House of Truth Ministries
December 2023
House of Truth Ministries is about sharing the Gospel in various venues.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (ESV)
December 2023
House of Truth Ministries is about sharing the Gospel in various venues.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (ESV)
This picture is from the La Habra Lion’s Club Santa Car Show
Joe and I gave out over 100 Christmas Gospel tracts. It was very windy. The wind blew our canopy so many times, we decided to take it down for safety reasons. The wind blew some of our tract displays onto the ground. Joe and I are thankful for the people that stopped and helped pick up the tracts.
In this newsletter we can look at Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christmas. In the Watchtower, December 1st, 2014, on page 11, it made the following statement: “Second, many scholars agree that most Christmas traditions have their roots in non-Christian and pagan customs. These include Santa Claus, as well as using mistletoe and the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, burning candles and Yule logs, hanging decorative wreaths, and caroling. Regarding some of these customs, the book The Externals of the Catholic Church observed: ‘When we give or receive Christmas gifts, and hang green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan customs?’” There are probably not many of us today who know about the pagan origins to these customs because their meanings have changed since the days of their origins and under Christianity. The Externals of the Catholic Church continued saying on page 140: “We do not wish to assert that they are not good customs; but they undoubtedly prevailed long before Christian times.”
We should take a look at older Watchtower publications. In the January 1st, 1988, Kingdom Ministry on page 7, it says: "You will find valuable information in the older publications." Also, in the December 15th, 1990, Watchtower on page 26, it says: “For over a century, delightful, correct words of truth covering every aspect of life have been presented in the Watch Tower Society’s publications and widely distributed in many languages”
I believe we can apply the advice given in the January 8th, 2000, Awake magazine on page 27 to Christmas today: “Although there may be reason to examine the origin of a particular custom, in some cases it is more important to consider what the custom means to people at the time and in the place where one now lives.”
Well, what did the December 1st, 1904, Watchtower on page 364 have to say about Christmas: “Even though Christmas day is not the real anniversary of our Lord’s birth, but more properly the annunciation day or the date of his human begetting (Luke 1:28), nevertheless. Since the celebration of our-Lord’s birth is not a matter of ‘divine appointment or injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to him, it is not necessary for us to Quibble particularly about the date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate –‘Christmas day.’ The lesson for the occasion is a most happy choice, fitting well to the series of lessons it follows.”
I hope the above delightful and correct words of truth will cover the aspect of Christmas with Jehovah’s Witnesses today.
In this newsletter we can look at Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christmas. In the Watchtower, December 1st, 2014, on page 11, it made the following statement: “Second, many scholars agree that most Christmas traditions have their roots in non-Christian and pagan customs. These include Santa Claus, as well as using mistletoe and the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, burning candles and Yule logs, hanging decorative wreaths, and caroling. Regarding some of these customs, the book The Externals of the Catholic Church observed: ‘When we give or receive Christmas gifts, and hang green wreaths in our homes and churches, how many of us know that we are probably observing pagan customs?’” There are probably not many of us today who know about the pagan origins to these customs because their meanings have changed since the days of their origins and under Christianity. The Externals of the Catholic Church continued saying on page 140: “We do not wish to assert that they are not good customs; but they undoubtedly prevailed long before Christian times.”
We should take a look at older Watchtower publications. In the January 1st, 1988, Kingdom Ministry on page 7, it says: "You will find valuable information in the older publications." Also, in the December 15th, 1990, Watchtower on page 26, it says: “For over a century, delightful, correct words of truth covering every aspect of life have been presented in the Watch Tower Society’s publications and widely distributed in many languages”
I believe we can apply the advice given in the January 8th, 2000, Awake magazine on page 27 to Christmas today: “Although there may be reason to examine the origin of a particular custom, in some cases it is more important to consider what the custom means to people at the time and in the place where one now lives.”
Well, what did the December 1st, 1904, Watchtower on page 364 have to say about Christmas: “Even though Christmas day is not the real anniversary of our Lord’s birth, but more properly the annunciation day or the date of his human begetting (Luke 1:28), nevertheless. Since the celebration of our-Lord’s birth is not a matter of ‘divine appointment or injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to him, it is not necessary for us to Quibble particularly about the date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate –‘Christmas day.’ The lesson for the occasion is a most happy choice, fitting well to the series of lessons it follows.”
I hope the above delightful and correct words of truth will cover the aspect of Christmas with Jehovah’s Witnesses today.
PRAYER AND SUPPORT
Thank you for your prayers and financial support. All donations are tax-deductible. Checks can be written to House of Truth Ministries, and they can be sent to the address below. Online donations are accepted as well.
House of Truth Ministries
Box 729
La Habra, CA 90633
My E-mail
jeff@HouseOfTruthMinistries.org
Our website
http://www.HouseOfTruthMinistries.org
House of Truth Ministries YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQtvAk11yMYsOfFhy3W81jw
Christian Witnesses' YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpIQy8YGTBX181POz72yxuA
Online Donation
http://HouseOfTruthMinistries.org/Donate.html
Thank you for your prayers and financial support. All donations are tax-deductible. Checks can be written to House of Truth Ministries, and they can be sent to the address below. Online donations are accepted as well.
House of Truth Ministries
Box 729
La Habra, CA 90633
My E-mail
jeff@HouseOfTruthMinistries.org
Our website
http://www.HouseOfTruthMinistries.org
House of Truth Ministries YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQtvAk11yMYsOfFhy3W81jw
Christian Witnesses' YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpIQy8YGTBX181POz72yxuA
Online Donation
http://HouseOfTruthMinistries.org/Donate.html