Chosen or Rejected: Does God Hate the Jews?

Anti-Semitism is at an all-time high in America and abroad. 

     In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. There was no sin. There was no death. But it did not last. Eve was deceived by Satan, tricked into sinning against God. But Adam sinned willingly, joining her in eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Sin entered the world that day, and death spread to all things. (Romans 5:12) However God promised that a savior would come to break sin's curse:

"... And I will cause hostility between you (Satan) and the woman,

    and between your offspring and her offspring.

He will strike your head,

    and you will strike his heel.”

~ Genesis 3:15 New Living Translation (NLT)

     This is the first time in the Bible that Jesus is mentioned, and it happened three chapters into the very first book of the Old Testament. Later on in Genesis 12:2-3 God chose Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, to be the instrument of His divine plan for the redemption of mankind. But God also issues a warning to those who would oppose His chosen people saying that He would bless those who blessed Abraham and his descendants and curse those who cursed them. And this is exactly what we see throughout history. Nations and people who hate and persecute the Jews are ultimately destroyed. From the Pharaoh of Egypt in Moses’ day all the way to Adolph Hitler and his Nazi regime, God has continued to rescue His people from slavery and extermination time and time again, even though many of the persecutions suffered by the Jewish people have been as a direct result of their disobedience. (I go over this in greater detail in my two-part series: God of Wrath or God of Mercy?) 

     However, despite this overwhelming historical evidence, some continue to argue that God's warning in Genesis 12 only applied to Abraham, and that God somehow went back on His word after the Jews rejected Jesus and had him crucified by the Roman authorities. But the Bible makes it abundantly clear in verses like 1 Kings 6:13, Psalms 89:33-34, and Romans 9-11 that God will never abandon His people Israel.

     Therefore, for one to argue that God has rejected Israel, one must also argue that God can go back on His word and/or break His covenants--even the "everlasting covenant" He made to Abraham in Genesis 17. Which would of course bring the validity of the entire Bible into question, since this would imply that neither God nor His Word can be trusted. At which point the entire argument is nullified since neither God nor His connection to Israel has any bearing without a belief in the infallible aspects of God and the divine nature of Scripture. 

    That being said, it is also important to note that Jesus was himself a Jew. According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was circumcised when he was eight days old; observed the Sabbath and the Passover; worshiped in the synagogues and even read the Torah; thus fulfilling the promise God made to Abraham when He said that He would use the Jewish nation to bring salvation to all people. And while it is true that the Jews were responsible for Jesus' death, I want to remind you that this was God's plan from the very beginning. God sent Jesus to die for the sins of mankind. The Old Testament is full of references to the crucifixion, and even Jesus himself predicted his death time and time again. The only reason we have any hope at all is because of Jesus' death and resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:1-19, Romans 8:1-4, 31-39) So if you blame the Jews for Jesus' death then you might as well blame God, too--seeing as how it was His idea to kill Jesus in the first place. 

    So then, does God hate the Jews, His "Special Possession?" (Deuteronomy 7:6, Exodus 19:5, Isaiah 19:25, Psalm 135:4 etc.)

     No.

     Has He changed His mind and broken His "everlasting covenant" with the decedents of Abraham?

     Hardly. 

     In fact, I would argue that God has done the exact opposite. In 1948 God kept His promise once again and restored the nation of Israel, fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah, written 2,600 years ago:

"He will raise a flag among the nations..."
Isaiah 11:12

"In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time

    to bring back the remnant of his people—

those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt;

    in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam;

    in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands.

He will raise a flag among the nations

    and assemble the exiles of Israel.

He will gather the scattered people of Judah

    from the ends of the earth.

Then at last the jealousy between Israel and Judah will end.

    They will not be rivals anymore."

~ Isaiah 11:11-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

     God has not abandoned Israel, nor does He hate her. Even in rebellion the Jews are still God's Chosen People. God doesn't change, He will keep His promise to Abraham. It is only when we abandon God's Word for the opinions of men and our own self-righteousness that we begin to think that God has favorites; that He hates one group of people while loving the other, when the Bible clearly says otherwise. (Romans 2:11) This is why it is so important to test everything against God's Word. There are many false teachers out there who strategically manipulate the Scriptures, omitting or altering passages that conflict with their theologies in order to justify their beliefs and/or actions. The only way to spot the lies is to know what God's Word really says. And the only way to know what God's Word really says is to study it daily.

    As the Apostle Paul, a Jew, said in his second letter to Timothy:

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right."

~ 2 Timothy 3:16 New Living Translation (NLT)

Never Underestimate the Power of Prayer

"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

~ Ephesians 6:10-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

   With everything that is going on in the world today, I think we as Christians need to remember that our greatest weapon in this fight is prayer. What do you think would happen if instead of sharing articles on Facebook and protesting the latest political happenings, we went into our rooms, shut the door, and prayed for our world? If God's people asked Him to win this war by changing the lives of individuals, one community at a time, don't you think He would answer? After all, God's Word says that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us, and is more than willing to answer us and give us anything we ask for. (1 John 5:14-15) And we know that God's will is for everyone to be saved. (2 Peter 3:9, Ezekiel 18:23) So why wouldn't God answer a prayer for people to be saved?

   That being said, I want to challenge and encourage you Christians out there to pray for this world, starting with your own, individual communities.
   Instead of ranting on the internet and street corners, pray that God would move in the hearts of the people around you; ask Him for wisdom and the words to say when they ask you why it is that you have so much hope, when everything around us seems so hopeless. (1 Peter 3:15)
   When you hear about the persecution our brothers and sisters are going through, pray that God would encourage them and give them strength to stand against Satan's advancing armies. Ask God to use the persecution to win over the hearts of His enemies--just as He has done throughout history. That is how this war will be won, not through force of arms, but rather through the power of God's Word and the truth of Jesus Christ. As Jesus himself put it:

 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven ... "

~ Matthew 5:43-45a New Living Translation (NLT)

What about Phoebe?

There's a lot of talk these days about how the Bible's ideals and moral principles are obsolete for today's society; the result of man's attempt to enforce order and control over weak-minded and/or ignorant individuals.
Perhaps the most hotly contested topic of all is the role of women in the church, and indeed the rest of society.

Understandably there are many individuals who are offended by what the Bible says in verses like Ephesians 5:22-24, Colossians 3:18, and especially 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.
For this reason many people, including Christians, have come to the conclusion that the Apostle Paul was a sexist. (Even though the Apostle Peter said the exact same things in 1 Peter 3:1-6) However, there is one passage of scripture that I would like to present as evidence to the contrary:

"I (Paul) commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me."
~ Romans 16:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT) 

Paul clearly thought very highly of Phoebe, and did not see himself as superior to her. In fact, he even went so far as to instruct the Church in Rome to welcome her as someone "worthy of honor." She was not a subservient, voiceless puppet. She was a person; Paul's sister in Christ, and a great help to him on his missionary journeys--something that would have been completely counter-cultural in the first century AD. 

Furthermore, the Bible goes on to tell us that "all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT) )

Are we then permitted to choose which verses apply to us and which ones do not? Obviously not! Either the Bible is the Word of God, or it isn't. We don't get to pick and choose. Just because something is hard to understand or is offensive to our 21st century culture, doesn't mean that it is any less relevant. Cultures may change. But God's Word endures forever. (1 Peter 1:25) 

See Also:

Women and the Bible: Is Bible Sexist?

Concerning Prophets ...

This is something I came across in my studies last year that I found quite interesting and thought I would share with the rest of you.

When you hear the word "prophet", what is the first thing that comes to mind?

For most of us, the word "prophet" usually conjures up images of men in robes with long, white beards, or individuals with the supernatural gift to gaze into the future and make predictions or prophecies. Even though the latter description is more indicative of a fortuneteller--not a prophet.

But if we look at the Old Testament Biblical account we find that most prophets were actually quite different. Many of them did foresee future events--especially those sounding the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. But often times the message given by prophets in the Old Testament was one of repentance and obedience to God. A good example of this is the story of Jonah. Despite the fact that he never made a signal prophesy, Jonah is still counted among the Old Testament prophets. So in that respect, a Biblical prophet had more in common with a street-preaceher than a fortuneteller.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul describes the role of prophets this way:

"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ."

~ Ephesians 4:11-13New Living Translation (NLT) [Emphasis Mine]

So what is a prophet? 

In the Biblical sense, a prophet is a messenger--someone who, when filled with the Holy Spirit, teaches others about God. In the Old Testament God used prophets as His representatives on earth; pouring out His Spirit on certain individuals for a limited time. After Christ's resurrection and ascent into Heaven, God sent His Holy Spirit to permanently indwell those who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And with the Holy Spirit also came the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, which include the gift of prophesy. (1 Corinthians 12) 

Is this gift any different now than it was before? Not at all. The only difference today is that we all know what God's will is because He has revealed it to us through His Word:

"The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."

~ 2 Peter 3:9New Living Translation (NLT)

A prophet is not a fortuneteller. A prophet is someone who tells others the truth about God, explaining God's will for them by proclaiming the Good News about Jesus Christ to everyone who will listen. 

The Call to Repent

If you've been around churches for any length of time, then you've probably come to realize that the topic of repentance is a reoccurring theme in the Christian community. And while it is true that we are to repent of our sins, I feel that far to often our focus drifts away from the grace and mercy of God  and instead lingers on the promises of hell-fire and eternal damnation for those who refuse to confess their sins and repent. What is even more disturbing to me, is that we then turn around and justify ourselves by attaching verses like John 3:16 to signs, bumper-stickers, and sermons condemning the people around us —the very people that God loves and died to save. (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-11)

Indeed, most Christians can quote John 3:16 by heart—many nonbelievers also know what it says. But very few people take the time to read what Jesus goes on to say in the following verses.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

~ John 3:16-21New Living Translation (NLT)

Do you see what Jesus is saying here? It is not through repentance that we are saved; is is through faith in Him alone! Salvation is not the result of repentance; repentance is the result of salvation. (1 Peter 1:13-25)

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we are to continue living in sin. Nor am I trying to downplay humanity's need for a savior or the existence of hell. What I am saying however, is that we need to remember what it is that saves us. It isn't the good things that we do. It isn't our own righteousness. It is by grace that we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ; not our repentance. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  And while it is true that all sin, great or small, leads to death (Romans 6:23), I want you to look very closely at what Jesus said in John 3:18-19. 

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil."

~ John 3:18-19New Living Translation (NLT)

What sin is the world going to be judged for? 

Rejecting Jesus Christ. 

That is the only sin that cannot be forgiven: blaspheming the Holy Spirit by ignoring His convictions and rejecting what Jesus has done for you. (John 16:8, 1 John 5:1-12) 

So then, how are we to reach people for Christ? We could focus on repentance and condemnation. But that can lead to legalism and self-righteousness, which would do more harm than good.
Remember: the Holy Spirit is our helper. It is He that teaches us to follow God and reveals the sin in our lives. Without Him we are blind. So how can a person who has never accepted Christ be expected to see their sin as anything other than normal human behavior? (Jude 19) 
When we make a habit of pointing out the sins of strangers we become Pharisees and hypocrites. We push them away from God, and reinforce the negative stereotype of Christians, the Church, and ultimately Jesus himself—who is the head of the Church. 

That being said I feel that the best way to show people God's love is through actions—following the example given to us in 1 Peter 3:8-17.

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life
    and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
    against those who do evil."

"Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!"

~ 1 Peter 3:8-17New Living Translation (NLT)

Get to know the people you are trying to reach. Be friends with the unsaved people in your lives. Don't join them in doing the things you know are sinful. But take the opportunity to tell them about your faith gently, without attacking them. Remember, they have been blinded to the truth. (2 Corinthians 4:3-5) You can't help a blind man to see by beating him with a stick. The same is true of unbelievers. We can't force people to see the sin in their lives by beating them over the head with a Bible. The only way for them to truly repent is for God to soften their hearts and change them from within. If they are receptive to His truth and repent of their original sin—denying Jesus—then they will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Their eyes will be opened. They will see their sin for what it truly is and begin to repent as a result.

That is the mistake that far too many Christians make. Repentance isn't a once-in-a-lifetime event: it's an event that takes a lifetime, and ultimately ends with our sanctification. A righteous life isn't a sprint; it's a marathon. And the only way to finish strong is to have Jesus running along side you. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy[ awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne."

~ Hebrews 12:1-2New Living Translation (NLT)

See Also:

"Excuse me, but do you know that you're going to hell?"

The Devil's Deception

One of the biggest misconceptions people have today is that God and Satan are equal opposites. God is the ruler of Heaven and is the embodiment of good, whereas Satan is the ruler of Hell and represents all things evil. This dualistic belief however is a lie harkening back to the ancient Gnostic teachings of the First Century AD.
    Satan is a created being (what many would call an "angel") and is not equal to God in any way. In fact, even though he is in open rebellion against God, Satan still has to answer to God and seek God’s permission before he can do anything. (Job 1:6-12)
    Furthermore, Satan is not the “Ruler of Hell”, nor does he currently reside therein. According to the Bible, Hell was created—not for bad people, as some would believe—but rather as a place of punishment for Satan and the other fallen angels. (Matthew 25:41) That being said, Satan is currently in heaven accusing us before God, and will not be cast out until the End of Days. (Revelation 12:10-12)

    Heaven is God’s courtroom. Satan is the prosecuting attorney, accusing us day and night while Jesus speaks in our defense. (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:24-25)

   

    Another huge misconception people have is that Satan makes them sin. I’m sure you’ve all heard the phase “The Devil made me do it”? Well, this is simply not the case.
    According to God’s word, we sin on our own, tempted from within. Very rarely does a temptation come from an external source.  (Jeremiah 17:9, Mathew 15:19, James 1:13-15) In fact, the only biblical examples I can think of where someone was tempted externally are when Satan deceived Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, and when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Aside from that, sin usually follows the example of Achan in Joshua 7:19-21.

   The truth is, Satan has always wanted to be equal with God—if not greater than Him. This attitude of self-deification was the sin that caused him to fall in the first place. (Isaiah 14:12-15) So if Satan can deceive the world into thinking that he is more powerful than he is, or that he and God are equal opposites, then he can enjoy some small measure of victory before his eminent destruction. But Satan is a defeated enemy. Jesus conquered both sin and death when he rose from the dead. Therefore, it is through Jesus Christ alone that our freedom is found. For there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:11-12)

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.”

~ Romans 8:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

~ Romans 16:20 New Living Translation (NLT)

See Also:

A Tale of Two Wolves: The Battle Between Good and Evil

Does the Bible Contradict Itself?

    Now, while I fully intended to write a lengthy dissertation on the subject of whether or not the
Bible can be trusted or if it contains any contradictions, I have discovered that there are many authors out there who have already done this job for me. With that in mind, I have decided to simply share the links to their works on the subject, as I feel it would be far easier on you, the reader, if you are given the opportunity to narrow your search to specific passages of scripture; seeing as how Biblical constancy is such a broad topic.

    For a generalized overview concerning supposed scriptural contradictions, I suggest reading the following chapter from The New Answers Book 2 by Paul S. Taylor: Ins't the Bible Full of Contradictions?

    If you already have a supposed Biblical inconsistency in mind, I suggest reviewing the questions and verse references from Answers in Genesis, as they have already address many of the more common "contradictions": Supposed Contradictions in the Bible

    If, however, you cannot find the answers you're looking for or if you are curious to see what my take on a particular "contradiction" is, please leave a comment below and I will do my best to address the issue. Assuming I have not already done so in a previous article. In which case I will simply direct you to the appropriate post.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right."

~ 2 Timothy 3:16 New Living Translation (NLT)

Beware of False Prophets

"No such thing as bad student, only bad teacher. Teacher say, student do."

               ~ Mr. Miyagi

                    The Karate Kid (1984)

                                                        

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

~ Matthew 7:15-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

    You will know a tree by its fruit. That was the advice Jesus gave to his followers so that they would be able to identify the false prophets who would come in the Last Days. (Matthew 24:11)
    Now it is important to note that we have been in the "Last Days" since Jesus ascended to Heaven That being said, it is astonishing to me how so many people have failed to heed Jesus’ warning over the centuries. Many false teachers have come and gone, and yet people continue to fall prey to their lies—even Christians fail to see the threat until it is too late. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

    So then, how does one spot a false prophet? What sort of fruit does a bad tree produce?

1) If a teacher preaches a gospel other than the one given to us in the Bible, or if they willingly contradict the Scriptures with their teachings, don’t believe them.

(1 Timothy 6:3-5, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4)

2) If a teacher claims to have had a "new revelation" or "special knowledge" do not believe them—even if they claim to have received such knowledge from an angel, dream, or vision. (Galatians 1:6-10)

3) If a teacher claims that the Body of Christ (The Church) is "deluded" or has been "hiding the truth from people", and that the key to being spiritual is to follow their "superior knowledge" instead of trusting in the Grace and Mercy of God; then they are stirring up dissension in the Church and are most likely a false prophet. (1 Timothy 1:3-7, 6:3-5, Galatians 5:7-15)

4) If a person’s teachings create a spiritual hierarchy or an elitist division in the Body of Christ (i.e. Some Christians are more spiritual than others because they have certain Gifts of the Holy Spirit, follow The Law, or do or don't do this or that, etc.) have nothing to do with them. (1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Titus 3:9-11)

5) If a person claims to be either sinless or Christ, or if they claim to know when Christ is going to return, then they are definitely a false prophet. (Romans 3:10-12, Mark 13:21-22, 32-33)

6) If a person tells you that it is wrong to study God’s Word on your own, then they are contradicting Scripture and are a false prophet. (Joshua 1:8, Acts 17:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21.)

7) If a person presents a new translation of the Bible that changes passages in such a way that the overall message of Scripture is altered (i.e. The Gospel of Jesus Christ) then they are a false prophet. (1 John 4:1-6, Revelation 22:18-19)

8) If a person claims that Jesus’ death and resurrection is not enough to pay for our sins; or that God’s Grace can be earned through works; or that you can gain favor with God by adhering to a specific set of rules; then they are a false prophet. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7, Romans 6:23, Galatians 3, 5:4)

9) If a person presents you with a different Jesus than the Jesus of the Bible, then they are a false prophet. (John 1:1-5, John 10:30-33, Hebrews 1, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-20)

10) If a person claims that the Church (The Body of Christ) was or is apostate, then they are a false prophet. (Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 1:4-9)

11) If a person teaches that it is wrong to go to church, or that you should not meet together regularly to study God's Word and fellowship with other believers, then they are a false prophet. (Hebrews 10:25)

12)  If a person makes a prophesy of any kind and it does not come to pass, then that person is a false prophet. (Deuteronomy 18:22)

    There are of course many other signs that a person is a false prophet—often times one simply has to take a close look at the person’s lifestyle to see that they are not following Christ. But the twelve points I have listed above are far more subtle, and therefore far more dangerous to the Christian Walk.

    However, the list above can best be summarized into the very first point: If a person willingly contradicts the Scriptures with their teachings, don't believe them.
    That is why it is so important for us to study God’s Word. It is only by knowing God’s Word that you can defend yourself against those who would seek to pervert it. (2 Timothy 3:16)

“And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.”

~ Romans 16:17-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

See Also:

The Struggle for Unity in the Church

Holiday or Heresy: Should Christians Celebrate on Pagan Holidays?

It is no secret that the issue of holidays, and whether or not those who are in Christ should celebrate holidays, has been a topic of heated debate for many years. The reason for this debate generally stems for the belief that many of the days and traditions we generally associate with Christian celebrations are, in fact, rooted in paganism: most notably the traditions surrounding Christmas and Easter.

    December  17^th -23^rd was originally Saturnalia, a Roman festival dedicated to the worship of Saturn; during which time it was common for the acceptable social norms of Roman society to be completely overturned, resulting in wide-spread hedonism and general debauchery for the duration of the carnival.  Likewise the Christian celebration of Easter has been associated with numerous festivals devoted to various pagan gods and goddesses. As one would expect, these pagan fertility celebrations—observed on or near the spring equinox—also involved a good deal of debauchery, as well as the usual rituals and sacrifices common to pagan cultures of the day.

   That being said, there is a growing movement among believers that condemns the observance of these holidays, as well as many others. But nearly two millennia of tradition is hard to ignore, and so the question remains: should Christians celebrate holidays?
    While I cannot speak for all Christians, I personally feel that choosing to celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25^th and his resurrection on Easter Sunday is perfectly acceptable. It does not matter on what day these world-changing events took place. All that matters is that they did. Furthermore, we know from Scripture that the so-called "gods" who used to be worshiped on or near these days are not really gods at all. (1 Corinthians 8:4-7, Galatians 4:8)  
    That being said, I also acknowledge that there are many Christians out there who feel convicted about celebrating God on days that may be linked to pagan festivals, and the Bible makes it very clear that neither I nor anyone else are to judge them or do anything to cause them to stumble. (Romans 14:10-13, 1 Corinthians 8:7-12) So if you are one of these individuals, then I would encourage you to do whatever you feel God has called you to do. If you feel that it is wrong to celebrate holidays that may have pagan origins, then you are well within your rights to choose not to celebrate them. I cannot, in good conscious, tell you that you are wrong. After all, the Bible says in Romans 14:23 that if you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

    However, we do have freedom in Christ. Our God is the God who redeems. He bought us all with his blood and freed us from both sin and the law through his resurrection. (Galatians 3:19-29, 4:8-12, Romans 3:21-22, Hebrews 8:7-13, 9:1-10, etc.) My God is greater than the pagan "gods", and he is greater than "their" festivals. So I feel that I am free to worship God on the days He has redeemed—including Christmas and Easter. If we were not allowed to celebrate what God has done for us on the days pagans use to worship their deities, then we would never be able to celebrate Him at all—the Brahman religion alone would see to that. After all, there are more Hindu gods than there are days in a year! Therefore, it stands to reason that there are pagan holidays and rituals going on somewhere in the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days a year. Which, if we’re completely honest with ourselves, doesn’t leave much room to worship the True God.

    Ultimately however, the decision to celebrate holidays comes down to personal conviction. I feel that I am free to celebrate holidays based solely on the fact that I have been made holy through the blood of Jesus Christ. I cannot condemn anyone who disagrees with me. Nor can they condemn me. (Romans 5-6, 14:1) We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow travelers on the road of life. Our destination lies before us, and it is our duty to help each other along. If we allow our personal convictions to divide us we succeed only in hurting ourselves and weaken the body of Christ as a whole.

“So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

  “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.”

~ Colossians 2:16-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

See Also:

What Should Christians Do?

Should Christians Pay Taxes?