Can a person be considered a true Christian...?

Question

...if he/she celebrates pagan holidays like Easter, Halloween, and Christmas?

Answer 1

Suppose I want a chocolate cake. Suppose I want chocolate icing. But I use excrement for both the cake and the icing. Then I put it in a pretty box. Does that make a chocolate cake? Is it palatable? Hardly.

It is similar with holidays that have been labeled “Christian.” Giving them a pretty name or putting them in a pretty box does not make them “Christian” any more than that excrement can make a chocolate cake.

In 1 Corinthians 10:21, 22, the apostle Paul, under inspiration, makes it plain that there can be no dining at the table of God and the table of demons. We do not want to incite the true God to jealousy.

So then, we need to ascertain what is acceptable to God. Is paganism acceptable to God? Is it acceptable to him if we mix true worship with pagan? The answer to these questions is clearly: no. Only one question remains: do these holidays trace their origins to pagan festivals? It is well-established that Christmas was a pagan festival adopted by the “church.” There is absolutely nothing in scripture even remotely suggesting that we can "adopt" a pagan practice and, by that adoption, make it acceptable to God. Even God himself asked such a question of the priests at Haggai 2:11-13. Compare also Leviticus 7:19-20. What is holy does not make the unclean clean. The unclean makes what is holy unholy. Put another way: a white suit does not make a mud puddle clean. The mud puddle makes the white suit filthy.

How then could such possibly be an acceptable practice for Christians?

Hannah J Paul

Answer 2

These holiday celebrations quite obviously have pagan roots but a lot of 'Christians' say that they're acceptable to God because although they had pagan roots the worship of them today is not the pagan focus but the focus of worship to God.

So - is this true? Are these acceptable to God?
The only way to know is by examining what God himself says in his word the Bible -
The following scriptures answer the question clearly
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Isaiah 52:11
Revelation 18:4

Also, consider this Bible passage - Exodus 32:4-10.
Notice that the Israelites adopted an Egyptian religious practice but gave it a new name, “a festival to Jehovah.” But God severely punished them for this.
Today we see only 20th-century practices associated with holidays. Some may appear harmless. But God observed firsthand the pagan religious practices from which these originated.
Should not his view be what matters to us? - God's view?

1 Corinthians 10:21 shows that God is displeased with our activities if they have pagan roots.
Do we really want to displease our Creator?

:)

Answer 3

Well, if he/she can be considered a 'true Christian' if he/she wears a wedding ring (pagan origin), places a flower on a casket (pagan origin), celebrates anniversaries (undue attention to the honorees), stands in respect of a judge or official (remnants of bowing in worship), etc.

Even the Watchtower allows some items of pagan origin if, in their opinion, 'its original intent has been replaced by popular and common current understanding'. They use the example of a Buddha doorstop which originally was meant to ward of unclean spirits, but which now are just doorstops.

Well, Christmas and Easter at least - not including the unsavory origins of Hallowe'en - do not carry the pagan significance today, much as the Buddha doorstops do not carry their original intent.

Additionally, the Watchtower has said there is nothing wrong with buying things at Christmas time to take advantage of sales and seasonal items. That is what many people do, without considering the religious significance of the holidays.

Many buy for friends and family out of a sense of goodness and joy and sharing of good thoughts, without any thought of the religious significance of the holiday. They give the gift at the seasonal time because that is a time for giving, without consideration for the religious significance.

Many do it in respect of its purported Christian significance. But they still do it in honor and thanksgiving with their loved ones. So, yes, doing good for another at a seasonal time is completely in harmony with Christian goodness!

Answer 4

It doesn't matter what you celebrate or don't celebrate, as long as you acknowledge that God became man to save humankind.

Here's a question for ya: If you JW's are married, do you wear WEDDING RINGS??? Guess what? They are a PAGAN tradition!!!

At your weddings, you better not walk on an aisle runner, it's a pagan method of keeping evil spirits out, oh wait did you have flowers at your wedding??? That would mean that you asked the pagan gods to bless the couple with fertility!!!

Do you not see how ridiculous it is to proclaim that pagan traditions such as Easter and Christmas mean that you are not Christian? Just because something has pagan routes, does NOT mean that you are following the tradition for the same reasons as the pagans did!!!

Answer 5

Dear LineDancer,

This is just one more example of works-based salvation.
Salvation is based on what Christ did not what you or I do. I've noticed that the Supreme Authority does not get any glory when your organization boasts about NOT celebrating such days.

I can agree that commercialization of holidays is not a good thing but I disagree on making a religion out of whether someone celebrates a particular day.

Think about it. I'll bet pagans celebrate beautiful spring days and glorious fall days. Are you planning to make a religion out of that as well?

Each day I find myself saying - "This is the day that the LORD has made. I will be glad and rejoice in it!"

Answer 6

xmas has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. he was not born on dec 25. Halloween and easter have nothing to do with Jesus either. Jesus was a Jew. these holidays are pagan- man made. Jesus told us to celebrate his death and as a Jehovah Witness and all around the world in 236 lands we are celebrating his death on April 2 the passover. since passover is once a year, we celebrate it once a year. we don't wait for a reason or a pagan holiday to give gifts. we give during the year. because we love one another. what was Jehovah's plan. if we where all going to heaven, why did he put us on earth just to get old, get sick and die just to go back to heaven. we are going to get what Adam and Eve lost a palisade earth.

Answer 7

Of course, a true Christian is a true Christian because of what Christ did, not what we do. You are correct in that the early Christians did not celebrate any of these holidays but they were not perfect either. Many of these holidays (holy days) started under Constantine (313 AD) when he "christianized" the Roman Empire. The result was the church became corrupt under the state religion. Unfortunately, to many that is what Christianity is. But Christianity is Christ, His person and His work. His sinless life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection. By that event Christians are saved. (I Corinthians 15:1-4).

Answer 8

Another analogy of interest ...

"Santeria has the basic features & traditions of an ancient African religion practiced among the Yoruba in Nigeria. When Yoruba were taken to the Caribbean islands as slaves between the 1770's and the 1840's, they took their religion with them. Once in the New World, these Africans in bondage were forced to accept Catholicism, yet they refused to give up their traditions completely. So they created a new form of worship with elements taken from both religions. Such a merging of religious practices is called syncretism."

Doing thus obviously didn't make their worship Catholicism.
They continued worshipping the same ways, & the same ones, as before. Basically, they just renamed the subjects of their veneration. Those raised doing so were no more Catholic than their parents (with full recall of the way they'd practiced their religion in Nigeria) had been. They still held the same beliefs, customs, & practices as before, simply using different names for them, names taken from the Catholic religion. (The Catholic church accepted & condoned it, as the only way to hold sway over them. It does have its similarities ..) Still in practice today, it is:

The Lure of Santeria http://www.watchtower.org/e/20000708a/article_01.htm

"Go now, leave your bonds and slavery. Put Babylon and all it represents far behind you--it is unclean to you. You are the holy people of the Lord; purify yourselves, all you who carry home the vessels of Jehovah." -- Isaiah 52:11

"'What do the people of God have in common with people of sin? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? ... What union can there be between God's temple and idols?' ... That is why God has said, 'Leave them; seperate yourselves from them; don't touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I shall be a Father to you ... says Jehovah the Almighty.'" -- 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

"Come away from her, my people; do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her. For her sins are piled as high as heaven and God is ready to judge her for her crimes." -- Revelation 18:4,5

Answer 9

Although others have already given excellent answers to your valid question, I'll just add one more scriptural reference, as these verses speak eloquently to the subject at hand . . .

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 says: "Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I shall reside among them and walk among them, and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.” “‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing, and I will take you in.’”

So, in essence, true Christians need to remain as separate as possible from the world and its worldly ways (exemplified in most holiday celebrations), as did our redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

According to the Bible, anointed Christians are definitely commanded to observe or celebrate the day of Christ’s death. (Luke 22:19) They do this by partaking of the wine and unleavened bread as emblems or symbols of his body and blood. There is no command in the Bible to observe the day of his resurrection. However, if there were such a command, would it be proper to call that day, Easter?
Christian name. Its Chaldean origin is "Astarte" queen of heaven who’s Assyrian name is "Ishtar. " If we look up Astarte in the dictionary, it says: "A Semitic goddess of fertility and sexual love, worshipped by the Phoenicians under the name "Ashtoreth." Looking up "Ishtar," the dictionary says" "The Babylonian goddess of love and fertility." Looking up "Ashtoreth" it says "goddess of love and fertility, identified with "Astarte." "Astarte" is Greek, translating into the English word, "Easter."
What is very interesting to God’s worshippers Is the name "Astoreth" because it is recorded in the Bible. At 1 Kings 11:31, 33, it says that the kingdom was ripped away from Solomon by Jehovah because he bowed down to Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians
We rightly wonder even though that was thousands of years ago, do we think that Jehovah God has changed his mind about such pagan goddesses as Ashtoreth, Istar and Astarte, which today translates to "Easter." How does He feel about modern-day worshippers calling the day of his son’s resurrection by the name of an ancient pagan goddess of sexual love and fertility?
A strong clue of his feelings is found at Exodus 23:13: "You must not mention the name of other gods. It should not be heard upon your mouth." Like this" "Ashtoreth, Ishtar, Astarte, Easter." This becomes very serious when we consider the words of the apostle Paul at 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. In the context of "what sharing is there between Christ and the devil, between light and darkness, Paul says in verse 17: "Quit touching the unclean thing and I will take you in." The context shows that he is talking about unclean, pagan religious things. Obviously if after knowing the pagan origin of things like "Easter" and then continuing to "touch" them or observe them, will God take us in?
It is an insult to God to call the day that he miraculously resurrected his son, "Easter." Why should the ancient name of a pagan goddess (really Satan) be on the lips of millions of worshippers at this wonderful time of year when we are reminded that Jesus Christ died for our sins?" The other so called Christian celebrations are also steeped in Paganism and were not celebrated by the early Christians. So the question here would be which God or gods do the Christians give their alegiance to?If we are true Christians then we need to reject all pagan festivals including the ones labled as Christian festivals, because even though these are called Christian hollidays, they are really pagan festivals, and therefore, are not Christian, or, to be celebrated by true Christians who truly care to do God's will.