Is celebrating christmas a sin? why? what about thanksgiving? Easter?
my brother used to be catholic, and my family is currently catholic. my brother found this new religion that believes every holiday is worshipping the devil, and that they're not real holidays. he believes catholics are going to hell & the pope is the devil. I just wanna know if this is true? where does it say in the bible that christmas, Easter, thanksgiving and Halloween is worshipping satan? I love celebrating the holidays as everyone in my family is happy and joyful and my brother is just putting a damper on everything.
THE BATTLE AXE: The Benefit of Law? (11/15/2013)—The mistaken idea that all men are not bound to divine law from GOD may have arisen through language used by the Apostle Paul (see Romans 3: 19 and 6: 14, KJV). Acknowledging a difference between those “under the law” (i.e., in the covenant of Moses as Jews) and those coming to Jesus as new believers or as Gentiles, Paul declared the dispensation of grace that, at first, seemed to annul and conflict with all sacred law. Paul goes on to clarify the New Testament blessing affirming its benefit as both grace and law (see Romans 7, 8 and 11; 1st Timothy 5-11, Philippians 3: 7-14 and 2nd Timothy 1: 8-10, KJV).
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (Exodus 32: 1-8, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Jesus Lives! (05/04/2013); Jesus, A Party Animal? (05/03/2013); The True Miracle (12/23/2012); About the Star (12/24/2012); Without the Noise of Battle (12/25/2012); Knowing Who Your Real Friends Are (12/11/2012); Suffering for Suicide? (12/12/2012); Holiday Displays (12/07/2012); An Attack Upon Creation (12/08/2012)
Christian believers, particularly children and young people, are hurt and shocked when they first hear teachings against celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and the traditions of Christmas, Easter and other holidays (e.g., Halloween, July 4th, Kwanzaa, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving). Many are convinced that such talk is from the Devil, and is motivated by destructiveness, envy, malice and wickedness. However, there are some important points of truth that believers must be careful to embrace:
(1.) Believers are all called to a work of spreading the Gospel as a seed, tending the growth of faith implanted within themselves and others, and preparing the earth for the time when Jesus will come to receive the harvest of the faithful. In the Bible, harvest and sheep-shearing celebrations only follow hard work, and long seasons of expectation, tarrying and waiting. Gratitude, humility and joy always mark such seasons for they manifest the active presence of GOD through abundance and plenty as well as conquest, healing by rest, ownership, prosperity, release from fear, triumph, and victory.
(2.) Jesus has commanded his servants to “watch and pray.” All are to maintain alertness, meekness, sobriety and vigilance. We do not know the exact day or time of his second coming; and we are to live as if it would be any minute now. When celebrations, family gatherings, and holiday excitement promote questionable amusements, exaggerations and excess, hilarity and silliness, our fun becomes a weapon the Adversary uses against the health of our bodies and spirit. Holidays can be used as a distraction, or a snare to entrap the imagination and the intellect. The work of truth is then neglected.
(3.) Disciples and followers of Jesus are cautioned to grasp that GOD is a spirit whom we must worship in spirit and in truth even though we continue upon the earth as carnal, material, and social beings. All our personal expressions of commitment, love, respect, and trust also are to make visible the Person and Spirit of Christ. Our words and deeds are as godly seed that should be put forth with balance, compassion, humility, maturity, and a correct vision of the growth that will occur. Observance of celebrations, holidays, and revels are not automatically condemned as sin that is punishable by death, yet, wrongly taken to be acceptable acknowledgement and worship of GOD, such practices are no more than idolatry, pride, selfishness and the spiritual confusion that results in death.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood. (For example, (4.) Secular bargain-hunting, capitalism, consumerism, and discount shopping are now threatening to replace the sacred experiences of the holiday season. As surely as frugality, good sense, and thrift are to be fully employed, believers are to be armed with discernment.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith. Jesus is coming soon. Grow in grace.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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