Ellen White on Christmas - Doug Batchelor.
Video-clip from "The Christian and Christmas" - Doug Batchelor (from 2005).
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And now, quotes gleaned from [ Ссылка ]
ELLEN WRITING ON CHRISTMAS
CHRIST’S BIRTHDAY?
"Christmas will soon be here. It is supposed that Christ was born on the 25th day of December, and for that reason it is celebrated as His birthday. But it is impossible for us to know upon what day He was born. You can know no more about that than the children of Israel could know where Moses was buried. The reason God has not revealed that fact is because you would have worshiped that day, as they would have worshiped the grave of Moses had they found it, and this is just what they have done with the day they supposed was the one on which Christ was born." (21 Manuscript Releases, p.223)
GIFTS
"Everybody is trying to find out how they can bring suitable gifts to one another. … Now what shall I give this year to the children, or to father and mother? But where are the Saviour's poor? They are right before your doors." (E. G. White, 21 Manuscript Releases, p.223)
"Thousands of dollars will be worse than thrown away upon the coming Christmas and New Year's in needless indulgences. But it is our privilege to depart from the customs and practices of this degenerate age; and instead of expending means merely for the gratification of the appetite, or for needless ornaments or articles of clothing." (E. G. White, Review and Herald, December 11, 1879)
"Our children have been educated to expect gifts from parents and friends upon Christmas. Christmas is celebrated to commemorate Christ's birth. If we celebrate it only in seeking to give pleasure to our children and one another, our offerings are diverted from the true object.” (E. G. White, Review and Herald, December 11, 1888)
"I would not wholly condemn the practice of making Christmas and New Years gifts to our friends. It is right to bestow upon one another tokens of love and remembrance if we do not in this forget God, our best friend. We should make our gifts such as will prove a real benefit to the receiver." (E. G. White, Review and Herald, Dec.26, 1882)
SELF-INDULGENCE
"Let us remember that Christmas is celebrated in commemoration of the birth of the world's Redeemer. This day is generally spent in feasting and gluttony. Large sums of money are spent in needless self-indulgence." (E. G. White, Messages to Young People, p.311)
"Our birthday anniversaries and Christmas and Thanksgiving festivals are too often devoted to selfish gratification, when the mind should be directed to the mercy and loving-kindness of God." (E. G. White, Counsels on Stewardship, p.295)
"Every dollar and every dime that we can spare is needed now, to aid in carrying the message of truth to other lands. At the holiday season much is spent by our own people upon gifts and various gratifications which are not only useless but often hurtful. Appetite is indulged, pride and self-love are fostered, and Christ is forgotten.” (E. G. White, Review and Herald, Dec. 6, 1887)
"While multitudes celebrate Christmas, there are few who show honor to Christ. The day is devoted to selfish indulgence, and the Redeemer's great love and sacrifice awaken no response. Let it not be so with us." (E. G. White, Review and Herald, December 15, 1885)
CHRISTMAS TREE
"God would be well pleased if on Christmas, each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of worship. Letters of inquiry have come to us asking, ‘Shall we have a Christmas tree? will it not be like the world?’ We answer, You can make it like the world if you have a disposition to do so, or you can make it as unlike the world as possible. There is no particular sin in selecting a fragrant evergreen, and placing it in our churches; but the sin lies in the motive which prompts to action, and the use which is made of the gifts placed upon the tree." (E. G. White, Review and Herald, December 11, 1879)
OBSERVING CHRISTMAS
"It is our privilege to depart from the customs and practices of this degenerate age; and instead of expending means merely for the gratification of the appetite, or for needless ornaments or articles of clothing, we may make the coming holidays an occasion in which to honor and glorify God." (E. G. White, Review and Herald, December 11, 1879)
"We advise all our brethren and sisters to make a decided reform in regard to these festal days." (E. G. White, Review and Herald, Dec.11, 1879).
Above quotes gleaned from [ Ссылка ]
P.S. I have had to shorten the quotes for lack of space, but random quoting of Ellen White can, and has, led to confusion. Please take the time to read the quotes in context.
For a thorough explanation (2 hours), click on this link. I highly recommend it, [ Ссылка ]
