Dear Compass Checkers,

As I write my column for this issue of Compass Check, we have just returned a couple of weeks ago from observing the Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day. It was a fantastic Feast for all of us. But as you read this issue of CC, what “season” is the world around us entering? That’s right—the non-Christian holiday of Christmas.

Satan the deceiver (the name “Satan” means adversary or opponent), has substituted his “holidays” in place of the biblical “Holy Days” of the Eternal God. We are not fooled by Satan’s days. We correctly observe the seven Holy Days of God, beginning with Passover and ending with the Eighth Day (Leviticus 23).

You Compass Checkers know the truth—Christmas is full of lies and heavily borrows from non-biblical customs.

We know that Jesus Christ was not born in the dead of winter. He was actually born in the fall, likely at the end of September. Please refer to our helpful booklet for these details (www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/holidays-or-holy-days-does-it-mat...).

None of the writers of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) gives a date for the birth of Jesus Christ, and none mentions anything about commemorating Christ’s birth.

But Jesus Christ did tell His followers to commemorate His death (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), which we observe through the Passover each spring.

I like these succinct points written by the managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, Scott Ashley. They are found at www.ucg.org/the-good-news/the-top-10-reasons-why-i-dont-celebrate-christmas.

1. Christmas is driven by commercialism.
2. Christmas is nowhere mentioned in the Bible.
3. Jesus wasn’t born on or near Dec. 25.
4. The Christmas holiday is largely a recycled pagan celebration.
5. God condemns using pagan customs to worship Him.
6. Christmas is worshipping God in vain.
7. You can’t put Christ back into something He was never in.
8. The Bible nowhere tells us to observe a holiday celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth—but it clearly does tell us to commemorate His death.
9. Christmas obscures God’s plan for mankind.
10. I’d rather celebrate the Holy Days Jesus Christ and the apostles observed.

Some people may know a number of these facts but then ask, “Does it really matter?” Yes, it matters very much to God! Notice what God says in Deuteronomy 12:30-32: “Do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way . . . Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.”

God has clearly spelled out what is holy and what is profane in the Bible and wants us to choose life through loving and obeying Him (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

Our writers and editors have done a masterful job in putting this issue of Compass Check together for you, our faithful readers. Please e-mail me if you have any questions or if you have suggestions for future articles. I would enjoy hearing from you.

(I look forward to seeing some of you at Winter Camp, from Dec. 27-Jan. 2.)

Enjoy this issue!

Until next time, your camp friend,

Steve Nutzman, editor