This article is part of the Black Thread Series. If you have not read the previous articles, please STOP, and read those first. It is very important that you read the articles in this series in order. To read previous articles in this series, click on the Black Thread link in the left side bar.

In some of the previous articles in this series, we looked at the Scriptures, and discovered that to have a perfect heart for the Lord, not only means being a born again Christian, but also to forsake false gods. We then saw how certain holidays, such as Halloween, Easter, and Christmas are, in fact, not Christian holidays, but pagan holidays with the names changed to Christian ones.

King Solomon didn't keep his heart pure for the Lord, but also partook in rituals and traditions of the false gods of some of his wives.

A reading through Kings and Chronicles in the Bible shows us the clear distinction between evil and good kings. Good kings did not worship the false gods. The great kings were those whose heart was for the Lord. Those kings not only did not partake of heathen rituals and traditions, but they also smashed the high places and pagan temples, and cleansed them from the Promised Land.

Should not we do this, on a personal scale? Shall not we remove the leaven in our own lives?

The subject of Pagan holidays was largely discussed in the article before this one. As for Torah holidays, as we saw in previous articles in this series, the Christian is dead to the law, and the Old Testament holidays are fulfilled/being fulfilled/will be fulfilled in Christ.

The New Testament on Holidays

A major Scripture that many turn to, in regards to Christians and holidays is Romans 14. I was going to quote part of that chapter below, but really, we need to look at the whole chapter to truly understand it. Romans 14 by itself can mean many things, but when we use Scripture to interpret Scripture, Romans 14 becomes very clear.

Romans 14:

1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Those who are weak in the faith are probably those who are new to the faith, or those who are still on the milk, rather than graduating to the meat (see 1 Cor. 3:2 and Heb. 5:12). "But not to doubtful disputations." Mr. Dake has an excellent way of describing this passage. He says "Welcome such into your fellowship, but let all controversies concerning doubtful practices be avoided."

2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

Here we see one example of a Christian who is weak in the faith. The weaker Christian "eateth herbs." This points the meat-eating (spiritually and literally) Christian to 1 Timothy 4:2-4:

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving

There is one type of meat that is best to be refused by a Christian, and that is meat offered to idols:

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. -Acts 15:29

However, this isn't for the eating Christian's benefit, but for the benefit others:

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. - 1 Corinthians 8:4-13

More on the above in a few moments. Meanwhile, continuing in Romans 14...

3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

The words "judge" and "despise" are being used interchangeably here. This is to show us the type of judging this chapter means. Christians are to judge what is good, and what is bad, in light of Scripture. The judgment is never to lead to condemnation, however. We may judge that a Christian brother or sister is weak in the faith, but we are not to despise them for it. This type of judgment brings condemnation. God is the only one who is to use that type of judgment, for only He is pure and righteous through and through. Only He has the right to judge on this level of condemening or pardoning. Only He truly can see into our hearts.

5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Now we move on to days. We are not to judge those who eat or don't eat meat, nor are we to judge those who don't keep certain holidays. Many people use this chapter to justify celebrating Christmas, or for keeping the Old Testament feasts and holy days. Is that what this chapter is talking about? Remember, the topic of this chapter is "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations."

It's not about if it's okay to eat certain meats or not, or if it's okay to keep certain days or not. This chapter is about receiving brethren of Christ, regardless of where they are on their Christian walk. Are they weak in the faith? Receive them, but don't condemn them for their weakness.

Romans 14 informs us that the one who "eateth herbs" is the one weak in the faith. However, it doesn't tell us which one is the weak Christian in regards to keeping days. Is the one who keeps the days the one weak in the faith, or is the one who doesn't keep the days weak in the faith? THAT needs to be the question.

13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

This verse brings us back to the beginning of the chapter. Those who are weak "eateth herbs." Verse 13 is referring to the same thing as 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Whether a Christian eats meat offered to an idol or not, makes no difference, if the Christian is giving thanks for that meat to God. This sanctifies the food:

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. -1 Timothy 4:4-5

However, if eating meat that was offered to an idol can make one who is weak in the faith fall, or stumble in their walk, then you should not eat that meat. Taking this further, eating meat sacrificed to an idol may prevent unbelievers from becoming believers, because they'll see you eating that meat, and consider you a hypocrite. This is why the following Scripture is so important:

Abstain from all appearance of evil -1 Thessalonians 5:22

If you recently ate a certain brand of turkey, you may have eaten some meat sacrificed to an idol. I read that certain turkeys were Islamic-blessed, halal-slaughtered. Let's say this is the case. Was it a sin to eat that? It was, if you knew it was sacrificed to an idol, and a weaker Christian with you knew also, and your eating it made the weaker Christian stumble.

It is not a sin, if you didn't know it was sacrificed to an idol, or you did know, and so did the others with you, but you all sanctified it with prayer, and gave no power to the halal at all, and you caused no one to stumble.

14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

While I have the freedom in Christ to eat, or not eat meats sacrificed to idols, I choose not to eat them, unless:

1) I don't know they were (Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. -James 4:17)

2) Or if, we are all Christians, with none of us weak in the faith in regards to meats, and we have sanctified the meat unto God in prayer (For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. -1 Timothy 4:4-5)

Otherwise, I go with:

Abstain from all appearance of evil. -1 Thessalonians 5:22

and

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. -Acts 15:28-29

As we see, a close look at Romans 14, and comparing it with other Scriptures, especially 1 Corinthians 8, shows us that this chapter isn't about keeping or not keeping holidays or holy days. It is about receiving those weaker in the faith, and not causing them to stumble, and not condemening/judging/despising them, when it comes to such things as meats and days.

While we are not to condemn or despise them, we can help them become stronger in their faith, by quoting Scriptures to them:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. -Romans 10:17

What we still need to determine, is which is the weak Christian of Romans 14, in regards to keeping holidays? We need to turn to other Scriptures, whose topic centers more around this, and less around judgment and meats. The below Scripture gives us the answer:

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. -Galatians 4:1-11

The Old Testament Law and Feasts/Holy Days were our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. A person cannot know sin, except they know the law. The law is on our hearts. Generally, a person knows not to commit murder, not to lie, not to steal, etc. However, should a person not have these laws written on their heart, they have the written Ten Commandments to guide them. When a person recognizes that they are a sinner, and they repent of that sin, then they realize they need to get rid of that sin. When they turn to Christ, all their sins are forgiven and removed. The law led them to Christ. Once they are in Christ, they no longer need the law. Christ fulfilled, fulfills, and will fulfill the feasts of the Torah. One who is weak in the faith (Romans 14) may think they need to keep these days, but when they mature in their walk, they see that these are part of the path that leads to Christ, and that Christ is the end of the law and feasts/holy days of the Old Covenant.

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. -Colossians 2:14-17

The law was nailed to the cross, and this includes the holy days and SABBATH(s). We are to "Let no man therefore judge" us "in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." This calls us back to Romans 14:1, where it said to receive the weaker brother, but not to "doubtful disputations." Remember the Dake Take on that? - "Welcome such into your fellowship, but let all controversies concerning doubtful practices be avoided."

I will gladly receive Torah Observant Christians into fellowship, but I will not allow them to openly judge me for not keeping the Old Covenant, nor will I judge/condemn them. However, I am willing to share Scriptures with them, and discuss it, if they are willing.

Now for "today's holidays." ...

As clearly established in the previous article, the keeping of Christmas, Easter, and Halloween can be the appearance of evil, and a sign that our hearts are not perfect for the Lord. We know this, because Christmas claims to be a holiday in celebration of Christ's birth, yet Christ wasn't born on December 25th. Mithra was. The way Christmas is celebrated is largely the same as it was celebrated long before Christ came to this earth.

Halloween is from the pagan Samhain, and has nothing, whatsoever to do with Christ. Further, "by their fruits ye shall know them." - We see the evil decorations, the ads for the nasty movies, and the morbid costumes. These are appearances of evil, and even if our children wear princess costumes and not watch the bad movies, we are still showing the world that we approve of Halloween by participating, and this is an appearance of evil, and may cause others to stumble.

Easter is not truly about the resurrection of Christ. It is about a pagan fertility goddess. Easter is celebrated largely the same way it was before Christ came to this earth. Easter, the very name, is the name of a false deity - Easter - Astarte - Ishtar - Ashtoreth, etc. She is known under many names, but it all leads back to Ashtoreth/Semiramis, Nimrod's wife; Satan's counterfeit "holy virgin." (See The Fallen Ones to recall how the worship of Nimrod and his wife spread from Babylon to all over the world, and were given different names in different tongues.)

I am leaving a lot of holidays out, but we should be able to determine if a holiday is okay to keep or not, using the guidelines laid out in Scripture - is it Pagan, and repackaged to appear Christian? As for Independence Day - this is not proclaimed any specific religious day. It is a celebration of America. America began as a Christian nation, and there are still many true Christians in it. I see nothing unscriptural about giving God praise, because He brought our wonderful nation together.

Thanksgiving - again, this is not a specific religious holiday. It is a day to give thanks. Christians use this day to thank and praise the Lord for all He has done.

Election Day - Many American Puritans, while they didn't celebrate Christmas, Easter, and Halloween, did celebrate Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Election Day. Some households had their own secret recipe for an election cake. Sometimes, others would try to guess the ingredients of each other's cakes. Election Day is an important day in America. It's a day to pray that the Lord's will be done for who gets elected. The Puritan Election Day was in May, because that used to be when officials took office.

Now, people have parties and get togethers on the day of voting. We sit around the TV, watching the vote count, and have treats, etc. I think resurrecting the old Puritan tradition of having an election day cake for this time is a good idea. Having an election day cake, voting, and watching the vote count on TV amongst friends is good. However, if one uses this day for debauchery, then it is unChristian.

The puritans made the correct distinction between pagan holidays, masquerading as "Christian" ones, and harmless holidays. They desired for their hearts to be perfect with the Lord, and therefore didn't knowingly partake in pagan festivals, masked as Christian ones.

Notes

1) Christians knowingly celebrating pagan holidays masked as Christian holidays may be causing others to stumble, and giving an appearance of evil.

2) The black thread is all about its source - Satan, the great counterfeiter. Just as he used Nimrod and his wife to create a counterfeit virgin and savior, he also takes pagan holidays and tries to convince people they are Christian ones - this is more counterfeiting. He gets Christians to partake in pagan rituals. We must learn from the sins of King Solomon. Believing in the true God, but at the same time, partaking in pagan rituals to false gods, means our hearts are not pure with the Lord, and this could lead to God's judgment.

3) Holidays that are celebrations of good reasons to rejoice, such as the birth of our great nation, and giving thanks to God for it, are not unscriptural. Those days are a choice to celebrate, and are not pagan to do so.

4) "I am afraid of you," says Paul in Galatians chapter four, in regards to those Torah Observant Christians, or Judaizers, who keep the Old Testament feasts, Sabbaths and days. He says he is afraid because "lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." He labored to show them how Christ is the end of all that to those who believe - "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."