LSM: To observe Christmas, its doubtful you’re a new creation

Zezima · 11-20-2022, 02:14 PM

Having left the Lord’s Recovery has provided me with space to examine what I truly believe to be true in my heart Vs. what I was always told to be true (because “The Ministry” says it). One of the more recent examinations has been my view on celebrating Christmas. Me and my partner have concluded that it’s a tradition we want to establish in our family, and that we don’t agree with the rationale that “The Ministry” provided to us as to why we shouldn’t.

I’m not here to debate your views on Christmas & if christians should or should not be celebrated because frankly, I don’t care. We have a freedom in Christ, that while spoken of in the “Lord’s Recovery” was often neglected or replaced by rules to achieve a higher plane of spirituality or favor in God’s eyes. Whether you are for or against the celebration of Christmas is between you & God. In fact, Paul in his letter to Rome brings up the matter of participating in or observing special days..

Romans 14: 5-10
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.*The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.*For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.*For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.*For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God

After arriving at our conclusion on Christmas, I was curious what “The Ministry” has to say about the holiday. I found two quotes that were astonishing (there are many more quotes but these are what caught my attention) in the claims that they made.

Quote Number 1
“Every denomination must be examined to see whether or not it still has something of the great prostitute in it. To have a Christmas tree in your home is to practice something of the great prostitute. Probably you cannot find one Christian group that has not been influenced by the prostitute. Perhaps only in the local churches can you find a place that has nothing of the prostitute.” Life-study of Revelation, msg. 51: The Great Prostitute Sitting on a Scarlet Beast (1)

Here Witness Lee makes some pretty bold statements:
- To have a Christmas Tree in your home is to practice something of the great prostitute
- Probably all Christian Groups are influenced by the prostitute.
- Only the Local Churches have nothing of the prostitute.

Quote Number 2
”Today millions of Christians are occupied even more by the religious world than by the secular world. Take Christmas as an example. The celebration of Christmas is certainly related to the religious world. If you still observe Christmas, it is doubtful that you are living a new creation. The celebration of Christmas has nothing to do with God’s new creation.”
Life study of Galatians, msg 30

Here Witness Lee makes some pretty bold statements:
- If you observe Christmas, it is doubtful you are living a new creation
- The celebration of Christmas has nothing to do with God’s new Creation
Also, in quote #2, Witness Lee criticizes the religious world only to finish by stating if you do X then you aren’t in the new creation.

There’s a lot to digest from the quotes above, and I welcome all comments in relation to them. They stood out to me because they caused an addable chuckle to proceed from my mouth. When reading these quotes, remember these things:
1. We are saved by grace through faith, not by our efforts or works.
2. Christ is making all things new.
3. When we were dead in our trespasses, Christ made us alive.
4. Not I, but Christ.

Living in the new creation is not about following a set of dos and don'ts, bringing a tree into your home is not the practice of the great prostitute. Following a set of Dos and Don'ts is not living in the new creation, attempting to earn salvation is the practice of the great prostitute.

11-20-2022, 02:14 PM	#1
Zezima Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Posts: 361	LSM: To observe Christmas, its doubtful you’re a new creation Having left the Lord’s Recovery has provided me with space to examine what I truly believe to be true in my heart Vs. what I was always told to be true (because “The Ministry” says it). One of the more recent examinations has been my view on celebrating Christmas. Me and my partner have concluded that it’s a tradition we want to establish in our family, and that we don’t agree with the rationale that “The Ministry” provided to us as to why we shouldn’t. I’m not here to debate your views on Christmas & if christians should or should not be celebrated because frankly, I don’t care. We have a freedom in Christ, that while spoken of in the “Lord’s Recovery” was often neglected or replaced by rules to achieve a higher plane of spirituality or favor in God’s eyes. Whether you are for or against the celebration of Christmas is between you & God. In fact, Paul in his letter to Rome brings up the matter of participating in or observing special days.. Romans 14: 5-10 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God After arriving at our conclusion on Christmas, I was curious what “The Ministry” has to say about the holiday. I found two quotes that were astonishing (there are many more quotes but these are what caught my attention) in the claims that they made. Quote Number 1 “Every denomination must be examined to see whether or not it still has something of the great prostitute in it. To have a Christmas tree in your home is to practice something of the great prostitute. Probably you cannot find one Christian group that has not been influenced by the prostitute. Perhaps only in the local churches can you find a place that has nothing of the prostitute.” Life-study of Revelation, msg. 51: The Great Prostitute Sitting on a Scarlet Beast (1) Here Witness Lee makes some pretty bold statements: - To have a Christmas Tree in your home is to practice something of the great prostitute - Probably all Christian Groups are influenced by the prostitute. - Only the Local Churches have nothing of the prostitute. Quote Number 2 ”Today millions of Christians are occupied even more by the religious world than by the secular world. Take Christmas as an example. The celebration of Christmas is certainly related to the religious world. If you still observe Christmas, it is doubtful that you are living a new creation. The celebration of Christmas has nothing to do with God’s new creation.” Life study of Galatians, msg 30 Here Witness Lee makes some pretty bold statements: - If you observe Christmas, it is doubtful you are living a new creation - The celebration of Christmas has nothing to do with God’s new Creation Also, in quote #2, Witness Lee criticizes the religious world only to finish by stating if you do X then you aren’t in the new creation. There’s a lot to digest from the quotes above, and I welcome all comments in relation to them. They stood out to me because they caused an addable chuckle to proceed from my mouth. When reading these quotes, remember these things: 1. We are saved by grace through faith, not by our efforts or works. 2. Christ is making all things new. 3. When we were dead in our trespasses, Christ made us alive. 4. Not I, but Christ. Living in the new creation is not about following a set of dos and don'ts, bringing a tree into your home is not the practice of the great prostitute. Following a set of Dos and Don'ts is not living in the new creation, attempting to earn salvation is the practice of the great prostitute.