Scripture expressly forbids the worship of other gods.

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3

"And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth." Exodus 23:13

Yet, for some reason, many forget the idolatry of Israel's past and the resulting captivity. Somehow the church believes that they may mix pagan religions with G-d's truth and still end up with acceptable HolyDays for G-d. That didn't work for Israel then and it won't work for believers today. YHVH and other gods DO NOT MIX. YHVH's festivals and pagan festivals DO NOT MIX. When you mix something unclean with something clean -- both become defiled.

In time, the early church became more Gentile, and the Jewish roots of the faith gradually became lost. The majority of these new Christians came from pagan cultures. The early Gentile church leaders realized it was easier to gain converts to this new Christianity if pagan elements were mixed in.

Christmas attempts to incorporate the birth of Yeshua with the old pagan festival of Saturnalia:

Saturn* (mythology), in Roman mythology, ancient god of agriculture. In later legends he was identified with the Greek god Cronus, who, after having been dethroned by his son Zeus (in Roman mythology, Jupiter), fled to Italy, where he ruled during the Golden Age, a time of perfect peace and happiness. Beginning on December 17 of each year, during the festival known as the Saturnalia, the Golden Age was restored for seven days. All business stopped and executions and military operations were postponed. It was a period of goodwill, devoted to banquets and the exchange of visits and gifts. A special feature of the festival was the freedom given to slaves, who during this time had first place at the family table and were served by their masters.

Easter attempts to combine the FirstFruits resurrection of Yeshua with the pagan goddess Eastre:

Easter** -- a Christian festival, embodies many pre-Christian traditions. The origin of its name is unknown. Scholars, however, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe it probably comes from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom was dedicated a month corresponding to April. Her festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox; traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts.

Sha'ul was the first evangelist to deal with pagans who were coming into the new faith, he too wrote about their attempts to maintain their old festivals:

"But at that time, having no knowledge of God, you were servants to those who by right are no gods: But now that you have come to have knowledge of God, or more truly, God has knowledge of you, how is it that you go back again to the poor and feeble first things, desiring to be servants to them again? You keep days, and months, and fixed times, and years. I am in fear of you, that I may have been working for you to no purpose." Galatians 4:10

The things of YHVH cannot be mixed with the things of hasatan, or else both become unclean:

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Messiah with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father to you; and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord, the Ruler of all." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

*Saturn (mythology)," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

**Easter," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Return to main menu