Christmas, Easter, Halloween?

Question

Before you attack me and think I am against Christianity - back off. I am a born-again Christian who has been studying roman catholicism and its pagan roots along with pagan roots of holidays that most of us celebrate. The Bible says that we, as Christians, are to be separate from 'the world'. Before you attack me on that phrase, i do not mean we are not to associate with unbelievers. What i MEAN is that we are called to different lives, to higher purposes, to a walk that is distinct and set apart. We are called to different lives, to higher purposes, to a walk that is distinct and set apart.

We are called to different lives, to higher purposes, to a walk that is distinct and set apart.

So, my question is....for some it is okay to go ahead and celebrate the same way we always have with this knowledge of the holiday's roots and some do not feel that we shouldn't.

What do you think?

oops - some feel that we shouldn't. typo

Answer 1

i don't celebrate those holidays because i am supposed to separate myself from te world. i don't need a specific date to celebrate Jesus. i do that all day and every day. for people to say that it's harmless...well it's not up to us. it's what God said. so as a christian...i listen to and follow the word of God.

Answer 2

Col. 2:16.

It's a matter of heart. Sure, those holidays have pagan roots. But Christmas and Easter also have Christian roots. When you decorate a Christmas tree or throw a yule log on the fire, are you truly in your heart worshiping Ashtaroth, or Baal? No, of course not. Nowadays you can talk about how the evergreen tree represents the gift of everlasting life, and how the star at the top is the Nativity star, and how we give gifts to each other to remind ourselves of the gift that was given to us at so costly a price. I could go on, but you get my point I hope.

And for those Christians who say we should not celebrate Halloween in anyway, I would again direct them to Col 2:16 and then ask them if they celebrate their birthdays.

If you have any more questions, you are welcome to email me. Incidentally my 360 page blog is on Halloween, you might want to check it out.

Answer 3

I think that the secular side of the holidays have helped to keep the religious part of it in the minds of everyone during those holiday seasons. Think about it. So many people really only pay lipservice to their religion during major holidays like Christmas and Easter. If the easter bunny and santa claus wasnt so prevalent would the holidays be as important as they are today? The secular traditions keep the holidays alive which allows for the true meanings of the holidays to stay alive as well.
Halloween isnt religious at all, imo.
Part of religion is to turn us closer to God and being with our families together helps to do that. As long as we remember the true meanings of those holidays and include them in our celebrations I think the secular parts of the holidays can be made to be spiritual by creating traditions and family bonds that are very important to our spiritual growth.
Santa and the Easter bunny dont teach evil concepts. They give free stuff to good little kids. How does that take away from the message of Christ? Be good and you get rewarded. It adds to the message.

Answer 4

Riegan is right. All three of those started out as pagan holidays. Pagans have been around WAY before Christians. Christmas and Easter were originally celebrations of winter and spring. Halloween was originally a holiday for the dead and fall. There's nothing evil or un-Godly about any of those things so if you want to celebrate, by all means do so.

I do, however, find it kind of odd that people of your faith stole Christmas and Easter for yourselves. Was that the beginning of Christianity's overbearing religious opressing upon others?

Answer 5

I think your question will evoke a great deal of passion from people of both sides of this religious argument. This is one point that many if not most understand but overlook by re-defining what it means to them. That is what is at the core of most peoples beliefs, what feels right to them.

I am not sure that God keeps a score book or a chalk board on who does and who does not celebrate these days. However, the holidays that you have questioned here to me are at at very basic level of Christianity. We all have to deal with whatever level we are at, at any giving time, but I am certain that these issues pale in comparison to what God would have us concerned with.

Answer 6

I think it depends on your heart as there is no "thou shalt not put up a tree or wear a costume" in the Bible.

If you celebrate Christ becoming flesh for the purpose of redeeming you on Christmas- by all means celebrate Christmas. If you celebrate His triumph over death and hell on Easter- celebrate Easter. If halloween is just a day to get candy- then celebrate halloween.

If you are worshipping fertility gods, ect... on Chistmas and Easter and witchcraft on Halloween in addition to your faith in Christ- then it is bad.

I think this is a Romans 14 issue.

Answer 7

If I understand your question right, CELEBRATING these holidays that you mention IS NOT THE ISSUE since everyone is welcome to celebrate whatever they want to.

The real, deeper issue is that once one recognizes the fact that these practices originated from "non-Christian" or pagan roots, then one should begin to QUESTION ALL OTHER LIES and FALSE DOCTRINES being taught by so-called "Christian" organizations. And, in doing so, to summarily leave the Christian church that they belong to. In short, it's time to find another belief system or religion... one that is not self-contradictory in its teachings.

Otherwise, to continue belonging to the same church[es] just the same simply indicates sheer HYPOCRISY on one's part. Don't you think??

One can't slice the cake and have it all, too. Right? Seek and you shall find.

Peace be with you.

Answer 8

I believe in Santa Clause--yea I could even pass a lie detector test on that one.

Ever see little kids all excited about Santa or the Easter Bunny?

Does making children happy a bad thing? No

Celebrate what you want to.

Answer 9

No.I don't run away from the decorations in my relative's homes at parties,but I certainly don't celebrate Baalmass or Ishtar or Samhain.

Answer 10

Where does the Bible tell us to separate ourselves from the world?

Jesus never separated himself from the world. He met the world head on and it never diverted him from his mission.

In Matthew 28:19: Jesus said, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit."

+ Christmas +

The placement of Christmas near the winter solstice and some of the symbols of Christmas may be influenced by dead pagan religions but the Spirit of Chirstmas is completely Christ-centered.

The angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

(Luke 2:10-14)

Christmas is the feast of the birth of Jesus celebrated on December 25. it is also known as the Feast of the Nativity.

The non-Christian world is joining us to celebrate this joyous feast. Let us not reject them.

+ Easter +

The only pseudo-pagan things about Easter are the English word "Easter" and things like Easter eggs and the Easter bunny.

The English word "Easter" relates to Estre, a Teutonic (German) goddess of the rising light of day and spring, which deity. No one seems to know why this word was used to describe the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The great feast of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was celebrated long before the unchristian English word "Easter" was first used.

Most other languages translate the Jewish/Christian word for "Passover" for the great celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that English speakers call "Easter."

The Greek term for "Passover" is pascha. It is the Aramaic form of the Hebrew pesach (meaning passover).

The Greeks called Easter the pascha anastasimon
Latin: Pascha
Italian: Pasqua
Spanish: Pascua
Scottish: Pask
Dutch: Paschen
Danish: Paaske
Swedish: Pask
Even in the German provinces of the Lower Rhine where the Teutonic goddess Estre had its origins, the people call the feast Paisken not Ostern.

+ Halloween +

Halloween is actually like Christmas Eve. The night before a Christian holy day.

It is the eve of All Saint's Day or All Hallows Eve or Halloween. Just like "hallowed be Thy name."

But just like Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday), Halloween has taken on a life of its own.

Christians including Catholics do not fear death, evil, or Satan. In Christ, we can laugh in the face of death.

From an email I received: Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside, and scoops out all the yucky stuff--including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

And finally, Halloween is fun. Create your own Jack-o-Lantern: http://www.coasttocoastam.com/timages/page/pumpkin_sim.html

+ With love in Christ.