December 2005 Update

We are finishing up another year of ministry in a few weeks. It really is tough going at times. The pressures to be ‘kind’ and ‘accepting of other perspectives of faith’, to be ‘positive and not negative’ do not just come from those lost and unsaved in cults, but they come mostly from other Christians who want to bring a soft word of positive community to the lost, without dealing with sin and false doctrines that lead the unsaved to a Christless eternity.

I thank God I was saved in a small church where the minister preached about both Heaven and Hell, about the wages of sin that were death. When I got on my knees at that altar on the first Sunday night in January, 1975, I gave it all up and became that new creature in Christ, cleansed of the price of my sin, made righteous in Him. After all those years as a Mormon, trying to work out my own righteousness, I was set free. The Word said so! I was able to not just believe in God, but I was now able to actually believe Him, believe His full word, believe in my new life that I traded for the one I surrendered at the altar.

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: Rom 4:5-6 NKJV

It has been that freedom I found on my knees that I have taken daily to the lost; in Mormonism, Freemasonry and other soul stealing, feel good organizations that play with the words of faith, but draw people over the abyss to spiritual death, smiling and baking casseroles all the way to Hell.

No, it hasn’t been easy and the price has been costly. However, the fruit has been great. Many tens of thousands have been rescued, whole families restored, lives changed, and with the dark veils of hidden dangers pulled back through Saints Alive and fellow ministries, the tide is turning as the LDS Church and groups like the Masons are losing members faster then they can bring them in.

The Mormons now lose 80% of their converts within the first year or so. The numbers who do remain beyond that are less than the number of missionaries who leave the church after they come home. That is a net loss, not a gain.

In most States, there are more Masons dying then there are foolish men to replace them. It has become an old man’s club. There are more funerals than there are bake-outs.

I celebrated my 70^th birthday recently with so many cards and emails that I lost count. Many came from people who wrote about finding the real Jesus through this ministry. What a marvelous present in each card and email that arrived. My sons brought them to my party and I was so blessed, overwhelmed.

This month is also the 30 year anniversary of the start of my public ministry. It has been thirty years of constant focus and zeal for the lost. I have been reflecting on my life in Christ and I am a happy man, at peace with my life, urgently contending daily for the unsaved. I am so thankful. I am so eager to reach out even further than ever before.

For those of you who sustain us in prayer and in your financial support thank you for being such an important part of this ministry, for standing with me at the edge of the abyss, reaching down with me for the lost...for praying for us and for supporting us financially Please stay the course. There are so many more to bring to the cross...so many who just need to hear a clear word, that Jesus died for them at Calvary.

If you have sent in a prayer request, please know that I take every one seriously and pray for you personally. I especially take the last two weeks of the year to ‘urgently contend’ for your prayer needs. In fact, I shut down the office and make your prayer needs my year end ministry priority. I know the power of prayer and I know we serve a Lord who answers prayer.

"Where there are no good works, there is no faith. If works and love do not blossom forth, it is not genuine faith, the Gospel has not yet gained a foothold, and Christ is not yet rightly known." —Martin Luther

HAMTRAMCK, Mich. Dec 8, 2005 — A police officer has been charged with using a Taser on his partner during an argument over whether they should stop for a soft drink. Ronald Dupuis, 32, was charged Wednesday with assault and could face up to three months in jail if convicted. The six-year veteran was fired after the Nov. 3 incident. Dupuis and partner Prema Graham began arguing after Dupuis demanded she stop their car at a store so he could buy a soft drink, according to a police report.

I am so amazed at the things that hit my email box each day. Aside form the emails that promise to turn my 70 year old body into that of a teenager [why would I want that anyway. I worked too hard to get to 70] I thought you would be amused at just how much money I picked up from the web in just one day:. We could wish that it were true. However, just like the wonderful promises of Mormonism and the Lodge, what you really get is something far different than advertised.

This is to congratulate you and to inform you that your email address is the second email address to draw the lucky numbers of 11-8-9, which consequently won £150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds Sterling) in this year’s email lottery ballot in the 1st category.

We happily announce to you the draw (#996) of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International programme held 26th November 2005.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £350,000 (Three hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterlings)in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03.

We are pleased to inform you of release of the EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA PROGRAM held on 20th of November, 2005 and your serial number 2113-05 with ticket number 025-11464992-750 drew the lucky numbers 11-17-21-35-39-41 which consequently won a prize in the 1st category. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of € 1,547,000.87c (One Million Five Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand Euros Eighty Seven Cents) in cash credited to a file ref. Nº 2113 - 05. Congratulations!!!!!.

We have been trying to reach you in order to deliver your *Free XBox 360. This offer is only for edecker@nwlink.com and please do not forward this email as the offer will not be valid for others.

We happily announce to you the draw (#1024) of the NETHERLAND SKYBLUE LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e. match 5

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of €500.000.00(Five Hundred Thousand Euro) in cash

I am Mr PINTO BRADA (b.s.c.:m.s.c) the auditor general of one the prime bank in Europe; I am please to introduce this business opportunity to you; to transfer to your overseas account the sum of thirty five million us dollars ($35.000000) from one of the prime bank in Europe;

Dear Ed: I cannot begin to tell you how much information I have received from your web site.

I think you've got simply an AWESOME website, and I also read your life story and how you got out of Mormonism. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! I'm glad that you know the truth and I want to say that I was touched deeply by your story, and by your knowledge of Mormonism. Your information has really helped! Thanks for all of that!

First, let me thank you for all you do to warn Christians of the deception of Mormonism, and to witness to Mormons. I thank God for you and others like you who are involved in this difficult battle. I received Jesus Christ as my Savior, and left the Mormon Church, in the mid seventies.

I am amazed at the number of Stores that have full page Christmas Newspaper Advertisements that have omitted the whole reason for the season. The word Christmas has finally become fully politically incorrect and to use it is to draw down the wrath of something very bad, otherwise it wouldn’t be so widespread. What’s going on in America?? Let me give you just a few examples.

I was in a store the other day and the clerk handed me the receipt and said, “Happy Holiday” with a big smile. I asked her, “To what holiday are you referring?” She smiled, a little red creeping into her cheeks, “You know What Holiday,” I responded, “No, please tell me. I’m not too sure any more.”

Her cheeks deepened in their redness. “We aren’t supposed to say ‘it’ because it might offend someone...” I shook my head as I walked away. “Well, you certainly have offended me with ‘Happy Holiday. Merry Christmas anyway’”

Friends, don’t let this slide by. While falling all over themselves so not to offend the wide spectrum of groups, religions and lifestyles, the powers that want to be do not even blush, as the lady above did, when mocking and wiping out every mention of the word, Christ in our lives.

Confront a store that will not even let the Salvation Army bell ringers. Don’t put up with Holiday Trees at your schools and civic buildings... Respond to the “Happy Holiday” crowd like I did. Say SOMETHING!

I was reading a news report this morning about a school in Wisconsin that had opened its doors to various religious items but took Christmas out of everything including its music. They need to be held accountable.

For a performance in its "winter program," a Wisconsin elementary school has changed the beloved Christmas carol "Silent Night," calling the song "Cold in the Night" and secularizing the lyrics.

This year's winter program included decorating classrooms with Santa Claus, Kwanzaa symbols, menorahs and Labafana, a mythical witch that's a part of traditional Christmas celebrations in Italy.

A letter the law group sent to the school demands a change in the winter program. Liberty Counsel Attorneys say they are prepared to file suit if the Dodgeville School District does not immediately remedy the situation.

"For those who deny that there is a war on Christmas, the Wisconsin school district is exhibit A," Mathew Staver, Liberty Counsel President and general counsel, said in a statement. "The law is clear – Christmas is constitutional. When a public school intentionally mocks Christian Christmas songs by secularizing their content, they cross the line from a neutral position, which the Constitution requires, to a hostile position, which the Constitution forbids. Changing 'Silent Night' to 'Cold in the Night' – come on, let's stop this madness! Does the school not realize that Christmas is a national holiday?" © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

I am saddened and dismayed that you would so disrespect my faith that you would remove every word that might be tied to it, yet feel free to have displays of Kwanzaa symbols, menorahs and the witch, Labafana. And oh, yes, let’s not forget Santa Claus.

It is very obvious that while you have welcomed other religious groups warmly, you have obviously gone out of your way to disrespect the Christian faith of the majority of your Town, State and Nation.

By the way, you must have forgotten, Santa is actually derived from Jolly old Saint Nick, who, himself was a familiarization of an actual Christian. Oops.

A Seattle-area school district recalled its December lunch menus for 23 elementary schools because they were printed with the greeting "Merry Christmas."

JUNEAU, Alaska Dec 7, 2005 — It was only a small taste of freedom. David Mulligan, 21, served 25 days for drunken driving, and was released at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities allege he stole a van three minutes later. A man who lives a block from the Lemon Creek Correctional Center had left his 1997 Dodge van running to warm up. When he came out of the house, it was gone.

Two hours later, the owner called police on a cell phone, saying he was following the stolen van in traffic. Police responded, and said they found Mulligan alone in the van. He now faces up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine if convicted of felony vehicle theft.
Information from: Juneau Empire, http://www.juneauempire.com

Discrimination Against Christian Chaplains and Other Christian Personnel In United States Military Increases

The discrimination against Christians in the United States military is continuing to accelerate. The Navy has increased pressure against Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt because he refuses to cease praying in the name of Jesus.

Lieutenant (Chaplain) Klingenschmitt was relieved of duty and is facing termination of his 14-year active duty career partly for refusing to cease praying in the name of Jesus; for requesting Kosher MREs (meals ready to eat) for an Orthodox Jewish sailor, and for similar actions.

Lt (Chaplain) Klingenschmitt was removed early from the USS Anzio and faced a Navy review board which could end his 14-year career.

Navy Chaplain Klingenschmitt concludes his prayers at public services and ceremonial events with the phrase, "...we pray to you, Almighty God, and I pray in Jesus' name. Amen" as a way to include diverse faiths, yet remains true to his Christian beliefs. CCA Washington Weekly Review 12-3-05

Dear Ed: Hello. I just read an article you had posted on saintsalive about freemasonry. My mother-in-laws fiancé is a member of the Masonic lodge. What I've read so far makes a lot of sense to me, because they seem to believe that if you're a good person, you'll get to heaven. I am a born-again Christian and so is my husband. I don't know how high up in the ranks her fiancé is, but I saw a certificate in his office. I don't know all the wording, it said something about the noble order of the mystic lodge and some Arabic something or another. Like I said, I don't know what it said.

Duane Washum Responds: The organization he has been initiated into is the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. That is the full, formal name of the Shriners. About the only thing that might register with her would be that he swore an oath to Allah, the same "god" of the terrorists who attacked this country on 9/11.

Thursday, December 8, 2005 / 7 Kislev 5766

The United Nations held a "Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People" last week. A large map of “Palestine,” with Israel literally wiped off the map, featured prominently in the festivities.

The ceremony was held at the UN headquarters in New York and was attended by Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Presidents of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly.

During the festivities, a map labeled a "map of Palestine” was displayed prominently between UN and PLO flags. The map, with “Palestine” written in Arabic atop it, does not include Israel, a member of the UN for 56 years. The map does not even demarcate the partition lines of November 29, 1947, marking a Jewish state alongside an Arab state. The partition was dictated by the UN General Assembly itself. With the map hanging behind him, Secretary-General Annan addressed the public meeting at UN Headquarters.

Thank you for your website...my sister is a Jehovah’s Witness and the other day she started talking about Christmas and that if I know how Dec. 25 came to be the day we celebrate for Christmas I would know that I am being lied too. please tell me why and how Dec. 25 became the day we celebrate Christs' birthday....I hope you can answer me as even though we usually don't discuss religion, I was upset that I didn't have an answer for her....
thank you so much and God Bless Vickie

Thanks for the question. Ed Decker passed it on to me to reply as we deal with JWs all the time. The JW's like to attack everybody that celebrates Christmas in any way. They have a way of twisting almost everything around somehow. I will agree with her that the world today has gone nuts and the real meaning has been lost by many, even some in the church.

However even if we don't know the exact day Jesus was born it is no reason we can't set aside a day to remember His birth and the reason for which He came. So what if it falls on a day pagans use. Every day of the week is named after some pagan entity.

If she would check out her own books the WT (Watch Tower Society) in the early days celebrated Christmas. (About 50 years.) Lorri says when she was a JW (15 years) they always had a party with lots of drinking and if the boss gave them a turkey they were never too spiritual to return it. They make a point of giving their kids gifts a few days before or after but never on the 25th.

We always make a point of being in church Christmas day with our family to worship and praise our Lord.

The main reason the WT does not want their people celebrating the 25 is they don't want their people in fellowship with other non JW's on this special day for Christians. The Jesus of the WT is NOT the Jesus of the bible. The two articles following will give you lots of the details. Browse our web for other topice dealing with the JW's.

What is Christmas all about? Is it "Christian"? Was it observed by the Early Church, or is it a pagan appendage that the Church has absorbed and 'Christianized', in short is it 'baptized paganism'? These are good and legitimate questions that deserve well thought our answers. However, as in all cases, it is imperative and it behooves us that we research the facts and find out the truth of the matter. We have to avoid the attitude that says "Don't bother me with the facts, I have made up my mind already." Remember, something is not true because you believe it, you should believe something if it's true. The word Christmas is not a pagan word because it clearly bears the name "Christ" in it. Christmas actually is a compound word which means "Christ-mass". It was the "mass" that celebrated the birth of Christ. Therefore, for all intents and purposes, the word Christmas denotes a celebration of Christ's birth. But is Christmas biblical?

Nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded to observe the birth of Christ, however, at the same time, neither are we commanded not to observe it. It is clear that the New Testament writers who wrote on the Nativity narratives (stories of the birth of Jesus), namely Matthew and Luke, were not concerned about specifying the date of Christ's birth. All we know about that time is that Luke tells us the Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census. (Luke 2:1-2) Scholars can tell us about the year that event took place, but not about the month and day, which is what we are interested in.

The date of Jesus' birth is therefore unknown to us, we simply do not really know. We do know the time of Christ's death and resurrection because it was during the Passover, and it is clear that the New Testament writers put much more emphasis and importance on this event, rather than on the birth of Christ. After all was this not the purpose of His advent, the event we recall every time we commemorate Communion or the Lord's Supper? Indeed, it is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ that constitute the core and foundation of the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) It is belief in Jesus as Lord and His resurrection that brings salvation. (Romans 10:9-13)

Some scholars speculate probably a September/October [1] as a likely date for Jesus' birth because Luke mentions sheep in the fields. (Luke 2:8), and November was the latest month in which sheep could be left out in the fields and December would be bitterly cold for pasture and for people to migrate for a census. Notwithstanding these points however, the well known Jewish Christian scholar, Dr. Alfred Edersheim [2] proposed December 25 as Christ's birthday and argued that it had a connection with the Jewish feast of Hanukkah which falls on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev. The Jewish feast of Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of Kislev, just as Christmas always falls on the 25th day of December. Due to the differences between the Christian calendar (better known as the 'Gregorian calendar') and the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah and Christmas sometimes are celebrated together or at times Hanukkah begins before Christmas. Both of these festivals emphasize the importance of light, the menorah with Judaism and Christmas lights with Christianity. The idea of the "Festival of Lights" points to Jesus as the "light of the world" (John 8:12). What better time for the Messiah to be born? Dr. Edersheim's arguments are compelling, but he stands in the minority on the subject. Most scholars if not all reject December 25 as the actual date of Jesus' birth, and I would be compelled to reject it as well.

What about December 25, where did it come from as a celebration of the birth of Christ? Any encyclopedia will show that the week of December 22-31 was celebrated as the "Saturnalia", a Roman pagan festival that worshipped Mithra, the sun god whose birth they also celebrated at the time, particularly December 25. The Saturnalia was a time when it appeared that the forces of darkness and chaos would conquer the forces of light and order. It was common at this time for parties and revelry to take place because chaos seemed to merge with order. It was considered OK for bad things to happen because it was Saturnalia.[3]

During this old Roman festival the light of day was at its shortest. This instilled fear to the Romans and pagans alike. It seemed as if the sun god was dying and that his power was waning and it was common to light bonfires to heat as it were the sun's power who was represented by the god Mithra. Thus, there is such an emphasis on light. Over time, pagans observed that the more they practiced the festival of lights and burning bonfires, the days tended to get longer, and as such they continued this tradition.

The Early Church Fathers debated over the time of Christ's birth around AD 200 and there is some evidence that Christians commemorated the birth of Christ although the dates were different. As of AD 354, December 25 was labeled as the date of Christ's birth. The Church had attempted to stomp out the cult of Mithra, the sun of god by declaring that it would instead celebrate the birth of the "sun of righteousness" (Malachi 4:2), a title understood to be messianic. The move of the Church stomped out Mithraism in a matter of time.

Many times we are guilty of denouncing things as "pagan" without careful consideration.[4] One example of this is the so called charge that the Christmas tree is pagan that it is actually mentioned and condemned in Jeremiah 10:3-5. This passage in the King James Version reads,

"For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good." At first glance, this passage seems to infer that it is the tree itself that is decked with silver and gold and fastened with nails. Thus it is argued that the Christmas tree is mentioned here. However, this is a misleading interpretation because what is being condemned here is idolatry, the tree is simply taken to form an idol out of its wood! All other translations make this clear. Consider for example this reading in the New International Version:

'For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.'[5]

Thus, what God is condemning through Jeremiah is idolatry. In other words Jeremiah is trying to show the utter foolishness of worshipping idols since they are hewn out of trees and are nothing but the creation of men's hands. Certainly, it is preposterous to claim that because one has a Christmas tree in the home he or she is worshipping a tree any more than having a cross in a church building means Christians worship the cross! All the days and months of the year belong to God first and foremost since He created them. The light which God created was corrupted by pagans because they made it an end in and of itself, yet Jesus refers to Himself as the "Light of the world". (John 8:12)

Fire which was used and corrupted by paganism is also used of God (Hebrews 12:29). What I mean to say is that when we take what God has made and use it to glorify Him, we are doing nothing wrong, unlike paganism which moves away from the Creator. In taking December 25, the Church was in effect saying stating that this day belongs to God, and that it would dedicate the day to celebrate the birth of Christ. Christmas is not a celebration of a birthday, but a celebration of an event, namely the Incarnation, when God became flesh. (John 1:1,14) Do we have Scriptural warrant to do this? Indeed, we do.

There were feasts that Jesus observed that were never commanded by God to be observed by the people of Israel. The feasts divinely commanded by God are outlined in Leviticus 23 and they are known as the "feasts of the LORD". However, there are two other feasts that the Jews observed that were not commanded by God, namely Hanukkah and Purim. The first feast is found nowhere in the Old Testament because it was instituted long after the Old Testament canon had been completed. The feast of Hanukkah finds it origins in the Apocrypha, a collection of non-canonical books that were never accepted as part of the Old Testament.[6]

The Hanukkah story comes from the first and second books of the Maccabees. However, this feast is mentioned in the New Testament in John 10:22 and there it is called the "feast of dedication", another name for Hanukkah. As a Jew, Jesus would most likely have observed this feast, and it would be pointless for John to mention this feast if it had no relevance to Jesus or His ministry. Scholars have noted for the longest time that the Gospel of John revolves the ministry of Jesus around the Jewish feasts, and that Jesus is the fulfillment of those feasts. Hence, Jesus had no objection to the observance of a feast that had no basis in the Old Testament. Why? As long as God was glorified and acknowledged the people of God were free to do so.

Another example of this is seen in the feast of Purim. This feast is mentioned in the Old Testament, in the book of Esther, but like Hanukkah, Purim was never commanded by God. Rather, the Jewish community in Persia instituted this feast to celebrate their deliverance from annihilation. (Esther 9:18-32) Once again, in this case, this feast glorified God for His providential protection. As stated above, Jesus as a Jew would also have celebrated this feast. Some scholars believe that the "feast of the Jews" mentioned in John 5:1 was the feast of Purim. The intent again was to glorify God. Christmas is never commanded nor prohibited in the New Testament. It is thus a grey area and Christians should be free to exercise their conscience as to whether they wish to observe this feast or not. One must not however, pass judgment on other believers who wish to observe Christmas. Likewise we must do the same for those who do not observe it. Paul points out that the observance of days should never be a divisive issue with Christians. As long as the day is regarded to the Lord, it is acceptable to Him. (Romans 14:4-6) Christians who celebrate Christmas do so to glorify God for His unspeakable gift, His Son. Let us celebrate the Lord's birth as the shepherds of old did, with joy and gladness, "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 'Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" (Luke 2:10-12 NIV)

[1] The Jewish feast of Tabernacles is celebrated in September or sometimes October. This feast represented God's presence dwelling with His people. In John 1:14 it states that the Word "tabernacled" or "pitched His tent" among us. Some scholars see an allusion here to the feast of Tabernacles. It is possible that Jesus could have been born during this feast.

[2] Alfred Edersheim. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol.1 (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1976), 187.