We have learned how God feels
about mixing pagan worship with the truth
As we examine the roots of these celebrations,
keep in mind that we must worship in the way God approves
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| Christmas
The Bible does not give the date of Jesus’ birth,
nor does it say that we should celebrate his birthday.
As McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia states:
“The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment,
nor is it of NT [New Testament] origin.”
Instead, an examination of the history of Christmas exposes
its roots in pagan religious rites.
The Bible shows that we offend God if we try to worship him
in a way that he does not approve of.—Exodus 32:5-7.
History of Christmas customs
1. Celebrating Jesus’ birthday: “The early Christians did not celebrate
[Jesus’] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth
to be a pagan custom.” The World Book Encyclopedia.
2. December 25: There is no proof that Jesus was born on that date.
Church leaders likely chose this date to coincide with pagan festivals
held on or around the winter solstice.
3. Gift-giving, feasting, partying: The Encyclopedia Americana
says: “Saturnalia, a Roman feast celebrated in mid-December,
provided the model for many of the merry-making customs of Christmas.
From this celebration, for example, were derived the elaborate feasting,
the giving of gifts, and the burning of candles.” The Encyclopædia Britannica
notes that “all work and business were suspended” during Saturnalia.
4. Christmas lights: According to The Encyclopedia of Religion,
Europeans decorated their homes “with lights and evergreens of all kinds”
to celebrate the winter solstice and to combat evil spirits.
5. Mistletoe, holly: “The Druids ascribed magical properties to the
mistletoe in particular. The evergreen holly was worshiped as a
promise of the sun’s return.”—The Encyclopedia Americana.
6. Christmas tree: “Tree worship, common among the pagan Europeans,
survived after their conversion to Christianity.” One of the ways in
which tree worship survived is in the custom of “placing a Yule tree at an
entrance or inside the house in the midwinter holidays.”Encyclopædia Britannica.
When was Jesus born?
The Bible does not give a specific date for the birth of Jesus Christ, as these reference works show:
“The true birth date of Christ is unknown.” New Catholic Encyclopedia.
“The exact date of Christ’s birth is not known.” Encyclopedia of Early Christianity.
While the Bible does not directly answer the question,
‘When was Jesus born?’ it does describe two events surrounding his birth
that lead many to conclude that he was not born on December 25. Not in winter
1. The registration. Shortly before Jesus was born, Caesar Augustus issued a decree ordering
“all the inhabited earth to be registered.” Everyone had to register in “his own city,”
which might have required a journey of a week or more. (Luke 2:1-3) That order, probably
made to support taxation and military conscription, would have been unpopular at any time of year,
but it is unlikely that Augustus would have provoked his subjects further by forcing many of them
to make long trips during the cold winter.
2. The sheep. Shepherds were “living out of doors and keeping watches in the night
over their flocks.” (Luke 2:8) The book Daily Life in the Time of Jesus notes that flocks
lived in the open air from “the week before the Passover (late March)” through mid-November.
It then adds: “They passed the winter under cover; and from this alone it may be seen
that the traditional date for Christmas, in the winter, is unlikely to be right,
since the Gospel says that the shepherds were in the fields.”
In early fall
We can estimate when Jesus was born by counting backward from his death on Passover,
Nisan 14 in the spring of the year 33 C.E. (John 19:14-16)
Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his three and a half year ministry,
so he was born in the early fall of 2 B.C.E.—Luke 3:23.
Why is Christmas on December 25?
Since there is no evidence that the birth of Jesus Christ occurred on December 25,
why is Christmas celebrated on this date?
According to The Encyclopedia Americana,
many scholars believe that this was done
“in order to make Christianity more meaningful to pagan converts.”
The Encyclopædia Britannica says that church leaders probably chose it
“to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking
the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun,’” at the time of the winter solstice.
The Truth is:
Christmas is rooted in pagan worship
December 25 was chosen to attract pagans (non Christians)
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| Easter
The celebration of Easter is not based on the Bible.
If you look into its history, though, you will see the true meaning of Easter,
it is a tradition based on ancient fertility rites. Consider the following.
1. Name: The Encyclopædia Britannica says: “The English name Easter is of uncertain origin;
the Anglo-Saxon priest Venerable Bede in the 8th century derived it from the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess Eostre.”
Others link it to Astarte, the Phoenician fertility goddess who had the Babylonian counterpart Ishtar.
2. Hares, rabbits: These are symbols of fertility “handed down from the ancient ceremonial
and symbolism of European and Middle Eastern pagan spring festivals.” Encyclopædia Britannica.
3. Eggs: According to Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend,
the hunt for Easter eggs, supposedly brought by the Easter rabbit, “is not mere child’s play,
but the vestige of a fertility rite.” Some cultures believed that the decorated Easter egg
“could magically bring happiness, prosperity, health, and protection.” Traditional Festivals.
4. New Easter outfit: “It was considered discourteous and therefore bad luck to greet the
Scandinavian goddess of Spring, or Eastre, in anything but fresh garb.”The Giant Book of Superstitions.
5. Sunrise services: These have been linked to rites of ancient sun worshippers
“performed at the vernal equinox welcoming the sun and its great power to bring new life
to all growing things.” Celebrations—The Complete Book of American Holidays.
The American Book of Days well describes the origin of Easter:
“There is no doubt that the Church in its early days adopted the
old pagan customs and gave a Christian meaning to them.”
The Bible warns against worshipping God
by following traditions or customs that displease him.
(Mark 7:6-8) Second Corinthians 6:17 states:
“‘Separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah,‘and quit touching the unclean thing.’”
Easter is a pagan holiday that those who want to please God will avoid.
The Truth is:
Easter is another adoption of pagan worship
with the worship of pagan furtility goddesses
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| Halloween
The Bible does not mention Halloween.
However, both the ancient origins of Halloween and its modern customs show it to be
a celebration based on false beliefs about the dead and invisible spirits, or demons.
The Bible warns: “There must never be anyone among you who . . .
consults ghosts or spirits, or calls up the dead.” (Deuteronomy 18:10, 12
While some view Halloween as harmless fun,
the Bible indicates that the practices associated with it are not.
1. Samhain: The origin of Halloween can be traced to this
“ancient pagan festival celebrated by Celtic
people over 2,000 years ago,” states The World Book Encyclopedia.
“The Celts believed that the dead could walk among the living at this time.
During Samhain, the living could visit with the dead.” However,
the Bible clearly teaches that the dead “are conscious of nothing at all.”
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) Thus, they cannot contact the living.
2. Halloween costumes, candy, and trick or treat: According to the book Halloween An American Holiday,
An American History, some of the Celts wore ghoulish costumes so that wandering spirits would mistake them
for one of their own and leave them alone. Others offered sweets to the spirits to appease them.
In medieval Europe, the Catholic clergy adopted local pagan customs and had their adherents go
from house to house wearing costumes and requesting small gifts. The Bible, on the other hand,
does not permit merging false religious practices with the worship of God. 2 Corinthians 6:17.
3. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, and zombies: These have long been associated with the
evil spirit world. (Halloween Trivia) The Bible clearly states that we should oppose wicked spirit forces,
not celebrate with them. Ephesians 6:12.
4. Halloween pumpkins, or jack o’lanterns: In medieval Britain, “supplicants moved from door to door
asking for food in return for a prayer for the dead,” and they would carry “hollowed-out turnip lanterns,
whose candle connoted a soul trapped in purgatory.” (Halloween From Pagan Ritual to Party Night)
Others say that the lanterns were used to ward off evil spirits.
During the 1800’s in North America, pumpkins replaced turnips because they were plentiful
as well as easy to hollow out and carve. The beliefs behind this custom? the immortality of the soul,
purgatory, and prayers for the dead, are not based on the Bible. Ezekiel 18:4.
At 1 Corinthians 10:20, 21, the Bible says:
“I do not want you to be participants with demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too.
The Truth is:
Halloween promotes false beliefs about the dead
God strongly condems giving honor to wicked spirits
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If we want to live forever on paradise earth,
The Bible is clear, we must worship in the way God approves
In John 17:3 In prayer to God, Jesus said:
“This means everlasting life, their coming to know you,
the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”
How can you find the Truth?
Your Bible clearly identifies the true religion.
You can learn and apply the truth found in God's word,
and you will live on earth in perfect health forever. . . .
The Choice is yours. . .
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