Written by: Damien Powell
We have come to the end of all the popular secular holidays that are celebrated all over the world and we have discussed in previous teachings about their evil origins and how none of them are based on scripture. As sold out disciples of Yeshua we are to walk the path of truth no matter the cost or whatever people think.
However, the common answer given from fellow believers when it comes to celebrating days that are not commanded by YHWH is “But Yeshua knows my heart, so I worship Him on any day I choose and I can participate in pagan days as long as I’m doing it for Him.” But is this an acceptable answer and is that what YHWH says in scripture? Let us examine further.
YHWH says in Leviticus 18:30:
“Therefore shall you keep my ordinance and do not follow any of these abominable customs, which were committed before you came and defile yourselves with them. I am YHWH your Elohim.”
YHWH tells us not to commit the abominable/detestable customs that were practiced because we will defile ourselves; therefore, there is no way a believer should take a pagan custom, ritual, or holiday and “Christianize”. That is where the phrase “marrying paganism with Christianity” stems from. For example, a day like December 25th is the birth of Tammuz the son of the sun god Nimrod (Ba’al), so is it acceptable to say that this day is the birth of Yeshua and “Yeshua is the reason for the season” when He wasn’t born on that day. All we have done is what YHWH told us not to do in Leviticus 18:30. We in our own hearts have tried to bless a day and custom that our Father told us to stay away from, when in actuality on He can bless and sanctify any day.
Furthermore, Paul tells us in 1 Corinithians 12:1-2:
“Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you WERE PAGANS, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.”
The first point that I want to make is that Paul used the past tense saying “were pagans” meaning that true followers of Yeshua have let paganism and idolatry go for the truth and we should no longer have any part in those detestable practices. Secondly, he mentions being led astray by mute idols, which most people automatically think of as carved images of wood and stone. However, we know that idolatry is also things that aren’t of worshipping YHWH through His Son Yeshua. Christmas trees, Easter bunnies, dressing up on Halloween etc are all examples of being “led astray” by false idols/gods as Paul put it.
YHWH is serious about this matter and tell us again about these practices, except this time in Deuteronomy 20:17-18 saying:
“Completely destroy them ---- the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites as YHWH your Elohim has commanded you. Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshipping their gods, and you will sin against YHWH your Elohim.”
Deuteronomy 12:29-31 says:
“YHWH your Elohim will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods?” We will do the same.” You must not worship YHWH your Elohim in their way, because in worshipping their gods, they do all kind of detestable things YHWH hates.”
Whether we realize it or not paganism crept into the true path of worship hundreds of years after the death of the Messiah and we have been deceived in to worshipping gods the way they did which YHWH says is detestable and He even goes on to say that He hates it.
So again, we see that this matter goes deeper than how we feel about doing what we think is right in our hearts, when The Elohim of Israel says bluntly that you will sin against Him. We are either being stubborn when we know the truth and continue down that path or unknowingly worshipping other gods.
We can all be free by giving our lives to Yeshua but we must do it in truth and follow His commandments, laws, and decrees. We are acting out similar to the Tower of Babel under Nimrod’s lead, we choose to construct a building reaching to the heavens to make war with our Creator because we are rebellious in our hearts and we think that YHWH’s commandments are burdensome. We choose to do things and practice pagan customs according to how “we feel” versus what “YHWH’s word” says and there is a huge difference. And is Nimrod still leading that charge today? He absolutely is! As we discussed in previous teachings he and his mother are pawns of satan and responsible for pagan holiday and customs that still occur.
Finally, I will say if the heart was all that mattered in our worship of the King then why would Yeshua scold the Pharisees for this very reason? Yeshua says in Mathew 15:8-9
“These people honor me with their lips, but their HEARTS are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.”
Yes, Yeshua knows our hearts and He also knows that His Father warned our ancestors about pagan customs and traditions of men. We are to steadily seek the truth and do the best we can to walk the narrow path Yeshua speaks of in Mathew 7:13. Let us not become so wise where we put our thoughts about the written word of YHWH and Yeshua. Let us stand up and fight for the Elohim of Israel in truth!