Christianizing Paganism

"As long as we do it with the right intentions, or that our hearts are in the right place then that's all that matters right?" WRONG! Someone once said that "The road to hell was paved with best intentions". I couldn't agree more.

It's that time of year where all the pagan holidays are in full swing. First holloween, then Christmas, and of course all the other non-mainstream holidays as well. My son came home from Awana last week with a bag that had a mini-pumpkin inside. Attached to the bag was little poem. I can't remember it word for word, but it basically started out by praising God for the harvest season and all that he gives (in a cutsie-kind-of-way) and then starting talking about carving smiley faces into the pumkin and decorating it and putting a candle in it to show our happiness/thankfulness for what he's provided. Let me tell you, if the door hadn't have been closed it would have found itself flying at 50mph into the parking lot. WHAT ARE WE DOING???

I would say of all the holidays, that MOST christians don't celebrate holloween. It's the one holiday that is blatently pagan so it's an easy one to skip over. However, this is yet another thing of the world that we've taken and so-called "Christianized" so NOW it's ok to participate since we're doing it in the name of God. WHAT A LOAD OF BOLOGNE!!! "But as long as our heart is in the right place and we're thinking about God when we do it, doesn't that count for something?" Sure it does. It counts towards having one foot in heaven and one foot in the world which in spiritual currency amounts to a free pass to jail: do not pass heaven do not collect your mansion! It's the classic example of mixture. Is there anything more abundantly clear than that God hates mixture??

Ok. Halloween was an easy target that one is OBVIOUSLY pagan. Now what about Christmas? I mean, that one even has Christs name in it so it's gotta be ok. I know the rest of the world just worships the tree and other decorations, but we're christians so not only should we be allowed to do it, but we SHOULD do it. It's a great time to get together with family and remember Christs birth. I know he wasn't really born on December 25th, but whats wrong with a belated birthday? And yes I know we're giving presents to each other even though it's Christs birthday, but we can also give to the poor. That's giving to Christ right?

Question: So what exactly is wrong with all of the statements above?
Answer: The fact that you're trying to justify your behaviour is a sign that you have been shown the truth, but yet your traditions are more important.

I'm not going to get into the actual history of Christmas, which should be called Paganmas (obviously doesn't roll off the tongue very well, but I think it will catch on), because there are plenty of resources on the internet if you really want to know. However, here's one rule of thumb: if the world is enthralled by it RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!! If the world is doing it enmass THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT!

When constantine converted all of the pagan rituals, temples, and holidays back in 300AD to so-called Christian rituals, temples, and holidays, this was the start of mainstream mixture. He didn't want to offend anybody, or make it difficult for all the pagans in his empire to convert to christianity so he CHIRSTIANIZED THEIR PAGANISM. TRUE CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TO PARTAKE IN THE WAYS OF THE WORLD!! So what do we do??? We change our view of the world to make it more appealing. Wow! That sounds an awful lot like the fruit in the garden doesn't it? No one was checking out the forbidden fruit until someone pointed out that it "looked" good. It was pleasing to the eyes/feelings/emotions - EVERYTHING THE WORLD IS RULED BY! WE however ARE NOT TO BE A PART OF THIS BLASPHEME!

"But we've celebrated it all of our life so God will just "understand", right?" DON'T BE A FOOL! This mindset is so prevelant in our society. We want a god who "understands" and will come down to "our level" because it's too hard any other way. If you believe this than you are trying to create God in YOUR image.

This is not just about whether or not to celebrate holidays. This about the shephard calling his true sheep out from amongst the herd. If you hear his voice calling, then go. Leave behind all that you've known. Until we seek him and only him, we cannot enter through the gate. And we cannot enter the gate while still holding on to things of this world. I'm not suggesting going and selling all that you have and leaving it all behind, however if that's what you think I am saying it's obviously because you are tied to those things and therefore SHOULD sell all that you have. What I am saying is that until we desire all that God has promised us above and beyond all things of this world: holidays, family, belongings, job, etc. we will not enter except through the purification of fire. If this requires a drastic change in your life, or discontentment with a spouse so be it. For the reward for being true and faithful is far greater than pacifying a loved one. And who knows, perhaps those relationships while be restored to you far greater than you could have imagined.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" - Matthew 6:33 KJ