Rome’s Advent for Her Christ-Mass

I was raised in the religion of Roman Catholicism from infancy. As such, Advent was a very important time on the liturgical calendar where my family performed all of the typical rites associated with this season. This included the lighting of the Advent wreath candles and the reading of select passages from the Bible. It was a sensory experience no doubt with all the sights, sounds and aromas of the upcoming Christ-Mass found through the house.

But that was basically the extent of Advent as following this ritual never produced any life or substantive changes in my life or that of my family. For it was nothing more than a rote religious tradition performed by my family simply because it was what they had received from those who came before them. None of it based on what is written in the Bible mind you for you will find no liturgical calendar, Advent season, Advent wreath, or even Christ-Mass (i.e. Christmas) in the Bible. Instead, all of these are the creations of the Roman religion as she adopted pagan practices into the church and “baptized” them as Christian during the many centuries following the departure of the apostolic defenders of the faith.

My adherence to these traditions was done out of pure ignorance as I did not know the truth but instead followed my parents, teachers and priests even as my parents and elders had done before me. In time though God opened up my eyes to the truth and revealed to me that these traditions were of the same spirit as those kept by the religious during Jesus’ days on earth. Traditions that took the place of the Scriptures which actually resulted in the people breaking God’s commandments in order to keep man’s precepts.

But he [Jesus] answering, said to them: Well did Isaias prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and precepts of men. For leaving the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the washing of pots and of cups: and many other things you do like to these. (Mk 7:6-8)

By God’s grace and in time I left the Roman doctrines and precepts of men and started to build my house on the Rock of Jesus Christ and his Word. This meant leaving Rome and her traditions behind and seeking to worship God in spirit and truth (Jn 4:4). In spirit meaning the worshiper must be born-again (Jn 3:1-36), and in truth where worship is to be based solely on God’s pattern given unto the New Testament church. Because this two-fold requirement, contrary to all that Rome and so many evangelicals preach, is the only acceptable means of worshiping God. Everything else, no matter how melodic to our ears, appealing to our eyes or gratifying to our flesh, is unacceptable to God just as the offering of Cain was.

Evangelicals Showing Their Love for Rome

For a seasons and certainly in years gone by the evangelical church would have shouted a hearty”amen” at the reading of my words above. For they preached the same truth; that is, that the Bible is a Christian’s sole means for determining doctrine and how they are to worship God (II Tim 3:16). And that Rome and her doctrine is a blasphemous corruption of the truth of God and is to be repudiated and rejected as false.

But oh, have times changed. For today it is the exact opposite where evangelicals are literally joining hand in hand with their Catholic brethren. Advent and the Christ-Mass being two perfect examples of this very thing. Here, most evangelicals pay lip service to the call of Sola Scriptura and II Timothy 3:16 as more and more churches look like little daughters of their mother Rome as they come home to her welcoming arms.

Daughters that are growing up and looking more and more Catholic even though the average person in the pew is totally oblivious to this damnable fact as they blindly accept everything their pastor or cultural Christianity tells them. Here we have a prime example where USA Today has reported how Rome’s Advent is growing in popularity within the evangelical church who not too long ago shunned such vain traditions.

Evangelical Christians are adopting — and adapting — the rituals of Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas that are traditionally celebrated by Catholics, Lutherans, Eastern Orthodox and other liturgical churches.

They’re giving a new, personalized spin to the prayers, candles and calendars to track the building excitement, and set a spiritual tone day by day. This year Advent begins on Sunday.

Popular evangelical authors are offering readings and composing prayers for the Advent season. And Family Christian Stores, the nation’s largest Christian retailer with 301 stores nationwide, has seen sales of Advent-related items climb 35% in the past year. (1) More…

This is a disgrace and the pastors who preach Rome’s doctrines should fall on their faces and repent. For greater judgment will be upon those who claim to be shepherds of the flock but instead of leading the sheep to the freedom found in Christ Jesus are instead leading them to the bondage of Rome.

Come out From Amongst Her

The call unto all of God’s people is to come out from this Babylonian system of worship that takes God’s word and wrests it by mixing in the doctrines of men along with heathen customs. All of which you will find, if you are willing to admit the truth, in Advent and Christ-Mass. My prayer is that the eyes of God’s elect will be opened to the truth whereby God peradventure will grant them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

End Notes

(1) – Cathy Lynn Grossman. “Evangelicals adopting Advent.” USA TODAY 24 Nov.2008.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-11-24-advent-evangelicals-christmas_N.htm?csp=34 (Accessed 12/5/2008)