation, star formation, or both.” 2

There is a vital issue that is unexplained in the standard model of the Big Bang theory. The model does not even address the very moment of creation at all – except for Stephen Hawking's erroneous statement, “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing.” But like Clara Peller asking, “Where’s the Beef?” – I ask, “Where’s the Proof?” The standard model only begins with the growth of the universe from a preexisting source of energy and matter. This standard model then makes you have to believe that something was created out of nothing!

Even to their chagrin, several scientists agree that there had to be a source of energy and matter before the Big Bang. But, what laws of physics can explain this phenomenon? There are none. To be fair – Hawking’s did not claim to have proven the non-existence of God.

Well, have you thought of this question – with all the energy, matter, and space itself initially concentrated in such a tiny volume, what held everything in place before it was supposedly released in a “Big Bang”!? What force would be strong enough to constrict the entire known universe other than a Creator!? The scientific community just states, “It is entirely possible that there was no previous era. Assuming this is true, it means that matter, energy, space, and time just began abruptly.” 3

Also, there is the question of the four fundamental forces of the universe.

● Gravity. A universal attraction between all forms of mass and energy.

● Strong Forces. In which is needed to hold the nucleus of atoms together.

● Weak Forces. As in acting inside particles of an atom and responsible for some particle reactions along with certain kinds of radioactivity.

● Electromagnetic Forces. A force acting between any charged particles such as electrons and protons within atoms.

Returning again to the quoted article “The science behind the Big Bang theory,” it mentions the fact that scientists believe these fundamental forces did emerge during the first seconds of the supposed “Big Bang.” But, they can’t explain how these forces emerged. Are we also to believe that such fundamental forces just came into being from nothing?

As Einstein’s theory of relativity postulated that time is a part of the physical universe, what existed before?

Well, the LORD God of the Holy Bible claims responsibility for the creation of the universe.

Which God?

Back in April 2022, someone asked me which God I worshiped. “Which God? The God of the Catholics or the God of the Hindus, etc.?”

That’s certainly a fair question. It deserves an answer.

Yes, my friend, I have a God!

Sadly, over the centuries mankind has separated the LORD God of the Bible into a separate God, whom they call “the God of the Hebrews.” I think this gets back to the question I was asked in 2022. “Which God?”

We are told in the living word of God – that the Word brought everything that exists into existence – including all that is falsely called “God.” It was He – the very One we know of as JESUS CHRIST – who created all matter, the fundamental forces and energy! He created LIFE and even endowed some of it with great intelligence.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” – John 1:1.

TWO GREAT CREATIVE BEINGS!

God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ is God [the Hebrew word Elohim, plural in meaning – more than one – the family of God].

SUPERIOR TO ALL ELSE THAT IS CALLED “God.” They alone are God!

Now according to James Frazer, the whole world “progressed from a belief in magic [and I might add, darkness, ignorance, and superstitions] as a means of controlling his environment to religious beliefs, which propitiated” their gods, goddesses, and spirits. The gods of nations have been carved by men’s hands out of wood, gold, or silver. The gods of this world’s false religions have been carved out of human imaginations and faulty human reasonings. There are others who continue to worship the Sun, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, angels, and even the American singer Beyoncé! All these “gods” and “goddesses” are merely the created.

Creation is one PROOF OF GOD!

A Time When Matter DID NOT Exist

The Uranium in existence today has not been in existence long enough to have run its course and changed into lead. For a fairly accurate age of the Earth, we use Uranium. A radioactive element that decays into many sequential daughter isotopes before finally arriving at lead. This means that the proportions of Uranium and lead isotopes can give highly accurate age readings for a given sample of up to 4.5 billion years.

God’s living word does not describe the Earth as ever being a hot molten mass – to the contrary, His word states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And, according to His word – “But this fact is hidden from them – they themselves choosing to ignore it – that by the Word of God the heavens existed of old, and the earth came forth out of water and amid water” – 2 Peter 3:5, NET. It was not created as a result of the “Big Bang” theory! Even Reasoanable-Bath-4963 has the common sense to ask, “Uranium turns into lead, but there's still uranium. Why?” Especially since we have been told over and over that the Earth is some 4.50 billion years old! The uranium series from 238 U has a half-life of 4.47 billion years! According to scientific consensus, Uranium formed 6.6 billion years ago. Therefore, there was a definite time of starting. Since radioactive elements such as Uranium, Radium, and Thorium have not existed ALWAYS, there was a time BEFORE when these elements DID NOT EXIST!

What About LIFE?

Where did LIFE come from?

Did life originate from what the likes of Carl Sagan had argued? “That the early atmosphere of the Earth was hydrogen-rich, and that the origin of life occurred before the hydrogen was lost, and that such gases sparked, creating life. That life began in the ocean with temperatures that began to fall and the amino-acids, and the proteins and the nucleotides – and how these different chemicals and the different aspects of this old earth – which condensed out of interstellar gas and dust some 4.5 billion years ago – and how they came together to form the earliest stages of life – a kind of organic soup!?”

Well, LIFE ONLY COMES FROM LIFE!

The late great French microbiologist Louis Pasteur in 1862, tested the validity of a widely held belief in spontaneous generation. For centuries, the general population and naturalists alike believed that a variety of organisms could arise spontaneously. Sound familiar? “The universe can and will create itself from nothing.” Pasteur’s experiments showed that microbes CANNOT arise from nonliving materials. Now, there are those who argue that eons ago conditions on Earth and in the atmosphere were vastly different than they were in Pasteur’s lifetime. Pasteur proved that microorganisms come from the multiplication of parent microorganisms of their own kind. Advocates of this spontaneous generation doctrine continue to argue that some form of the doctrine is true – in the sense that if life did not always exist on Earth it must have been spontaneously generated at some point. And, without even realizing it – turning 360° back to a CREATOR!

Now Darwin was quite clever not to promote this spontaneous generation of life in his work The Origin of Species, but his followers knew all too well what he meant. Especially Thomas Huxley who boldly proclaimed the ability that life can come from non-life.

Now, there’s a plethora of debate and speculation about life arising in many places throughout the universe. But, what does established scientific observations and experiments tell us? We NEVER see evidence of anything remotely looking like some “kind of organic soup”!? Nor any life arising spontaneously! What do we see? We only see living things reproducing “according to its kind” – Genesis 1:20-27. The LORD God – THE LIVING CREATORS – who is LIFE, who has imparted life to all that have it.

A person cannot rationally deny the existence of our God – unless he can successfully demonstrate that life can come from non-life.

Also, there are scientific laws, based on repeated experiments or observations, that describe or predict a range of natural phenomena. Such as the Laws of Physics, Laws of classical mechanics, Laws of gravitation and relativity, Laws of chemistry, Laws of biology, and Laws of Earth Sciences.

Do You Believe That There Is Anything Superior To You?

Find a mirror. Look into that mirror. What do you see? You see you. Do you know of anything that is superior to your mind!? Look at the planets in this solar system. Behold, in all its glorious splendor, the entirety of the known universe, with its galaxies, stars, and black holes – they are inanimate. They have no mind, they have no intelligence. They cannot do what you can do!

Your mind can know, think, reason, plan, and carry out its plans. Your mind can invent, produce, and acquire knowledge of the known observable universe. Certainly, a mind can create spaceships and computers. And, man can now send astronauts to the International Space Station – and beyond that, eventually, certainly, to Mars!

In our home, we have an Amazon Alexa – a virtual assistant. Now, there are times when “she” might appear intelligent – but the intelligence and power required to invent and produce “her” is far superior!

However, what one thing you cannot do? You cannot build, create, or produce anything superior to you!

Supreme Intelligence!

There are many companies and organizations that are building robots. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, unveiled a humanoid robot called Optimus. For someone to suggest to you that they could invent, create, build, and bring into being anything far superior in intelligence to you and your mind – would that not certainly insult you!?

Let me ask you straight forward – do you honestly believe that any power or force of less intelligence than you and your mind – brought you about!?

If you do not believe in my God – the very One whom the apostle Paul proclaimed on the Areopagus, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth” – then you only have the alternative. That something less intelligent than you and your mind produced YOU! A dumb, UNINTELLIGENCE brought you and your intelligence into being. Surely, you don’t believe that – do you!?

What If YOU Were Creator?

I recall when I was a young boy, lying in bed, fantasizing that I could spontaneously create real-life Hot Wheels cars. I had a collection of some two hundred of those scale model cars! I was too young to drive – but I thought creating real-life cars would be so kool! Suppose you could add to your powers of reasoning, planning, design, and creativity!? – so that you could project your will anywhere to create and produce and bring into being whatever your mind can plan and desire!?

Then suppose that you undertook and designed, fashioned, created, shaped, and set in motion a physical three-dimensional universe – with physical planets, stars, galaxies, nebulae – in all its splendor and glory!

Then suppose, in 2/3 of the way out from the galactic center of a solar system in a relatively large galaxy you reason, plan, design, and create all the physical forms of life that exist in this universe. And like in the Dr. Seuss book “Horton Hears A Who!” – there are worlds within worlds, down to the minutest infinitesimal particles of matter that we cannot see without the aid of the most powerful of microscopes.

Are you still looking at yourself in the mirror? Do you think your mind could invent, create, build, and bring into being this planet we call EARTH!? Be honest.

Because, if you can’t – then it stands to reason that the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND ALL MATTER is revealed as the SUPREME INTELLIGENCE! THE ARCHITECT OF THE VAST KNOWN UNIVERSE!

Mankind’s Intelligence vs. the CREATOR

Let’s compare the wisdom and intelligence of man with that of our CREATOR who brought all the marvels into being on this planet and keeps them functioning.

I found it fascinating to have learned that not all of Earth’s oxygen comes from trees. About 80 percent of the oxygen in the atmosphere comes from the ocean - from marine plants and plant-like organisms. The main marine organisms that produce oxygen are oceanic plankton. And I found it equally fascinating that the atmospheric oxygen level stays relatively constant! It is constantly being replenished by photosynthetic organisms, mainly in the oceans.

Here’s where the intelligence comes in. What has mankind been doing to the oceans – where marine plants and plant-like organisms live!? I’ll give you a guess. Mankind is having a very negative effect on Earth’s oceans! From habitat destruction via drilling, mining, dredging, destructive anchoring, the removal of priceless corals, carbon emissions, chemical pollution, oil spills, noise pollution, plastic pollution, and overfishing. As of 2018, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch covers 620,000 square miles - consisting of 45,000–129,000 metric tons of garbage!

What about mankind’s direct attack on the atmosphere itself? The three countries with the highest CO2 emissions are China (with 9.9 billion tons), the United States (with 4.4 billion tons), and India (with 2.3 billion tons). In 2020, global carbon emissions reached 32 billion tons! 4

What about mankind’s direct attack on Earth’s creatures? Animals are dying in droves all around the world! More than 3,400 sea lions sickened and died of the H5N1 variant of avian influenza in Peru this winter and spring. And, as the New Republic reported just this year –

“In the last decade or so, mass mortality events worldwide have included the loss of 450-plus elephants in Botswana, 18,000-plus migratory birds in India’s Sambhar Lake, 350 Magellanic penguins in Argentina, hundreds of emaciated gray whales along the Pacific coast, and 99.9 percent of Spain’s fan mussels. Five thousand dead red-wing blackbirds rained down in Arkansas, and 45,000 flying foxes hung from trees and piled on the ground in Australia. Lightning struck down a huddle of 300 Norwegian reindeer. Billions of starfish melted into goop.” 5

Sadly, like all perfect and beautiful gifts from THE CREATOR, mankind fails to value the priceless perfection of the all-wise LORD God.

Not only is mankind polluting this planet – but mankind is now reaching out and polluting other locations and planets in the solar system! It is estimated that there are 500,000 pounds of trash on the Moon. Some 15,694 pounds of trash on Mars. And circling the Earth – as of November 2022, the US Space Surveillance Network reported 25,857 artificial objects in orbit above the Earth! 6 And it’s only getting worse!

Foods That Are Alive!

Step away from the mirror a moment, and look about you – here on this planet are human beings, composed of certain and specific elements of matter – living and organic matter! In a sense, we are what we eat! Because these elements of life must be supplied and replenished through food, water, and oxygen.

No human being – with all our ingenuity, science, and laboratory doodads CAN CREATE FOOD! In other words, we cannot take inorganic matter and turn it into a living substance which is called food. However, there is a Great and Powerful Creator that did! A process that is far more wonderful and advanced than any human being can even imagine!

And so it is that out of the earth grows “grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit trees that yield fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth; … And God saw that it was good” – Genesis 1:11-12.

And when you take an Avocado seed (as an example) and place it in at least 1 inch of water for a couple of days – a true miracle occurs! It begins to sprout leaves! A process that is too wonderful for any human mind to imitate.

MANKIND, with all of our technology and laboratory doodads, with all of our inventive genius, does not have the power to create an Avocado tree! – to convert inorganic matter into living food. Do you truly believe that it is rational to conclude that there is a power or force that is NOT INTELLIGENT that has been able to create this miracle of food!? Did not a far greater intelligence than mankind design, create, and supply mankind with this wonderous miracle of food!? – and all living food in general!?

Oldest Known Analogue Computer

Some years ago I saw on the History Channel the discovery of the oldest known analogue computer – which is called the Antikythera mechanism. Built-in the 2nd century BC, it was used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance. In 2022 researchers proposed its initial calibration date, not construction date, which could have been 23 December 178 BC.

Of course, it no longer works. It stopped working when the Roman cargo ship it was on sank off Point Glyphadia on the Greek island of Antikythera in approximately 70 – 60 BC.

Surely, ever so often, it was calibrated. As noted above, researchers proposed its initial calibration date of December 23rd 178 BC. And it was set by the MASTER CLOCK OF THE UNIVERSE!

But, what about the wristwatch you have on? Even this clock will not keep perfect time. Once or twice a week it needs to be adjusted a second or two by the master clock – the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). But even this master clock, based in the United States of America, is not perfect, either. Occasionally the NIST has to (for the sake of simplicity) combine outputs from cesium beam and hydrogen maser atomic clocks into a single signal. The International System of Units (SI) has defined a second as the period equal to 9,192,631,770 cycles of the radiation, which corresponds to the transition between two energy levels of the ground state of the Cesium-133 atom.

Yes! It is corrected by the Cesium -133 atom. The only stable caesium isotope. Again, a radioactive element with a half-life of about 2.3 million years! Our watches are corrected from an element that was created by the MASTER CLOCK OF THE UNIVERSE! – in physical terms. The understanding being – that the MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE is not bound by time and space. cf. Isaiah 57:15.

Yet, Mr. and Mrs. Skeptic – you look up into the great and awesome night sky at the MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE, and you have the audacity, the unmitigated gall, as you’re wearing a watch that must continually be reset, and you tell the LORD God, “Everything was created out of NOTHING! That there is no MASTER CREATOR! No Master Mind which thought out, designed, planned, and created – and brought into being motion.” In which a type of grand cosmic ballet came to life!

Do you dare say that to the LORD God!?

If you do – then the LORD God says to you – “’ The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God. …’” – Psalm 14:1; 53:1.

My friend, if you can look about you and observe how intelligently designed, planned, created, and executed everything we physically see all around us – except the botched, polluted, and destroyed works of mankind – and yet you say, “There is no God!” Then I will certainly pray for you! – I, like the LORD God, “am not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” and to salvation in the kingdom of God! – cf. 2 Peter 3:9. □

Bibliography:

1) Starr, M., JWST Discovers Starless, Planet-Like Objects Mysteriously Lurking in Orion, Science Alert, 4 Oct. 2023.

2) Minassian, N., New images of rogue planets floating together - but no one knows why, Sky News, 3 Oct. 2023.

3) The science behind the Big Bang theory, 18 Dec. 2023.

4) Garrett, C., Most polluted countries in the world: 2022 ranking, Climate Consulting by Selectra, 25, Jan. 2022.

5) Renault, M., Animals Are Dying in Droves. What Are They Telling Us?, The New Republic, 3 May 2023.

6) Orbital Debris Quarterly News, Vol 26, no, 4, NASA - https://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/quarterly-news/pdfs/odqnv26i4.pdf

Letter to our Friends - December 15, 2023

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRY

P.O.BOX 6458

SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606

www.owensborocojc.com

We are based upon the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God.

Leonard V. Johnson

Pastor and Founder

Dearest Brethren and Friends:

Greetings from West Central Florida – Hernando County.

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg

One of the first times that we mentioned Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was in June 2019 in a Letter to our Friends – “Could this final “beast” be Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg!? We don’t know. However, he is a person of great interest.”

There were a couple of articles in the German press. One was from Gründerszene - „KT“ soll zur Medienmarke aufgebaut werden: Warum die Insolvenz der Looping Group jetzt auch Ex-Verteidigungsminister Guttenberg betrifft. 11/24/23 –

“It was supposed to be a brilliant comeback. A purified Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was to rise like a phoenix from the ashes. With a new image, a new look, and a whole new sound. Less hubris, more personal failure.

For the reinvention of his ego and the corresponding storytelling, the ex-minister, who had the image of a dazzler at the latest after his plagiarism affair in 2011, launched a company in the spring of last year, the "Open Minds Media GmbH".

Business Insider has obtained the shareholders' agreement. The company is to develop Guttenberg into a media brand. The man, according to the business idea, should henceforth appear as a TV presenter, speaker, book author, and podcaster and become his own "brand".

(Translated using Google Translate)

Here’s the other one I came across from GMX - Neue Doku: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg widmet sich der Macht der Kirche. 11/22/23 –

“Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is back with a new documentary. It is supposed to be about the churches in Germany. In "KT Guttenberg - For God's sake? The Power of the Church in Germany" zu Guttenberg deals with the reasons for the numerous resignations from the church and wants to uncover "the power relations and grievances in Germany's churches". …

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was once considered a beacon of hope for the CSU. He was Federal Minister of Economics (2009), then Minister of Defense (2009-2011) and at that time one of the most popular politicians in the country. In 2011 came the big scandal: In February 2011, the University of Bayreuth revoked zu Guttenberg's doctorate in the wake of a plagiarism scandal surrounding his dissertation. A few days later, zu Guttenberg resigned from all political offices. In the meantime, the former politician moved to the USA with his family.”

(Translated using Google Translate).

Herr Guttenberg was indeed “disgraced” by a plagiarism scandal back in 2011. He has been made fun of since in the German press. But, not by everyone! He is considered a respected commentator by several in the international press.

We know and understand that God’s living word speaks of a final European leader who will rise up – one whom the people thought was contemptible –

“And a contemptible one shall stand up in his place, and they shall not give him the majesty of the kingdom; but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom with flatteries” – Daniel 11:21, NET.

“A contemptible creature will succeed but will not be given recognition as king; yet he will seize the kingdom by dissimulation and intrigue in time of peace” – Daniel 11:21, NEB.

“The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not directly in line for royal succession. But he will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue” – Daniel 11:21, NLT.

“There shall rise in his place a despicable person to whom the royal insignia shall not be given. By stealth and fraud he shall seize the kingdom” – Daniel 11:21, Confraternity – Douay Version.

So, by becoming a respectable commentator, he now has the opportunity to reach a lot more people globally. It looks as if he is placing himself in a position to – at least partially – repair his reputation.

There are quite a few biblical reasons to consider Karl-Theador zu Guttenberg as a possible final European “beast” leader. Here are seven –

● He is considered an expert in foreign policy. Cf. Daniel 11:27.

● He was Minister of Defence for Germany until 2011. And he set up the Bundeswehr Structural Commission. Cf. Daniel 11:39-43; Revelation 13:4.

● He is a descendant of the Habsburg line of rulers. Minister Michael C. Garrett speaks of the six resurrections of the “Holy” Roman Empire – one of which was from the House of Hapsburg (See: Prophecy Series – The Final Empire booklet, pg. 19). He also claims that he is a descendant of the 4th century Emperor Constantine the Great. Cf. Isaiah 10:5-11; Revelation 17:9-11.

● His bloodline crosses with various European countries: Germany, France, Austria, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, and Croatia, respectively. Interestingly, so did the “Holy” Roman Empire throughout its six resurrections.

● The understanding that the House of Guttenberg basically means “Baron of the Holy Roman Empire.” A prominent Franconian noble family. It traces its origins back to 1149 with a Gundeloh von Blassenberg (Plassenberg), though the first mention is in a document dated 1158. The name Guttenberg is derived from Guttenberg in present-day Bavaria, and it was adopted by a Heinrich von Blassenberg around 1310. The Plassenberg family members were ministeriales of the Counts of Andechs (later the Dukes of Andechs-Meranien). After the Holy Roman Empire dissolved, they were given the rank of Freiherr (Baron) of Bavaria (1814 and 1817). 1

● He has been ridiculed and rejected by many. Cf. Daniel 11:21.

●Interesting history - Karl Ludwig Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg, in which Karl-Theador zu Guttenberg is his nephew. From 1941 Guttenberg worked in Berlin in military defense for Admiral Wilhelm Canaris. From 1943 onwards, he was closely monitored by the Gestapo. He had connections to Josef Römer and the Kreisau Circle but was not directly involved in the preparation of the assassination of Adolf Hitler on 20 July 1944. A few days after the attack, he was arrested by the Gestapo and murdered on the night of 23 to 24 April 1945. 2

Christmas Challenges

This month we posted our Personal From… by Leonard V. Johnson. If you haven’t read it yet – please do so. It’s chocked full of valuable ways to help combat this year’s Christmas challenges.

Prayer Request

Please pray for our dear Sister Vinnie Johnson. She hasn't been able to go to Sabbath services for about 3 weeks now because of the pain she is having.  She’s continuing to have heart and blood pressure issues. Please pray for her complete recovery.

Also, please continue to pray for my wife’s mother who is going through several neurological tests – such as an EEG, CT, MRI, and possibly a PET. This year she was “unofficially” diagnosed with Alcohol-related dementia. It has been a very trying four months for us.

Suggested Sabbath Day Service

Here is our suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and friends around the world:

• TWO songs of praise. (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, is suggested, there are some Instrumental Accompaniment to the Bible Hymnal available on our website).

• Opening prayer.

• Announcements – from the deacon or pastor.

• Sermon – from the pastor or guest speaker. The one suggested for this week is “Separate Ourselves From Evil” delivered by Leonard Johnson.

• Closing song.

• Closing prayer.

Some World News Concerning Biblical Prophecy

The European Union has put forth proposed regulations on Artificial Intelligence (AI) (See: DW – ‘EU Provisionally agrees first AI regulations’).

The European Union wants to lead the world in AI and other advanced technologies.

However, do not believe for one iota that human rights will be properly protected – no matter what these proposed rules may indicate.

God’s living word shows us that much more improper censorship is coming –

“’ BEHOLD, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. 12) They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it’” – Amos 8:11-12.

As much as we are utilizing good AI technology for our AI Audio Articles, Artificial Intelligence will be involved in tearing down the true gospel message from off the Internet. Sadly, also, AI will be used to continue to persuade and deceive our peoples. We also are aware that Europe is nearing a “cashless society.” The 5 most cashless countries in Europe are –

● Norway - according to data from the World Bank. Nearly all Norwegians (98%) own a debit card and Norway's central bank says that only 3–5% of all point-of-sale transactions were carried out with physical cash—with three out of every four card transactions being contactless. What’s more, over 95% of the population uses mobile payment apps.

● The Netherlands - Already well-established as a country where it’s easy to be cash-free, 91% of the Dutch use banking apps.

● Finland – The Bank of Finland has predicted that it will be an entirely cashless country by the end of 2029. With 98% of all Finns owning a debit card and 63% owning a credit card, nearly the entire population can pay without using cash.

● The United Kingdom - The UK was an early adopter of digital payment methods—and today, contactless payments are one of the most popular ways to make a payment. As of 2020, 27% of all payments were contactless.

● Sweden – With less than 32 ATMs per 100k people, over 98% of citizens own a debit card, and one of the top countries for contactless mobile payments. 3

What about the United States of America!? Are we REALLY headed for a cashless society? Well, interesting enough – Pew Research shows that in a typical week, 41% of Americans make absolutely zero purchases using cash. 4

So, the LORD our God tells of a time that will come when the word of the LORD will not be found. And that would certainly seem to be because the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God will be taken off the Internet altogether. Here in the 21st century, the Internet is accessed by people in every nation, country, and province. So, some type of Internet restriction, suspension, or outright deletion is coming!

And while the self-proclaimed ‘king of social media’ along with Alphabet Inc. – this world’s third-largest technology company! It is one of the BIG FIVE American information technology companies, alongside Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft -continue to set the stage for this prophecy to come to full fruition, God’s living word shows us that a United European power will arise and essentially FORCE people to accept a particular, along with a false leader and prophet.

God’s living word shows us that Satan the Devil will give power and authority to a soon-coming final European “beast” and those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will worship this “beast.”

Here is Minister Michael C. Garrett writing of this ‘beast’ power:

“Early on in Revelation 13, verse 2, we read about a concept which is called “the beast,” … That refers to a reorganized and revitalized concept of the “Holy” Roman Empire. Countries in Europe unifying in the end-times. And Revelation 13:15 – “He [referring to a great religious leader here. It’s not referring to a political leader here] …” Well, look at verse 11 – “Then I saw another beast [speaking of this great religious leader] coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.” This is referring to a great religious leader who has its roots of power in the continent of Europe – and has had for almost two thousand years. Verse 12 – “And he [this second beast] exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” –

now, what’s that “deadly wound”!? Well, the Roman Empire – the greatest world Empire ever in the ancient world – had its height of power and completely controlled most parts of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. And yet, that great Empire eventually struggled and crumbled and disappeared. And then there were revivals of the concept of the “Holy” Roman Empire. Up to this point in history, we’ve had six revivals. The last one was Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy. The Bible says there will be seven revivals altogether. We haven’t gotten to the seventh revival yet. But the seventh revitalization of the “Holy” Roman Empire is what chapter 13 is talking about early on. And so this second beast is a great religious movement.”

(Garrett, M.C. The Mark of the BEAST, 2019, pp. 11-12).

This ‘European model’ will not end well for the United States of America – see “Freedom – A True Blessing From God” as well as “Prophecy Series – A Final Empire!” PDF. Even greater censorship is coming! A totalitarian police state is also coming! – cf. Revelation 13 – see also “’ Equity Cannot Enter’” as well as “Authoritarianism Can Happen Again!”

Pro-Palestinian activists during a protest in New York City, October 8, 2023 (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)

Also in world news – both the Netherlands and the United States of America have been issuing warnings about the potential for increased terrorism because of the Israeli-Hamas war. I personally believe it’s also because of the untold number of pro-Palestinian and Hamas sympathizers. (See: Crisis24 – ‘Netherlands: National terrorism threat level increased to significant as of Dec. 13’ along with The Messenger News – ‘Israel-Hamas War Will Likely Inspire Increased Violence and Threats in US Throughout Winter, Feds Warn’).

One of the main reasons that the USA is facing an increased threat is because of our OPEN BORDERS – especially the southern border crisis! Notice this from the Committee on Homeland Security –

“FBI DIRECTOR WRAY CONFIRMS THE BORDER CRISIS POSES MAJOR HOMELAND SECURITY THREAT, DHS SECRETARY MAYORKAS STONEWALLS

threat posed by the nearly 1.8 million known gotaways and the rising number of individuals on the terrorist watchlist apprehended crossing the Southwest border—especially as America’s enemies, including Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah, have been emboldened to spread their malign influence following the October 7 terrorist attacks on our ally, Israel. Wray confirmed these facts in his testimony and alluded to Chairman Green that the national security consequences of the crisis have turned every state into a border state. Director Wray even confirmed all 56 FBI joint terrorism task forces are occupied with threats coming across the border. …

In his opening line of questioning, Chairman Green questioned Wray on the dangers posed by the millions of known gotaways at the Southwest border:

“Since January 2021, approximately 1.8 million illegal alien gotaways who evaded border patrol and entered our country, and this doesn’t even account for the unknown gotaways, which former Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz testified before this Committee could be about 20 percent of the [total] number. …”

Also, notice this from Newsweek –

“Hamas backers “have long operated in the United States” and they “are still engaged in various forms of support” for the organization, a new academic report claims. …

While some in America have praised Hamas, characterizing the attacks that targeted civilians as a reaction to Israeli oppression, some students who have spoken out in favor of the organization have lost job offers, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called for Hamas sympathizers with visas to have their permits revoked.”

Well, I quote – “God save the Queen, man”! No, but seriously - As far as terrorism goes, God’s living word tells us that in places like the United States of America and the Netherlands terrorism will increase towards the end of the age –

“’ They have corrupted themselves; They are not His children, Because of their blemish: A perverse and crooked generation. … 25) The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within For the young man and virgin, The nursing child with the man of gray hairs.’” – Deuteronomy 32:5, 25.

“’ Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26) I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27) When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you’” – Proverbs 1:25-27.

“’ You have forsaken Me, ‘says the LORD, ‘You have gone backward. Therefore I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am weary of relenting! 7) And I will winnow them with a winnowing fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children; I will destroy My people, Since they do not return from their ways. 8) Their widows will be increased to Me more than the sand of the seas; I will bring against them, Against the mother of the young men, A plunderer at noonday; I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly’” – Jeremiah 15:6-8.

“’ Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh’” – Ezekiel 21:12.

The idea of “terror within” shows that terror will occur within the borders, and certainly suggests that some of the terrorists will be residents of the United States of America and the Netherlands.

And as the above photo taken by Luke Tress at Times of Israel, not all terrorists look like the traditional Islamic State men with a keffiyeh and holding a rifle! Some could be in those crowds of people protesting!?

Concluding Comments

The Apostle Paul admonishes us:

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ [our holy Messiah] with Belial [another name for Satan the devil]? Or what part has a believer [a true Christian] with an unbeliever?

And what agreement has the temple of God [the spiritual begotten children of God] WITH IDOLS?”

And I ask the question – can celebrities become an idol to God’s elect!? (See: Matthew 24:24).

“For you are the temple of the living God.

As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.’

Therefore ‘COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM And BE SEPARATE, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty’” – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

God the Father and Jesus Christ are saying this to us NOW!

Indeed, friends, many celebrities can do great things for their people, their country, and individuals. Yet, it is clear that Christians are not to represent God with icons or idols!

The following verses concern Paul and his writings on this subject:

“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols …”

And indeed an idol can be defined as a worshipping of the gifts in place of the Gift Giver Himself. An object, a job, our family, a minister, or celebrity, etc.

“ … Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, … ‘God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.’” – Acts 17:16, 22, 24-25.

“Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man …” – Romans 1:22-23.

“But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is … an idolater … - not even to eat with such a person” – 1 Corinthians 5:11.

“Do you not know that … idolaters … will [not] inherit the kingdom of God” – 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.

“And do not become idolaters as were some of them … Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” – 1 Corinthians 10:7, 14.

“Therefore put to death your members … covetousness, which is idolatry” – Colossians 3:5.

Friends, Paul is crystal clear, true Christians do not have idols, and there are to be NONE within the Church of God. Idolatry is the work of the flesh, and true Christians are to turn from any idols to the living God.

With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,

Commentary: An Added Phrase

You can now listen to this important commentary! Just click on the orange play button below.

COJCOM · Commentary - An Added Phrase

by Guy C LaMar

AN ADDED PHRASE

THERE are those who believe the Old Testament commands about NOT CONSUMING BLOOD were only for the Jews – and were “done away with” by our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, the first-century apostles of Christ were still instructing the New Testament (New Covenant) Christians, including Gentiles, that mankind is not to consume blood! – Acts 15:20, 28-29.

In the Book of Mark chapter 7, our Lord Jesus explained to His detractors why His disciples ate without following the Pharisees’ ceremonial hand-washing tradition.

Now, some Bible translations add words to our Lord Jesus’s answer. In verse 19, suggesting that He “did away” with the dietary laws. As an example, the New Living Translation adds this phrase, “ … (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes).” Even the fourth-century Codex Sinaiticus DOES NOT HAVE THIS ADDED PHRASE!

This was added to mislead and put words in our Lord Jesus’s mouth that He did not say!

Which is partly why so many who are not well-studied in God’s living word can be easily fooled.

Our Lord and Savior’s point was that orally ingested dirt, which is eventually eliminated, does not spiritually defile the person, since it does not enter the “heart” and influence attitudes – vss. 18-23.

Dirt passes through the digestive tract and is eventually eliminated.

The LORD God’s living word should say – concerning this verse – “’ For it does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and then passes out into the sewer, purging all food.’” – New English Translation.

In fact, the dietary laws regarding clean and unclean animals ARE NOT BEING DISCUSSED in this chapter of Mark – nor in Matthew 15:10-20. Actually. The apostle Matthew plainly sums up our Lord Jesus’ teaching – “’ These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man’” – Matthew 15:20, NKJV.

Next, let’s move to the apostle Peter’s vision recorded in Acts 10.

In this vision, the LORD God showed Peter a collection of unclean animals and told him THREE TIMES to “eat.” Peter declined each time, because he knew eating anything common or unclean was against the LORD God – vss 13-16.

Understand – this was the same apostle Peter that was taught by our Lord Jesus Christ for three-and-a-half years! The same Peter who heard our Master regarding eating with hands unwashed would not defile a man. Years after the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Peter still knew and believed that eating common or unclean animals was against the LORD God.

The apostle Peter queried over the meaning of this vision (Acts 10:17) until THREE GENTILES (which just simply means non-Israelites) were seeking him downstairs to hear the gospel explained – vss 19-27.

The apostle Peter would not have previously associated with Gentiles who were outside the covenant community, because Jews considered Gentiles “unclean.”

The meaning of the vision suddenly came to him – “Then he said to them, ‘You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call ANY MAN common or unclean” – vs. 28.

It became clear to him that the LORD God wanted the gospel to also be taught to the Gentiles. And, that these Gentiles were to become members of JESUS CHRIST’S CHURCH as equals to those from a Jewish background!

The apostle Peter never concluded here, or anywhere else in God’s living New Covenant (New Testament), that the dietary laws were abolished.

To teach anything different is to interpret his vision completely different than he himself knew and taught.

Also, a great many try and use 1st Timothy 4:1-5 to suggest that the dietary laws are no longer for the New Testament (New Covenant) Christians.

However, the apostle Paul in these verses was discussing FALSE TEACHERS, DECEIVING SPIRITS, AND DOCTRINES OF DEMONS “speaking lies and hypocrisy” – teaching and propagating that Christians can be “more spiritual” by practicing asceticism (a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures) or vegetarianism (abstaining from foods that the LORD God has allowed us to consume).

When the apostle Paul writes, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer,” ask yourself – “Where in God’s living word are creatures “sanctified” or “set apart” for human consumption!?”

We find the answer in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. THE LIST OF ANIMALS WHICH WE MAY EAT AMONG ALL THE ANIMALS THAT ARE ON THE EARTH.

Where in God’s living word would the apostle Paul have seen UNCLEAN ANIMALS be “sanctified” or “set apart” for human consumption?

Nowhere.

The apostle Paul was not setting aside the LORD God’s command and declaring unclean animals possible to eat! Quite the opposite: He used the living word of God - saying, “if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to [worldly] regulations ─” such as “’ Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle’” – which are ─ “according to the commandments and doctrines of men” – Notice Colossians 2:20-23.

Also, there are several Old Testament Scriptures that discuss the glorious coming kingdom of God and would not make any sense if our Lord Jesus had “done away” with the dietary laws. As an example – Isaiah.

The prophet Isaiah records for us a prophecy regarding our Lord Jesus’ attitude on this very subject upon His glorious and powerful return! Notice –

“When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, And your bones shall flourish like grass; The hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants, And His indignation to His enemies. 15) For BEHOLD, the LORD will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. 16) For BY FIRE and BY HIS SWORD The LORD will judge all flesh; And the slain of the LORD shall be many.

17) Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves [the self-righteous], To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse [or rather, rodent], SHALL BE CONSUMED TOGETHER,’ Says the LORD” – Isaiah 66:14-17.

Speaking of the Day of the LORD!

The LORD (known today as the living Jesus Christ) plainly warns that His judgment will fall upon all who ignore and reject His divine laws – including the biblical dietary laws of clean and unclean animals!

So truly praying over meat that He calls an abomination is INSULTING THE LORD GOD!

The Jamieson Fausset and Brown writes concerning verse 17 –

“17. in … gardens – Hebrew and LXX rather require, “for (entering into) gardens,” viz., to sacrifice there [MAURER]. behind one tree – rather, “following one,” i.e., some idol or other, which from contempt, he does not name [MAURER], VITRINGA, etc., think the Hebrew for “one,” Ahhadh, to be the name of the god; called Adad (meaning One) in Syria.” 1

Interestingly, while looking up the name Ahhadh, I came across that Al-Ahad is the Islamic name for god.

Minister Michael C. Garrett –

“as civilization was developing in Mesopotamia following the Noachian deluge, the people of Assyria, Chaldea, and Babylon, developed a religion that deified and worshiped Nimrod and his mother/wife (that’s quite a combination)! The original Madonna and Child. The original mother goddess and deified son. And, throughout history and different cultures, Nimrod has been given different names and titles. He’s often gone by the title Ninus, from which Nineveh comes from, back in ancient Assyria and Babylon. And, Nineveh means the “habitation of Ninus.” We have the word, BAAL which applies to Nimrod. We have Horus and Osiris from Egypt, which apply to Nimrod. We have Tammuz, we have Saturn, Jupiter, Bacchus, Apollo, and Adonis. All these names, and we hear them, and they are a part of our culture!” 2

Our Lord Jesus Christ “is the same yesterday, today, and forever” – Hebrews 13:8. It’s mankind that changes God to fit their Satan the devil influenced and led religious TEACHERS, DECEIVING SPIRITS AND DOCTRINES OF DEMONS! □

Bibliography:

1) Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pp. 594.

2) Garrett, M.C., Prophecy Series End-Time Babylon, 2019, pg. 4.

Personal From... Christmas Challenges

IT’S beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Brethren, do you know how to properly face this pagan holiday? Here are some hints in this month’s Personal to help you avoid any Christmas chaos or confusion.

Here we are again – December. This world is gearing up for the BIGGEST holiday of the entire civic year – their Christmas season! Driving throughout my neighborhood at night seems like every other house is lit up to the point that the International Space Station can zero in on their house! Blow up plastic Christmas trees in every yard, Rudolphs, Donners, Blitzens, and Santa sleighs! In their living rooms, with their curtains wide open, stands a majestic Christmas tree that is worthy of the worship of Asherah, the ancient Canaanite fertility goddess – with tons of wrapped gifts underneath! To this world, the season is of “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

A time of the year when multiple millions of people think about a little “babe in a manger.” And yet others think about office parties, vacations, and tying one on! Still, millions of others actually await the stroke of midnight – when Santa Claus and his flying reindeer land on their roof! To a handful, Christmas reminds them of Jesus’ supposed birthday – but the vast, overwhelming majority, it merely means the biggest HOLIDAY of the entire year!

The Blind Leading the Blind

This Catholic Mass of Christ observance is so worldwide today, that most people will scowl at you – and some even harangue you – if they learn that you do not observe it. A great many devout religious people will even consider you blasphemous! Sadly, this world is blind to the living TRUTH OF GOD, and cannot see.

However, the LORD God commands His chosen begotten children – regarding this pagan celebration and its customs – to “’ Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” – Revelation 18:4. The LORD God has told us, “Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2) Thus says the LORD: ‘Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; …’” – Jeremiah 10:1-2.

We, as true Christians (as spiritual Israelites – Galatians 3:29) are not to have any communion with darkness. We are not to fellowship with the darkened ways of this world, or to participate in this world’s pagan customs and traditions. The LORD our God commands us –

“’ take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, … and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ 31) You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; …’” – Deuteronomy 12:29-32.

How SHOULD a true Christian handle the Christmas season? How should a true Christian act toward an unconverted person who does not understand the living truth of God, or for that matter, secular historical truth!?

What about entering a department store and meeting Santa Claus!? How should a true Christian properly greet him?

In this Personal, let’s go over some guidelines to help you properly handle the Christmas season – the LORD God’s Way.

‘Fear not, for I am with you’ – Isaiah 41:10

So often, a person who has just recently learned the truth concerning Christmas finds himself asking himself, “What should I do?” It seems strange not observing Christmas anymore. It makes me think of the holiday movie Christmas with the Kranks. They soon discover that they are considered pariahs in their decision to not celebrate Christmas – opting to treat themselves to a ten-day Caribbean cruise instead.

With many who decide to no longer participate in the darkness of the season's holiday, fear and doubt creep in, and they think, “What will my friends and relatives think!?”

But DO NOT allow those thoughts – so often inspired by Satan the devil – to take root and blossom fear and worry in your heart! For one thing – to the overall majority, Christmas isn’t that big of a thing, anyhow. Like Charlie Brown – who loudly asks if anyone knows what Christmas is all about – the overall majority of people worldwide DO NOT truthfully know. They too don’t care for the hustle and bustle – the frantic pace and the giving of gifts at Christmas. Again, to the overall majority, they have come to see that Christmas has become overly commercialized!

Have the Light of Life

Our Lord Jesus Christ says to us, brethren, “’ I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’” – John 8:12.

He speaks of ‘light having come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.’ As you might or might not be aware – this world’s chief religious holiday is overflowing with petty thefts, burglaries, adulteries, murders, and drunkenness! Strange that at this time of the civic year, this world is filled with adulteries, drunkenness, and debauchery – more than at any other time! According to reports from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), two specific types of crime increase in December: robbery and personal larceny. These two crimes increase by approximately 20 percent during the last month of the year. 1

Also, too, several studies show you have a greater chance of dying on Christmas, the day after Christmas, or New Year’s Day than any other single day of the year. 2

However, it’s not that strange when you come to understand the REAL ORIGIN of Christmas. When you come to understand that this Mass of Christ stems from the ancient pagan Saturnalia – a time of wild and drunken sexual orgies, the celebration of the winter solstice in honor of the sun god of rebirth!

So, there is a proclivity in man to love darkness. Why!? Jesus says, ‘because their deeds [are] evil.’ And that is really hard to come to grips with – most people don’t understand that when a person comes to the truth of God one of the first realizations that they have to come to is that we are sinners. That we are breakers of God’s eternal law! Most people are oblivious to God’s law – they don’t even know what God’s law says. And they are oblivious to the fact that they are breaking God’s law – and with it comes a penalty. A death penalty.

Our Lord Jesus Christ also says to us, brethren, “’ You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. … 16) Let your light so shine BEFORE men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’” – Matthew 5:14-16.

This is the KEY! Because it is useless to try and persuade that someone not keep Christmas because it’s “pagan.” For the most part – they DO NOT CARE! If you try to explain to your family and friends why you do not celebrate Christmas, you will likely only succeed in confusing them and alienating yourself. Often the quickest way to turn family and friends against you is to preach the Bible to them about the living Word of God, the Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God!

Therefore, when you learn the truth about Christmas, you should NOT immediately go to family and friends and “preach” about the pagan origin and the sin of keeping and celebrating the Mass of Christ. Listen to our Lord Jesus, “’ Let your light so shine BEFORE men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.’ Recall that I once spoke about when my wife and I visited Kartchner Caverns in Benson, Arizona. And how the tour guide in the pitch blackness of the cave lit a small match – and the tiny glow from that one match lit up the entire cavern! LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE! Light makes no sound. It doesn’t argue, scold, berate, preach, or blast forth like the alien spaceships in the 2005 movie War of the Worlds! Yet, it can illuminate and be an effective witness.

That is the Way we as true Christians should handle the Mass of Christ season! Let our light shine before others. When Santa Claus reached out and welcomed me into the department store, handing me a Christmas candy cane – I smiled back with kindness and accepted his small gift. When he followed after with a boisterous “Merry Christmas!” - I just simply answered, “Thank you.” I was kind, considerate, and friendly.

What about friends or relatives gifting you gifts? Almost every new convert faces this. First – contact your family and friends and politely and succinctly explain to them that you no longer celebrate Christmas and would prefer they not gift you any gifts. Maybe mention to them how you have come to realize how commercialized Christmas has become – and therefore you are no longer going to keep or celebrate it anymore. In some cases, a short explanation on these lines would be all you need.

But, something that you should NOT do is mention that Christmas is pagan. Because for most – you would first have to explain to them their question “What do you mean, pagan?” Doing so would likely rile a hornet’s nest of trouble! If you mention anything religious, they may press for a fuller explanation. Don’t bring religion into the conversation. Like I do in explaining why I do not eat pork, make it a personal matter – not a religious matter. Speak from the basis of your own personal convictions. You might say, “You know, I’ve done a little research, and I was surprised! I looked up the origin of Christmas on the Internet, and I found out that Jesus wasn’t even born on December 25th. It’s not even Christian. The ancient Romans observed it in honor of their sun god – and that the Roman Catholic Church adopted many of the customs from ancient pagans.

This kind of historical truth will go a long way in avoiding offence or strife. Yet, even when explaining these facts, however, emphasize that it is a personal decision – not a religious decision. DON’T ever try to give the listener the impression that you are trying to persuade them not to celebrate Christmas. If your listener is actually interested in the historical facts and wants to know more – we have several articles and an AI audio series on the subject of Christmas –

● ChristMas - It's Origin

● 'In Vain They Worship Me!'

● When Does God's New Year Begin?

● Commentary: X-Mas

● The Truth Concerning Christmas - AI Audio Article Series

● Commentary: Happy New Year?

Teach Your Children

What about your children? The LORD God says –

“’ And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.’” – Deuteronomy 6:6-7.

Teach your children the TRUTH about Christmas. You could have a family secular and Bible study about the subject. It might be helpful to use our sermons, articles, and AI audio articles on the subject.

Also, be sure to explain that Satan the devil has deceived the whole world, and this is one of the main reasons why multiple millions of people keep and observe Christmas – cf. Revelation 12:9. You could mention that the LORD God – the family of God, which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ – has had mercy on you, and revealed the living TRUTH OF GOD to you, and that your family is going to obey the LORD God and not man – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” – Proverbs 3:5-6.

Also, you could throughout the year, demonstrate your love and affection for your children by surprising them with gifts. These types of gifts will come to mean much more than any “compulsory gift” at Christmas.

Your Unconverted Spouse

Brethren, if your unconverted spouse wants to keep and celebrate Christmas, do not hinder him/her. Don’t preach, nag, or argue. Don’t show disrespect or contempt because he/she doesn’t accept the TRUTH concerning Christmas.

Rather, you should strive to show honor and respect, regardless of his/her convictions. Always remember that the husband is the HEAD of the home –

“Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23) For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the Church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24) THEREFORE, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” – Ephesians 5:22-24.

The LORD God commands that wives be submissive to their husbands. And, I understand that this command from the LORD God does not fly in the face of this feminist world. Now, the man being the head of the family doesn't mean being a dictator. It means - cf.

"Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband" - 1 Corinthians 7:3.

"Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband" - Ephesians 5:33.

"Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered" - 1 Peter 3:7.

Often, however, some spouses may want you to participate in this Catholic Mass of Christ. In the case where your spouse tries to get you to do something contrary to our living God’s Word – the living Word of God tells us, “But Peter, and the apostles answered and said, ‘We MUST obey God rather than men’” – Acts 5:29, Challoner-Rheims Catholic Version.

Pray for wisdom! And use this blessed wisdom from the LORD God for understanding. Always show your spouse respect when you explain to him/her that you cannot engage in keeping or celebrating any Christmas festivities.

What About Family Christmas Dinner?

If you are invited to a family Christmas dinner – should you accept?

In most cases – sure, go and have a great time! The majority of so-called “Christmas dinners” are merely a family reunion. In fact, the overall majority are not held to commemorate or observe the Mass of Christ at all. Therefore, being invited to a family members home – or even a friends – for dinner, even though it’s occurring during the Christmas season, would not necessarily be wrong to accept and go.

What About Saying “Merry Christmas”?

As I spoke of earlier – this time every secular year, we come across the “department store Santa,” or, a “mall Santa” who begs for money for one cause or another. “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” – with a deep-throated laugh or chuckle, most associated with today’s Coca-Cola Santa Claus.

Again, what if someone wishes you a “Merry Christmas” – or in this more “let’s not offend anyone” United States of America, those that wish you a “Happy Holiday”!? In most cases, it’s not really necessary to respond back – because many people just merely say it out of habit. However, if a reply seems expected, you can confidently say, “Thank you” and leave it at that.

Interestingly, what came to my mind here was the story of Mordecai refusing to bow himself before Haman the Agagite – cf. Esther 3:5. Brethren, just thank them for the sentiment they express, but do not wish them a “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holiday” in return since the LORD God does not approve of this paganized Mass of Christ. This too reminds me of a question put forth to me the other day - "When someone is giving a prayer that you do not agree with, should you still say 'Amen' at the end of the prayer?" What do you think? Be sure to leave a comment.

Again, you certainly should not begin to preach to them, or berate them, or disrespect them. Just be friendly and smile, or even simply respond, “Thank you.” Most people are not actually expecting a reply.

Brethren, this Mass of Christ season affords God’s begotten children an opportunity to build godly character. If you use wisdom and common sense in handling this world’s holiday season, and think before you speak, you will succeed in thwarting any Christmas chaos or confusion.

Certainly with Satan the devil’s chief secular holiday comes challenges. But, it gives us a grand opportunity to exercise righteous judgment and wisdom in dealing with people. □

Bibliography:

1) HG.org. Understanding the Reality of Holiday-Related Crimes. Retrieved 12 Dec. 2023.

2) Christensen, J., Why do more people die at Christmas, New Year’s? CNN. Dec. 23, 2013. Retrieved 12 Dec. 2023.