Is There An Answer?

A dear friend of mine recently sent a question and a link to an article which takes issue with some of our American Christian commemorations and practices. The fact that the article copies from the teachings of a cult is definitely a red flag. That it contains much truth is important as well. I have long been a proponent of begrudgingly tolerating the ignorance of others who follow their family traditions while relegating Christ to an afterthought or Sundays only. If we go fully to the other extreme we proclaim Jehovah’s Witnesses as the standard bearers of the truth in ignoring holidays and birthdays.

My children were taught the difference between American holiday tradition and Bible truth as soon as they were able to understand. I would be much more comfortable in my relationship with other believers if Easter and Halloween and Christmas were not mentioned as part of who we are as Christians. Even though we think we are strong in our faith we are so miserably weak in our practice in that it does not encourage others to rise to a better level of intimacy with our Lord. All of the declarations about the origins of our modern holiday practices in the article appear to be accurate. I spent a good deal of time studying these out years ago.

One of the greatest resources for proper understanding of the histories of our holiday’s practices is a book named “Two Babylons” by a Free Church of Scotland minister named Alexander Hislop. Written in the 1850’s, Hislop’s primary railing was against the Roman Catholic Church whom he proclaimed to be the epitome of satanic religious practice. Hislop ultimately traces Catholic doctrines back to the worship of Nimrod, claiming that the Roman Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon in the Bible Book of Revelation 17:5, and that “the Pope himself is truly and properly the lineal representative of Belshazzar”. He claims that the Christ-o-gram “HIS” really stands for Isis, Horus, Seth. Naturally other scholars have presented counter proposals but none of these events have much support in scripture.

As Believer’s in the bodily resurrection of the Son of God, the creator of the universe, we have a much different focus for our lives than the promotion and exacerbation of a few days during the year. The primacy of our understanding and practice is the Holy Scripture we call the Bible. In it there are numerous festivals, feast days, proclaimed by God for His chosen people to acknowledge His care and provision for them. There are also in the traditions of the Jews other events of rejoicing established to commemorate God’s deliverance. All of these focus on God receiving the glory and praise for being the creator of man and sustainer of our relationship with him.

Many times we find our lives in sharp contrast with what we understand God’s instruction to be. God calls any transgression of His law, sin. We sin because it is easy. We sin because it is pleasurable. We sin because we are weak. We are weak because we do not feed ourselves the proper nutrients to encourage growth and nurturing. Those elements are found only in the Bible. I have often been asked why it appears that folks who lived hundreds of years ago seemed to have such mastery of the doctrines of the scriptures. My answer is always that the percentage of time they studied and prayed over these matters compared to what we do today is towering. We are not weak by design, we are weak by choice. We do not have a problem influencing those around us. We simply choose to influence them with pabulum instead of strong meat. We get the results we work for. We alienate those we attempt to win because they see us as another bowl of porridge pretending to be a five course culinary masterpiece.

Volumes could be expounded on what we do not know; mere articles on what we do know. Back to the question at hand, how shall we address my dear friend’s concern? “I don’t have any kids yet but have already thought of how I’m going to handle Christmas, Easter, etc. What is your advice on the matter? I surely don’t want to sin against God and follow tradition rather than truth – is there a balance?”

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” is one famous reply. It allows for the spiritualization of any life event in an esoterically Scientological bent. That means you can claim that only you know the truth while scoffing at others who pretend to.  Or, you can take a Pharisaical approach and only live by the letter of the Law of the Bible while demeaning those who do not. Yes, it is a dilemma. For most of us we will do a limited copy of what our parents and the parents of the children around us do. Those who stand for the truth and acknowledge a distinct difference between faith based and traditional community practices will be seen as strange. There will always be the fear that somehow religion will keep us from enjoying life. I am using the word  Religion as it was proclaimed many years ago, a marker of purity in thought and a life influenced by divine truth.

For me the answer is clear: there is no God but Jehovah. His way is right. He alone has our best interest at His core. When a diabetic indulges in high sugar content foods he is aware that there is a detrimental consequence. So each of us must choose how much of the dainties offered to us in Proverbs chapter 23 will be substituted for the benefits of the tree of life found in Revelation chapter 22. Holidays influence my life by their appearance and the participation of those around me. How much influence they exert in my life and consequently the lives of my family depends on how much influence the Word of God has in my life.

My advice is to flee to the book knowing you will be ostracized, ridiculed and demeaned. Others will attempt to exert pressure on your children and any other influence in your life in order that you might become like them. To the degree that you acquiesce they will claim victory. To the degree which you stand firm they will vilify you, your faith and your ignorance.  All that is in (and of) the world is the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. They that worship God must worship Him in Spirit and truth. My friend mentioned that in His original question. He is correct.

My Desire would be that on Sunday morning, on the day which our tradition and government has declared to be Easter, I would participate in a time of worship devoid of the trappings of commercialism and the rabbit and egg traditions. I would that the Resurrection of the promised Messiah would be preached unapologetically  I would that the songs which are wont to be sung would glorify the creator and sustainer of all. I would that no Easter bonnets, dresses, flowers or candies be present. I would that the glorious perfection of the fulfillment of the promises of God be proclaimed. My desire is that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. I will not find that in the typical celebration of Easter morning. I will not wish them “God speed” who so indulge for I do not wish to partake in their evil deeds.

Be for God and His ways or enjoy what you can get down here, while you can…