The next few blogs are not likely to win me any popularity contests. Tradition is something that is very near and dear to most people and my hope here is in no way to offend or bring condemnation on anyone. Traditions you choose to hold in your family are truly between you and God.
The next few blogs I will be sharing a bit about the origins of some of our Christian “holy” days. I pray that everything will be received with the right heart as I go into the roots of paganism in many of our holiday traditions. I really can’t touch on them all. The more I study; the more information becomes overwhelming to me because there really is so much out there.
So why has this happened? Why has the Christian church accepted the entwining of paganism—something the Bible speaks very clearly about into the church? Many of the traditions were adopted as a way for missionaries to incorporate Christianity in the early centuries following Christ’s resurrection.
In Exodus 32:1-12, the children of Israel became rebellious and came to Aaron with the suggestion of making idols for them to worship. As they did, Aaron proclaimed that the next day would be a feast to the LORD. That next day they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to their new gods, everyone enjoying themselves. The Lord then instructed Moses to go down from the mountain to the people who God said had corrupted themselves. As God told Moses He would consume them, Moses pleaded for their sake. We learn that though God did have mercy on them, when He saw the people continued to worship their gods in festival, He told Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” He then plagued the people.
In 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 talks about avoiding idolatry. Verse 20 begins talking about making sacrifices to demons rather than God. “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord ’s table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?” (Verse 21-22) But as we go down to read verses 23-30, we hear something more. In reference to meat which may or may not have been used in idol worship, for example, we may eat what is sold; but it’s better to not ask questions for conscience’ sake. If a non-believer invites us to dinner, we are permitted to eat with them but told not to ask questions about the food for the same reason. If we are told it was offered to idols, we are not to eat it. Likely because in doing so, we’d be knowingly be accepting something that was used in an offensive way to God. Verses 31-33 are as follows and hopefully encouraging to you as you learn more about the origins of many of our traditions:
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
Please visit some related blogs:
The Roots of Christmas Traditions
Scripture reference is quoted from the NKJV.