Native Evangelist

Volume VI

December 11, 2015

Number 12

Native Evangelist is sent forth as an aid to those individuals who desire to preach/teach,

publically or privately, the gospel of Gods Son. The material contained herein has been
selected by William V. Beasley, and is from the pens of gospel preachers past and present.
All correspondence should be sent to BeesNest@aol.com. If Native Evangelist proves
to be a blessing to you, Thank God and Preach the word; be urgent in season, out
of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching (2
Timothy 4:2).

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Christmas...Tell The Story Again...

During this time of year, many are announcing the story of the birth of Christ. These claim that
Christmas is the birthday of Christ. In many churches of human origin there will be pageants,
special music and sermons on the birth of Christ in celebration of Christmas. These usually are
shocked to find that churches of Christ have no special Christmas program. Amazement is
expressed when one hears that one can be a Christian and not celebrate Christmas as the birthday
of Christ. Upon hearing this the question is asked, "Well, where did Christmas come from then?"
Perhaps this is an appropriate time to call attention to some of the practices involved in this time
of year and to point out some of the perversions of facts as well as to make some observations
designed to benefit the Christian and his relationship to such. So let us tell the story again.
One does not learn of a Christmas festival from a study of the Bible. Yes, the Bible does tell us
of the birth of Christ, but does not give the time of year, nor indicate in any way that the early
church celebrated his birth. The Bible teaches us that the death of Christ is the important thing
and not the birth. We are taught that baptism is a form of the death, burial and resurrection of
Christ (Romans 6:3-4) and the Lord's Supper is to be observed each first day of the week (Acts
20:7), as a memorial of the death of Christ and a proclamation of His promised return (1
Corinthians 11:26). Men have no authority to set up other memorials.

Even the name "Christmas" is of Catholic origin. "The name is derived from the medieval
Christes Masse, the Mass of Christ" (Encyclopedia Americana). The Catholics had a special
"mass," (their corruption of the Lord's Supper) for Christ. This was called "Christ-Mass," later
shortened to "Christmas."
Concerning the date of December 25. Three dates have been variously considered: January 6,
March 25, and December 25. Liberius, Bishop of Rome (Catholics consider him as one of their
early popes) in 354 A.D. ordered that December 25 be adopted. The choice of this date was
probably influenced by the fact that this was the day on which the Romans celebrated the
Mithraic feast of the Sun-god (The Lincoln Library of Essential Information). The Roman
Saturnalia also came at this time. "The indications are that the church (Catholic church, mdg)
in this way grasped the opportunity to turn the people away from a purely pagan observance of
the winter solstice to a day of adoration of Christ the Lord. Both St. Cyprian and St. John
Chrysostom allude to this thought in their writings" (Collier's Encyclopedia). The Syrians
continued to use Jan. 6 and accused the Romans of sun worship and idolatry. Please note that
in Britain, December 25 was a festival long before nominal Christianity came to that land. It
marked the beginning of the new year for them.
Consider the facts from the following Bible chronology: Birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:17); Visit of Shepherds that same night (Luke 2:8-20); Jesus' circumcision when he was eight
days old (Luke 2:21); Jesus' presentation in the temple at least 40 days after his birth (Cf.
Leviticus 12:2-6; Luke 2:22-38); Visit of the wise men (Matthew 2:1-12); Journey to Egypt
(Matthew 2:13-15); Male Children killed (Matthew 2:16-18); Return to Nazareth (Luke 2:39;
Matthew 2:19-23). Note that the wise men and the shepherds were not the same and did not
arrive at the same time or same place. The wise men came after Jesus's presentation in the
temple at least 40 days after his birth and they found him in a "house" (Matthew 2:11), not in
the manger as so many believe. The Bible does not tell us how many wise men there were.
Many local customs from various lands have been injected into this time of year. "Most of the
customs now associated with Christmas were not originally Christmas customs, but rather were
pre-Christian customs taken up by the Christian church" (Encyclopedia Americana). The English
gave the season more of a social flavor than anything else. The feudal barons extended their
hospitality to their friends, tenants and households. There was rich food and gifts for children.
The Roman Saturnalia provided many of the merry-making customs of Christmas. Santa Clause
is a contraction of Saint Nicholas who was a real bishop in the Roman Catholic church, who
lived in the fourth century and became the patron saint of children. To honor Santa Clause is to
honor a Catholic saint. Space does not allow us to give a detailed discussion of the many
customs now practiced.
For the Christian however, there should be no effort to blend a season of giving, hospitality and
family gatherings and many other things which might be called "folk customs" with any type of
celebration of the birth of Christ. The fact that certain customs originated in paganism, does not
necessarily make them wrong. Paul dealt with the problem of eating meats sacrificed to idols (1
Corinthians 8). To eat it as a religious act was wrong. Yet, aside from that, such eating was not
wrong, provided it did not embolden the weak brother to eat doubtfully. It should not be hard
for the Christian to keep Christ out of "Christmas" for truly he was never in it. The Catholic
2

church dreamed all that up by themselves without the help or approval of Christ.
There will be no special services at the church of Christ in observance of this pagan and Catholic
holiday.
--Via the website of the Fifth Street East Church of Christ; Lancaster, California)--

DOES THE END JUSTIFY THE MEAN AND

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS
Epistles (i.e., letters) compose a healthy portion of the New Testament. When we read
these in the New Testament we are, in reality, reading letters addressed to other
people. This, an obvious truth to most Bible students, is mentioned only as an
introduction to my printing two letters (with very minor alterations) written to a sectarian
preacher in India. I, of course, will use a fictitious name (G. Prem Kumar) and not the
actual name of the one to whom the letters were written. My letters were in response
to letters received from him. I believe you can easily surmise the basic contents of his
letters by my response.
December 10, 2014
Dear G. Prim Kumar:
Warm greetings! With mixed emotions I read your appeal for funds to help you, the church
elders, believers, orphan children and co-workers celebrate Christmas, "a most precious festival
to all of us. . .with an unlimited joy . . .with utmost dedication . . .holy cultural activities. .
.successful conduction of the divine event in a most orthodox, joy full and pleasant environment
. . ." These are truly beautiful words but written, I fear, without a basic understanding of what
was said. The word Christmas was originally Christ Mass. meaning, of course, "the Mass of
Christ". The word "Mass" is defined as "the Roman Catholic Eucharistic rite consisting of
prayers and ceremonies centered on the consecration of bread and wine as a real though mystical
reenactment of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross . . ." (New World Dictionary, Page 832). On
December 25th do you, your church elders, etc., really celebrate a Mass in honor of Christ, as
a real reenactment of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross? Unless I am totally mistaken, you and

yours will be celebrating not the death of Christ on the cross, but the birth of Jesus.
My wife and I will dig deep and send you $500 IF you can meet even one of three conditions.
That is, answer (from the New Testament [giving Book, Chapter and Verse to show that your
answer is correct]) even one of three questions concerning your celebration of Christ Mass.
Where does the New Testament tell us of the date of the birth of Jesus Christ? I am not asking
where does the New Testament tell about the birth of Jesus (Luke 2), but where does it tell us
the Month, Day on which He was born?
Where does the New Testament tell us to celebrate the birth of Jesus? It tells us about His birth,
but where does it tell us to celebrate His birth?
Where does the New Testament tell us how to celebrate the birth of Jesus?
Surely, since we are "furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17) the Holy
Spirit (a Being in the Godhead) would have told us how to celebrate the birth of Jesus IF He
had wanted us to do so.
You say you are a Pastor (one who watches for the souls of men and women), therefore it should
be an easy thing for you to justify (from the New Testament [book, chapter and verse]) the how,
why and when of celebrating the birth of Jesus.
As you can see I have taken the time and effort to respond to your appeal. I expect that you will,
if you are an honest and upright individual, respond to my questions. That your response will
give Book, Chapter and Verse to authorize your activities . . .or you will honestly acknowledge,
"We do what we do without any authority from God."
I am asking you for a reason for the hope you have in celebrating and causing others to celebrate
the birth of Jesus. If faithful, you must answer. See 1 Peter 3:15.
"Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that
abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9).
Unless and until you can show (Book, Chapter and Verse) that a celebration of the birth of Jesus
is a part of the "teaching of Christ" (authorized in God's word) you do not have God in your life.
As a servant of Jesus Christ, I await your reply.
Bill Beasley,
Slave
December 12, 2014
Dear G. Prem Kumar:

Warm greetings. With a mixture of surprise and sadness I read your response to my reply to
your original request for support for the celebration of Christ Mass (a Roman Catholic Holy
Day). Surprised that you bothered to answer and all, and even more surprised that you already
knew that there is no Bible proof as to the date of the birth of Jesus. Most of all I was surprised
(and saddened) at your attempted justification for your unscriptural practices. You acknowledge
that "We are aware that celebration of Christmas is totally against word of God according New
Testament . . ." Knowing that, the next thing that should have been written is and with God's
help I will never celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday again as long as I live. Therefore,
based on 2 John 9 (quoted in my last letter) you are NOT walking with, do NOT have God in
your life. You do not abide in the doctrine/teaching of Christ.
"Celebration of Christmas is totally against word of God" but you do it anyway and give as an
excuse (a lie masquerading as a reason) "we utilize the opportunity of Christmas only for soul
winning for extending His kingdom in India." If your efforts reach 1000 Hindus you will not
has extended the kingdom of God. See Matthew 23:15. Before they were lost (idol worshipers),
after you reach them they claim to be followers of Jesus Christ but are in an environment where
they know something is "totally against word of God", but do it anyway! You may consider
doing that (celebrating Christmas) which is "totally against word of God" as orthodox
environment; in reality such is rebellion against the authority of God.
"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw
yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they
received of us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
Let me use your argument in another area, to see if you really believe the argument you made.
"We are aware that stealing is totally against word of God according New Testament (Romans
2:21; 13:9; Ephesians 4:28), but we utilize the money stolen only for soul winning for
extending His kingdom in India." Do you (G. Prem Kumar) accept that stealing is acceptable
if the money is used to extend His kingdom????
"We are aware that lying is totally against word of God according to New Testament (Colossians
3:9; Revelation 21:8) but we utilize lying as an opportunity only for soul winning for extending
His kingdom in India." Does G. Prem Kumar accept his own argument?
Just so there can be no misunderstanding, I (Bill Beasley) reject the argument with regards to
celebrating Christ Mass as a religious holiday, with regards to stealing, and with regards to lying.

Since I do not know what you teach / believe/ practice with respect to the gospel plan of
salvation, concerning the kind of worship we are to offer to God, the work of the church,
etcetera I cannot in good conscience support you or your work financially.
If the Lord makes it possible for me to return to India, I will try to remember to invite you to
attend one of the classes (Monday through Friday). My wife is seriously ill so I cannot be gone
from home for an extended period of time. I would appreciate knowing more about what you
teach (book, chapter and verse) on several subjects. For example, if a Hindu man asked you,
"What must I do to become a Christian?", what would your answer be? What are the items of
public worship as set forth in the New Testament (book, chapter and verse)?
Walk with God.
In Christ,
Bill Beasley, Slave
The next and final letter I received (nearly a year later) from G. Prem Kumar totally
ignored the questions I had asked. It was another appeal for financial support.
It appears to me that there is at least one preacher in India, who believes that the end
(good intention) totally justifies the means (rejection of God's holy word). Sad!
--wvb--