Pagan Days or God's Holy Days

2010 is now history. Another year, with all its observances and rituals have come and gone Year after year, generation upon generation, we continue as before. Are we getting better for all that we do? Do the observances we religiously practice and defend each year bring us closer to God? Do they bring true peace and revelation that lines up with HIS Written Word?" Paul said, in Colossians 2, that the commandments and doctrines of men are of no value against fleshly indulgence. How are we, as HIS professing bride, doing when it comes to fleshly indulgence?

Throughout the year we religiously observe our holidays. We defend them as Christian institutions. Are these observances according to God's Word? Since it is fresh in our memories, what about Christmas?

Each year there are groups of people who fight to "keep Christ in Christmas." Despite what is really going on in the world we hear that it brings us peace on earth and good will to men. Every year I hear people saying that this year will be different. This Christmas will be special. It will be all about Christ. But, in spite of this we see more depression, anger, murder, suicide, greed and selfishness. But, you say, "This is simply what some make of it. To me it is all about Christ's birth." But is it? What does history tell us about Christmas? Does it matter what you or I say it means to us? What does God say about it?

With very little effort you can find the historical truth about Christmas. School libraries, public libraries, and Google will yield more information than you can find time to read. Christmas is a pagan celebration of the winter solstice and the observance of the birth of Mithra, the false pagan god of the sun. Christ wasn't born December 25^th. All the ritual and tradition of Christmas finds its roots in pagan idolatry and not in the Word of God. Most theologians believe Christ was born in the Spring or Fall. I believe that an in-depth study of HIS Word will show HIS birth during the Biblical Fall Feast of Tabernacles, making sense of what Isaiah said, "HIS name will be called Emanuel, meaning God with us." A tabernacle is a dwelling place and HE came to dwell among us.

A clue to start your Biblical research into the timing of Jesus' birth is to take note of the conception of John the Baptist immediately after his father's time of service in the temple.

But, you might say, "I use this time of year to reach out to the unsaved to lead them to Christ." Is this God's way of evangelism? Can the things that HE has forbidden, that oppose HIM, lead people to HIM?

The traditional religious observances of the professing church are all rooted in pagan sun worship that is forbidden by the Scriptures. They are commandments and doctrines of men that lead us away from the God of the Bible instead of to HIM. Ezekiel speaks specifically about sun worship. God, speaking through Moses, commanded that we are not to worship HIM with abominable pagan practices. Jeremiah 10 gives us a pretty clear example of the pagan practice of decorating a tree and bringing it into our home. These things are Babylonian and we are commanded in Revelation to come out of Babylon because judgment is coming upon her. She is described as the harlot. The harlot is defined clearly throughout the Word of God as those who profess to be HIS bride while committing adultery with foreign gods. The harlot church is alive and well today. She is Babylon.

The annual Holy Days of the LORD, clearly revealed in HIS Word, begin with HIS New Year sometime in March-April. Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost round out the Spring feasts. Jesus has fulfilled all these by HIS first coming. HE will, at HIS second coming, fulfill the Fall Feasts of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. These Moedim, meaning Appointed Times, of the LORD tell us about Yahshua, known as Jesus, and HIS plan for us. But the harlot church has set them aside for her traditions. The observance of pagan tradition leads us to a false Messiah. But observance of the Holy Appointed Times of the Messiah lead us to the true Messiah. Today's professing church would experience the same difficulty in recognizing the true Messiah as did Israel when HE came the first time, for the same reason; tradition that adds to and or subtracts from HIS Torah.

Yahshua told us in Matthew 15 and Mark 7 that men set aside God's commandments in order to keep their traditions. HE clearly shows that man's traditions are the problem. God's Word, HIS Torah is never the problem. Deuteronomy 4 and Revelation 22 define the problem as adding to or subtracting from HIS Word. We see it evident from the lie in Genesis in the beginning; "Did God really say?" Adam and Eve, choosing to believe the lying serpent instead of God, were removed from the garden so that they could not eat of the Tree of Life and live forever. Pay close attention to Revelation 22. At the time of the end, we are told that only those who keep the commandments of God have the right to eat of the Tree of Life.

Jesus, said, "If you love ME, keep MY commandments." Exodus 20 tells us that HIS mercy is reserved for those who love HIM and keep HIS commandments. Deuteronomy 30 reads that life and death have been set before us, "in that I command you to love the LORD your God, to walk in HIS Ways and to keep HIS commandments and HIS statutes and HIS judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it." The Tree of Life is available to those who keep HIS commandments. It is only accomplished by HIS work of grace, through faith - believing what HE said.

Tradition, handed down over thousands of years, throughout generations, make it a difficult task to sort out the lie from the Truth. Our emotional attachment to tradition and things and people can prove to be a stronger draw to us than our love for Messiah. Remember HE said, "If you love ME, keep MY commandments." but what if keeping HIS commandments causes separation from family and friends? What if it costs you your livelihood? What if it causes you to lose prestige and standing in the community? The cost to our flesh is high. But the reward in the Spirit is eternal and far surpassing the temporal carnal gain. You might say that following Jesus would never cause division in a family. But remember this one you call Jesus said that HE didn't come to bring peace but to bring a sword that would divide mother and daughter, father and son, and that a man's enemies would be those of his own household. The sword HE brings is the Sword of HIS Mouth. It is HIS Word, HIS Torah from the beginning. When you count the cost are you willing to pay the price? HE loved us enough to pay a price we could not pay. HE bought us with HIS blood. It was because of HIS love for us, HIS creation that HE was willing to do this. HE paid the price to buy back HIS field; HIS pearl of great price. HE bought back what HE created for HIMSELF. See Colossians Chapter 2. And because of HIS love for us, when we respond to HIS love, in love for HIM, it is only because HE first loved us. It is HIS grace that will strengthen you to pay the cost. Our flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God. Why are we feeding it. It is only that which is born of the Spirit of God that will enter into eternity with HIM. Should we not crucify our flesh man and submit to HIS Spirit in us?

Romans Chapters 6-8 have a lot to say about lawlessness, which is sin consistently in the Bible. Throughout Romans Paul discusses faith and grace and the Spirit of God that dwells in the heart of a true believer. In Romans 8 he contrasts the flesh that cannot submit to the Torah with the man or woman of God who has the Holy Spirit indwelling him or her. The message is clear; HIS Spirit in us, working grace in us as we submit to HIM and HIS Word, causes us to walk as HE walked - obediently to HIS Torah commandments. This is the New Covenant, as is outlined in Ezekiel 36, Jeremiah 31, and Hebrews 8. Paul is speaking of the same thing when he defines grace in Ephesians 2:8-10.

Yes, the cost is great, but the reward is greater! In fact it is what HE requires of HIS followers. This year, instead of simply continuing as we've always done, let us open our eyes, our ears, and our heart to
HIS Truth. May we take the time to do the historical and Biblical research. And have a willing heart to change for HIM. I pray you will. Set aside man's traditional commandments and doctrines of pagan inspired holidays that have nothing to do with our Creator and begin to observe HIS Feast Days as outlined in HIS Word, asking HIM to reveal HIMSELF to you through them. You will see a little more every year as you continue to obey HIM in meeting with HIM during HIS Moedim that we are commanded to appear before HIM. The more you remove the lying traditions of men the more the veil is removed from your eyes. The veil, as 2^nd Corinthians 3 tells us, is removed when we turn to Messiah. The veil is there in the reading of the Scriptures of what is called the Old Testament. The Truth of the Holy Scriptures are veiled to us, as they were to the Scribes and Pharisees, because of our traditional approach to HIS Truth.

You can learn more by visiting Messiah Fellowship Online where you will find videos and articles that will give you places to start your studies. But my ultimate goal is that you will study for yourself, set aside the colored spectacles of traditional Christianity, and allow HIS Spirit and Truth to teach you. As Scripture teaches us, you shall then know the Truth and the Truth will set you free; not free from HIS Word, but free from lawless sin that holds you in bondage.