Christmas and Charles Wesley
December 23, 2024
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
I want to take this occasion to bid you a blessed holiday season and a fruitful New Year in God’s will.
It seems that each year about this time some people write to ask about my views on Christmas. The subject of Christmas seems to stir up as many strong passions as Donald Trump and Covid vaccines!
Consider three examples:
“Take me off your list.... I am an ex-Catholic and my wife is also -- from the Philippines! Doubtless you are too stupid to know that worshiping God with Pagan, Dates, Symbols and Rituals does NOT please Him! We stopped 42 years ago - as soon as someone showed us, as Baptists, that it was wrong! How can you miss the encyclopedias, dictionaries, Internet and even God's word - Ex. 32-33, 1 Co. 10:1-5, Jer. 10:1-5 unless you are either not saved or wilfully disobedient! No need to answer unless you want to acknowledge just how stupid you really are!”
“I read of your complete hatred of the evils of Roman Catholicism -- but you're surprisingly 'silent' when it comes to the real 'demon' in the room--CHRISTMAS. How you can rant against the 'Charismatics'--but not so much a whimper against the abomination of the filthy dreamers who continue to push this 'garbage' of Jesus' birthday on Dec. 25--as being 'truth'! At least when those Charismatics are Speaking in 'gibberish' -- they aren't singing -- ‘Oh Holy Night--when Christ was born!’ Or those silly songs about Away in a Manger--pure speculation and myths! So much for your American styled ‘Christianity’--full of myths and babblings about nothing--every time you sing. Christmas songs!! The whole Christmas story is purely wives' tales! But who cares? Right?”
“I am surprised Mr. Cloud, you strain gnats and filter out the many rotten poisons tied to ccm, and swallow camels tied to the pagan celebration of christmas. How can you do such a thing? Do you really not know what you are doing here?”
These folk have such a winning way!
We live in South Asia where our missionary work is located, and we do almost nothing for Christmas except sometimes to go out to have a nice meal, and when any of our kids and grandkids are here, which is exceedingly rare, we have a family get-together.
The main thing we do on Christmas is to host gospel meetings, because the Hindus are more likely to attend services on that occasion.
When it comes to Christmas, I avoid the pagan aspects. I have nothing to do with Santa Claus. I don’t worship the sun or set up idols or participate in sacraments or pray to saints. On the other hand, I don’t think it’s wrong to enjoy some aspects of the Christmas season: singing Christmas carols (as long as they are Scriptural, and many aren’t), enjoying Charles Wesley’s Nativity Hymns, enjoying the social blessings of the season. We don’t believe it is wrong to give special recognition to Christ’s birth and to use Christmas as a tool for evangelism.
Christmas originally referred to Christ’s mass, which obviously has a Roman Catholic origin. Catholics observe it on December 25, while many of the Eastern Orthodox observe it in January. The practice was popularized by the Catholic Church, and like many other Catholic traditions, it was adopted from paganism--in this case, from the pagan mid-winter solstice marking the turn of the year. The following is a brief overview of its origin:
“Saturnalia extended from December 17 to 24 and in AD 274 the emperor Aurelian made December 25 a feast of the invincible sun. January 6 was sacred to Dionysus. With the toleration of Christianity under Constantine, both December 25 and January 6 became Christianized feasts (Christmas and Epiphany, respectively). Symbols, originating largely from classical or Teutonic-Celtic paganism, such as lights, greenery, and special foods, gradually became associated with Christmas, as did St. Nicholas, whose feast on December 6 had been a time for giving gifts, especially to children” (New 20th-Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, pp. 181,182).
The Encyclopedia Britannica adds:
“In the Roman world the Saturnalia (December 17) was a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness. On the Roman New Year (January 1), houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. To these observances were added the German and Celtic Yule rites when the Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul, Britain, and central Europe. Food and good fellowship, the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery and fir trees, and gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season. Fires and lights, symbols of warmth and lasting life, have always been associated with the winter festival, both pagan and Christian. Since the European Middle Ages, evergreens, as symbols of survival, have been associated with Christmas. Christmas is traditionally regarded as the festival of the family and of children, under the name of whose patron, Saint Nicholas (q.v.), or Santa Claus, presents are exchanged in many countries.”
All of these things can still be observed in some pagan religions. For instance, in Hinduism, there is a festival of lights in early winter that features bright lights, special foods, the giving of gifts, and the alleged visitation of the goddess Laxmi who bestows blessings on those who are good, etc.
Santa Claus is a Roman Catholic/pagan myth. The Catholic Pocket Dictionary of Saints has this to say about “Saint” Nicholas:
“His popularity, already great, increased enormously in the West when his relics were brought to Bari in 1087, and his shrine was one of the great pilgrimage centers of medieval Europe. He is the patron of storm-beset sailors (for miraculously saving doomed mariners off the coast of Lycia), of prisoners, of children ... which led to the practice of children giving presents at Christmas in his name and the metamorphosis of his name, St. Nicholas, into Sint Klaes, into Santa Claus by the Dutch. It should be noted though that the figure of Santa Claus is really non-Christian and is based on the Germanic god Thor, who was associated with winter and the Yule log and rode on a chariot drawn by goats named Cracker and Gnasher” (Dictionary of Saints, pp. 369, 370).
God’s people are plainly warned to beware of philosophy, the tradition of men, and the rudiments of the world which are not after Christ (Col. 2:8).
We reject the paganism of Christmas. I grew up in a Christian home but was taught as a child that Santa Claus is real. I remember how shocked I was when a cousin told me that it was a myth! It is a great error for believers to participate in such things. Our children have never believed in Santa Claus; we have never had Santa’s image in our home. I won’t buy anything with a Santa image. A couple of years ago my wife met a Hindu woman in Asia who thought that the Christian’s God is Santa Claus and that Santa Claus had a son who is the Christian’s Savior. Sadly, for many professing Christians, that is probably close to the truth; because they glibly and mindlessly follow such pagan traditions.
As for the Christmas tree, some have tried to intimate that Christmas trees are condemned in Jeremiah 10:2-5, but I think that is nonsense. Jeremiah 10 is condemning idolatry, and I don’t know anyone who makes an idol of a Christmas tree. An idol is something used to portray God, but I have never heard of a Christmas tree being used in such a manner. At the same time, I personally believe it is strange to see Christmas trees and such things set up in churches. One might as well get some crucifixes and pictures of Jesus and a Mary with a halo to put alongside of it!
As for Christ’s birth, the Bible is silent about honoring it in some special way.
Someone protests, “That is the point; the Bible doesn’t say anything about it.” True, but the Bible also doesn’t say anything about not doing something in honor of Christ’s birthday. When the Bible is silent, God’s people have liberty to follow the personal leading of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14). We are not free to make laws for others in such matters, and we are also not free to judge others.
As for Christmas hymns, many of them are unscriptural, but many of them are theological jewels. Consider Charles Wesley’s Hymns for the Nativity of the Lord (1745), which proclaim, in peerless poetry, the glories of Christ’s incarnation. The collection is not merely about a babe in the manger; it is about the magnificent mystery of God manifest in the flesh. (The original collection consisted of 18 hymns. Three more were added to the 1810 edition.)
In this collection, every biblical aspect of Christ’s incarnation is considered. Wesley looks at Christ’s nativity in light of God’s eternal plan described in Eph. 1:10. The plan begins in eternity with the Triune God. The coming of Christ was prepared by God’s covenant with Abraham, the creation of Israel, and the giving of the law and the prophets. In the fulness of time, the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world (1 Jo. 4:14). The Son came willingly, was born a virgin, became the God-man (Immanuel), lived a sinless life, performed miracles, spoke as no man ever spoke, made the vicarious atonement for man’s sin, rose from the dead, instructed His disciples to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth in the church age, ascended to heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest, is coming again to reign on David’s throne, will judge all of the unsaved at the great white throne judgment, will make a new heaven and a new earth, will reign forever as the Head of the new creation. Then, all things will be one in Christ, both in heaven and in earth (Eph. 1:10). Great stuff!
In Hymns for the Nativity of the Lord, Wesley considers
- The incarnation’s mystery and paradox (God made man)
- its purpose (Christ’s vicarious sacrifice, resurrection, the eternal redemption of sinners, and the new creation with all things made one in Christ)
- its revelation of God (infinite power, infinite love, infinite grace and mercy, infinite wisdom, infinite holiness)
- its infinite benefits to man
- its infinite instruction for men and angels
- its endless delight as the subject of meditation
- the necessity of proclaiming it to all men
- the necessity and joy of worshipping the God of the incarnation
The delightful, challenging lyrics are bursting with instruction. Nearly every stanza is a perfect theological jewel. They “are sprinkled with vivid, arresting, and provocative phrases as well as soul-lifting and exhilarating thought. The spirit is that of adoration and wonder” (T. Crichton Mitchell, Charles Wesley: Man with the Dancing Heart, p. 196).
Consider Hymn VI, “Join, all ye joyful nations,” stanzas 3, 4, and 5 -
3 Go, see the King of Glory,
Discern the heavenly Stranger,
So poor and mean, His court an inn,
His cradle is a manger.
Who from his Father’s bosom
But now for us descended,
Who built the skies, on earth he lies,
With only beasts attended.
4 Whom all the angels worship,
Lies hid in human nature:
Incarnate see,--The Deity,
The infinite Creator!
See the stupendous Blessing,
Which God to us hath given:
A child of man, in length a span,
Who fills both earth and heaven.
5 Gaze on that helpless Object
Of endless admiration!
Those infant hands, shall burst our bands,
And work out our salvation;
Strangle the crooked serpent,
Destroy his works for ever,
And open set,--The heaven gate,
To every true believer.
The words are striking, remarkable, edifying, memorable.
Consider Hymn X, “Come, thou long-expected Jesus,” stanza 2. Observe the repetition of “Born” in stating the purpose of Christ’s incarnation. Note the imperatives addressed to Christ: “Now bring ... Rule ... Raise.” This is dramatic praying based on the promises of God’s Word. Christ taught us to pray like this: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us ... forgive us ... lead us ... deliver us...” (Mt. 6:9-13).
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a Child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring;
By thy own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By thy all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne. (Hymn X, stanza 2)
Christmas is also a good time to witness. Most people even in North America do not know the true gospel, and Christmas can be a good occasion for explaining who Jesus Christ is and why He came into the world. Many people will go to church at Christmas time who never darken the doors other times of the year. At this time of the year, scriptural churches will focus on Christ’s cross more than Christ’s birth. This is also true for the Lord’s work in many places overseas. Hindus, for example, know that Christmas is a special “Christian festival” of some sort, and oftentimes they are more open on such occasions to attending church meetings or going to believers’ homes. There is less stigma among their Hindu friends about mingling with Christians on such occasions. We have special evangelistic meetings every Christmas and hundreds of Hindus have heard the gospel through this means.
In my estimation, wise Christians should spend less time “bah humbugging” Christmas and more time using these opportunities for the gospel’s sake.
Dear Christian friends, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Avoid evil, but enjoy your freedom in Christ during the Christmas season or any season. If your activities are not condemned in Scripture, you have liberty.
“Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks” (Romans 14:4-6).
And guard your spirit. Don’t get the devil in you when you’re trying to get the devil out of others!
James 3:13-18 “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
It seems that each year about this time some people write to ask about my views on Christmas. The subject of Christmas seems to stir up as many strong passions as Donald Trump and Covid vaccines!
Consider three examples:
“Take me off your list.... I am an ex-Catholic and my wife is also -- from the Philippines! Doubtless you are too stupid to know that worshiping God with Pagan, Dates, Symbols and Rituals does NOT please Him! We stopped 42 years ago - as soon as someone showed us, as Baptists, that it was wrong! How can you miss the encyclopedias, dictionaries, Internet and even God's word - Ex. 32-33, 1 Co. 10:1-5, Jer. 10:1-5 unless you are either not saved or wilfully disobedient! No need to answer unless you want to acknowledge just how stupid you really are!”
“I read of your complete hatred of the evils of Roman Catholicism -- but you're surprisingly 'silent' when it comes to the real 'demon' in the room--CHRISTMAS. How you can rant against the 'Charismatics'--but not so much a whimper against the abomination of the filthy dreamers who continue to push this 'garbage' of Jesus' birthday on Dec. 25--as being 'truth'! At least when those Charismatics are Speaking in 'gibberish' -- they aren't singing -- ‘Oh Holy Night--when Christ was born!’ Or those silly songs about Away in a Manger--pure speculation and myths! So much for your American styled ‘Christianity’--full of myths and babblings about nothing--every time you sing. Christmas songs!! The whole Christmas story is purely wives' tales! But who cares? Right?”
“I am surprised Mr. Cloud, you strain gnats and filter out the many rotten poisons tied to ccm, and swallow camels tied to the pagan celebration of christmas. How can you do such a thing? Do you really not know what you are doing here?”
These folk have such a winning way!
We live in South Asia where our missionary work is located, and we do almost nothing for Christmas except sometimes to go out to have a nice meal, and when any of our kids and grandkids are here, which is exceedingly rare, we have a family get-together.
The main thing we do on Christmas is to host gospel meetings, because the Hindus are more likely to attend services on that occasion.
When it comes to Christmas, I avoid the pagan aspects. I have nothing to do with Santa Claus. I don’t worship the sun or set up idols or participate in sacraments or pray to saints. On the other hand, I don’t think it’s wrong to enjoy some aspects of the Christmas season: singing Christmas carols (as long as they are Scriptural, and many aren’t), enjoying Charles Wesley’s Nativity Hymns, enjoying the social blessings of the season. We don’t believe it is wrong to give special recognition to Christ’s birth and to use Christmas as a tool for evangelism.
Christmas originally referred to Christ’s mass, which obviously has a Roman Catholic origin. Catholics observe it on December 25, while many of the Eastern Orthodox observe it in January. The practice was popularized by the Catholic Church, and like many other Catholic traditions, it was adopted from paganism--in this case, from the pagan mid-winter solstice marking the turn of the year. The following is a brief overview of its origin:
“Saturnalia extended from December 17 to 24 and in AD 274 the emperor Aurelian made December 25 a feast of the invincible sun. January 6 was sacred to Dionysus. With the toleration of Christianity under Constantine, both December 25 and January 6 became Christianized feasts (Christmas and Epiphany, respectively). Symbols, originating largely from classical or Teutonic-Celtic paganism, such as lights, greenery, and special foods, gradually became associated with Christmas, as did St. Nicholas, whose feast on December 6 had been a time for giving gifts, especially to children” (New 20th-Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, pp. 181,182).
The Encyclopedia Britannica adds:
“In the Roman world the Saturnalia (December 17) was a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness. On the Roman New Year (January 1), houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. To these observances were added the German and Celtic Yule rites when the Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul, Britain, and central Europe. Food and good fellowship, the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery and fir trees, and gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season. Fires and lights, symbols of warmth and lasting life, have always been associated with the winter festival, both pagan and Christian. Since the European Middle Ages, evergreens, as symbols of survival, have been associated with Christmas. Christmas is traditionally regarded as the festival of the family and of children, under the name of whose patron, Saint Nicholas (q.v.), or Santa Claus, presents are exchanged in many countries.”
All of these things can still be observed in some pagan religions. For instance, in Hinduism, there is a festival of lights in early winter that features bright lights, special foods, the giving of gifts, and the alleged visitation of the goddess Laxmi who bestows blessings on those who are good, etc.
Santa Claus is a Roman Catholic/pagan myth. The Catholic Pocket Dictionary of Saints has this to say about “Saint” Nicholas:
“His popularity, already great, increased enormously in the West when his relics were brought to Bari in 1087, and his shrine was one of the great pilgrimage centers of medieval Europe. He is the patron of storm-beset sailors (for miraculously saving doomed mariners off the coast of Lycia), of prisoners, of children ... which led to the practice of children giving presents at Christmas in his name and the metamorphosis of his name, St. Nicholas, into Sint Klaes, into Santa Claus by the Dutch. It should be noted though that the figure of Santa Claus is really non-Christian and is based on the Germanic god Thor, who was associated with winter and the Yule log and rode on a chariot drawn by goats named Cracker and Gnasher” (Dictionary of Saints, pp. 369, 370).
God’s people are plainly warned to beware of philosophy, the tradition of men, and the rudiments of the world which are not after Christ (Col. 2:8).
We reject the paganism of Christmas. I grew up in a Christian home but was taught as a child that Santa Claus is real. I remember how shocked I was when a cousin told me that it was a myth! It is a great error for believers to participate in such things. Our children have never believed in Santa Claus; we have never had Santa’s image in our home. I won’t buy anything with a Santa image. A couple of years ago my wife met a Hindu woman in Asia who thought that the Christian’s God is Santa Claus and that Santa Claus had a son who is the Christian’s Savior. Sadly, for many professing Christians, that is probably close to the truth; because they glibly and mindlessly follow such pagan traditions.
As for the Christmas tree, some have tried to intimate that Christmas trees are condemned in Jeremiah 10:2-5, but I think that is nonsense. Jeremiah 10 is condemning idolatry, and I don’t know anyone who makes an idol of a Christmas tree. An idol is something used to portray God, but I have never heard of a Christmas tree being used in such a manner. At the same time, I personally believe it is strange to see Christmas trees and such things set up in churches. One might as well get some crucifixes and pictures of Jesus and a Mary with a halo to put alongside of it!
As for Christ’s birth, the Bible is silent about honoring it in some special way.
Someone protests, “That is the point; the Bible doesn’t say anything about it.” True, but the Bible also doesn’t say anything about not doing something in honor of Christ’s birthday. When the Bible is silent, God’s people have liberty to follow the personal leading of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14). We are not free to make laws for others in such matters, and we are also not free to judge others.
As for Christmas hymns, many of them are unscriptural, but many of them are theological jewels. Consider Charles Wesley’s Hymns for the Nativity of the Lord (1745), which proclaim, in peerless poetry, the glories of Christ’s incarnation. The collection is not merely about a babe in the manger; it is about the magnificent mystery of God manifest in the flesh. (The original collection consisted of 18 hymns. Three more were added to the 1810 edition.)
In this collection, every biblical aspect of Christ’s incarnation is considered. Wesley looks at Christ’s nativity in light of God’s eternal plan described in Eph. 1:10. The plan begins in eternity with the Triune God. The coming of Christ was prepared by God’s covenant with Abraham, the creation of Israel, and the giving of the law and the prophets. In the fulness of time, the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world (1 Jo. 4:14). The Son came willingly, was born a virgin, became the God-man (Immanuel), lived a sinless life, performed miracles, spoke as no man ever spoke, made the vicarious atonement for man’s sin, rose from the dead, instructed His disciples to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth in the church age, ascended to heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest, is coming again to reign on David’s throne, will judge all of the unsaved at the great white throne judgment, will make a new heaven and a new earth, will reign forever as the Head of the new creation. Then, all things will be one in Christ, both in heaven and in earth (Eph. 1:10). Great stuff!
In Hymns for the Nativity of the Lord, Wesley considers
- The incarnation’s mystery and paradox (God made man)
- its purpose (Christ’s vicarious sacrifice, resurrection, the eternal redemption of sinners, and the new creation with all things made one in Christ)
- its revelation of God (infinite power, infinite love, infinite grace and mercy, infinite wisdom, infinite holiness)
- its infinite benefits to man
- its infinite instruction for men and angels
- its endless delight as the subject of meditation
- the necessity of proclaiming it to all men
- the necessity and joy of worshipping the God of the incarnation
The delightful, challenging lyrics are bursting with instruction. Nearly every stanza is a perfect theological jewel. They “are sprinkled with vivid, arresting, and provocative phrases as well as soul-lifting and exhilarating thought. The spirit is that of adoration and wonder” (T. Crichton Mitchell, Charles Wesley: Man with the Dancing Heart, p. 196).
Consider Hymn VI, “Join, all ye joyful nations,” stanzas 3, 4, and 5 -
3 Go, see the King of Glory,
Discern the heavenly Stranger,
So poor and mean, His court an inn,
His cradle is a manger.
Who from his Father’s bosom
But now for us descended,
Who built the skies, on earth he lies,
With only beasts attended.
4 Whom all the angels worship,
Lies hid in human nature:
Incarnate see,--The Deity,
The infinite Creator!
See the stupendous Blessing,
Which God to us hath given:
A child of man, in length a span,
Who fills both earth and heaven.
5 Gaze on that helpless Object
Of endless admiration!
Those infant hands, shall burst our bands,
And work out our salvation;
Strangle the crooked serpent,
Destroy his works for ever,
And open set,--The heaven gate,
To every true believer.
The words are striking, remarkable, edifying, memorable.
Consider Hymn X, “Come, thou long-expected Jesus,” stanza 2. Observe the repetition of “Born” in stating the purpose of Christ’s incarnation. Note the imperatives addressed to Christ: “Now bring ... Rule ... Raise.” This is dramatic praying based on the promises of God’s Word. Christ taught us to pray like this: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us ... forgive us ... lead us ... deliver us...” (Mt. 6:9-13).
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a Child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring;
By thy own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By thy all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne. (Hymn X, stanza 2)
Christmas is also a good time to witness. Most people even in North America do not know the true gospel, and Christmas can be a good occasion for explaining who Jesus Christ is and why He came into the world. Many people will go to church at Christmas time who never darken the doors other times of the year. At this time of the year, scriptural churches will focus on Christ’s cross more than Christ’s birth. This is also true for the Lord’s work in many places overseas. Hindus, for example, know that Christmas is a special “Christian festival” of some sort, and oftentimes they are more open on such occasions to attending church meetings or going to believers’ homes. There is less stigma among their Hindu friends about mingling with Christians on such occasions. We have special evangelistic meetings every Christmas and hundreds of Hindus have heard the gospel through this means.
In my estimation, wise Christians should spend less time “bah humbugging” Christmas and more time using these opportunities for the gospel’s sake.
Dear Christian friends, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Avoid evil, but enjoy your freedom in Christ during the Christmas season or any season. If your activities are not condemned in Scripture, you have liberty.
“Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks” (Romans 14:4-6).
And guard your spirit. Don’t get the devil in you when you’re trying to get the devil out of others!
James 3:13-18 “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
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