This post is aimed at the eronious practices of the 'church'. The celebration of pagan rituals like christmas and others are just a few examples. Can anyone prove that christmas is indeed scriptural and prove that it is Yahoshua's birthday? I would like to see it if you can.
Who cares if it is the correct date.
Who cares if it used to be pagan.
Paul taught us that even eating from the table of food offered to an idol is nothing if we know the idol is nothing.
Christians who celebrate Christmas as a way to honor and worship the Lord Jesus Christ are no different than those who follow Paul's instructions.
The same goes for Easter and all the other celebrations.
No one might be tempted to say that with that approach one coudl justify anything - and they would be right.
We have a liberty under the new covenant. We are not fulfilling the letter of the law but the spirit of the law. God wishes us to worship Him. It does not matter how specifically, only that we do. In fact God has told us He does not want sacrifices but mercy. He would rather we fulfill the law through love then get tied down in literal legalism over dates and rituals. That Christ's sacrifice made this new economy of salvation possible is the true message of the Gospel.
You are in error. It does matter. Everything matters and when people take on the belief that 'it's ok as long as you do it unto Him' is one of the main reasons the body is in the shape its in.
Isaiah 1
1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for YHWH hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken YHWH, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
1:5 Why should ye be stricken any more?
ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and
the whole heart faint.1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.1:7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
1:8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
1:9 Except YHWH of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
1:10 Hear the word of YHWH, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our Elohim, ye people of Gomorrah.
1:11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith YHWH: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
1:12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith YHWH: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of YHWH hath spoken it.
1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
1:22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
1:23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
1:24 Therefore saith the Master, YHWH of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
1:25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
1:26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellers as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
1:27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.
1:28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake YHWH shall be consumed.
1:29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
1:30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.
1:31 And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
Verses 13 and 14 cover what He thinks of christmas, easter, and any other pagan ritual people who claim to be His participate in.
I would like to know what verses you are talking about concerning the teachings of Paul.
One more thing concerning this chapter. The Holy Spirit has revealed this to me and others I know as the current condition of the modern 'so called' new testament church. And the 'whole head that is sick' are the pastors over the flocks. And the 'whole heart is faint' is the flock. Verse 6 gives a complete diagnosis of the 'church'.
I'm not trying to stir up strife, but I must do as He instructs me to do. I pray you and I find the truth.
Strong Defender
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