Cultural Relevance vs. Biblical Accuracy in Modern Churches

It seems the more I look at the church today the more I come to realize one glaring point. The modern church here in the west is more concerned about cultural relevance than Biblical accuracy. If it were not so you could talk about Feast Days, Sabbath observance, and eating clean, without being ostracized. Unfortunately, it is true and anyone speaking of these things let alone observing them is immediately labeled, legalistic. As if to say a blatant disregard for the mosaic covenant is absolutely necessary for salvation.

We are heading into the “Holiday Season,” with its twinkle lights and mistletoe. It is a beautiful time of the year. It is marked by family gatherings, office parties, carolers, and holiday parades. The more society buys into the holiday magic, the more the church embraces the culture. I was listening to a ‘Christian’ radio station the other day and the DJ was all in on the holidays. It seems every year the decorations go up earlier. Halloween, begins in September. Hallmark no longer has the monopoly on Christmas in July and folks are setting up their trees November 1st. Thanksgiving? Sandwiched somewhere in there but mostly used to mark ‘Black Friday.’ A relatively new holiday masquerading as a day of discounts and bargains while revealing greed and selfishness.

The problem I see is that the church is more concerned about being cultured than they are about being Biblical. As I mentioned above even Christian radio is all in on culture. Want to decorate early? Go ahead! Want to have a Holy Ghost House, to counter the Haunted House? Go ahead! Want to brake out that elf on shelf in November? Go ahead! Don’t want to bake a turkey for Thanksgiving? Serve a ham instead! Are we really capable of justifying this blatant disregard for Yahweh’s word?

The argument is that the mosaic covenant is part of the Old Testament and we are living in the New. Really? What does that mean, exactly? Can you explain what repentance is necessary if the instruction of Yahweh is put away? Can you explain what it means to be lawless, from a biblical context? Are you prepared to explain the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness? What is the New covenant and how does it differ from the Old?

For too long now the church has ignored the appointed times of Yahweh, for its own traditions. It was this very act that got Israel labeled as an adulterous. It was their high places they set up. Their disregard of the Sabbath. Their lack of attention to the Feast Days. Their man made traditions in place of walking humbly with Yahweh. These things were the reason for their exile and subsequent scattering to the nations. Yet the church feels as though now, somehow, this doesn’t matter to Yahweh? Even though the Bible declares these things will be forever observed.

In fact, in the millennium. If the men do not come to Jerusalem for Sukkot, no rain will fall on their crops. Is Yahweh, messing with us? Is He forgetful of His own Word? No! And cursed is the man who says so. I have grown weary with the church. I have grown weary with my own soul. The battle inside me is a warring of the flesh and the spirit. My flesh wants to put up the tree, slice the ham, and do whatever my heart desires on the Sabbath.

The question is, do I want to worship Elohim? If so, I must do it in the spirit and in truth. I cannot lean on my own understanding but by every word of Elohim, live. If I love Him, I will obey His commandments. If I want to live in truth I must live in His word, for His word is Truth. Therefore, I honor the Sabbath day because Yahoshua honored the Sabbath day. I honor the Feast Days, because Yahoshua honored the Feast Days. I eat clean because Yahoshua ate clean. I do these things because Paul writes, imitate me as I imitate Messiah.

Over 80 times in the book of Acts the Apostles are recorded as honoring the Sabbath Day. Paul records his desire to be in Jerusalem for the Feast Days. Besides these things the Word says to honor them. It declares to the Israelite’s, “If you turn from doing your own pleasure on My Sabbath Day. If you call the Sabbath a delight . . . I will cause you to ride on the heights.” The Word declares that there is one instruction for the native and the foreigner.

Are we being called into lawlessness, and unrighteousness? No, by no means is this true. We are being called into instruction and into righteousness. Righteousness, those things commanded by Elohim to be obeyed by man. We are being called into the Way of the Rabbi. So then what is one to do? Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly with Elohim. Put away mans traditions, and worship Elohim in Spirit and in Truth. Observe His Sabbaths and His Feast Days and Walk with Him.

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Exploring Feast Days vs Holidays: A Scriptural Perspective

i have thought about this series for some time. How do i share my understanding in a way that leads you, the reader, into curiosity? To inspire a deeper look into Scripture. To light a fire within you to be like the people of Berea. Who received with joy, the words being taught to them. But then went and searched the Scriptures to see whether or not it was true. There are plenty of posts you can go over in which i will have touched on these ideas presented here. Although, not so succinctly as i will try in this series of posts. i will present the options and then give my ‘why’s’ trying to be fair to both sides in the end. These are the topics i will present over the next few days. Yahoshua or Jesus (see post); Rabbi or Teacher (see post); Adonai Elohim or Lord God (see post); Feast Days or Holidays (Current Post); Sabbath or Sunday. In the end it will be my goal to have persuaded you to begin to evaluate your ‘why’s’. To ask the question of yourself, “Am I using mans justification or Elohim’s Word, to determine my beliefs?” Let’s continue.

Feast Days or Holidays
“This will be a day for you to remember and celebrate as a festival to Adonai! From generation to generation you are to celebrate it by a perpetual regulation.” Exodus 12:14

“If a foreigner staying with you wants to observe Adonai’s Pesach, all his males must be circumcised. Then he may take part and observe it; he will be like a citizen of the land. But no uncircumcised person is to eat it. The same teaching is to apply equally to the citizen and to the foreigner living among you.” Exodus 12:48-49

“You are to keep the festival of Sukkot for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing-floor and wine press.Rejoice at your festival — you, your sons and daughters, your male and female slaves, the Levite, and the foreigners, orphans and widows living among you. Seven days you are to keep the festival for Adonai your Elohim in the place Adonai your Elohim will choose, because Adonai your Elohim will bless you in all your crops and in all your work, so you are to be full of joy!” Deuteronomy 16:13-15

“For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus , because he would not spend the time in Asia. For he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks, (Pentecost).” Acts 20:16

“Be careful, after they have been destroyed ahead of you, not to be trapped into following them; so that you inquire after their gods and ask, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I want to do the same.’You must not do this to Adonai your Elohim! For they have done to their gods all the abominations that Adonai hates! They even burn up their sons and daughters in the fire for their gods!” Deuteronomy 12:30-31

“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you — a wild olive — were grafted in among them and have become equal sharers in the rich root of the olive tree, then don’t boast as if you were better than the branches! However, if you do boast, remember that you are not supporting the root, the root is supporting you.” Romans 11:11-31

Let me encourage you to go and read the passages above in fullness. Read the chapter, understand its richness. In the highlighted verses above look at who is being addressed. When you see the word foreigner, it is equivalent to the word gentile. We are joining ourselves to Israel and therefore invited to participate in the Feasts of Yahweh. However, we don’t get special license to celebrate our own way. We are called to observe the Feast as Israel did. Israel was warned not to assimilate into the cultures around them but to be separate from them. To show their separateness they followed Elohim’s ordinances.

Forget for a moment any argument that calls Easter or Christmas pagan holidays. Forget for a moment any debate about their origins. Rather, ask yourself, who celebrates Christmas and Easter? Is it only the Church that observes these holidays? When you are at the tree lot buying your annual Christmas tree, can you tell if you are buying it because that’s what you do at Christmas? Can you see the difference? Is it possible for you to discern from the one celebrating the winter solstice, from yourself? i assure you would be surprised. More over does the Church incorporate worldly influences into its celebrations? Things not rooted in Scripture? What does Elohim think of the ways in which the world honors their gods? How does He desire to be honored? Are we to tell Yahweh what He will accept of us, in how we choose, to honor Him? Are we creating the rules of separation? In reality, do these rules separate us from the world around us or from Elohim who we claim to honor? Does placing the nativity scene next to Santa make Christmas holy? Or does a cross by a bunny at Easter make it less separate from Passover?

What about Halloween? We are told to avoid any forms of evil. Halloween is pretty evil. Yet many will justify their celebrations and say they are redeemable. “You don’t know my heart!” They will say this while dressed as a demigod? Yet Yahweh calls anything of the nations abominations. Is Elohim wrong? Did He change His mind? Is the Bible wrong when it declares that Elohim is the same yesterday, today, and forever? Are we greater than our maker capable of saying what it is that honors Him? Especially, when He has already laid out seven feasts.

Yahweh has ordained seven amazing Feasts to honor and celebrate. They are commemorative. Established with a purpose to draw attention to the faithfulness and goodness of Elohim. To remind us that if we keep His commands and statutes we will live blessed and in safety. First, Passover, it is the beginning of the new year. We celebrate the freedom in Elohim as He leads us out of the bondage of sin and death. Through Yahoshua the Covenant reestablished. Second, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. A reminder that we are to remove sin from our lives. What is sin? John explains that sin is “transgression of the Torah, sin is Torahlessness.” Third, First Fruits, the resurrection of our Adonai Yahoshua from the dead but also the provision of Yahweh. Fourth, Pentecost, the celebration of the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Mt Sinai. Even more now the receiving of the Holy Spirit and the Covenant being written on our hearts and minds.

Fifth, Feast of Trumpets, a day to call ourselves in preparation for the Holiest Day of the Year. To prepare for the Sixth Feast. Sixth, the Day of Atonement. The annual remembrance of how our sin separates us from Elohim. Yet, in His Love and Mercy, through Yahoshua, has Atoned for our sin. Calling us back into relationship or renewing our wedding vows of the covenant. The Seventh and Final one is the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast we look forward to the Kings return and the millennial reign of King Yahoshua! Each of these amazing Feasts will be celebrated in the millennium. In fact, it says if the men don’t go to Israel at the appointed time. Then, rain will not fall on their land. It is still a big deal. With the exception of the Day of Atonement, these are celebrations, block parties, Feasts of Joy and Proclamation!

Yahoshua, and the Apostles after His ascension to the Father all celebrated these feasts. In fact, Josephus and Augustine both record that the early church celebrated these feasts. It was at the council of Nicaea that it was decided to move away from Passover and to celebrate Easter. In Constantine’s letter sent throughout the territory, he decried the Jewish people. He also called for the separation of the church from Judaism. Which goes directly against Romans 11:11-31. The Way of the Rabbi, the Word (Torah) made flesh, is to walk as Yahoshua walked. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj

Your holiday’s, Your traditions

i attended a local Hebrew Roots congregation this past Sabbath. First, i am not a part of the Hebrew roots movement as defined by Hebrew Roots but i am a proponent of the whole of Elohim’s word. Anyway, i went to their Friday evening service, i did not intend to also be present for their Saturday service, but i was. The pastor is very passionate about Hanukkah and as it were, Hanukkah, is the holiday that started me on the path that i am on now. So with great interest i listened and took notes. While i was incarcerated i did lots of reading, in fact besides sleeping, reading was probably the thing i did the most. i also, penned 35 future blog posts. i had numbered them and was planning to put them up in the order they were numbered. However, with my visit this weekend to Everlasting Convenient, i am moving post 15 up 7 spots.

i was limited on my choice of Bibles but i did have two. Well, my celly had one which was an ESV provided by the Gideon’s and i had a NLT Life Application Study Bible i found in the little bookshelf that we had access. In it i was reading Leviticus, about the appointed times of YHWH.

Leviticus 23:1-5
And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘The Appointed Times of YHWH, which you are to proclaim as Holy Gatherings, My Appointed Times, are these:’”

Let me interject something here, look at the language being used, “Holy Gatherings” and “MY Appointed Times.” You will also note that in Exodus 12:48-49 YHWH gives instruction for the foreigner, and the sojourners within the camp who align with YHWH are to participate. He caps His instruction with: “There is ONE Torah (Law) for the native-born and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

“‘Six days work is done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a Holy Gathering. You do no work, it is a Sabbath to YHWH in all your dwellings. These are the Appointed Times of YHWH, Holy Gatherings which you are to proclaim at their Appointed Times. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the evenings, is the Passover to YHWH.”

Note again, these are “MY Appointed Times.” i found it interesting that when i read this having a study Bible with notes i decided to read the note to see how the NLT scholars spinned, this one and here is what they wrote: “God established several national holidays each year for celebration, fellowship, and worship. Much can be learned about people by observing the holidays they celebrate and the way they celebrate them. Take note of your holidays. What do they say about your values? In what ways do your celebrations and holidays reflect your relationship with God?” (Emphasis Added)

Here we have in Leviticus, a clear declaration by YHWY on HIS Appointed Times for Holy Gatherings and the emphasis the scholars chose to make in their foot notes are about your holidays. What a disconnect to what Elohim was stating and in light of Exodus 12:49 and other places i feel we as the church are really missing out on His Appointed Times for our pagan influenced holidays. Not to mention that we as gentile believers are GRAFTED into ISRAEL. They are the root and the root keeps the branches alive.

“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.” Romans 11:17-18

Just before this Paul writes about how we gentiles are in a sense, causing the Jews to feel jealous. Romans 11:11 “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” We do not replace them, we are grafted into them and therefore become part of the remnant of Elohim.

Remnant is by definition, uncommon. What are your uncommon traits? The world, secular, pagan, or Christian, celebrate Christmas with much of the same nonsense. Easter is a close second. These are both man made celebrations for they are not found or directed in Scripture. One could make this same argument for Hanukkah because it is not a gathering that was appointed by YHWH in the Torah. Rather, Hanukkah was birthed out of the Maccabean revolt. It is a celebration of the rededication of the Temple Altar after Antiochus Epiphanies invaded Judaea and sacrificed a pig on the altar in the temple. He also tried to change times, and seasons, the Holy Gatherings. This was predicted in Daniel, Antiochus was a type of Anti-Messiah, this will happen again. In Revelation we are told in the twelfth chapter seventeenth verse, “Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of Elohim and hold to the testimony of Yahoshua. And he stood on the sand of the sea.”

The New Testament Church is called to be different. In the world but not of the world. The Church is called to be different. The center candle of the Hanukkah Menorah is known as the servant candle, which lights the other candles. The eight days of Hanukkah are significant in remembering the faithfulness of Elohim. One could even say the servanthood of Messiah Yahoshua. The Church is called to be different. The rededication of the Altar in the Temple, restoration, new birth, we the Church and individually are the living Temple of Adonai Yahoshua. Hanukkah should be a time within the church and the family of rededication of our hearts to Yahoshua. It should be a time in which we serve as the center candle, lighting those around us. As Messiah served.

We are the light of the world, a city on a hill, called out of the world, and grafted into Israel. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, a.k.a. Feast of Dedication. Did you know that Yahoshua Himself, celebrated and was a part of the Feast of Dedication? John 10:22 “At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Yahoshua was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.” Isn’t it our goal as followers of Yahoshua, to be like Him?

Imagine, if the fulfillment of Romans, in making the chosen people of Elohim jealous, is to celebrate the feasts, to honor the Sabbath, to rejoice in and rest in the Messiah of Israel, whom they rejected. It would stir jealousy if we honored YHWH of the Bible more if we actually honored Him as He lined out rather than the man made religion, with a Messiah the Jewish people easily dismiss as not their Messiah. Yet, it is their Messiah, Yahoshua, was and is their Messiah. The Father, YHWH, is the Elohim of Israel and we are grafted into Israel. Therefore, we should not ignore the root because we grow because of the root.

Should we honor our holidays or should we honor His Appointed Times, His Holy Gatherings? And if we are to celebrate human tradition or a holiday created by man, shouldn’t that holiday and or tradition not look like anything the world has to offer but be separate, holy, sacred? The Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah, a feast Yahoshua Himself honored seems like a pretty good place to start.

You are loved,
cj

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Flee from idolatry

“And YWHW spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the poeple of Israel and say to them, I am YWHW your Elohim. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow My rules and keep My statutes and walk in them. I am YWHW your Elohim. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My rules, if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am YWHW.’” Leviticus 18:1-5

“These are the laws and the statutes that you shall be careful to do in the land that YWHW Elohim of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place. You shall not worship YWHW your Elohim in that way. But you shall seek the place that YWHW your Elohim will choose out of all your tribes to put His name and make His habitation there.” Deuteronomy 12:1-5

Have we as a church allowed the influences of the world to creep in on the things of YWHW our Elohim? Have we, as Israel, forgotten that our Elohim is jealous for us? i fear that as we embrace the traditions of man over the appointed Feasts of our Adonai, we are in a way doing as Israel did time and time again. We don’t possess the land, so i am not calling for violence or to take the measures outlined in the verses above. However, in a spiritual sense, i am saying, that we need to purge these things from our life as to not blend man’s tradition with Elohim’s statutes or His Feasts.

YWHW our Elohim is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As He revealed Himself through Yahshua, He didn’t somehow condone idolatry. He didn’t say, it was now okay to worship anyway we see fit. What He did do is affirm our need for a Saviour and dependance on the Holy Spirit in our lives. We cannot serve two masters. We are still to flee idolatry. We should be growing closer to YWHW our Elohim through Yahshua by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and forming our worship of Him through His instruction. How we worship matters, it has always mattered, and it will matter when we see Him, shouldn’t we then focus our attention on the ways He has outlined for us?

You are loved,

cj

The Merriest of Christmases

It was 198?. i was 8ish years old. We lived in Burbank, CA. on Keystone Street. It was a budget crunch year for the family, and we had the option of a Christmas tree or buying a Christmas present for the grandparents. The parents left it up to us kids. The three of us decided on buying our grandparents a gift. That meant no tree. However, not entirely. We did own a small, and by small, i mean not much more than a foot tall fake tree. We decorated it and placed it on the coffee table. So, in the end, it was three feet tall.

i don’t recall what we purchased for the grandparents. i am sure it was lovely. i can tell you, however, what i got that year! With great anticipation, looking under the coffee table, i wondered for weeks, “what could these gifts be?!?” i would pick them up and give them a shake or two, no hint was revealed. Finally, the day arrived! Christmas!!! i was so excited. But we waited. No gifts that year until after the Christmas dinner. We waited for our relatives to arrive. They did. With them, MORE GIFTS! i believe this picture (featured image above) was taken on Christmas day just before we opened the gifts . . . But i could be wrong.

Here is a list of my gifts. From my parents that year i received, i don’t remember. From my sister i received, yeah, i don’t remember that either. From my brother . . . Again, nothing comes to mind, oh, he got me something, they all did, but i don’t remember. What i do remember is i received the memory of the merriest of Christmases. i remember that year; my dad read the story of Christmas from the Gospel of Luke. i remember the joy of my Aunt Helen as she played her accordion that was twice the size she was. i remember the birthday cake my mom made for Jesus and singing Happy Birthday to Him.

i miss that Christmas. It was to me the sweetest most merriest of Christmases. This year my prayer for you is that you will experience the sweetest most merriest of Christmases. May it not be about what is under the tree, but WHO is in your heart. Enjoy the family, read the story in Luke, out loud, bake Jesus a cake, and sing Him happy birthday.

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14

“For to us a child is born, to us, a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

You are loved,

Merry Christmas

The Advent season. A time of great tradition. It is widely celebrated in both the Christian culture and the secular culture. Although the secular culture doesn’t necessarily understand the significance of the Advent, they do enjoy their Christmas. They put up Christmas trees, decorate their houses with lights, go to or host holiday parties, exchanging gifts with one another in grand celebrations. When it comes to viewing things from the outside, one would think everyone is celebrating the exact same thing, they would be terribly wrong.

That is just it. When there is no difference in the celebration, is there a difference at all? When my unsaved neighbors put up their Christmas tree, what goes through their heads? Do they ever wonder where the tradition of the tree comes from? The origins of the evergreen tradition in the season? Do we, as Christians, as we set up our tree, talk about the significance of the tree? What does the tree stand for? When was it first introduced? Beyond the tree, how many nativity scenes do you have? When you pull them out of the box and set them up, do you talk about the story? Honestly? Or do you just set it up in a rush to get done so that you can enjoy the decor for the next month?

Wanna know what the world is talking about? Money. They are talking about money. Corporations are looking at the season, and they salivate at the profit margins. It is the season in which they go from the red to the black. In the retail world, that is from being unprofitable to profitable. It is why it is called “Black Friday.” When you buy those gifts for all your loved ones, do you stop to consider the significance of giving gifts at Christmas? When you tear open, those gifts, is a thought given to the greatest gift ever given? How long is that mentioned? For what part of the day is that dwelt upon? One hour on Christmas Eve? Depending on what day is Christmas, maybe one hour on Christmas day? For the Churchgoer.

Interesting how important it is to keep Christ in Christmas yet the amount of time spent truly being wrapped up in the actual Spirit is limited to a few Sunday’s, (keep it short) and a special service on the Eve of . . . But not too late! When Christmas lands on a Sunday, i have seen churches shorten services, combined them if they have multiple services in a day . . . Why? Because attendance drops if Christmas is on a Sunday. What does that tell you about keeping Christ in Christmas? Have you heard the statement about Black Friday? It goes something like this, “Because only in America do we wait in line and trample others for sale items one day after giving thanks for what we already have.”

You know what has become more important than Jesus? Tradition. Want to know what became more important to the religious leaders two thousand years ago? Tradition. Want to know what hasn’t changed? God’s opinion of man’s traditions. i am not saying it is terrible to have traditions, not at all. What i am saying is when those traditions become what we celebrate, when those traditions are the very thing we need in order to celebrate, it is that mentality that has led to how and what we celebrate at Christmas. If we look no different than the world, then we are no different. Make this year different. Maybe we all need to try a little harder to get in the spirit of the Advent . . . Without the influence of tradition, just once.

⁵And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ⁶And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
⁷in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

⁸You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

⁹And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!” Mark 7:3-9

We might even consider the idea of transitioning from worldly tradition to the Feasts of Adonai. There are some amazing feasts described in Scripture and we are told to remember them. We are told to honor them. After all we are told to “seek first the Kingdom!” my awakening began in 2018. This year 2019, i was a bit more bold in my approach for all of the “Christian Holidays.” Easter was on the porch with its bags packed but Christmas, this one was the hardest. May i encourage you to explore the richness of the Feasts of YHWH and open your heart to the Way of the Rabbi.

You are loved,

Break Time

Well, can you believe it?! It is already November. We are a week away from Thanksgiving and the start of what has been the tradition of the Advent season leading up to Christmas. Which is something that we have been talking about as we have looked at paganism and the church. So the struggle for me is real as i digest all this information and find my center, as well as appropriate Worship of our Lord Jesus in the context of a seemingly pagan holiday.

However, we are budding up against our annual fall/winter vacation week. Therefore i will be taking a break from my regular posting and then upon my return will be talking about how i am handling the Advent this year in the context of the church. We have already scheduled our calendar as far as Advent goes, including each Sunday evening in December. We will, however, be looking at Hanukkah as well this year as it lands on the week of our traditional Christmas. Definitely taking a different spin on our traditional Christmas this year.

We have themed it “Find the Light, the birth of THE King,” as i don’t see why we can’t celebrate that within the proper context and outside of anything pagan. Again, i am just now awakening to this and tearing down the false idols without tearing up the wheat.

“But He said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'” Matthew 13:29-30

i understand that this is taken mostly out of context, i say mostly because it is still useful here as it relates to not being too aggressive as to not lose the weak or shallow-rooted. Yet, until then, as i said earlier, i will be taking a break as i vacation with the family. Although, as any writer knows, sometimes you get hit with something, and you just have to write it down. That may happen, but there will be no posting until the first week in December.

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

You are loved,

Paganism and the Church (part three)

There is a character who happens to be a wizard named Gandalf the Grey, later becoming Gandalf the White, who appears in the series of writings by J.R.R Tolkien, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings series. Gandalf is described to be a long-bearded fellow dressed in grey, later white, and carrying a staff. i was looking at photos today of Odin the Germanic pagan god, and thought, “wow, now there are some similarities here!” Could we begin to draw similarities between everything and in so doing, make everything sacred or everything unholy depending on our take? Yes, we could, and yes, we have, in many instances, on many topics. This is the main reason that i want to be very careful as we tred into custom, tradition, holiday’s, and paganism. i don’t want to lead anyone into confusion or misunderstanding, but in everything, cause you, the reader, to think critically and examine Scripture thoroughly.

Last week we talked about the history and timing of Christmas as it relates to pagan traditions, Saturnalia, Yule, and Egyptian sun god worship. There is a figure that each of these traditions has that have surprising similarities. In fact, build upon each other within the ongoing mixing of many of these celebrations. Most notably or recognizable in our current culture, we know him as Santa Clause. No need to dive into who he is or the tradition surrounding him. However, our present Santa is an evolutionary being, drawn from the mixing of cultures throughout time. Chiefly, Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and Odin.

Is Santa just a fun cultural icon who is only one of many characters within the secularization of the Christmas holiday? Or, is he a well placed pagan influence, put there purposefully by the prince and ruler of this world? Well, i will be the first to admit that i have always looked at Santa as just a fun cultural icon of the secular side of Christmas. i even have a costume, dressing up as Santa, i have placed gifts under the tree. You could say it has been a tradition also as the kids have gotten older. They certainly know that it is me, they even know what they are getting, nerf guns. It’s the same every year, and everyone opens them at the same time, and then, traditionally, an epic battle ensues. Is this a pagan tradition? Are we worshiping Odin? i can unequivocally say, no, we are not.

However, with that being said, now that i know how this cultural icon has evolved, can i continue with a clear conscience? Can i continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus along the same lines as an ever-evolving holiday tradition we know as “Christmas?” The answer to that is also, no, i can not. If i want to celebrate within culture a holiday tradition i certainly am free to do so. Even still once i cross the line or blur the line of worshiping Jesus, my Lord, and Saviour, and use elements that are known by me and everyone else to have pagan history and influence, i am compelled by what i read in Scripture to stop.

“And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him.” 2 Kings 18:3-7

Notice here that King Hezekiah, to honor God, destroyed all the high places. The “high places” is another term for “holy” sights or places of pagan worship. He broke down the Asherah, again pagan symbols of worship and even the serpent that Moses was instructed by God to make when the children of Israel were being tormented by the serpents in the desert. You see, the Israelites took something God used for good and began to worship it as a god. We can and have done the same thing within the Christian culture. We have taken things God created for our good and have worshiped them instead of God. We need to be as bold as King Hezekiah and begin to tear down those things that we have elevated or given special honor over Jesus in our worship, through worship that is tainted by pagan cultural influences.

Do you have high places that you have built up? Have you set up Asherah poles or other forms of pagan worship within your worship of God? If so, tear them down! And do it now, and do it quickly! God does not want your pagan influenced religion. He wants you to seek Him with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. He desires to be worshiped in spirit and in truth, untainted by the world.

You are loved,

Paganism and the Church (part two)

So comes our descent into the grand tradition of Christmas. The “holy” days or holidays as we know them. Full of culture, family, celebration, gifts, decorations, food, food, and more food. It’s a merry time, had by many. It brings out goodwill in the masses, a charity of heart to our neighbors. What could possibly be vile or evil in such a time as this? Indeed, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. Who came that we might have life and that to the full. (John 10:10)

What traditions within our celebration of Christmas were first observed within pagan festivals? Specifically, Saturnalia, Yule, and Egyptian beliefs. As well as similarity in the dates of the observance of the celebrations. Although, in the case of the Egyptian festivals, dates are not easily acquired because their calendar is, well, a wreck. Therefore in this instance, we will take the similarities of the festival and relate it the best we can. i do find it interesting that Satan is talked about as disguising himself as an angel of light, and each of these pagan traditions involves a sun god.

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” 1 Corinthians 11:13-15

In Ezekiel, we read a depiction of Satan and his desire to rise to the place of God. He wanted to be above all the angels. Yes, we can see that Satan is an egomaniac, and any worship of him that he can generate, even indirectly, is to him a win. It is probably one of the many reason’s, not that any are needed, for God’s decree that we are not to worship him like the nations worship their pagan false gods. We are not to intermix worship practices but are told to eliminate them from our lives completely.

So this week, let’s look at some of the history of these festivals and our observance of Christmas, and you can decide which is right and how best to honor God. After all, it is you that will have to stand before Him one day and give an account, ignorance will not be an excuse, at least not anymore. For instance, although the early church did not have a specific day to honor the birth of Christ, we have a general understanding that it was still significant in the history and telling of Jesus as we read in the Gospels of Mathew, Luke, and referenced in John. At some point in the first century around the time of Telesphorus, believed to be the second Bishop of Rome began a set-aside time to honor Jesus’ birth called, “The Nativity of our Lord and Saviour.” It’s worth noting that at this time, the Nativity, was recognized in September along with the Feast of Trumpets.

In fact, for 300 years the Nativity was celebrated on many days depending on where one was in the world. The recognition of December 25, as Jesus’ birthday, was a move by the Roman Emperor and self-proclaimed Bishop of Rome Constantine. His desire was unity among the Christians and the pagans, as well as perhaps making Christianity more palatable for the pagans to convert. Saturnalia was a celebration of the sun god. It was celebrated from December 17th through the 24th. Part of the celebration included lighting bonfires in honor of the sun and with the idea of helping it defeat the darkness. When the days would begin to get longer generally recognizable around the 23rd. Although this date could be as late as the 26th. Later in 274 A.D. under the Roman Emporer, Aurelian proclaimed the date as “Natalis Solis Invicti,” the festival of the birth of the invincible sun and set the date as December 25th. In 320 A.D., Pope Julius I specified the 25th of December as the official date of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Yule dates back to as early as the 4th century A.D. It would later become known as Christmastide. Yule was a 12-day festival that landed between mid-November and early January. Interesting to note that January 7th, which often ended Yule is for many the day they observe the Nativity or Christmas day to this day (a few exceptions observe the 6th). Coptic Orthodox located in Eygpt and the Middle East as well as Central and Eastern Europe. Although there are many reasons it is notable to say that during this time, two calendar systems were in use, the Julian calendar that pre-dates the Gregorian calendar, which is commonly observed today. What is Yule, well they were original celebrations of the Wild Hunt, the god Odin, and the pagan Anglo-Saxon Mōdraniht.

Again the Egyptians worshipped many gods, including a sun god. However, their calendar was so confusing they didn’t even know how it worked resetting it often. So i will only state here that as we look at the traditions of these festivals more in-depth and begin to recognize how the church co-opted many of the pagan practices in their Christmas celebrations we will see Egyptian influence.

Let me close this entry with this, i am not in any way discouraging the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is clear that the early church remembered the Nativity. However, it is my goal to get us to think critically and honestly as we walk this narrow road together worshiping the One True God, as He desires, and not as the pagans do.

“. . . take care that you be not ensnared to follow them after they have been destroyed before you and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?–that I also may do the same.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods . . .” Deuteronomy 12:30-31 (in part)

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You are loved,

i am becoming one of “those” . . .

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24

This passage from Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well is highly regarded as justification for Christians to say, “I am doing this in worship of the Father, the other things don’t mean anything. I love God.” or some variation of the same. But, i ask you what Jesus was referring too here? It was customary for Jews to travel to Jerusalem to worship on particular feasts, Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles. There are seven Hebraic Feasts; i say Hebraic lightly i will get to that in a bit.

Jesus, in His referring to worshiping in spirit and truth, was prophetic, in that He was the Messiah, and therefore He is the feasts. Thus, the location of worship was shifting from a physical place to a spiritual place . . . One primary reason is that Jerusalem was in the hands of the Romans and would soon destroy the Temple, the reason for the pilgrimage. He, in no way, was saying, anything goes, instead expressing a more personal focus because the relationship was about to become intimate.

Let’s take a look at each of the three pilgrimage feasts. First, Passover, they would come to present their sacrifice to the priests, and the Passover lamb would be sacrificed. It was to commemorate or remember the Exodus from Egypt, where those who had the blood on the doorpost were passed over by the angel of death. The final plague before Pharoah would let the people go. John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This was Jesus, the Lamb of God. In observing Passover in real-time, in that year, Jesus, as the Lamb, fulfilled the Feast. We should honor it today as a remembrance of our Passover Lamb, who takes away our sin.

Second, The Feast of Weeks occurs seven weeks or 50 days after the Sabbath of Passover. The interesting thing about this feast, it is a remembrance of the receiving of the law, and with the law comes the knowledge of sin. Its institution was to celebrate the ripening of the wheat harvest. Which is even more interesting! Think of it, Jesus said, “the harvest is plentiful, the workers are few, pray that the Lord of the harvest would send workers.” (Luke 10:2) Here is the cool thing, just as they received the law on Mt Sinai accompanied by smoke, fire, and clouds; so on the day of Pentecost 50 days from the Sabbath of Passover the disciples were gathered, and tongues of fire with a rushing wind came as they received the law written on their hearts as the Holy Spirit was given. We are the workers in the field that God has given.

Third, Tabernacles, this feast was in remembrance of the Hebrew nations wandering in the desert living in temporary shelters. They would again make their pilgrimage to Jerusalem and worship there. Looking to the future, it is symbolic of the return of the King and Jesus ruling and reigning among His people as we tabernacle together with the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Here’s a cool fact, the Feast of Tabernacles was open to all people and nations to come and be with the Lord. Reminds me of the Sabbath day and the Day of Atonement, another feast in which it is stated that even the foreigner within your gates should do no work. As Jesus declared, “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” so we should consider the Sabbath God made for us, to rest and reflect on the goodness of our Lord.

Each of the other feasts is equally significant, and in Leviticus, we read that they are not Hebraic but rather God’s feasts.

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are My appointed feasts.‘” Leviticus 23:1-2

But we don’t really celebrate these feasts, we pass them off as being strictly Hebraic. However, that isn’t even implied in Scripture, for it is Israel who was to be God’s mouthpiece to the world. And as the writer of Hebrews tells us, we are all grafted in together as one people before God. Again here in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The intention of the feasts, most certainly the final one known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is to unify us in the worship of God. To draw our attention to the Most High.

If God, so intently, marked out His desired Feasts, for His people to honor Him. He was even reminding them that these were forever feasts, being both remembrance and prophetic. If Jesus observed the Feasts and the early church followed the Feasts, i feel it right to do so now.

Now let me ask you; if you were one of the first century Christians, and as such, you, as they did, observe the Feasts with both the remembrance factor and the prophetic one in mind. Looking back and looking ahead, would you allow for a mingling of pagan cultural practices to interfere with those feasts? Would you desire to take on the worship of pagan gods to enhance the worship of God? i hope that your answer is NO WAY! It certainly is God’s answer:

“You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughter in the fire to their gods. Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.” Deuteronomy 12:31-32

“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15

(Note, read all of 1 Corinthians 10) “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” . . . “Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?” 1 Corinthians 10:14 & 22

We are to flee anything evil. We are not to intermingle pagan worship with the worship of God. These things have not changed, and yet we do. The majority of Christians in the west and some beyond do. Christmas and Easter both have their origins in paganism. These have been central holidays within the church for centuries. Why did the church allow this to happen? How did they not see? Why am i just now waking up to the truth? This isn’t an undue hardship or yoke, this is central to the Worship of God. i am not talking diets or fabrics or circumcision, i am speaking to what the Lord desires and what we were ultimately created for . . . Worship. If you think it is evil to worship the Lord, then don’t, as Joshua said.

Now to Halloween, i once thought it was actually the one rooted most in the faith with All Saints Day, but i was wrong there too. It is ripe with its roots in paganism, and there is no redeeming it, nor should we try. There is no need for an alternative either, for we have seven feasts to the Lord, and each one is a party, a grand celebration! We are called to be different, to come out of the culture and be the Kingdom here and now. When Jesus said we were to Worship in Spirit and in Truth, i am certain He didn’t include pagan rituals in there regardless of your “intent.”

In my next few postings, i will be touching on Halloween and its true origins and then Christmas in the same way. i hope to show why i am choosing to walk away from these traditions. i will also write again about Easter, although i have already done that if you go back in my history of posts. This is a massive step for me, it hasn’t been easy, but it is right. i am becoming one of “those” Christians, and it is not a burden placed on me . . . It is actually a point of self-denial to put away the ways of the world that i might honor the Lord. To love Him with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Yes, i am becoming one of those Christians, the one i should have been from the beginning. And you should too!

You are loved,

The Way of the Rabbi

a lifestyle not a religion

Tag: christmas

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