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This
message will take the form of a simulated discussion between
a Jehovah's Witness named Joe and a Christian named
Chris. Chris: Joe, the Watchtower does not want their
followers to honor the birth of Christ. Can you tell me
why? Joe: Chris, the Watchtower says in the Dec. 15,
1994 issue, "If you are now an adult, have you ever felt
embarrassed when, in your presence, people showed
photographs of you as a baby? True, such pictures remind
your parents of their joy at your birth. But now that you
have an identity of your own, do you not usually prefer
others to see you as your are? In a similar vein, think how
disrespectful it is toward Christ Jesus when those who claim
to be his followers become so engrossed each year in the
pagan traditions of Christmas and in honoring an infant that
they fail to honor him as King." Chris: That is a serious charge! The Watchtower
seems to imply that one cannot honor the birth of Christ as
well as honor Jesus as King. Yet Christians around the world
honor Jesus both for his birth and for being King. Is it
really a serious matter for a Jehovah's Witnesses to choose
to celebrate Christmas? Joe: The Watchtower Dec. 15, 1984 says that the
most serious danger of celebrating Christmas is that it
could lead to losing God's favor and we as Jehovah's
Witnesses realize that to celebrate Christmas would mean
being brought before a judicial committee and then kicked
out. Chris: When did celebrating Christmas become such
a serious matter that one could lose God's favor and thus
lose eternal life? Joe: Well the Watchtower says that God never
intended that Christians should celebrate the birth of His
Son. In their eyes it has always been wrong. Chris: Didn't the Watchtower celebrate Christmas
many years ago? Joe: Yes. When the Watchtower was first formed,
the founder Charles T. Russell and the early Jehovah's
Witnesses all celebrated Christmas. Chris: Was the Watchtower required to stop celebrating Christmas
before Jehovah God approved of them? Joe: No. The Watchtower still celebrated
Christmas for many years after Jesus picked them in 1919 as
the only organization on earth that was worthy of being the
faithful slave. Chris: Doesn't that sound hypocritical? The
Watchtower condemns others for celebrating Christ's birth
yet they say that they found God's favor at the time when
they were still celebrating Christmas. If Jehovah did not
condemn them then, why would his standards change
now? Joe: I don't think Jehovah's standards
changed. Chris: Then the Watchtower's standards changed.
When the Watchtower celebrated Christmas did they celebrate
in a different way then we do today? Joe: No, they celebrated Christmas in much the
same way that Christians celebrate today. They gave gifts,
had Christmas decorations, sang Christmas carols. The
Watchtower even agreed with Christendom that although Dec.
25 was not the day that Jesus was born, it most likely was
the date of conception, and it was as good a day as any to
join in with the rest of the world to celebrate his
birth. Chris: What changed their minds about
Christmas? Joe: Sometime after Rutherford became president
he decided that too much emphasis was put on Jesus and not
enough on Jehovah and the kingdom. He outlawed Christmas
saying that it was a pagan celebration. Chris: Did he ban everything that had pagan roots
like the Roman calender, wedding anniversaries and wedding
rings? Joe: No he allowed those things. They are no
longer looked on as pagan today so they are
okay. Chris: But Joe, no one worships the sun in the
sky on Dec. 25 anymore. Why did Rutherford still ban
Christmas? Joe: Rutherford felt that at Christmas time,
people gave honor and worship to Jesus and this took away
from the worship of Jehovah. Chris: What does the Bible say about how the Son
is to be honored? Look at John 5:23. Joe: It says "in order that all may honor the
Son just as they honor the Father. He that does not honor
the Son does not honor the Father who sent
him." Chris: So we are to honor the Son just as we honor the Father. Giving honor to Jesus at any time of year does not take away from honoring the Father. In fact John 5:23 says that giving honor to Jesus honors the Father. Joe: I've never seen that verse
before. |
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