John Stevens,
He brought extensive historical teaching about the origin of Christmas and several other holidays. He brought Scriptural references out of the Old Testament to support what he believed gave insight to how the ancient worshipper's of God, being warned by the prophets of old - against the people being caught up in the worship of the other god's - in the nations where-in they were living.
However in teaching this history - which was not easily accessible in the late 1960's and early 1970's - with out research and study - as it is today - John did not require any one to stop celebrating Christmas in their own personal lives.
John expressed his conviction and the responsibility he believed he carried for the place where the people came together to worship God - he expressed to the people at a service why he could not with good conscience - set up, decorate and give a place in the church and sanctuary to a Christmas tree. He gave reason to why he held this conviction. And when he expressed ( after sharing with the church what he has learned from his research and study) - why no tree would be in the sanctuary beginning that year, he said to the people that he did not believe God would hold any one accountable - if they chose to celebrate Christmas - if they did not have the understanding needed to know how it would be offensive to God. But John spoke that he held himself accountable to God as the pastor, for what he came to believe honored God.
So at the church there-after, there was no Christmas tree in the church- all the years he lived - but whoever chose to or not to celebrate Christmas- this was up to them.
John made a book available (free) to the church members - which has had many revisions since the original version - titled - " Babylon Mystery Religion" by Ralph Woodrow.
John also recommended that one should do a further and an independent research of actual ancient and world history on their own to gain more understanding.
He brought extensive historical teaching about the origin of Christmas and several other holidays. He brought Scriptural references out of the Old Testament to support what he believed gave insight to how the ancient worshipper's of God, being warned by the prophets of old - against the people being caught up in the worship of the other god's - in the nations where-in they were living.
However in teaching this history - which was not easily accessible in the late 1960's and early 1970's - with out research and study - as it is today - John did not require any one to stop celebrating Christmas in their own personal lives.
John expressed his conviction and the responsibility he believed he carried for the place where the people came together to worship God - he expressed to the people at a service why he could not with good conscience - set up, decorate and give a place in the church and sanctuary to a Christmas tree. He gave reason to why he held this conviction. And when he expressed ( after sharing with the church what he has learned from his research and study) - why no tree would be in the sanctuary beginning that year, he said to the people that he did not believe God would hold any one accountable - if they chose to celebrate Christmas - if they did not have the understanding needed to know how it would be offensive to God. But John spoke that he held himself accountable to God as the pastor, for what he came to believe honored God.
So at the church there-after, there was no Christmas tree in the church- all the years he lived - but whoever chose to or not to celebrate Christmas- this was up to them.
John made a book available (free) to the church members - which has had many revisions since the original version - titled - " Babylon Mystery Religion" by Ralph Woodrow.
John also recommended that one should do a further and an independent research of actual ancient and world history on their own to gain more understanding.