http://jesuschristiancenter1.blogspot.com/
Many people in the world celebrate Christmas at or around December 25th as being the birth of Jesus Christ. However, how does Santa Claus, the Christmas tree and gift giving fit into the celebration of Christmas? What is the true meaning of Christmas that many people celebrate? These answers and more will be exposed in this article.
Regardless of what date many people think of as being the birth of Jesus Christ, it really is not the reason why Christmas is celebrated. Nowhere in the bible will you find the exact date of Jesus birth or any references to it being celebrated because God did not want us to remember his birth and celebrate it but he wanted us to think about his death, resurrection, his future coming and the reason he was sent to earth. Jesus and his apostles never celebrated his birth anywhere in the bible and not even after his death was his birth celebrated by any of his apostles or believers. However, there are clues in the bible as to the approximate date of Jesus' birth and with a little work it can be calculated. A whole book could be written about all the evil associated with Christmas so this one subject will not be discussed in much detail except to say that Jesus' birthday is not on December 25th. However, regardless of when people claim Jesus birthday was, Jesus told us to remember him by the eating of the bread which signified his body and drinking the wine which signified his blood. This was to be celebrated as the remembrance of him and not by the celebrating of Christmas on December 25th! The Christmas holiday and the dates that have been chosen to represent Jesus birth is an abomination in God's eyes and actually have pagan roots. Nobody who can do research can deny this. Therefore, all people should be remembering Jesus the way he told us to and should be thinking about the reason God sent him to Earth and the good news he brought to us all.
So why is almost all Christmas almost always about Santa Claus? The bible teaches that there is a subtle, clever, deceiving and evil being called Lucifer, the Devil, the Ancient Serpent and Satan. We can learn from the scriptures that he is like a lion who is seeking those he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We can also learn that Satan is very subtle and deceiving in his ways and he goes after the most vulnerable first. An example of this can be found at the very first book of the Bible at Genesis chapter 3. He did not go after Adam first but he went after Eve first, the weaker of the two. Another example of how Satan is can be found in Jesus own words at Luke 10:19. There Jesus says, "I saw Satan as lightning fall from Heaven". Lightning just like Satan goes to the path of least resistance first. Now what better way would Satan have to deceive and attack humans than to go after our weakest, most vulnerable and least resistant which are our children? This is where Santa Claus fits into the pagan and false holiday of Christmas. Santa Claus seems so loving and harmless who brings gifts for the good. This is exactly what Satan wants us and especially our children to think.
In the book of Genesis, Satan in a very subtle and deceiving way came to Eve when she was alone and got her to eat the forbidden fruit. The fruit looked good and pleasant but it was against what God told her she could eat. The same goes for Santa Claus. Satan is using Santa Claus and Christmas to lore our children and us away from serving God and remembering Jesus, the very person who is the reason why Christmas is supposed to be here in the first place. Satan tricks people very subtly into worshipping him by disguising himself as Santa Claus and comparing Santa Claus to both Jesus and God and connecting Santa Claus into Jesus birthday. He sets Santa and Christmas up to look good and pleasant to all people but actually they are against God. Anyone who listens to the Christmas music or reads the childrens books or watches television can see that Santa Claus flies through the sky and goes to every house and rewards those who were good by giving gifts. Just like Jesus will be coming from the heavens in his future coming and rewarding those who chose him and worshipped God (Revelation Chapters 2-3). Santa Claus is also said to be able to deliver gifts to everyone in the world in a single night. Just like God is the all powerful and almighty God and nothing is impossible for him (Luke 1:37). Santa Claus lives at the North Pole and rides from the north on a flying sleigh and he also sits on a throne. God also is described as coming out of the north seated upon a throne (Ezekiel 1:4-28) Santa Claus is also said to always know when we have been good or bad. Just like Jesus and God always know when we are bad and good (Proverbs 15:3). Santa Claus is also said to know when we are sleeping and know when we are awake. Just like God and Jesus know when we are sleeping and when we are awake (Psalms 33:13-14). Santa Claus has white hair. God and Jesus also are also described as having white hair in visions (Revelation 1:14; Daniel 7:9).
Santa Claus came from Old Saint Nick who supposedly helped a few people and performed a miracle. Jesus Christ performed numerous miracles and helped many people. Santa Claus has his reindeer and elves as helpers just like Jesus had his apostles and followers. Santa Claus has a carpenter shop at the north pole where he and his elves build toys. Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3). Santa Claus is also sometimes referred to as "Kris Kringle" which means Christ Child. Santa Claus is not Jesus and there was only one christ child who was on this earth (Matthew 1:23). Santa Claus also sits in the malls and people bring their children to him. People also brought their children to Jesus (Luke 18:15-17). Children are told to believe in Santa. All God's people must believe in Jesus (John 14:1). Santa is said to live forever. God is eternal, he always was and he always will be (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:2). These are all ways that Satan is trying to replace Jesus in the Christmas holiday with his Santa. He is comparing himself to both God and Jesus and trying to lure us and our children especially into celebrating Christmas and worshipping Santa Claus instead of God.
Another twisted aspect about the false holiday of Jesus Christ's birth is the displaying of the Christmas tree along with the star on top of the tree. The Christmas tree, stars and pictures of Santa Claus can be seen everywhere around the time of Christmas. They can be seen hanging from walls, ceilings, in windows, on people's porches, etc... When they are displayed in this manner they are considered as man-made idols in God's eyes. The ancient people from the bible also had similar idols and also worshipped false gods. Jeremiah 10:2-4 states, "This is what the Lord says: Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with a chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter." Throughout the Bible God commands us many times not to make or worship idols and false gods. The making or worshipping of false gods and idols is actually a violation of the first and second commandments (Exodus 20:1-4). The Christmas tree has a proven and well documented Pagan history and origin. So if you think that the Christmas tree is all fun and games and harmless then please think again. This is exactly what Satan wants you to think.
So what about the giving of gifts on Christmas? How is this a bad thing? Well, all year children all over the world cannot wait for Christmas time because it is a time that they know they will receive the gifts. Now there is nothing wrong with giving people gifts. However, when gifts are dedicated at a certain time of the year at Christmas time and placed under a Christmas tree and given by "Santa" then this is wrong. This also promotes materialism and greed in young children which they will end up having the rest of their lives and spreading to their own children and so on. Throughout the Bible God tells us that he hates materialism and greed. The gift giving also turns people's attention away from God and Jesus and focuses it on Santa and the gifts. The gift giving is just another way Satan is making Christmas to look irresistible to humans. Satan will do whatever he can to mislead people and turn us away from God. So by celebrating the Pagan holiday of Christmas and worshipping Santa Claus, Satan is actually rewarding everybody with gifts. Instead of dedicating a certain time of the year to give gifts, why not give gifts at random times throughout the year?
Much more can be said about all the evils in Christmas and Santa Claus but this is all the general truth. If you are feeling close-minded to the truth about Christmas then please do more research on this subject and learn the truth for yourself. However, if you do know the truth and continue to celebrate Christmas and accept the replacement of Jesus with Santa Claus and accept all the other evil then God counts this as a sin towards you. Be strong and stand up to Satan and all his evil.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Eshleman
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Prophet Muhammad | My View of Prophet Muhammad Pt 1 : Islamic Religion
http://islamiccenter1.blogspot.com/
Who is the man who has over a billion followers in the world today? Who is the great man who was ranked #1 in a list, penned by a Christian, of the 100 most influential persons in history? Again who is the man who raised his contemporaries from a life of sin and vice 1400 years ago? The man is none other than Muhammad ibn Abdullah(Peace be upon him) the prophet of Islam.
All Muslims, regardless to sect, believe in this man named Muhammad and the book he presented to us, from the Lord of the worlds. If we accept this book, called in Arabic the Qur'an, as being revealed from Almighty God ALLAH then we must re-view deeper the great man through whom the Qur'an was revealed. We cannot accept the book(Quran) and deny the man through whom the book was revealed. What was the heart and character of such a man that ALLAH would let his precious word come through? The same must be done with any servant of ALLAH, but as Muslims we believe that Muhammad(PBUH) is the last of ALLAH's prophets and the Holy Qur'an the last revealed book to this world. So, we as Muslims, must look deeper into the inner sanctuary of Muhammad and discover deeper understanding of not only the book(Qur'an) but of the man.
The Man
A few days after the death of the Prophet some men came to his wife Aiisha bint Abu Bakr and inquired about Muhammad. They put questions to his wife concerning his character and other aspects of his life, and she replied have you ever read the Qur'an? The men replied in the affirmative, then she replied: "Muhammad was the living embodiment of the Qur'an." What a description of this Prophet of ALLAH from one who was most privy to his private character and morals. What his wife was saying is that all the good teachings of the Holy Qur'an were reflected in the man named Muhammad; from the Quran's teachings on beneficence and mercy, to love, forgiveness and brotherhood, and even warfare when it is acted in self-defense, Muhammad excelled in all of these Quranic teachings.
The Holy Qur'an our most accurate portrait of Muhammad says of him:
"Certainly You have in The Messenger of ALLAH an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in ALLAH and the latter day, and remembers ALLAH much."(33:21)
Also
"By the inkstand and the pen and that which they write! By the grace of thy Lord thou art not mad. And surely thine is a reward never to be cut off. And surely thou hast sublime morals. So thou wilt see, and they(too) will see."(68:1-5)
Some critics of Islam and the Prophet of Islam have claimed that Muhammad didn't bring any special "miracles" like we read of the prophets of old in the Bible. Prophet Muhammad claimed that his "one" and only "miracle" was The Holy Qur'an and the work of reformation he produced in his countrymen and women. Many have written that what Muhammad produced in Arabia, 1400 years ago, with his Holy Qur'an was nothing short of a miracle itself. The country of Arabia was renowned for its sin and evil. The abuse against women and girls, the drinking orgies, warfare, materialism also filthy and foolish song and dance is well known.
Islamic scholar Maulana Muhammad Ali speaks of the savage condition of Arabia prior to its "savior".
"At the time of his birth Arabia was steeped deep in the worst form of idolatry that has ever prevailed in any country. The Ka'ba itself was full of idols, and every household had, in addition, its own idols. Unhewn stones, trees and heaps of sand were also worshipped. In spite this vast and deep-rooted idolatry, the Arabs were, as Bosworth Smith remarks, materialistic. "Eat and drink is," as he says, "the epicurean tone of the majority of the poems that have come down to us." There was practically no faith in the life after death, no feeling of responsibility for one's actions. The Arabs, however, believed in demons, and diseases were attributed to the influence of evil spirits. "
"Ignorance prevailed among the high as well as the low, so much so that the noblest of men could boast of his ignorance. There was no moral code, and vice was rampant. The sexual relations were loose obscene poems and songs were recited in public assemblies There was no punishment for adultery, nor any moral sanction against it. Prostitution had nothing dishonourable about it, so that leading men could keep brothels. Women were "in the most degraded position, worse even than that in which they were under the laws of Manu in Hindustan." Woman was looked upon as a mere chattel. Instead of having any right to inheritance of property, her own person formed part of the inheritance, and the heir could dispose of her as he liked, even if he did not care to take her as a wife. There was no settled government, no law in the land, and might was practically right.
The Arabs belonged to one race and spoke one language, yet they were the most disunited people. Tribe made war on tribe, and family on family, on the most trivial excuse. The strong among them trampled upon the rights of the weak, and the weak could not get their wrongs redressed. The widow and the orphan were quite helpless and slaves were treated most cruelly."
"Amongst this people was born Muhammad."
In a short period of "twenty three" years Muhammad wiped away these evil practices. This reform by Muhammad was seen as a miracle, because all previous attempts at the reform of his land failed; the Christian failed, indigenous movements failed, Jewish teachers failed they all tried but nothing worked except "The Man and The book."
Muhammad's Sunnah(way)The word Sunnah is translated as meaning mode of life and specially the course of The Holy Prophets life. Another word Hadith meaning news is another source of knowledge of Prophet Muhammad and the God he represented, ALLAH.
Muhammad is reported to have said in his last speech to his followers,
I leave you two things, which if you follow you will never deviate, "The Qur'an and my Sunnah"
As I have pointed out earlier Muhammad was voted "The most successful of all religious personalities". Also his wife spoke of him as being a living Qur'an. Considering these facts it would be incumbent upon us to follow the way established by Muhammad ibn Abdullah. There has been a misunderstanding among Muslims, both common believers and scholars, concerning what is the true Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. There has been in some quarters a tendency to attach more importance to the Sunnah than The Qur'an, while others reject the Sunnah all together. What was the source of Muhammad's teachings other than the Qur'an? The Qur'an says of itself that it is the "Best Hadith". I remember reading The Prophet once said: "Islam compels us to take the middle course in all things". If we adopt this advice we as Muslims will accept the Qur'an(First) and then naturally accept the man of God's explanation of the book.
When we say of ourselves that we are following Muhammad's Sunnah we must be careful to not make a superficial example of him, like having a beard as the prophet or dressing like the prophet. These things in and of themselves are not bad, but Muhammad didn't make a change in the world because of facial hair or his dress style. Muhammad's Sunnah to me is Belief in ALLAH, prayer, fasting, giving in charity, doing good to others, respecting women and living a clean life.
Muhammad's disciples
After twenty three years of his office as Prophet of ALLAH Muhammad's life came to an end like all other men of God who went before him. The Holy Qur'an reminds us that,
"Muhammad is but a messenger---messengers have already passed away before him. If then he dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your hills? And he who turns back upon his heels will do know harm at all to Allah. And Allah will reward the grateful."(3:143)
Many didn't want to believe that The Holy Prophet was dead. Some Muslims threatened to kill anyone who would say that Muhammad was dead. One of Muhammad's trusted friends and earliest converts, Abu Bakr, rose to the occasion to address the mourning crowd. His famous words were:
"All that worship Muhammad know that Muhammad is dead. But those that worship ALLAH know that ALLAH lives!"
What a soothing affect these few words had on the crowd. These simple words reminded the crowd that ALLAH is the ever living and is present.
The death of Muhammad ends one chapter in the Muslims history only to open another called "Khilafah Rashidah" or the "rightly guided companions." A great man is not only known by the wisdom that he imparts during his life, but also the wisdom that comes through his students or disciples. Four men stand out in this period after the death of Muhammad. These four men names were Abu Bakr, Umar ibn Khataab, Uthman and Ali ibn abu Talib. Much like the Disciples of Christ before these men had a duty to continue the message and work of Muhammad. These four men carried the message of Islam far into the world and helped continue the revolution started by their master-Muhammad ibn Abdullah(Peace and Blessing be upon him).
Mustafaa Muhammad is an "African American" who is a follower of the Islamic faith. Through independent religious studies developed an ecumenical view of the world's religions and the people of God. And while he is devoted to Islam as his faith he is at home in the Church(or other religious institutions) as he is in the Mosque.
He has been featured on the Radio, Newspapers, public speaking events and at Mosques/Churches telling his story and offering his understanding of Almighty God's plan for salvation.
Mustafaa is involved in community activity. He believes that our faith must inspire us to greater service to humanity or we may be making a mockery of the purpose of faith. Contact him @ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mustafaa_Muhammad
Who is the man who has over a billion followers in the world today? Who is the great man who was ranked #1 in a list, penned by a Christian, of the 100 most influential persons in history? Again who is the man who raised his contemporaries from a life of sin and vice 1400 years ago? The man is none other than Muhammad ibn Abdullah(Peace be upon him) the prophet of Islam.
All Muslims, regardless to sect, believe in this man named Muhammad and the book he presented to us, from the Lord of the worlds. If we accept this book, called in Arabic the Qur'an, as being revealed from Almighty God ALLAH then we must re-view deeper the great man through whom the Qur'an was revealed. We cannot accept the book(Quran) and deny the man through whom the book was revealed. What was the heart and character of such a man that ALLAH would let his precious word come through? The same must be done with any servant of ALLAH, but as Muslims we believe that Muhammad(PBUH) is the last of ALLAH's prophets and the Holy Qur'an the last revealed book to this world. So, we as Muslims, must look deeper into the inner sanctuary of Muhammad and discover deeper understanding of not only the book(Qur'an) but of the man.
The Man
A few days after the death of the Prophet some men came to his wife Aiisha bint Abu Bakr and inquired about Muhammad. They put questions to his wife concerning his character and other aspects of his life, and she replied have you ever read the Qur'an? The men replied in the affirmative, then she replied: "Muhammad was the living embodiment of the Qur'an." What a description of this Prophet of ALLAH from one who was most privy to his private character and morals. What his wife was saying is that all the good teachings of the Holy Qur'an were reflected in the man named Muhammad; from the Quran's teachings on beneficence and mercy, to love, forgiveness and brotherhood, and even warfare when it is acted in self-defense, Muhammad excelled in all of these Quranic teachings.
The Holy Qur'an our most accurate portrait of Muhammad says of him:
"Certainly You have in The Messenger of ALLAH an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in ALLAH and the latter day, and remembers ALLAH much."(33:21)
Also
"By the inkstand and the pen and that which they write! By the grace of thy Lord thou art not mad. And surely thine is a reward never to be cut off. And surely thou hast sublime morals. So thou wilt see, and they(too) will see."(68:1-5)
Some critics of Islam and the Prophet of Islam have claimed that Muhammad didn't bring any special "miracles" like we read of the prophets of old in the Bible. Prophet Muhammad claimed that his "one" and only "miracle" was The Holy Qur'an and the work of reformation he produced in his countrymen and women. Many have written that what Muhammad produced in Arabia, 1400 years ago, with his Holy Qur'an was nothing short of a miracle itself. The country of Arabia was renowned for its sin and evil. The abuse against women and girls, the drinking orgies, warfare, materialism also filthy and foolish song and dance is well known.
Islamic scholar Maulana Muhammad Ali speaks of the savage condition of Arabia prior to its "savior".
"At the time of his birth Arabia was steeped deep in the worst form of idolatry that has ever prevailed in any country. The Ka'ba itself was full of idols, and every household had, in addition, its own idols. Unhewn stones, trees and heaps of sand were also worshipped. In spite this vast and deep-rooted idolatry, the Arabs were, as Bosworth Smith remarks, materialistic. "Eat and drink is," as he says, "the epicurean tone of the majority of the poems that have come down to us." There was practically no faith in the life after death, no feeling of responsibility for one's actions. The Arabs, however, believed in demons, and diseases were attributed to the influence of evil spirits. "
"Ignorance prevailed among the high as well as the low, so much so that the noblest of men could boast of his ignorance. There was no moral code, and vice was rampant. The sexual relations were loose obscene poems and songs were recited in public assemblies There was no punishment for adultery, nor any moral sanction against it. Prostitution had nothing dishonourable about it, so that leading men could keep brothels. Women were "in the most degraded position, worse even than that in which they were under the laws of Manu in Hindustan." Woman was looked upon as a mere chattel. Instead of having any right to inheritance of property, her own person formed part of the inheritance, and the heir could dispose of her as he liked, even if he did not care to take her as a wife. There was no settled government, no law in the land, and might was practically right.
The Arabs belonged to one race and spoke one language, yet they were the most disunited people. Tribe made war on tribe, and family on family, on the most trivial excuse. The strong among them trampled upon the rights of the weak, and the weak could not get their wrongs redressed. The widow and the orphan were quite helpless and slaves were treated most cruelly."
"Amongst this people was born Muhammad."
In a short period of "twenty three" years Muhammad wiped away these evil practices. This reform by Muhammad was seen as a miracle, because all previous attempts at the reform of his land failed; the Christian failed, indigenous movements failed, Jewish teachers failed they all tried but nothing worked except "The Man and The book."
Muhammad's Sunnah(way)The word Sunnah is translated as meaning mode of life and specially the course of The Holy Prophets life. Another word Hadith meaning news is another source of knowledge of Prophet Muhammad and the God he represented, ALLAH.
Muhammad is reported to have said in his last speech to his followers,
I leave you two things, which if you follow you will never deviate, "The Qur'an and my Sunnah"
As I have pointed out earlier Muhammad was voted "The most successful of all religious personalities". Also his wife spoke of him as being a living Qur'an. Considering these facts it would be incumbent upon us to follow the way established by Muhammad ibn Abdullah. There has been a misunderstanding among Muslims, both common believers and scholars, concerning what is the true Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. There has been in some quarters a tendency to attach more importance to the Sunnah than The Qur'an, while others reject the Sunnah all together. What was the source of Muhammad's teachings other than the Qur'an? The Qur'an says of itself that it is the "Best Hadith". I remember reading The Prophet once said: "Islam compels us to take the middle course in all things". If we adopt this advice we as Muslims will accept the Qur'an(First) and then naturally accept the man of God's explanation of the book.
When we say of ourselves that we are following Muhammad's Sunnah we must be careful to not make a superficial example of him, like having a beard as the prophet or dressing like the prophet. These things in and of themselves are not bad, but Muhammad didn't make a change in the world because of facial hair or his dress style. Muhammad's Sunnah to me is Belief in ALLAH, prayer, fasting, giving in charity, doing good to others, respecting women and living a clean life.
Muhammad's disciples
After twenty three years of his office as Prophet of ALLAH Muhammad's life came to an end like all other men of God who went before him. The Holy Qur'an reminds us that,
"Muhammad is but a messenger---messengers have already passed away before him. If then he dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your hills? And he who turns back upon his heels will do know harm at all to Allah. And Allah will reward the grateful."(3:143)
Many didn't want to believe that The Holy Prophet was dead. Some Muslims threatened to kill anyone who would say that Muhammad was dead. One of Muhammad's trusted friends and earliest converts, Abu Bakr, rose to the occasion to address the mourning crowd. His famous words were:
"All that worship Muhammad know that Muhammad is dead. But those that worship ALLAH know that ALLAH lives!"
What a soothing affect these few words had on the crowd. These simple words reminded the crowd that ALLAH is the ever living and is present.
The death of Muhammad ends one chapter in the Muslims history only to open another called "Khilafah Rashidah" or the "rightly guided companions." A great man is not only known by the wisdom that he imparts during his life, but also the wisdom that comes through his students or disciples. Four men stand out in this period after the death of Muhammad. These four men names were Abu Bakr, Umar ibn Khataab, Uthman and Ali ibn abu Talib. Much like the Disciples of Christ before these men had a duty to continue the message and work of Muhammad. These four men carried the message of Islam far into the world and helped continue the revolution started by their master-Muhammad ibn Abdullah(Peace and Blessing be upon him).
Mustafaa Muhammad is an "African American" who is a follower of the Islamic faith. Through independent religious studies developed an ecumenical view of the world's religions and the people of God. And while he is devoted to Islam as his faith he is at home in the Church(or other religious institutions) as he is in the Mosque.
He has been featured on the Radio, Newspapers, public speaking events and at Mosques/Churches telling his story and offering his understanding of Almighty God's plan for salvation.
Mustafaa is involved in community activity. He believes that our faith must inspire us to greater service to humanity or we may be making a mockery of the purpose of faith. Contact him @ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mustafaa_Muhammad
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