God's festivals

Albion

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Manmade holidays have too many pagan ties? Well, there are far more claims of pagan ties than actual pagan ties.

But that aside, are you now changing your thinking about the matter of "manmade" holidays? In the previous post, you said that your objection was that these were "not appointed by God."

I feel man made holidays have too many pagan ties. Easter, and eggs together with Jesus?
Honestly, I do not think that I have ever attended a church on Easter and found it decorated with eggs or bunnies.
 
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Littlek

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Manmade holidays have too many pagan ties? Well, there are far more claims of pagan ties than actual pagan ties.

But that aside, are you now changing your thinking about the matter of "manmade" holidays? In the previous post, you said that your objection was that these were "not appointed by God."

:scratch:
I'm not here to argue. I simply said in my orginal.post, I'm about done with manmade holidays...and should Christians observe God's appointed festivals..etc.
 
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Sabertooth

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I realize that Jesus' birthday is uncertain, but the same cannot be said for Resurrection Day. God set aside that date about 3400 years ago. There is no reason not to sync the latter to modern Passover.
 
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Littlek

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I realize that Jesus' birthday is uncertain, but the same cannot be said for Resurrection Day. God set aside that date about 3400 years ago. There is no reason not to sync the latter to modern Passover.
I do agree with Resurrection Day..but not Easter. It's the mixing of Easter..bunnies..hanging eggs..etc.
 
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Soyeong

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I am a gentile..but I know once we are saved, there is no difference.
I want to know, is it commanded to keep God's festivals, such as Passover for myself? The more I read about man made holidays...the more I'm done with them. (Easter, Christmas, etc) and trust me..I loved Christmas so much. I did put up a tree last year, but over the last 3 or 4 years..something is gently pulling at my heart that it's not right to celebrate. Not stepping on anyone's toes, just what I feel.

God's festivals are rich with symbolism that teaches us about God and His plan of redemption and have important themes that are woven throughout both the OT and the NT, which are often part of the background of what was happening during some of the events that are recorded in the Gospels, so I think that there is great benefit to at least studying the feasts even if you aren't convinced that you should celebrate them, through cerebrating them is essentially testifying that what they teach us is true. If you are interested, then I can link you to a study on God's festivals from a Messianic Jewish perspective.

Christ set an example of living in obedience to the Mosaic Law, including keeping God's festivals, and as his followers we are told to follow his example (1 Peter 2:21-22). For example, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul spoke in regard to how Passover foreshadowed Christ by drawing the connection of him being our Passover Lamb, however, instead of concluding that we no longer need to keep Passover, he concluded that we should therefore continue to keep it.
 
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Soyeong

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I realize that Jesus' birthday is uncertain, but the same cannot be said for Resurrection Day. God set aside that date about 3400 years ago. There is no reason not to sync the latter to modern Passover.

Jesus rose on the Feast of Firstfruits as the firstfruits from the dead, so there was already a day that was rich with relevant symbolism that was can use the honor the resurrection that is in accordance with what God has commanded.
 
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Pavel Mosko

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To me, and this is coming from my own heart, we have different views and that's okay. I feel man made holidays have too many pagan ties. Easter, and eggs together with Jesus?

I blogged a bit about the so called "Pagan origins" of Christmas and the Christmas tree a few years ago and reposted again on this forum last year (linked below). But for this thread I repeat my last point since it fits.


Point 4) Some Positive Preaching From aspects of the pagan heritage
Philippians 1:15-18New International Version (NIV)
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

It's interesting that saint Paul only cares about one thing, that Christ is preached! He doesn’t sweat the details or motivations. So based on that I will make a few points.

A) The Christmas tree has been a means of celebrating one of “the essential truths” of Christianity the Incarnation of Christ. The Christmas tree does not corrupt true religion but utilizes and engages contemporary culture for the message of the Gospel much like Paul preaching at Mars Hill in the book of Acts.


B) On the subject, of the pagan heritage It should be noted that the pagan heritage has given us a few good things. Without evangelism of the Germanic tribes their might not be any military chaplains. One of the conditions for evangelizing the Germanic tribes was they demanded clergy that would go into battle with them (to replace their priests of Odin and Thor that went with them into battle to have the favor of the gods). And from these we got the warrior priests of the crusades, that is the early ancestor of the modern military chaplain. Can anyone truly say that this is not a benefit? (Given how vulnerable young people are during peace time, let alone when fighting an actual war.)

Not to beat a dead horse
There are many other points that could be made and scriptures that could be quoted.
Overall I see the Crusade against the Christmas tree as a divisive issue that goes against the basic spirit of the original "Counsel of Jerusalem" in Acts 15, and flies in the face of much of the ministry of saint Paul.




Social Myths About Paganized Christianity and (pure) Hebrew culture
 
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Pavel Mosko

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By the way, this point from my same post is also worth repeating for this thread.


B) One thing should also be said of Hebrew Culture before ending the post. Because Hebrew culture is the culture of the Bible, and the Jews are “God’s Chosen people” many people see Hebrew culture as something that is pure and Holy, spiritual etc. To those kinds of notions, I have to remind people that every culture beyond The Garden of Eden comes from somewhere else! Before Abraham left UR of the Chaldees he resided in a pagan land and had the culture of that land. You can see that in the Old Testament itself. Why do you think God is always appearing in the Pentateuch as a form of fire? That was a vestige of the Sumerian culture and religion that was part of the early Hebrew way of seeing the divine. Similarly, during the Captivity in Egypt the Hebrew culture adopted a number of things from the Egyptians: like the practice of stoning, they adopted their forms of poetry and wisdom literature (psalms, proverbs etc. is based on similar things the Egyptians did). Anyway, if paganism infects true religion and culture then Hebrews were infected 4 or 5 thousand years before the Christmas tree.


This point is especially true if you watch Michael Heiser videos!

 
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Pavel Mosko

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I edited in Michael Heiser videos like the one above. Hebrew culture and the Old Testament heavily references the pagan culture of the near east, taking the various iconography etc. and using it various kinds of heavenly and spiritual realities etc. You should watch the video that I edited in above. Lots of pagan stuff is foot noted in the Bible, e.g. - the title "rider of the Clouds" used for Christ and Yahweh was originally a title used to describe Baal! And the angelic Seraphim reference Egyptian idea of a "Throne Guardian", and the same goes the Cherubim which are more Babylonian in their origin.
 
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timothyu

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however, instead of concluding that we no longer need to keep Passover, he concluded that we should therefore continue to keep it.
Gentiles not only replaced pagan festivals with their own but replaced all they could that smacked of Hebrew. What else would anyone expect them to do, in making it all over in their own image? The Kingdom was not in their thinking, but God knew they would be useful to carry His scripture forward.
 
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HARK!

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I do agree with Resurrection Day..but not Easter. It's the mixing of Easter..bunnies..hanging eggs..etc.

Those fertility symbols point to numerous Pagan gods, all the way back to Egypt.

I'll have nothing to do with them.
 
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Tolworth John

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And that's good for you, I never said that you couldn't celebrate them. I just feel in my heart..its something I shouldn't celebrate. I have nothing against thanking God for his son! But a date, set aside, with bunnies and eggs..no.

Christmas is a pagan date, so what is wrong with having a date set for Easter?
How one celebrates these occasions is up to us, but having a set date does mean one is able to celebrate with other Christians.
 
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GreekOrthodox

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I'm not here to argue. I simply said in my orginal.post, I'm about done with manmade holidays...and should Christians observe God's appointed festivals..etc.

Just as background, the major festivals and seasons of the Christian year are reflective of something of theological importance. So Holy Week and Pasch, or Easter in English, is a reflection of the final week of Jesus in Jerusalem. So the Gospel of John, chapters 12 through 20 cover that final week and the Resurrection. Christmas is a focus not just on His birth but the entire idea of God becoming incarnate man. Lent is 40 days that are to prepare us for Holy Week similar to the 40 years in the desert of the Israelites and the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry.
 
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Maria Billingsley

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I am a gentile..but I know once we are saved, there is no difference.
I want to know, is it commanded to keep God's festivals, such as Passover for myself? The more I read about man made holidays...the more I'm done with them. (Easter, Christmas, etc) and trust me..I loved Christmas so much. I did put up a tree last year, but over the last 3 or 4 years..something is gently pulling at my heart that it's not right to celebrate. Not stepping on anyone's toes, just what I feel.
All festivals were a type and shadow for the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He fulfilled the law. We now rest in Him fully. If one wishes to commemorate through the celebration of festivals , let it not be because of the law. Be blessed.
 
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Palmfever

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Galatians, 4:9. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

Galatians, 3:10. For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

Galatians, 2:21. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

Romans, 14:5. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

Mark, 2:24. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.

Galatians, 3:1. You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?
 
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