What the majority do...

SimplyBlessed

Well-Known Member
I have been going back and forth about a lot of things in my mind and the deeper I get into the bible the more I see blindness...

I really am starting to believe that what the majority is doing Is wrong...

Christmas, Easter, Sunday being the Sabbath, not keeping the laws statutes.and commandments...all types of things are starting to make me question what is wrong and what is right....

What do u think....I'm so confused is actually making it hard for me to find a church home and I dont want to b apart of a denomination....

Any guidance
 

Choclatcotton

Well-Known Member
The Bible sheds light on a lot of things and yes your right, the majority are playing by their own rules and throwing a little scripture in with it, but "from the beginning it was not so". I use to be confused until i took an honest look at myself in the mirror of the word and God gave me the"grace to fall in place"
 

Aviah

Well-Known Member
Hey Simply,

As for the Sunday being the Sabbath, there's a lot of debate about that, however I see it this way. If you are going to observe the Sabbath, that is Friday sundown, to Saturday sundown. Apparently the Sabbath being "moved" to Sunday was done by the Roman Emperor Constantine. I don't believe anyone has the authority to do that. As for observing the Sabbath, the take I have on it, as well as Christmas and Easter (which coincide with times of Pagan festivals) is Romans 14:5:
" One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."

Not only this, but in 1 Samuel 16:7, it states that "...Man looks at outward things, but God looks at the heart", along with 1 Corinthians 8 talking about food being offered to idols. Though it talks about food specifically in the latter reference I take it also to apply to events that we celebrate as Christians.

I say all this to say that I believe that God sees my heart, and knows that although these times coincide with that of Pagan festivals, that God sees I am not celebrating them, but Him, as we should everyday without lives, hearts and conduct.

As for not keeping the law, my understanding is that you are talking about the Old Testament. Though 2 Timothy 3:16 says :
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"
We are not bound by the Old Testament any longer. Romans 7 talks more about this. So does Jesus in Matthew 5: 17-18:

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

After all is said and done, its up to us to "figure out our own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil 2:12). I hope this helps you in some way xx

Side note: I'm not part of a denomination either.
 
Last edited:

SimplyBlessed

Well-Known Member
thanks yall for the advice

I just feel like if there is debate or question why do it...just do what is said to be done...

ugh I just wish we were all on one accord...
 
Last edited:

Galadriel

Well-Known Member
I have been going back and forth about a lot of things in my mind and the deeper I get into the bible the more I see blindness...

I really am starting to believe that what the majority is doing Is wrong...

Christmas, Easter, Sunday being the Sabbath, not keeping the laws statutes.and commandments...all types of things are starting to make me question what is wrong and what is right....

What do u think....I'm so confused is actually making it hard for me to find a church home and I dont want to b apart of a denomination....

Any guidance

First of all it's probably important to note that the Church has an official "calendar" or "Church calendar year." Important dates of the calendar year revolve around the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each time we celebrate these events, it encourages us to go deeper into our faith, to publicly profess our faith in Christ and the Gospel, and to express our devotion in worship *especially* on these holy days because they center on Our Lord Jesus Christ.

With that said, we hold as holy days Christ's birth (Christmas), His death (Good Friday), Resurrection (Easter Sunday), as well as other days (i.e., the Ascension, Pentecost, etc.). In Liturgical churches in the East and West (Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, etc.) we also have "feast days" to commemorate heroes of the faith--canonized saints who are in Heaven and are victorious, with Christ.

Sunday is the Lord's Day, the Day Christ rose from the dead. Since Christ commanded us to "eat this bread" and "drink this cup" to proclaim His death and resurrection (until He returns), we do so on Sunday. This was practiced by the Apostles, as well as the early Church:

Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Colossians 2:16-17, and Revelation 1:10 indicate that, even during New Testament times, the Sabbath is no longer binding and that Christians are to worship on the Lord’s day, Sunday, instead.

The early Church Fathers compared the observance of the Sabbath to the observance of the rite of circumcision, and from that they demonstrated that if the apostles abolished circumcision (Gal. 5:1-6), so also the observance of the Sabbath must have been abolished. The following quotations show that the first Christians understood this principle and gathered for worship on Sunday.

The Didache
"But every Lord’s day . . . gather yourselves together and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned" (Didache 14 [A.D. 70]).

The Letter of Barnabas
"We keep the eighth day [Sunday] with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead" (Letter of Barnabas 15:6–8 [A.D. 74]).

Ignatius of Antioch
"[T]hose who were brought up in the ancient order of things [i.e. Jews] have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord’s day, on which also our life has sprung up again by him and by his death" (Letter to the Magnesians 8 [A.D. 110]).

Justin Martyr
"[W]e too would observe the fleshly circumcision, and the Sabbaths, and in short all the feasts, if we did not know for what reason they were enjoined [on] you—namely, on account of your transgressions and the hardness of your heart. . . . [H]ow is it, Trypho, that we would not observe those rites which do not harm us—I speak of fleshly circumcision and Sabbaths and feasts? . . . God enjoined you to keep the Sabbath, and imposed on you other precepts for a sign, as I have already said, on account of your unrighteousness and that of your fathers . . ." (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 18, 21 [A.D. 155]).

"But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead" (First Apology 67 [A.D. 155]).
 

SimplyBlessed

Well-Known Member
Galadriel I appreciate ur breakdown on everything...

but again it brings me back to my doubt in what the majority does!!

its like in my learning so far when I ask questions to my mom and other ppl its like I get scriptures that don't necessarily prove things but instead can be used as a scapegoat on y things are done a certain way...

if the bible says the sabbath day is Saturday why do we celebrate on Sunday its like why do it if their is doubt and once again its the majority that does it

idk I just dont get a lot of things and how and why they are done...i'm still learning and dont claim to know anything I just dont get it

does any one else feel frightened in following what the majority does?!?
 

Rainbow Dash

Well-Known Member
Colossians 2 speaks to what I believe you are trying to explain.

Colossians 2:6-23
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spiritsa of the world, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authoritiesb and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.c
Let No One Disqualify You
16Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,d puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22(referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
 
Last edited:

Rainbow Dash

Well-Known Member
In regards to the commandments, Christ gave us the greatest two commandments which sums them all up....

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

Worship...Jesus told what true worship is... It is worship from the heart and spirit in accordance with or to truth.

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24

Christ came to fulfill all and we are complete in Him.
 

Belle Du Jour

Well-Known Member
The early Church Fathers compared the observance of the Sabbath to the observance of the rite of circumcision, and from that they demonstrated that if the apostles abolished circumcision (Gal. 5:1-6), so also the observance of the Sabbath must have been abolished. The following quotations show that the first Christians understood this principle and gathered for worship on Sunday.

The Didache
"But every Lord’s day . . . gather yourselves together and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned" (Didache 14 [A.D. 70]).

The Letter of Barnabas
"We keep the eighth day [Sunday] with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead" (Letter of Barnabas 15:6–8 [A.D. 74]).

Ignatius of Antioch
"[T]hose who were brought up in the ancient order of things [i.e. Jews] have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord’s day, on which also our life has sprung up again by him and by his death" (Letter to the Magnesians 8 [A.D. 110]).

Justin Martyr
"[W]e too would observe the fleshly circumcision, and the Sabbaths, and in short all the feasts, if we did not know for what reason they were enjoined [on] you—namely, on account of your transgressions and the hardness of your heart. . . . [H]ow is it, Trypho, that we would not observe those rites which do not harm us—I speak of fleshly circumcision and Sabbaths and feasts? . . . God enjoined you to keep the Sabbath, and imposed on you other precepts for a sign, as I have already said, on account of your unrighteousness and that of your fathers . . ." (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 18, 21 [A.D. 155]).

"But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead" (First Apology 67 [A.D. 155]).

Thanks for providing those scripture passages and the references to the writings of the early Church members. I think those writings are important because they give more insight into what early worship was like shortly after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. They provide context. I don't know about anyone else, but I want to worship like the early Christians did, because they actually knew Christ!


its like in my learning so far when I ask questions to my mom and other ppl its like I get scriptures that don't necessarily prove things but instead can be used as a scapegoat on y things are done a certain way...

if the bible says the sabbath day is Saturday why do we celebrate on Sunday its like why do it if their is doubt and once again its the majority that does it

Did you look at the scripture passages Galadriel provided?
 

Rainbow Dash

Well-Known Member
Christ gave us freedom to worship, without ceremonial laws. The freedom was given to worship Him and not to have fleshly pleasure.

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Christ came to free us to worship Him no matter the place or time, remember His Spirit lives in us.

Think about you have Christians in China and other nations who are not free to worship, they have places where they meet or where the Spirit leads them and the Spirit is movin. He lives in us and when we are in His Name, He is in the midst.
 

Sharpened

A fleck on His Sword
Have no fear; it is the Father stirring you up to get you closer to Him. You would like to do that without letting anything and anyone get in the way, correct? This is something you have to take to Him on your own, to learn what He has created you to do. Prayer, fasting, crying out to Him…however long it takes to get that answer. Be warned: to follow Him is to be contrary to man’s order. Are you ready to embrace that?

If you attend an assembly, does that mean you are to do as they do? He may have you there for a short time to learn certain things, good and bad, and then move on. You need to seek Him as to where you should go and what you should do. Asking Him for help is a form of worship, recognizing our weaknesses without His guidance.
 

Galadriel

Well-Known Member
SimplyBlessed I understand that you're searching, studying, and want to know why certain things are done. The answer of, "Well, we do it just because that's the way we do it..." is not satisfying.

Let's take for example the issue of Sabbath (Saturday) worship. The Sabbath was established between God and the Israelites in the Old Testament as part of the Mosaic Covenant. In order to become a member of the Covenant, you would be circumcised (whether as an infant or an adult convert). You had to keep the Law, and if you sinned, you had to bring a sacrifice (which the priest would offer to God) at the Temple.

Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of the prophets, and of the Law. Christ, being the Mediator between God and man (and Himself, being the God-Man), has the authority to dispense the Old Covenant and establish the New Covenant.

What is the New Covenant?

1. Baptism replaces Circumcision as initiation into the New Covenant. This is why the Church has always baptized not only adults, but also children.

2. Christ's sacrificial death on the Cross is sufficient and eternal, and replaces the sacrifices at the Temple offered by the Levitical priests.

3. Faith in Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit makes one a visible member of God's People and replaces the Old Covenant belief that one must be born a Jew in order to receive the privilege of becoming one of God's People. This is why the Apostle Paul argued that Gentiles did not have to become Jews (via circumcision into the Old Covenant) and then be baptized into the Church--baptism was sufficient, and being a baptized member of the Church grafted you into the vine and made you part of Israel.

4. Sunday (the Lord's Day) worship replaces Sabbath worship. Jesus Christ didn't just randomly eat the Last Supper with His disciples. This is when Our Lord establishes the New Covenant: (Matthew 26:26-28) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus instructed the Apostles to continue doing this (the consecration of bread and wine and partaking of it) until He returns. The climax of the establishment of the New Covenant is the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead--which happened on a Sunday (the Lord's Day). This is why the Apostles followed this as the Holy Day of the week, the New Sabbath so to speak. This didn't mean that Monday-Saturday they did not worship, but the Holy Day or "Sabbath Day" was now Sunday.

If someone believes or teaches that Christians should not worship on Sundays or are wrong for doing so, I would have to disagree with that person because Christians having Sunday as the Holy Day of the week was established by the Apostles, in Scripture, and has been handed down to the Church and practiced for 2,000 years.




@Galadriel I appreciate ur breakdown on everything...

but again it brings me back to my doubt in what the majority does!!

its like in my learning so far when I ask questions to my mom and other ppl its like I get scriptures that don't necessarily prove things but instead can be used as a scapegoat on y things are done a certain way...

if the bible says the sabbath day is Saturday why do we celebrate on Sunday its like why do it if their is doubt and once again its the majority that does it

idk I just dont get a lot of things and how and why they are done...i'm still learning and dont claim to know anything I just dont get it

does any one else feel frightened in following what the majority does?!?
 

divya

Well-Known Member
SimplyBlessed Happy Sabbath!

I completely agree with you. I believe the God's commandments stand today and that it is important to understand the Scriptures relating to the Sabbath, dietary laws, and sacrificial/ceremonial laws. This has been discussed here numerous times and people fall on different ends. Here's my understanding of the matter, pulling from some older posts...

Matthew 5:17-18 “"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil".For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

The Scriptures must prevail on this issue. These verses state that until heaven and earth pass then ALL will be fulfilled, and until then, nothing passes from the law. Jesus did fulfill but there is more fulfillment to come. If God changed the Sabbath, there must be a Scripture that states the Sabbath is changed to another day or that Jesus is the Sabbath. However, there is neither in the Word. Sunday worship came into the Christianity through incorporation of non-Christian beliefs. That is why there are some churches that were less affected by those influences, and there are people who still keep the seventh day Sabbath. (see some in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, SDA, 7th Day COG etc).

Now to discuss the issue of fulfillment in detail and what was done away with at the cross. The verses in Colossians are always mentioned. Col. 2:16 must be read in context with the entire chapter. We must be careful to make sure we are considering all the relevant verses. That being said:

________________________________________

Col. 2:14-16 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:

______________________________________

The verses here do not state that all sabbaths or "ordinances" etc. are blotted out at all. If that was the case, even Communion and such would be of none effect. These verses tell us WHICH meats, drinks, holy days, and Sabbaths are not longer necessary – it states the blotting out the handwriting of ordinances. What are the ordinances? Are they different from the commandments? The answer is yes, because the Scriptures tell us the two are different.
________________________________

Luke 1:6 - And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
_______________________________


Clearly, the Bible makes a distinction between the two. They must be different. There are commandments AND then there are ordinances. The next question is then – what are commandments are what are ordinances? The Bible also reveals what exactly the ordinances are:
_________________________________

2 Chronicles 33:8-9 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.

____________________________________

The Bible clearly tells us that the ordinances (ceremonial laws) were handwritten by Moses. The Ten Commandments are not simply ordinances handwritten by Moses. The Ten Commandments were first carved in stone by the finger of God. There is a big difference. Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. After Moses broke them, he rewrote them but what is significant according to Scripture is that God wrote the Ten Commandments with his own hand.

But we cannot stop there. Now, if we study the ordinances we find out that there are particular sabbath days within the ordinances that were given to look forward to the Messiah. Those ordinance sabbaths were, as mentioned earlier - Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Sukkoth etc. Actually, not all these sabbaths fall on the seventh-day anyway but were special ceremonial days. However, because Jesus has come and died, He is our Lamb. His blood is sufficient to cleanse and save us. These ordinances/ceremonial laws are blotted out as specified in Col. 2:14-16, NOT the Ten Commandments. The seventh-day Sabbath is part of the commandments, not the ordinances.

Honestly, this is one of those areas where particular study is necessary. When you first read those verses, it is easy to come away with the idea that the seventh-day Sabbath is of none effect. However, if we read the verses around, they show us how to rightly divide the truth. The ordinance sabbaths, holy days, new moons etc., are not necessary. However, the seventh day Sabbath within the commandments written by God still stand, along with all the other commandments. Additionally, the dietary laws are still relevant as well and that's another study.

There is an excellent source that discusses Colossians: http://www.colossians2-16.com/
 
Last edited:

divya

Well-Known Member
SimplyBlessed

There are independent Sabbath-keeping (7th day), law-abiding churches all over and some that are not part of specific denominations. At church today, I actually found out about an independent Sabbath-keeping church in my area. It used to be Pentecostal and Sunday worshiping. However, the church was apparently really studying and actually made the switch over to being Sabbath-keeping as a group. I plan to visit next week. =) It may be a longer search for you but I pray you will find your church home.

Scroll down:

http://www.the-ten-commandments.org/sabbathkeepingchurches.html
 
Last edited:

Sarophina

Well-Known Member
You are right to feel uneasy about Easter and Christmas. These are pagan holidays.
Easter is actually the worship of Ishtar. She is the "goddess" of fertility. This is why we have rabbits and eggs. Rabbits produce offspring more than any other animal.

Christmas is to celebrate the birth of the Babylonian queen of heaven's son. December 25th is believed to be the birth date of Nimrod, who became known as Baal.

If you type in "Easter pagan" and "Christmas pagan" into your google search-box, you will get a hefty amount of information.
 

SimplyBlessed

Well-Known Member
Thank u ladies for Ur explanations and letting me know that these feelings I have r not wrong....I just want to do what is right and not be blind to the truth no matter how much it may not make sense to me or how much I don't want to believe it....

If there r any more opinions I'm all ears
 

aribell

formerly nicola.kirwan
Thank u ladies for Ur explanations and letting me know that these feelings I have r not wrong....I just want to do what is right and not be blind to the truth no matter how much it may not make sense to me or how much I don't want to believe it....

If there r any more opinions I'm all ears

The Lord may well be leading you to deeper truth.

Sometimes it is easy to get detracted onto things that actually are not pertinent to the Christian life. For instance, if a believer chooses to set a day aside to honor the Lord (either His birth or resurrection), the Lord has not commanded it, but nor is it disobedience.

In one's endeavor to follow the Lord wholeheartedly, I believe it's important to continually make true distinctions between what is a matter of the Lord's command and that which is a matter of Christian liberty.

And in your studies, Colossians 2:16-17 is probably something good to seek the Lord about.

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

http://bible.cc/colossians/2-16.htm (commentaries at the bottom)
 
Last edited:

naturalgyrl5199

Well-Known Member
Thank u ladies for Ur explanations and letting me know that these feelings I have r not wrong....I just want to do what is right and not be blind to the truth no matter how much it may not make sense to me or how much I don't want to believe it....

If there r any more opinions I'm all ears


SimplyBlessed:

Keep listening to what God is saying. That opinion is MOST IMPORTANT

The ladies have made some good points. However, you have to do what's what God has told YOU. Whatever you choose---someone is going to question because everyone has an opinion about everything. We may never ever be on one accord, but at the end of days you can only account for what decisions you make, and how YOU treat others. What God desires is what's in your head and in your heart, and how that translates into action.

Wherever you choose to worship doesn't really matter at the end of days. Finding a church home takes time, but it takes maturity also. On the day of judgement you can go to the holiest church, but what about your actions, and your INTENTIONS, and the thing that lies in your heart? That being said, keep looking, but don't have such a "holy filter" on (cause no church is perfect) or you'll be looking for a church forever....I myself attend a great church, and its not perfect, but I am growing there. I am not 100% in agreement with every single guest that comes, or every single thing that is said, because I know what God has shown and told me....and at the end of the day, I am STILL LEARNING and GROWING there.....
 

Belle Du Jour

Well-Known Member
You are right to feel uneasy about Easter and Christmas. These are pagan holidays.
Easter is actually the worship of Ishtar. She is the "goddess" of fertility. This is why we have rabbits and eggs. Rabbits produce offspring more than any other animal.

Christmas is to celebrate the birth of the Babylonian queen of heaven's son. December 25th is believed to be the birth date of Nimrod, who became known as Baal.

If you type in "Easter pagan" and "Christmas pagan" into your google search-box, you will get a hefty amount of information.

That's actually not true. Just because it pops up on a google search doesn't mean it's scholarly work. There's a lot of quack information out there that sounds plausible. But it's nonsense. Most Christians around the world celebrate Pesach/Pascha which comes from the JEWISH (not Pagan) Passover celebration. Hmmm, sounds nothing like Ishtar, does it? :nono: Just because someone publishes something sensational doesn't make it fact.

But let's say for a second that Christianity did take over these Pagan holidays. We're not worshipping Baal or Nimrod or Ishtar. Most people today have never even heard of those names. Christianity has triumphed over any original pagan intent. There are only so many days in a year and probably everyone of them was "taken" as a pagan tribute to some god or another. The important thing is Who you are worshiping. God sees the why, not just the what. :yep:
 

Belle Du Jour

Well-Known Member
I'm still learning but ummm I have to disagree lol that would only b in a perfect world....

In my view, the battle has already been won. That's one of the basic things I believe as a Christian. For example, church was packed today and many people had to stand. Church has been packed all week. It's a beautiful sight. Even if some of it is just the Christmas-Easter types, you know what? It doesn't matter. It's better that they come and celebrate the birth of Christ and His resurrection than not at all. They feel compelled to come for at least those two services.

I wish you peace on your journey as you discover God's truth.
 

Poohbear

Fearfully Wonderfully Made
I have been going back and forth about a lot of things in my mind and the deeper I get into the bible the more I see blindness...

I really am starting to believe that what the majority is doing Is wrong...

Christmas, Easter, Sunday being the Sabbath, not keeping the laws statutes.and commandments...all types of things are starting to make me question what is wrong and what is right....

What do u think....I'm so confused is actually making it hard for me to find a church home and I dont want to b apart of a denomination....

Any guidance
SimplyBlessed,

I've been having some of the same feelings as you. These feelings started about 5 years ago with me though. Holidays started to seem so superficial. I understand the tradition behind it of families getting together to spend time with their loved ones, but other than that, I never seen these holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas as celebrations of Jesus. People would try to make it that way, but I just never felt that way in my heart. It was a weird feeling.

And right now, I still have hangups about a lot of the main Christian beliefs...

1. The concept of sin.... Some Christians believe we will never stop sinning until we die as long as you ask for forgiveness of sin over and over you are forgiven. Then there are some Christians, which isn't many, who believe that you should stop sinning once you are a true believer. They call them sinless perfectionist. I also wonder what wrongdoings are truly sins and what wrongdoings are not sins that people make up to be sins just to cover their secret sins through good works.

2. The concept of salvation... are we truly once saved always saved when we go up in front of the church and confess our belief in Christ and get baptized, or is everyone working toward their salvation til the end when Christ returns? What things truly determine whether we go to heaven or not?

3. I also wonder what things in the bible are purely examples to keep in mind or take note of that doesn't necessarily apply to today's time, and what things in the bible are commandments to obey and follow now and in the future. And I wonder how does keeping the law or commandments have bearing on our souls when it comes to deciding whether we are going to Heaven or Hell when we die. It's like people pick and choose what sins are wrong and what sins are okay to do. Like how are people who don't go to church, don't tithe, shack up, are homosexuals and murderers going to hell but not the fornicator, gossiper, liar, cheater, etc.?

I could go on about this but those are the basic ideas that fuel my confusion.
 

CoilyFields

Well-Known Member
SimplyBlessed

You have recieved some AWSOME responses from the ladies here. So I have very little to add but...

Do not forget your central purpose. The ONLY thing that matters is Christ crucified

1 Cor 2:2 "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

The gospel is what saves and nothing else! Not the traditions of men. So as you search for answers just remember that all of these issues (sabbath worship, holidays, etc.) are secondary and even tertiary issues that may well have their place but will not save you. I believe that the majority of us ladies here on CF are truly chasing after God but even we have varying opinions/doctrines on things...usually with scripture to back it up. So the important thing to do is this...study, pray, and go with what God is depositing in your spirit. Dont neglect your conscience if these subjects weigh on you.


Oh and by the way...there is no perfect church yet...cause we're in them! So just ask God to lead you to where he wants you to be.
 

SimplyBlessed

Well-Known Member
thanks so much ladies for the responses...

I feel like i'm at a battle, bc for example for Easter I honestly did not want my daughter participating in any of the gatherings, egg hunts anything...I just felt so uneasy about it...

but what did I get BACKLASH from my family and i'm like huh :perplexed its so hard not being in with the majority

I even talked to my mom about visiting church on Saturday rather than Sunday and she just does not understand my reasoning or feelings and why I would even want to visit...

hopefully this all gets easier...its really hard...I just want to do what is right...
 

auparavant

New Member
Simplify your faith - start with belief in Jesus as the Son of G-d. Speak to Him daily and honor Him. Be simple.
 

LucieLoo12

Well-Known Member
How did I miss this thread!!


SimplyBlessed


But you are not alone. I dont celebrate any of this holidays neither does my church. Why? because alot of it orginates from pagan practices. Alot of them originated BEFORE Christ even came. The church want to say, well we doing it for Jesus, but you can't take something dirty and put God name on it and call it clean

remember this, this always keeps me:


matthew 7: 13-14

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

 

LucieLoo12

Well-Known Member
thanks so much ladies for the responses...

I feel like i'm at a battle, bc for example for Easter I honestly did not want my daughter participating in any of the gatherings, egg hunts anything...I just felt so uneasy about it...

but what did I get BACKLASH from my family and i'm like huh :perplexed its so hard not being in with the majority

I even talked to my mom about visiting church on Saturday rather than Sunday and she just does not understand my reasoning or feelings and why I would even want to visit...

hopefully this all gets easier...its really hard...I just want to do what is right...


People of God will always be rejected by many and cause to stand alone. Don't let the reactions of your family discourage you.My family did the same to me, and some of them are being converted because of the truth I stood for. You stand for God and for truth. If you dont feel comfortable with doing something, dont do it. Seek God and allow Him to lead you into truth. If you are sincere, He will do it.


Luke 14:26
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple

It's not talking about a literal hate or despising. It's meaning their influence over you can't be greater than God's influence over you..You have to love God more than them.

Now I know I'm about step on some toes about this Easter, but it has to be said.

The origin of Easter is pagan . It originated from the from the pagan goddess Eastre or some called Eostre.(before Christ came) Which was a fertility goddess.

You ever notice how the day of Easter is different every year?? Well the date of Easter is determined on the vernal equinox of the moon, the phases of the moon.NOTHING TO DO WITH GOD or the birth of Jesus Thats why one year its in March and the other year it's April.

The reason why the bunny rabbit is the symbol of Easter because its the most fertile and "active" animal..(hence Eastre the fertility goddess). Thus also why eggs are used, a sign of life, reproduction....

I can go on and on about this, but this is just a few facts about the holiday. Also Christmas....but anyway.

The church began to intermeddle with the pagan orgins because they wanted converts. So they felt if they did these things it would draw the people in, but it only defiled the church....
 
Last edited:

Crown

New Member
I have been going back and forth about a lot of things in my mind and the deeper I get into the bible the more I see blindness...

I really am starting to believe that what the majority is doing Is wrong...

Christmas, Easter, Sunday being the Sabbath, not keeping the laws statutes.and commandments...all types of things are starting to make me question what is wrong and what is right....

What do u think....I'm so confused is actually making it hard for me to find a church home and I dont want to b apart of a denomination....

Any guidance

Maybe those links can help you :

Pagan Christianity?
http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Christianity-Exploring-Church-Practices/dp/141431485X

Sorry, I can not find this book in English over the net.
But if you read French, here urls :
http://ebook-chretiens.com/Documents/christianismepaganise.pdf
http://www.actes2-42.net/viola.tdm.htm

About Christmas, Easter...
We will always find Christians reasoning : we are celebrating Christ!

Did Christ command those celebrations?

Let His Holy Presence guide you!

 

Poohbear

Fearfully Wonderfully Made
thanks so much ladies for the responses...

I feel like i'm at a battle, bc for example for Easter I honestly did not want my daughter participating in any of the gatherings, egg hunts anything...I just felt so uneasy about it...

but what did I get BACKLASH from my family and i'm like huh :perplexed its so hard not being in with the majority

I even talked to my mom about visiting church on Saturday rather than Sunday and she just does not understand my reasoning or feelings and why I would even want to visit...

hopefully this all gets easier...its really hard...I just want to do what is right...

My sister got backlash from my father this pass Sunday on Easter. She came in town to visit with her 7 year old son and my father, who is a pastor said, "Can you have him do an Easter speech at church for Sunday?" and my sister said no. And my father got upset said something like, "God is going to hold you and him accountable for this."

Really!? Over a measely little Easter speech!? Yeah right.
 

LucieLoo12

Well-Known Member
My sister got backlash from my father this pass Sunday on Easter. She came in town to visit with her 7 year old son and my father, who is a pastor said, "Can you have him do an Easter speech at church for Sunday?" and my sister said no. And my father got upset said something like, "God is going to hold you and him accountable for this."

Really!? Over a measely little Easter speech!? Yeah right.


This reminds me of this scripture:

Mark 7:7
But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.



Amplified version
In vain (fruitlessly and without profit) do they worship Me, ordering and teaching [to be obeyed] as doctrines the commandments and precepts of men.
 
Top