Why do jw's limit and confine God's glory? If God is master and creator of all days, as in the bible, what is the logic of your policy to secure holidays as "pagan festivals"? Wouldn't it glorify God and place Him back where He belongs if you reclaimed these days and rededicate them in honor of Him and things/about Him?
Why do you insist on affording Satan so much honor and power?
Despite what some people do to the holidays, don't you agree we should try to set things right?
2007-05-28 07:55:32 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Eph. 5:10, 11: “Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; and quit sharing with them in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness, but, rather, even be reproving them.”
2 Cor. 6:14-18: “What fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Be′lial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? . . . ‘ “Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,” says Jehovah, “and quit touching the unclean thing”’; ‘“and I will take you in, . . . and you will be sons and daughters to me,” says Jehovah the Almighty.’ ” (Genuine love for Jehovah and a strong desire to be pleasing to him will help a person to break free from unchristian practices that may have had emotional appeal. A person who really knows and loves Jehovah does not feel that by shunning practices that honor false gods or that promote falsehood he is in any way deprived of happiness. Genuine love causes him to rejoice, not over unrighteousness, but with the truth. See 1 Corinthians 13:6.)
Compare Exodus 32:4-10. Notice that the Israelites adopted an Egyptian religious practice but gave it a new name, “a festival to Jehovah.” But Jehovah severely punished them for this. Today we see only modern practices associated with holidays. Some may appear harmless. But Jehovah observed firsthand the pagan religious practices from which these originated. Should not his view be what matters to us?
Illustration: Suppose a crowd come to a gentleman’s home saying they are there to celebrate his birthday. He does not favor the celebration of birthdays. He does not like to see people overeat or get drunk or engage in loose conduct. But some of them do all those things, and they bring presents for everyone there except him! On top of all that, they pick the birthday of one of the man’s enemies as the date for the celebration. How would the man feel? Would you want to be a party to it? This is exactly what is being done by Christmas celebrations.
Some agree that such holidays as Christmas have pagan origins but still feel that it is not wrong to celebrate them. After all, most people are not thinking about false worship when they observe holidays. These occasions also give families opportunities to draw close together. Is this how you feel? If so, likely it is love of family, not love of false religion, that makes taking a stand for true worship seem difficult. Be assured that Jehovah, the one who originated the family, wants you to have a good relationship with your relatives. (Ephesians 3:14, 15 - But you can strengthen such bonds in ways that God approves. Regarding the matter that should be our chief concern, the apostle Paul wrote: “Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord.”—Ephesians 5:10.
12 Maybe you feel that the origins of holidays have little to do with how they are celebrated today. Do origins really matter? Yes! To illustrate: Suppose you saw a piece of candy lying in the gutter. Would you pick up that candy and eat it? Of course not! That candy is unclean. Like that candy, holidays may seem sweet, but they have been picked up from unclean places. To take a stand for true worship, we need to have a viewpoint like that of the prophet Isaiah, who told true worshipers: “Touch nothing unclean.”—Isaiah 52:11.
If you would like further information or a free home Bible study, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit their official web site - http://www.watchtower.org
2007-05-28 08:49:38 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. Cal 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Should We Celebrate Holidays?
THE Bible is not the source of popular religious and secular holidays that are celebrated in many parts of the world today. What, then, is the origin of such celebrations?
Easter. “There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament,” states The Encyclopædia Britannica. How did Easter get started? It is rooted in pagan worship. While this holiday is supposed to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection, the customs associated with the Easter season are not Christian. For instance, concerning the popular “Easter bunny,” The Catholic Encyclopedia says: “The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility.”
New Year’s Celebrations. The date and customs associated with New Year’s celebrations vary from one country to another. Regarding the origin of this celebration, The World Book Encyclopedia states: “The Roman ruler Julius Caesar established January 1 as New Year’s Day in 46 B.C. The Romans dedicated this day to Janus, the god of gates, doors, and beginnings. The month of January was named after Janus, who had two faces, one looking forward and the other looking backward.” So New Year’s celebrations are founded on pagan traditions.
Halloween. The Encyclopedia Americana says: “Elements of the customs connected with Halloween can be traced to a Druid [ancient Celtic priesthood] ceremony in pre-Christian times. The Celts had festivals for two major gods, a sun god and a god of the dead, whose festival was held on November 1, the beginning of the Celtic New Year. The festival of the dead was gradually incorporated into Christian ritual.”
Other Holidays. It is not possible to discuss all the observances held throughout the world. However, holidays that exalt humans or human organizations are not acceptable to Jehovah. Acts 10:25, 26) Keep in mind, too, that the origin of religious celebrations has a bearing on whether they please God or not. (Isaiah 52:11; Revelation 18:4)
2007-05-28 08:21:26 · answer #2 · answered by BJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We do not limit or confine God's glory.We speak to people where ever they are to be found about our wonderful God,Jehovah.We live our lives in accord with His righteous standards and principles.This also is to bring honor and glory to Jehovah.
By obeying our Creator and not getting involved in pagan originated festivities we again glorify our God,Jehovah and shun,not honor or give power to Satan,as you put it.
The Bible teaches that this "whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one"(1John5:19;2Cor4:4).So therefore,why would we get involved or acknowledge what Satan promotes?
Pagan holidays and festivities belong to Satan and his followers.They never did belong to or were celebrated by early Chrisitians in the first place.
If you want to set things right why dont you heed the counsel found at Pro.27:11:"Be wise my son,and make my(Jehovah) heart rejoice.That I may make a reply to him(Satan)who is taunting me."
Do yourself a favor,study the Bible with one of Jehovahs Witnesses.Get to know what really pleases our Heavenly Father and then act in harmony with what you learn.That will set things right as far as your relationship with Jehovah goes..
2007-05-28 13:13:55 · answer #3 · answered by lillie 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not JW, but you have got to be kidding. They are pagan holidays. You can throw jesus and any other name and it is not going to change what they are. Plus, what is the need to "reclaim" what wasn't yours. It's not like it was commanded anywhere in the bible to observe such things. Observing these holidays just shows that the church had no faith that the newly converted christians could give up their old ways. It could be argued that JW's are actually giving greater glory by not paying homage to gods you claim not to believe in yet celebrate indirectly.
2007-05-28 08:58:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not JW but I am a Christian and how can you re-claim something that was not yours to begin with?
The festivals started out pagan and the RC accepted them in to their religion and turned them into Christian festivals, so if anybody is doing the re-claiming it is the pagans.
We hold every day holy unto the Lord not just 1 a week or one every couple of months.
So even though I don't agree with a lot of the JW teachings I must agree with them on this one.
2007-05-28 08:04:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
We are setting things straight by not celebrating these pagan festivals/holidays. These pagan festivals dishonor God because it is a celebration of bringing honor to man-made gods.
2007-05-29 12:40:39 · answer #6 · answered by Agape 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would not be possible for me to limit his glory rather i honor him by following his laws rules and Bible principles so I stay neutral and avoid doing things that dishonor him like taking part in pagan holidays an example if i throw a clean shirt in the mud puddle will it get the mud clean or will the mud get the clean shirt dirty so we keep Gods name out of pagan holidays as well as ourselves hope you understand that Gorbalizer
2007-05-28 12:18:49 · answer #7 · answered by gorbalizer 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
a competent guy or woman with a organic heart taught catholic because beginning, could they be destroyed. I dont think of they could be you recognize. specifically because of the fact in case you look at it this sort, what share good organic human beings could desire to there have been in the previous the witnesses. (Im not knocking the witnesses however the present agency only got here into being interior the 1800s) Why could desire to they be destroyed in the event that they hadnt been given the prospect to appreciate the actual fact? It states somewhat for sure there'll be a resurrection of the two the righteous and unrighteous (Acts 24:15).. and that that people who in no way knew Gods way could settle for a huge gamble for the duration of Christs one thousand twelve months reign to study it. Revelation 20 people who shouldnt die in armageddon could die through motives which will not be able to be controlled, yet while they do then they are going to be resurrected and in the event that they didnt understand the the terrific option way they'll settle for the prospect to study it. The wages sin will pay is dying, so which you have paid off the salary off sin in case you die. and you get the prospect of accepting Gods way. Romans 6:23 additionally with the 2d portion of your question, in the event that they have been trully repentant then confident Im specific God could forgive them. yet they couldnt in basic terms fake and attempt to fool God, they actually could in actual fact deep of their hearts could desire to be sorry. Acts 26:18
2016-12-30 04:14:12 · answer #8 · answered by garcon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A better question is why would you deminish or deny the glory of God on all the other days?
Why should certain days be any more special than any other, except to Sunday and Holiday only Christians?
2007-05-28 09:46:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most holidays are pagan. Others honor wars or those that die in them. Either way, we remain neutral. if a holiday or a celebration is in some way linked to other gods or goddesses, or if observing it is contrary to our understanding of Biblical principles, we do not take part.
2007-05-28 08:13:58 · answer #10 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋