The last time I celebrated Christmas was the year 2006. Like most,  I loved Christmas and brought our children up celebrating it.  But I will confess, that throughout the years of my celebrating, I had a nagging that I felt and often dismissed but it just would not go. Each year, I would do something to be more ‘spiritual’ and less materialistic and it seemed to only worsen.  I just could not deny that there was something wrong.  After doing all I thought I could do to ‘fix’ the problem- to no avail, I asked God what He thought about Christmas and I received what I believed to be His answer right away.  The answer shocked me.  I gasped as I just was not expecting what He revealed.  For He gave me a picture, it was like I was brought into the scene of when He threw out the money changers in the Temple.  I felt His fury, felt His jealousy, and was torn to shreds! At that moment, I said I would never participate in Christmas again.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but God gave me the strength and grace to do it, and He by only His miraculous hand gave my husband and children understanding and support in this too and will tell you that I would not have been able to do it, unless He revealed to Me His heart.  For I see now how Christmas is like a spell and it was this that gave me the power to leave it.  I am confident that this was from Him and have never regretted nor desired to partake since and have great peace.  I share not so that you may ‘quit Christmas’ too, but rather that you too would ask God how He feels about it – with a heart that wants to know the answer.  I believe you too will be shocked at what He will reveal.  I have since learned so much of its pagan roots that only affirm what He revealed to me that day.   Go back to that day with me, when Jesus walked among the money changers:  Picture the scene, Jesus full of a rage that no one was expecting, for they had never seen this side of Him.  They knew Him to be compassionate, patient, and loving.  A healer.  Who was this they were witnessing?  He was going about the blessed temple in such anger.  He attacked all those who depended upon this as their income to live, He carelessly tossed their precious goods aside.  He cared not of what this would do to them, to their livelihood.   His anger and jealousy were expressed clearly as to who it was He cared about.  He was revealing to these ignorant people what it was they were doing; making His Father’s House – a den of thieves.  Matt21:11-13 Today:  The sanctuary was filled with lightheartedness, the smells of spices mingled in the air for the spiced cider awaited the congregants after the service.  The lights were especially beautiful twinkling with such joy.  The songs of celebration were sung with special enthusiasm for it was the eve of Christmas and all were exceptionally jovial.  They came on this day to give honor to Jesus in His birth and it is something they have always done and took great pride in.  Keep Christ in Christmas they say!  One day in a year they may freely proclaim Him and they will continue to give honor to their Lord in this way as long as they live!  They just concluded the service and were about to be dismissed when this man entered the room.  He looks around and takes in all the sights, He takes a deep breath and begins at one end of the room with arms of destruction, acting like a maniac!  He pulls down the lights and the tree, He tears down all the wall decorations and the candles – everyone is in horror.  They wonder why someone doesn’t grab him and haul him out of this most sacred place, how dare he they think.  He must be demonized and just can’t handle the holy atmosphere they conclude.  He takes His place on the stage, the pastor cowers and shrinks to the back for all sense of His authority.  “My Father will not have you make the birth of His Son a place of idol worship!  You have taken what is holy and turned it into marketplace mockery! You call this worship, but I say – it is not I you worship.  For have I not said, you shall not have any other God nor any graven images? Ex20: 3-5   You have taken what is holy and made it profane, and join with the world in its vulgar rituals.  Do you not remember when David had the Ark carried on the cart of an ox?  I am exact in what I command as worship to Me.  Yet, you have created your form of worship and honor to Me, you have brought down what is holy, like that day – for they did it according to how they saw fit.  You say, ‘Oh, but we can glorify your name in it! We can share Jesus Christ to all in this thing called Christmas.’  I ask, can one offer sacrifice to Baal and at the same time witness to the world Christ?”