The 'Come Out' Command
WARNING --- WARNING --- WARNING --- WARNING --- WARNING
“You can’t believe your way out of something you behaved your way into.”
Just because you 'believe' that God will overlook your blatant refusal of obedience because you did so 'thinking' God would allow you to do, will not make it so.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
When the Bible tells us in this verse not to lean on our own understanding, it is not encouraging us to be irrational. The Bible puts up no wall of separation between our intellect and faith. In fact, the book of Proverbs speaks very highly of understanding:
What we’re told not to lean on is our “own understanding,” meaning conclusions based primarily on our own perceptions. Because our own understanding simply will not bear the full weight of reality. It was never intended.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30) Time is running out. The hour of salvation is at hand. The Kingdom of God is upon us. Repent while you still can.
We are about to give you more proof with scripture, and secular data that the traditions of men are not God's way, than you can find to support your stand in doing the sin we are here to shine light on.
This is a very, very long document filled to the brim with scripture and videos to help the ignorant, the lost, and those straddling the fence. We cut no corners and there is no sugar coating the Word of God. It is in love and deep grief that we present all of this knowing most will never finish the article, and that the majority of those that even begin this article will never turn away from the traditions of men, in fact, they will hold on to them even stronger in defiance. Will that be you? We at Homeward Bound Pilgrims must be watchmen and blow the horn on these evil practices for the sake of the souls who are ensnared. So many of you will be enraged and insulted, and yet not do the research into His word, but will walk away from here and continue in you beloved sins. However, when standing before Him in the final judgment, and He asks you why you did not heed these words... will your answer be valid enough to gain entrance into His Kingdom, His home, after breaking His 'House Rules"?
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Ephesians 6:11-12 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Matthew 26:41 "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
1 Peter 1:13-19 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not [h]redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
2 Peter 2:1-3 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign LORD who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
-We begin this topic stating our feelings and emotions... but soon give enough scripture to choke a horse.
-We have to watch HOW we judge other believers. Oh yes, WE ARE TO JUDGE and there are MANY scriptures to prove that point, but we must BE CAREFUL in our judging.
-Most believers in this congregation are STRONGLY against celebrating December 25th and other such holidays, while there are some we know who take no such stand.
-SOME HAVE BEEN KNOW TO BREAK FELLOWSHIP OVER IT. We give all believers the right to come to such convictions at their own time. All believers are at DIFFERENT STAGES OF GROWTH and some who are now the strongest against these things, weren’t always so. God had to bring them to their own conviction against them. This site offers many written passages and videos giving many REASONS WHY BELIEVERS INCLUDING US DO TAKE STRONG STANDS AGAINST SUCH CELEBRATIONS, to the extent that we do not decorate, preach, put on productions, or participate in these celebrations, under any circumstances, ever.
-As mentioned above, not every believer in the Lord Jesus takes such a stand. WE ARDENTLY DO, but this is a BIBLICALLY AND SECULAR EDUCATED CONVICTION. After reading the history of Christmas, and God’s Word about idolatry, worshiping of devils, etc. we could EASILY SEE what Christmas really is, and how dangerous and wicked it could be. That same understanding (whether ignorantly or willfully) is not in every believer, and we must not judge their convictions by our knowledge. We can teach what we know in a loving, edifying way and pray for them but let us BEWARE of judging THEIR HEARTS in these matters. That can turn into SLANDER which is SIN. I was a Christian for quite a few years before I gave up Christ Mass, Hallow E’en, etc. and I allow others this same privilege without my condemnation on their actions or convictions. I believe it would be wise for ALL CHRISTIANS to forego those “celebrations” and I preach this strongly and openly. UNFORTUNATELY I also believe and stand on 2 Corinthians 6:15-18 that says God will NOT be the Father of those that continue to do so. I most certainly loved Jesus when I did these same things, therefore I know that the same is possible for others. That is why we preach this so strongly.
“You can’t believe your way out of something you behaved your way into.”
Just because you 'believe' that God will overlook your blatant refusal of obedience because you did so 'thinking' God would allow you to do, will not make it so.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
When the Bible tells us in this verse not to lean on our own understanding, it is not encouraging us to be irrational. The Bible puts up no wall of separation between our intellect and faith. In fact, the book of Proverbs speaks very highly of understanding:
- “[Incline] your heart to understanding” (Proverbs 2:2).
- “Raise your voice for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3).
- “Understanding will guard you” (Proverbs 2:11).
- “Blessed is the one who . . . gets understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).
- “Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding” (Proverbs 14:33).
- “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge” (Proverbs 15:14).
- “To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver” (Proverbs 16:16).
- “Buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23).
What we’re told not to lean on is our “own understanding,” meaning conclusions based primarily on our own perceptions. Because our own understanding simply will not bear the full weight of reality. It was never intended.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30) Time is running out. The hour of salvation is at hand. The Kingdom of God is upon us. Repent while you still can.
We are about to give you more proof with scripture, and secular data that the traditions of men are not God's way, than you can find to support your stand in doing the sin we are here to shine light on.
This is a very, very long document filled to the brim with scripture and videos to help the ignorant, the lost, and those straddling the fence. We cut no corners and there is no sugar coating the Word of God. It is in love and deep grief that we present all of this knowing most will never finish the article, and that the majority of those that even begin this article will never turn away from the traditions of men, in fact, they will hold on to them even stronger in defiance. Will that be you? We at Homeward Bound Pilgrims must be watchmen and blow the horn on these evil practices for the sake of the souls who are ensnared. So many of you will be enraged and insulted, and yet not do the research into His word, but will walk away from here and continue in you beloved sins. However, when standing before Him in the final judgment, and He asks you why you did not heed these words... will your answer be valid enough to gain entrance into His Kingdom, His home, after breaking His 'House Rules"?
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Ephesians 6:11-12 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Matthew 26:41 "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
1 Peter 1:13-19 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not [h]redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
2 Peter 2:1-3 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign LORD who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
-We begin this topic stating our feelings and emotions... but soon give enough scripture to choke a horse.
-We have to watch HOW we judge other believers. Oh yes, WE ARE TO JUDGE and there are MANY scriptures to prove that point, but we must BE CAREFUL in our judging.
-Most believers in this congregation are STRONGLY against celebrating December 25th and other such holidays, while there are some we know who take no such stand.
-SOME HAVE BEEN KNOW TO BREAK FELLOWSHIP OVER IT. We give all believers the right to come to such convictions at their own time. All believers are at DIFFERENT STAGES OF GROWTH and some who are now the strongest against these things, weren’t always so. God had to bring them to their own conviction against them. This site offers many written passages and videos giving many REASONS WHY BELIEVERS INCLUDING US DO TAKE STRONG STANDS AGAINST SUCH CELEBRATIONS, to the extent that we do not decorate, preach, put on productions, or participate in these celebrations, under any circumstances, ever.
-As mentioned above, not every believer in the Lord Jesus takes such a stand. WE ARDENTLY DO, but this is a BIBLICALLY AND SECULAR EDUCATED CONVICTION. After reading the history of Christmas, and God’s Word about idolatry, worshiping of devils, etc. we could EASILY SEE what Christmas really is, and how dangerous and wicked it could be. That same understanding (whether ignorantly or willfully) is not in every believer, and we must not judge their convictions by our knowledge. We can teach what we know in a loving, edifying way and pray for them but let us BEWARE of judging THEIR HEARTS in these matters. That can turn into SLANDER which is SIN. I was a Christian for quite a few years before I gave up Christ Mass, Hallow E’en, etc. and I allow others this same privilege without my condemnation on their actions or convictions. I believe it would be wise for ALL CHRISTIANS to forego those “celebrations” and I preach this strongly and openly. UNFORTUNATELY I also believe and stand on 2 Corinthians 6:15-18 that says God will NOT be the Father of those that continue to do so. I most certainly loved Jesus when I did these same things, therefore I know that the same is possible for others. That is why we preach this so strongly.
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This may be your first time hearing what we are about to present.
On this page we offer our belief on a very controversial topic
where most of the world is concerned and even shunned by the vast majority of churches.
We also offer videos that agree with our stand, as we find them,
These videos may come from different directions
but are all biblically sound and represent our beliefs, as verified biblicaly and in history.
Not all Protestants, or believers of Christ, interpret the Bible the same way.
We present our stand in-between each set of of videos.
We may not agree with everything the creators of these videos believe or promote
but we do agree with the individual videos shared here.
On this page we offer our belief on a very controversial topic
where most of the world is concerned and even shunned by the vast majority of churches.
We also offer videos that agree with our stand, as we find them,
These videos may come from different directions
but are all biblically sound and represent our beliefs, as verified biblicaly and in history.
Not all Protestants, or believers of Christ, interpret the Bible the same way.
We present our stand in-between each set of of videos.
We may not agree with everything the creators of these videos believe or promote
but we do agree with the individual videos shared here.
We are not of this world. This world hates God. It hates us. John 10:10 says "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy but... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Bluntly speaking... why would any Christian want to emulate and celebrate with those that are headed for hell?
Galatians 5:19-21 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a person is an idolater —has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Galatians 4:7-11 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Galatians 5:19-21 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a person is an idolater —has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Galatians 4:7-11 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
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1 Corinthians 9:12 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
By putting up with anything that is counter to the word of God we are only paving the path to hell... The word of God does not return void... Those that truly love the Lord and keep His commandments know it is up to us to use His word to teach and correct our brothers and sisters, and help redeem the lost.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
1 Corinthians 9:19-27 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Should a New Testament Christian Celebrate The Traditions of Men? The answer is clearly stated in Rev. 18:4, Mark 7:1-9 and 2 Cor. 6:15-18 and many more verses that will be shared in the videos below. YOU ARE ABOUT TO LEARN WHY ANYONE THAT CALLS THEMSELVES A 'CHRISTIAN' MUST IMMEDIATELY STOP CELEBRATING THE TRADITIONS OF MEN OR BORROWING FROM PAGANS TO WORSHIP GOD?
Most Christians are taught to cherry-pick scriptures from Galatians, Colossians, and elsewhere to justify their celebration of WORLDLY HOLIDAYS. They don't realize that the verses in Galatians and Colossians, in context,
actually promote the celebration of the Biblical feasts under the old law, not their pagan substitutes, and neither are to be followed as exampled by the apostles, but used as ways to teach those followers the gospel truth,
because Old law feasts were to stop at Christ's death, and pagan substituents or inclusions were never allowed.
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I’ve been really hesitant to present this matter because I know that it arouses the anger of many.
However, just because the traditions of the world are something that we all held very dear to our hearts, having been taught to us from infancy, either out of ignorance or defiance, does not make them right in the site of God!!!!!
Many generations have grown up under the traditions of men, taught that it was okay to do so, and as adults we desire to remain in that snare, perpetuating the sins on to the next generation.
We need to break these generational curses and traditions and
return to pure truth and spirit in our worship and devotion to God!
Improper or total lack of biblical knowledge has many people lead down the wrong path in this matter. We admit the we too have wonderful memories of buckets full of candy on Halloween, presents around the Christmas tree and Easter egg hunts at our grandparents’ houses, and more.
No one likes to hear that the events that they find comfort in could be out of the will of God (or actual sin) . . .
not even me, but to repent and forsake such revelings is a must.
Just as many young adults go out and get intoxicated at kegger parties, pass a joint around, down a few mind altering substances and give into the physical, emotional and social pressures of such camaraderie, which is just as big a sin as celebrating the traditions of men.
Unfortunately, most folks are unable to resist as our flesh desperately seeks the path of least resistance.
Our carnal nature would rather appease our flesh,
justify our way of life, and quietly blend in with the world around us.
However, just because the traditions of the world are something that we all held very dear to our hearts, having been taught to us from infancy, either out of ignorance or defiance, does not make them right in the site of God!!!!!
Many generations have grown up under the traditions of men, taught that it was okay to do so, and as adults we desire to remain in that snare, perpetuating the sins on to the next generation.
We need to break these generational curses and traditions and
return to pure truth and spirit in our worship and devotion to God!
Improper or total lack of biblical knowledge has many people lead down the wrong path in this matter. We admit the we too have wonderful memories of buckets full of candy on Halloween, presents around the Christmas tree and Easter egg hunts at our grandparents’ houses, and more.
No one likes to hear that the events that they find comfort in could be out of the will of God (or actual sin) . . .
not even me, but to repent and forsake such revelings is a must.
Just as many young adults go out and get intoxicated at kegger parties, pass a joint around, down a few mind altering substances and give into the physical, emotional and social pressures of such camaraderie, which is just as big a sin as celebrating the traditions of men.
Unfortunately, most folks are unable to resist as our flesh desperately seeks the path of least resistance.
Our carnal nature would rather appease our flesh,
justify our way of life, and quietly blend in with the world around us.
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Most of us already know that most holidays (including the most advertised; Halloween, Christmas, New Years Eve, and Easter) have purely pagan origins, and yet we still blindly continue to follow these customs rather than face peer pressure. Remember King Saul lost His kingdom because he listened
to the people around him and did not obey God's word.
Admittedly, a few blacklist Halloween as a “pagan holiday”. So many prefer to
compromise, sit on the fence, or toss a Bible theme into it, mistakenly thinking it will be okay.
We still refuse to embrace Christmas and Easter which never had anything to do with Jesus originally.
When Moses took to long time up on the hill talking to God,
the Israelites demanded a calf of gold as a substitute for God, which resulted in
3000 men women and children that died because they thought a substitute was fine.
How many in the world today, that do celebrate these holidays will be wiped
from the face of the world when God returns?
He may very well do the same thing to those that follow today's false
and unholy, mixed-up, so-called Christian celebrations?
These are only a few of some yearly rituals that a good little Christian must not participate in or condone.
I can guarantee that if you forsake these holidays, you will face persecution for His name sake!
To those not on this pilgrimage, this narrower walk, it’s tantamount to
burning the American flag on the 4th of July.
But bear our cross, we must.
If you are one or know those that embraces these traditions of men,
despite being fully aware or even reasonably aware of any amount of unbiased
scriptural knowledge on this matter, it reeks of spiritual suicide and out right hypocrisy.
to the people around him and did not obey God's word.
Admittedly, a few blacklist Halloween as a “pagan holiday”. So many prefer to
compromise, sit on the fence, or toss a Bible theme into it, mistakenly thinking it will be okay.
We still refuse to embrace Christmas and Easter which never had anything to do with Jesus originally.
When Moses took to long time up on the hill talking to God,
the Israelites demanded a calf of gold as a substitute for God, which resulted in
3000 men women and children that died because they thought a substitute was fine.
How many in the world today, that do celebrate these holidays will be wiped
from the face of the world when God returns?
He may very well do the same thing to those that follow today's false
and unholy, mixed-up, so-called Christian celebrations?
These are only a few of some yearly rituals that a good little Christian must not participate in or condone.
I can guarantee that if you forsake these holidays, you will face persecution for His name sake!
To those not on this pilgrimage, this narrower walk, it’s tantamount to
burning the American flag on the 4th of July.
But bear our cross, we must.
If you are one or know those that embraces these traditions of men,
despite being fully aware or even reasonably aware of any amount of unbiased
scriptural knowledge on this matter, it reeks of spiritual suicide and out right hypocrisy.
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The truth is that I cannot find one scriptural reason why it is OK to celebrate these holidays.
New Testament verses used to justify these celebrations are cherry-picked and grossly out of context.
Below the following videos we'll take an in-depth look at a many Scriptures that are commonly used
by often well-meaning but blinded Christians to justify their positions on the holidays
and many others that they cannot dispute.
Please notice that there are many different denominations and bodies of Christ
that believe and act according to scriptures, as we do on this matter.
If you seek the truth, you WILL find it, but I’ll let you know ahead of time, it will not feel good to your flesh.
LISTEN TO THE COMMAND:
COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM!
New Testament verses used to justify these celebrations are cherry-picked and grossly out of context.
Below the following videos we'll take an in-depth look at a many Scriptures that are commonly used
by often well-meaning but blinded Christians to justify their positions on the holidays
and many others that they cannot dispute.
Please notice that there are many different denominations and bodies of Christ
that believe and act according to scriptures, as we do on this matter.
If you seek the truth, you WILL find it, but I’ll let you know ahead of time, it will not feel good to your flesh.
LISTEN TO THE COMMAND:
COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM!
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Before we share this next Bible story you need to remember that God is the same yesterday, today and ... yes... forever (Hebrews 8:13).
In the Old Testament, the northern nation of Israel had a king named Jeroboam who made many changes in Old Testament worship. He moved the place of worship from Jerusalem to Dan and Bethel, appointed priests of every tribe, set up a calf at the two sanctuaries, and made new holy days. “And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made” (1 Kings 12:32). One could argue that, so long as one worships God, what difference does it make which day the feast is observed? However, the biblical historian succinctly says about Jeroboam’s changes in Israel’s worship, “And this thing became a sin” (1 Kings 12:30).
So significant were the apostasies which Jeroboam introduced that the historian made this assessment of several of Israel’s subsequent kings, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin” (1 Kings 15:34; cf. 16:2, 19; 22:52; 2 Kings 3:3; 10:29; etc.).
The point of all of this is that God has revealed to man how he wishes to be worshiped and man does not have the right to change divinely revealed worship.
In the Old Testament, the northern nation of Israel had a king named Jeroboam who made many changes in Old Testament worship. He moved the place of worship from Jerusalem to Dan and Bethel, appointed priests of every tribe, set up a calf at the two sanctuaries, and made new holy days. “And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made” (1 Kings 12:32). One could argue that, so long as one worships God, what difference does it make which day the feast is observed? However, the biblical historian succinctly says about Jeroboam’s changes in Israel’s worship, “And this thing became a sin” (1 Kings 12:30).
So significant were the apostasies which Jeroboam introduced that the historian made this assessment of several of Israel’s subsequent kings, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin” (1 Kings 15:34; cf. 16:2, 19; 22:52; 2 Kings 3:3; 10:29; etc.).
The point of all of this is that God has revealed to man how he wishes to be worshiped and man does not have the right to change divinely revealed worship.
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Romans 13:11-14 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
The New Testament draws upon the principles revealed in the Old Testament. Jesus said about the changes which the Pharisees made in their teaching and worship, “This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8-9). Worship that is authorized by man rather than by God is sinful worship. Paul spoke about humanly devised worship being “will worship” (that is self-imposed rules) that had no value to God (Col. 2:22).
Those warnings in Scripture about adding to and detracting from divine revelation need to be taught to a new generation.
Romans 12:1 'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.' This is bearing your cross; accepting and suffering the loss of beloved pleasures, for a season or a lifetime, for the promises He has made to us.
Moses tried to lead the people in the ways of God... but they refused and 3000 died for their unfaithfulness. They refused to keep their devotion pure. The same will happen on judgment day with those that compromise worshiping God with idols, demons, myths and lies.
Acts 7:39-43 39"But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt-we don't know what has happened to him!' 41 That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. 42 But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: "'Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? 43 You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile' beyond Babylon.
The New Testament draws upon the principles revealed in the Old Testament. Jesus said about the changes which the Pharisees made in their teaching and worship, “This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:8-9). Worship that is authorized by man rather than by God is sinful worship. Paul spoke about humanly devised worship being “will worship” (that is self-imposed rules) that had no value to God (Col. 2:22).
Those warnings in Scripture about adding to and detracting from divine revelation need to be taught to a new generation.
Romans 12:1 'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.' This is bearing your cross; accepting and suffering the loss of beloved pleasures, for a season or a lifetime, for the promises He has made to us.
Moses tried to lead the people in the ways of God... but they refused and 3000 died for their unfaithfulness. They refused to keep their devotion pure. The same will happen on judgment day with those that compromise worshiping God with idols, demons, myths and lies.
Acts 7:39-43 39"But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt-we don't know what has happened to him!' 41 That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. 42 But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: "'Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? 43 You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile' beyond Babylon.
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Cherry picking must end!
Galatians 4:8-11
You Observe Days and Months and Seasons and Years!
(This is a chastisement not a statement of acceptance!
In my opinion, Galatians is probably THE most misunderstood book in the Bible.
More false doctrine has come out of this book than any other
Romans and Revelation tie for a VERY close second).
But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years.
I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Because of what our our modern preachers and evangelists have taught us,
and because it is our natural tendency to incorporate what we’ve been taught 'into our paradigm',
it is really easy to just focus on the verses that our leaders have emphasized:
…how [is it that] you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Again, it is due to our poor misguided religious training, it’s inevitable that our eyes will gravitate to these verses and exclude the surrounding text, diluting (or outright distorting) the truth of the Word as we read our paradigm INTO the passage. Blindly, we proceed to the next verse, assuming that Paul was writing a chastisement to people who want to observe the “old Jewish holidays,” ignoring that Jesus’ work on the cross did away with God’s feasts but not His commandments.
That is so sad my friends.
A careful analysis of the surrounding Scriptures will bring out the truth.
Galatians 4:8-9
But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God,
how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements,
to which you desire again to be in bondage?
From the Scripture above, we see that prior to coming to the faith,
the Galatians DID NOT KNOW GOD and SERVED OTHER GODS.
They were pagans, not Jews or proselytes!
They were practicing the traditions of men.
One error taught by those who teach Galatians is that,
somehow, the church of Galatia used to be involved in Judaism,
and that the whole debate is over whether or not they should go back to “the Law.”
This sets the stage for an errant “Grace vs. Law” mindset whenever anyone reads this epistle.
If you don’t get the WHO right, you’re going to have a problem interpreting these verses
(as well as the entire book of Galatians) correctly.
Galatians 4:8-11
You Observe Days and Months and Seasons and Years!
(This is a chastisement not a statement of acceptance!
In my opinion, Galatians is probably THE most misunderstood book in the Bible.
More false doctrine has come out of this book than any other
Romans and Revelation tie for a VERY close second).
But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years.
I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Because of what our our modern preachers and evangelists have taught us,
and because it is our natural tendency to incorporate what we’ve been taught 'into our paradigm',
it is really easy to just focus on the verses that our leaders have emphasized:
…how [is it that] you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Again, it is due to our poor misguided religious training, it’s inevitable that our eyes will gravitate to these verses and exclude the surrounding text, diluting (or outright distorting) the truth of the Word as we read our paradigm INTO the passage. Blindly, we proceed to the next verse, assuming that Paul was writing a chastisement to people who want to observe the “old Jewish holidays,” ignoring that Jesus’ work on the cross did away with God’s feasts but not His commandments.
That is so sad my friends.
- We don’t think about WHO the epistle (letter) was written to.
- We don’t think about what was happening at the TIME the epistle was written. ~and~
- We don’t think about the CULTURE of the people who received the epistle.
A careful analysis of the surrounding Scriptures will bring out the truth.
Galatians 4:8-9
But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God,
how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements,
to which you desire again to be in bondage?
From the Scripture above, we see that prior to coming to the faith,
the Galatians DID NOT KNOW GOD and SERVED OTHER GODS.
They were pagans, not Jews or proselytes!
They were practicing the traditions of men.
One error taught by those who teach Galatians is that,
somehow, the church of Galatia used to be involved in Judaism,
and that the whole debate is over whether or not they should go back to “the Law.”
This sets the stage for an errant “Grace vs. Law” mindset whenever anyone reads this epistle.
If you don’t get the WHO right, you’re going to have a problem interpreting these verses
(as well as the entire book of Galatians) correctly.
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Galatians 4:10-11
You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
So, if we know that the members of the Galatians church were pagans prior to their conversion, we must come to the conclusion that their celebrated “days and months and years” (the “weak and beggarly elements”that they were “in bondage” to) were pagan holidays, not “Jewish” holidays. On top of that, Paul was afraid that, since the Galatians were celebrating these pagan holidays, that he had “labored in vain.”
We can learn something here. Paul calls the celebration of pagan holidays “bondage”
…not “freedom.” What does that say about those who celebrate pagan holidays today?
Let’s go on, there’s more!
Galatians 4:12-16
Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
In the midst of his infirmity, Paul came to the pagans of Galatia when it was against Jewish Law to do so (and by “Jewish Law,” I mean man-made Jewish Law/Talmud, not God’s Law/Torah). He came to them with the Good News of Jesus Christ, which resulted in an opportunity for the Gentiles to become part of His people.
Contrary to what many teach in churches these days, the “Good News” ALWAYS started with the word “Repent.”
Change your pagan ways, stop your pagan celebrations, learn and do God’s ways.
And lest we forget, at this point, the New Testament didn’t exist.
People learned God’s ways from “the Law and/or the Prophets”.
Galatians 4:17-18
They zealously court you, [but] for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
The “they” in this passage is referring to the Party of the Circumcision (read the entire epistle for context).
From reading the book of Acts and several other references in Paul’s epistles, it can be concluded that the Party of the Circumcision was a powerful and influential sect of the Pharisees. Many of them believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, but they allowed their man-made doctrine to tarnish their faith. Early on, they were very militant about being separate from Gentiles (Acts 11:2-3), then after Peter’s dream, they softened their stance a little, but afterward started preaching circumcision as a means of salvation (Acts 15 and the entire book of Galatians).
It is apparent from Scripture that the Party of the Circumcision followed Paul around, “adding to” the Gospel after Paul passed through. From the verses above, we can see that they were very similar to modern-day pastors and prophets, eager for a following.
Galatians 4:18-20
But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
I’ve explained Galatians 4:8-20 for this purpose.
Paul obviously did not want believers in Messiah to celebrate pagan holidays.
Much like our modern day “salvation prayer” converts, the Gentile believers grasped hold of a salvation by works mindset (saying “the prayer”) and reverted back to their old ways (celebrating their pagan holidays). Paul was calling them (again) to “come out” of the culture that they were a part of. If they failed in this area, Paul considered his efforts to be “in vain.”
You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
So, if we know that the members of the Galatians church were pagans prior to their conversion, we must come to the conclusion that their celebrated “days and months and years” (the “weak and beggarly elements”that they were “in bondage” to) were pagan holidays, not “Jewish” holidays. On top of that, Paul was afraid that, since the Galatians were celebrating these pagan holidays, that he had “labored in vain.”
We can learn something here. Paul calls the celebration of pagan holidays “bondage”
…not “freedom.” What does that say about those who celebrate pagan holidays today?
Let’s go on, there’s more!
Galatians 4:12-16
Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
In the midst of his infirmity, Paul came to the pagans of Galatia when it was against Jewish Law to do so (and by “Jewish Law,” I mean man-made Jewish Law/Talmud, not God’s Law/Torah). He came to them with the Good News of Jesus Christ, which resulted in an opportunity for the Gentiles to become part of His people.
Contrary to what many teach in churches these days, the “Good News” ALWAYS started with the word “Repent.”
Change your pagan ways, stop your pagan celebrations, learn and do God’s ways.
And lest we forget, at this point, the New Testament didn’t exist.
People learned God’s ways from “the Law and/or the Prophets”.
Galatians 4:17-18
They zealously court you, [but] for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
The “they” in this passage is referring to the Party of the Circumcision (read the entire epistle for context).
From reading the book of Acts and several other references in Paul’s epistles, it can be concluded that the Party of the Circumcision was a powerful and influential sect of the Pharisees. Many of them believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, but they allowed their man-made doctrine to tarnish their faith. Early on, they were very militant about being separate from Gentiles (Acts 11:2-3), then after Peter’s dream, they softened their stance a little, but afterward started preaching circumcision as a means of salvation (Acts 15 and the entire book of Galatians).
It is apparent from Scripture that the Party of the Circumcision followed Paul around, “adding to” the Gospel after Paul passed through. From the verses above, we can see that they were very similar to modern-day pastors and prophets, eager for a following.
Galatians 4:18-20
But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
I’ve explained Galatians 4:8-20 for this purpose.
Paul obviously did not want believers in Messiah to celebrate pagan holidays.
Much like our modern day “salvation prayer” converts, the Gentile believers grasped hold of a salvation by works mindset (saying “the prayer”) and reverted back to their old ways (celebrating their pagan holidays). Paul was calling them (again) to “come out” of the culture that they were a part of. If they failed in this area, Paul considered his efforts to be “in vain.”
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Colossians 2: Let No One Judge You
Is your flesh feeling uncomfortable yet?
Yeah… mine too. I really want to crucify this flesh; just like Paul,
on the occasion it keeps me from obeying God’s commands,
thus daily, sometimes moment by moment, repentance is required,
but dying to self and the pleasures of this world is never painless!
You’ve probably noticed that I use the phrase “cherry-picked” a lot when referring to Scriptures taken out of context. Have you ever picked cherries before? It’s all about selecting the nice-looking cherries, and throwing away the rest, right? Sure, the throwaways are “bad” cherries, but that’s where the metaphor ends with God’s Word because His Word is ALL good! There are no bad Scriptures!
Another Scripture that frequently gets “cherry-picked” is:
Colossians 2:16-17
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths,
which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
But when you treat the letter to the church of Colossae for what it is…
an actual letter with a continuous thought process,
the meaning of verses 16-17 is quite different! Let’s explore:
Colossians 2:6-7
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught,
abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Paul starts off encouraging the church of Colossae to walk “in Him” …being “rooted” and “established in the faith.”
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit,
according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world,
and not according to Christ.
Starting with the verse above, we can see that Paul is setting up a comparison. On one side we have “the tradition of men” and “the basic principles of the world”(a deceitful philosophy that will cheat its followers)
and on the other side we have “according to Christ.” At this point, the lines are drawn.
What is about to be discussed will fall on one side of the line or the other.
Colossians 2:9-12
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
You can clearly see from the Scriptures above that Paul is describing the “righteous” side of this comparison.
The side that is “according to Christ.” Thank God for what He has done!
When we put off the body of the sins of the flesh (by crucifying it),
we are taking part in the “circumcision made without hands.”
I explain the “circumcision made without hands” in the following post:
Colossians 2:13-15
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
The Law of sin and death cursed those who disobeyed what was written in it. (See Deuteronomy 28.)
Christ, through His death and resurrection, did not abolish the Law (Matthew 5:17-19), but abolished the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13) that was upon those who lived in habitual disobedience to the Law.
The curse of the Law was “contrary to us,” but God’s Law was given to us “for our good”
Is your flesh feeling uncomfortable yet?
Yeah… mine too. I really want to crucify this flesh; just like Paul,
on the occasion it keeps me from obeying God’s commands,
thus daily, sometimes moment by moment, repentance is required,
but dying to self and the pleasures of this world is never painless!
You’ve probably noticed that I use the phrase “cherry-picked” a lot when referring to Scriptures taken out of context. Have you ever picked cherries before? It’s all about selecting the nice-looking cherries, and throwing away the rest, right? Sure, the throwaways are “bad” cherries, but that’s where the metaphor ends with God’s Word because His Word is ALL good! There are no bad Scriptures!
Another Scripture that frequently gets “cherry-picked” is:
Colossians 2:16-17
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths,
which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
But when you treat the letter to the church of Colossae for what it is…
an actual letter with a continuous thought process,
the meaning of verses 16-17 is quite different! Let’s explore:
Colossians 2:6-7
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught,
abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Paul starts off encouraging the church of Colossae to walk “in Him” …being “rooted” and “established in the faith.”
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit,
according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world,
and not according to Christ.
Starting with the verse above, we can see that Paul is setting up a comparison. On one side we have “the tradition of men” and “the basic principles of the world”(a deceitful philosophy that will cheat its followers)
and on the other side we have “according to Christ.” At this point, the lines are drawn.
What is about to be discussed will fall on one side of the line or the other.
Colossians 2:9-12
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
You can clearly see from the Scriptures above that Paul is describing the “righteous” side of this comparison.
The side that is “according to Christ.” Thank God for what He has done!
When we put off the body of the sins of the flesh (by crucifying it),
we are taking part in the “circumcision made without hands.”
I explain the “circumcision made without hands” in the following post:
Colossians 2:13-15
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
The Law of sin and death cursed those who disobeyed what was written in it. (See Deuteronomy 28.)
Christ, through His death and resurrection, did not abolish the Law (Matthew 5:17-19), but abolished the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13) that was upon those who lived in habitual disobedience to the Law.
The curse of the Law was “contrary to us,” but God’s Law was given to us “for our good”
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(Deuteronomy 6:24, 30:11-20).
Verses 9-15 show us all of the things that Jesus did for us by His death and resurrection on the cross. They are most certainly the details that we must be aware of if we are to live a life “according to Christ.”
Colossians 2:16-17
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Once again, we come across the “cherry-picked” Scripture that people read out of context.
Let’s take a step back and think about what we are reading here and WHO it was meant for.
The church of Colossae was located in the same region as Galatia, really close to Laodicea. While we don’t know for sure if the church was primarily made up of Gentile believers or a mixture of Jew and Gentile, it really doesn’t matter. They were a group of called out believers (an ekklesia) in the midst of a pagan society.
Bringing the comparison in verse 8 forward, we can easily peg those who were judging someone for celebrating festivals, new moons, and Sabbaths as the pagans who adhere to philosophy and empty deceit.
At this point, one could say, “Yes, but the substance is of Christ…
so we don’t have to worry about celebrating those ‘Jewish’ holidays!”
To which I would reply with a few questions:
Colossians 2:18-19
Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in [false] humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase [that is] from God.
Continuing the stream of thought from verse 8, we see Paul mentioning again a philosophy, spoken by people who would CHEAT us and disrupt our walk “according to Christ.” Not only that, but the context of these verses attributes “false humility,” “worship of angels,” and a “puffed-up fleshly mind” to the same people who would judge someone for staying true to the teaching they had received that was God-ordained,
and implying forsaking those that were not.
Romans 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
It’s “heavy stuff” to not hold fast to the Head.
Colossians 2:20-23
Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations — do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which perish with the using — according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body,
but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
When we “died with Christ,” we died to the “basic principles of the world.”
I understand that you all have a wide range of beliefs and interpretations for how a believer should relate to the Law of God. Although that should not be, one thing must be true: God’s Law was NOT created by man, nor was it EVER a “basic principle of the world.” So to use the verse above to support the man-made philosophy
that we no longer need to “subject ourselves” to God’s commands is dangerous ground (at best).
What the verse above is instructing is that we not subject ourselves to man-made doctrine.
Analyze yourself a moment…
what kind of doctrines/regulations/traditions
regarding Christmas and Easter do you subject yourself to?
After doing the research on the history of each of these how can you even condone them?
Matters of the Heart
Besides Scripture, many people have other “pat” responses as to why they think it’s OK
to celebrate Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. They usually sound similar to what you see below.
God knows my heart.
We celebrate “Jesus” during the holidays, so He trumps the pagan holidays.
Whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God.
People are more open to the Gospel during Christmas.
Satan doesn’t own any day, why should I give “pagan holidays” any credit on his behalf?
In light of Scripture, these responses hold no weight.
The Old Testament is FULL of Scriptures where God warns His people against idolatry
and taking on the customs and practices of the nations.
We can also see from the content above that God carries this command through to the New Testament.
In fact, the very Scriptures that people use to support their “right” to celebrate pagan holidays
are actually found to mean the exact opposite!
So why do good “Christian” people celebrate these holidays?
To be honest, it’s really difficult to break with years of tradition,
the expectations of our loved ones, and our own wicked desires.
Again, we call it; the King Saul Syndrome.
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
The truth is that our hearts are wicked and no one can know (be intimately acquainted with) them.
We don’t even know ourselves… how can we know the hidden desires of our own hearts?
We can’t… but GOD can!
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,
and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open
to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Keep in mind that the above verse was referring to the Old Testament,
as the New Testament wasn’t even written (or was just beginning to be written) at that time.
I would encourage you to dig deep into your Bible for you will find that the condition of your heart
is directly related to your obedience to the commands of God.
At this point allow me to say that I have a deep and abiding passion for the Word of God,
finding the ultimate truth that lies within it, and doing my best to obey accordingly.
I'm at a point within the “the last days”, figuratively and possibly literally,
and finding out that our “Game Plan” regarding the 'Great Commission' isn’t working.
That is not the fault of God or His word. It is our fault, the majority of today's believers.
Anyone would have to be in a serious state of denial
to think that the church is going forward – after taking a look around.
Our struggle to “stay relevant” is practically futile, and has run its course…
ending in most cases in confusion and apostasy.
Let’s get one thing straight:
The true church will NEVER be relevant to a carnally-minded society.
It will either STAND on the Word of God or CAVE to the pressure of syncretism,
as was attempted with Constantine and now promoted as the New World Order..
The call to “come out from among them” has never been stronger.
I refuse to allow the popular excuses of the so-called “church” to taint my understanding
of what my Heavenly Father is saying to us in His eternal Word.
Ans you should not either!
“Jesus is the reason for the season” and “He Is Risen!”
are only mantras that they use to comfort those in compromise.
“It’s OK, as long as your heart is in the right place” is one of the weakest excuses and
does nothing to take away from the sinfulness of the actions.
Besides, if you are bound and determined to contradict scripture
so that you can maintain the status quo with family, friends, classmates and co-workers,
then again we remind you of the King Saul Syndrome,
and, sad to say, you have just revealed where your heart is.
May the previous and future videos give you some great “food for thought.”
Verses 9-15 show us all of the things that Jesus did for us by His death and resurrection on the cross. They are most certainly the details that we must be aware of if we are to live a life “according to Christ.”
Colossians 2:16-17
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
Once again, we come across the “cherry-picked” Scripture that people read out of context.
Let’s take a step back and think about what we are reading here and WHO it was meant for.
The church of Colossae was located in the same region as Galatia, really close to Laodicea. While we don’t know for sure if the church was primarily made up of Gentile believers or a mixture of Jew and Gentile, it really doesn’t matter. They were a group of called out believers (an ekklesia) in the midst of a pagan society.
Bringing the comparison in verse 8 forward, we can easily peg those who were judging someone for celebrating festivals, new moons, and Sabbaths as the pagans who adhere to philosophy and empty deceit.
At this point, one could say, “Yes, but the substance is of Christ…
so we don’t have to worry about celebrating those ‘Jewish’ holidays!”
To which I would reply with a few questions:
- Then why would Paul tell the Colossians to not let anyone judge them?
- Why wouldn’t he say… “Well, it doesn’t really matter if you celebrate it or not?”
- Lastly, some of the “Jewish holidays” in Leviticus 23 pointed to events AFTER His return. The events that the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles point to have YET to occur. Where do we divide them up? Do we celebrate some and not others?
- Regardless of your stance, we can see from verses 16-17 that Paul is telling the believers in the church at Colossae that they shouldn’t let any pagan judge them just because they want to take part in a God-commanded feasts.
Colossians 2:18-19
Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in [false] humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase [that is] from God.
Continuing the stream of thought from verse 8, we see Paul mentioning again a philosophy, spoken by people who would CHEAT us and disrupt our walk “according to Christ.” Not only that, but the context of these verses attributes “false humility,” “worship of angels,” and a “puffed-up fleshly mind” to the same people who would judge someone for staying true to the teaching they had received that was God-ordained,
and implying forsaking those that were not.
Romans 8:7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
It’s “heavy stuff” to not hold fast to the Head.
Colossians 2:20-23
Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations — do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, which all concern things which perish with the using — according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body,
but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
When we “died with Christ,” we died to the “basic principles of the world.”
I understand that you all have a wide range of beliefs and interpretations for how a believer should relate to the Law of God. Although that should not be, one thing must be true: God’s Law was NOT created by man, nor was it EVER a “basic principle of the world.” So to use the verse above to support the man-made philosophy
that we no longer need to “subject ourselves” to God’s commands is dangerous ground (at best).
What the verse above is instructing is that we not subject ourselves to man-made doctrine.
Analyze yourself a moment…
what kind of doctrines/regulations/traditions
regarding Christmas and Easter do you subject yourself to?
After doing the research on the history of each of these how can you even condone them?
Matters of the Heart
Besides Scripture, many people have other “pat” responses as to why they think it’s OK
to celebrate Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. They usually sound similar to what you see below.
God knows my heart.
We celebrate “Jesus” during the holidays, so He trumps the pagan holidays.
Whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God.
People are more open to the Gospel during Christmas.
Satan doesn’t own any day, why should I give “pagan holidays” any credit on his behalf?
In light of Scripture, these responses hold no weight.
The Old Testament is FULL of Scriptures where God warns His people against idolatry
and taking on the customs and practices of the nations.
We can also see from the content above that God carries this command through to the New Testament.
In fact, the very Scriptures that people use to support their “right” to celebrate pagan holidays
are actually found to mean the exact opposite!
So why do good “Christian” people celebrate these holidays?
To be honest, it’s really difficult to break with years of tradition,
the expectations of our loved ones, and our own wicked desires.
Again, we call it; the King Saul Syndrome.
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
The truth is that our hearts are wicked and no one can know (be intimately acquainted with) them.
We don’t even know ourselves… how can we know the hidden desires of our own hearts?
We can’t… but GOD can!
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,
and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open
to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Keep in mind that the above verse was referring to the Old Testament,
as the New Testament wasn’t even written (or was just beginning to be written) at that time.
I would encourage you to dig deep into your Bible for you will find that the condition of your heart
is directly related to your obedience to the commands of God.
At this point allow me to say that I have a deep and abiding passion for the Word of God,
finding the ultimate truth that lies within it, and doing my best to obey accordingly.
I'm at a point within the “the last days”, figuratively and possibly literally,
and finding out that our “Game Plan” regarding the 'Great Commission' isn’t working.
That is not the fault of God or His word. It is our fault, the majority of today's believers.
Anyone would have to be in a serious state of denial
to think that the church is going forward – after taking a look around.
Our struggle to “stay relevant” is practically futile, and has run its course…
ending in most cases in confusion and apostasy.
Let’s get one thing straight:
The true church will NEVER be relevant to a carnally-minded society.
It will either STAND on the Word of God or CAVE to the pressure of syncretism,
as was attempted with Constantine and now promoted as the New World Order..
The call to “come out from among them” has never been stronger.
I refuse to allow the popular excuses of the so-called “church” to taint my understanding
of what my Heavenly Father is saying to us in His eternal Word.
Ans you should not either!
“Jesus is the reason for the season” and “He Is Risen!”
are only mantras that they use to comfort those in compromise.
“It’s OK, as long as your heart is in the right place” is one of the weakest excuses and
does nothing to take away from the sinfulness of the actions.
Besides, if you are bound and determined to contradict scripture
so that you can maintain the status quo with family, friends, classmates and co-workers,
then again we remind you of the King Saul Syndrome,
and, sad to say, you have just revealed where your heart is.
May the previous and future videos give you some great “food for thought.”
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As Homeward Bound Pilgrims we are determined walk the narrower path as we are on our way to our new home, a kingdom not of this world, designed for us before the creation of this world. Jesus minced no words when he stated that we are to follow the first and second commandments! However, the majority of the world that professes to be Christians, even after learning the truth about idolatry, other gods, and not mingling with the traditions of men, refuses to obey and makes excuses about the first commandment, as if 'we are like dogs licking the hands of our masters' were the only form of worship. We want all of Gods children to join us on this journey, as does Christ, but we know that not all seeds fall on futile soil and so, the cookies crumble.
Is It Possible In This Day and Age to be a Church Like Christ Built and to possess the faith? We believe the answer is a resounding 'Yes', since good seed always reproduces after its own kind when sewn into good soil, the church can exist today just like the one of the first century. The word of God is the spiritual seed (Luke 8:11; 1 Pet. 1:23), and when it is obeyed without addition or subtraction then the characteristics of New Testament covenant's abiding Christianity will be reproduced. That is why we make the appeal, "if we are doing something for which we have no authority, show us by the Bible and we will stop doing it; or if you show us something in the Bible that the apostles taught that we are not practicing we will start doing it." The majority of other churches will not abide by such a stand. They may say it but when confronted with Biblical proofs they sidestep issues, and turn a deaf ear. We are proof of such a situation and why we have dusted off our shoes and are on this narrower path, without them! This attitude toward Bible authority is what makes us unique in the religious world today. We do our best to be as they that were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.(Acts 2:42) We believe it makes a difference with God what we do because Jesus said, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). We have come out from among them, homeward bound, and desire for the Creator of the Universe to be our Master, our Father, for eternity, now and forever, after this long and arduous pilgrimage.
How Is Our Organization Structured? We are like other non-denominational congregations throughout the world, and none of us have our headquarters on earth. As a local church we are independent and self-governing. Christ is our only head (Eph. 1:22-23), and the Bible is our only creed (Gal. 1:6-8; 2 John 1:9). Within the framework of our congregation men are appointed to serve as "elders" (I Tim. 3; Titus 1). They are also called "pastors".. Their authority is only to teach and administer the word of Christ, and their allegiance is solely to Him. The church at this place is free from inter-congregational ties or any kind of centralized oversight from without. Neither do our elders oversee the work of another congregation nor any "brotherhood work". They oversee only the work of the flock God has entrusted to us"among them" as he brings them to us(1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28). We do cooperate in assisting sister congregations when they have need, but we do so in a manner that respects the autonomy of each local church (2 Cor. 8:9).
What Is Our Goal Or Purpose For Existence? We are motivated by a sincere love for God to worship, obey, and serve Him. You will find that in our assemblies we emphasize the reading and studying of God's word, the Bible. Our primary mission is to preach the good news of salvation by grace through faith. If God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, then the least we can do is to make known this love to fellow men and women by bringing lost souls to Christ, teaching the truth of the gospel and repentance, and by encouraging one another to live faithfully unto death according to His will, just as Christians did in the New Testament days. We are careful to do as they did, namely to sing and pray as He did with His disciples; and on the first day of the week we partake of the Lord's Supper and give as God has prospered us (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:15; 1 Cor. 16:2). We try to be equally careful not to add anything to our worship or format that He has not authorized lest we worship in "vain" (Matt. 15:7-9).
How Can One Become A Member Of This Church? Become just a Christian! When one is saved, he is added by the Lord to the church. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Sinners were told, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). We are also told (2 Corinthians 6:16-18) to come out or He would not be our father.
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? We are the temple of God and the emblems and trinkets used in most worship filled traditions of men were and are still based in idolatry and even demon and pagan worship. For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. We dare not over-look this command (James 1:21) Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. Jesus said 'If you love me follow my commandments". We can't pick and chose the verses to follow as other churches do.
It clearly states (Matthew 22:14) 'For many are called, but few are chosen'. That is because most see that the cost of separation here and now from the familiar, regardless of what they are now being told, is so very hard to achieve when their faith is so weak, or their eyes have been blinded. With like minded brothers and sisters our burdens are shared. We can then only pray for those that are unable or refuse to act on the word of God.
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are also asking Him to be our Master, and to help us make the changes in our lives that He requires of us so that we can 'die to self' daily and become a new creature in Him. This concept of wanting and allowing another to permanently alter our personalities, thoughts and goals in any way they deem best for their purposes, and ultimately improve our lives, is so foreign to the philosophies of the world, that many give up, instead of continuing the race. Most new Christians today are like the prodigal son, not wanting to accept the training, provisions, responsibility and such of being a family member and all it entails, and thus rebels against the Father and his 'house rules'. Yet many turn to seek out polishing from charm schools, refinement courses, and speech classes that teach them to change their outer presentation but do next to nothing for the inner being.
There are so many examples, so many verses, in the Bible that address God's 'house rules' and what is expected of us on this matter:
Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Luke 9:23 - And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Revelation 2:14 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.
Galatians 5:24 - And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Mark 8:35 - For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
1 Peter 2:24 - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
2 Corinthians 4:8 - [We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair;
Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
We know that it has been a couple of thousand years since our Savior walked this earth. Many things have changed: travel, education, science, the way we dress and socialize. However,
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
The command to 'come out from among them' which we follow is skimmed over in the vast majority of congregations in the world today. There are dozens of verses in both the Old and New Testaments to know that God is very serious about this matter. So much so that our very souls are at risk if we fail to obey. When the apostles were teaching the Jews and Gentiles the way of Christ, they used every avilable form of communication and example to tell them the truth to salvation. We also know that it says in:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
II Timothy 4:3-4 - For the time will come when they will not endure SOUND doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from truth, and will turn aside to myths.
Sometimes, at first, it is difficult for those new on the path to give up some of their personal sins. There are some sins that can hurt you instantly and long term, as an individual physically like smoking, drinking alcohol, or doing drugs, contracting STD's, and getting tattoos. We all know that we must stop tearing down the temple. There are other sins like gluttony, lust, greed, lying, stealing and coveting that are just as deadly physically, mentally, financially and spiritually, and equally hard to quit. However, when we first learn that the worldly traditions we have enjoyed for a lifetime, with family and friends we love, are not acceptable to God, making the choice to follow God's word and forsake those traditions can be a deal breaker. Unfortunately, just like some of those previous sins mentioned, that choice also includes whether or not you spend eternity with God in Heaven or are forever in agony in Hell. God does not accept compromise or straddling the fence. Either you are on His side or you are not. He mentions many times that some may be required to forsake mother and father, sister and brother. This, my friend, is one of the situations He is referring to!
Philippians 2:14-16a Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
John 14:23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
1 John 2:15-17 ... love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Coming out from among them means to cut ties with those who do not desire to walk uprightly before God as they by either ignoring Him or they are picking and choosing which parts of the Bible, our instruction manual, they decide to follow or not.
If you have co-workers, friends and family in those situations your faith will be tested. It is your job, if you want to maintain the relationship, to reduce involvement in areas where they are sinning and to constantly be witnessing to them, with love, in prayerful determination to lead them to Christ and obedience. Our God is a jealous God and Father who knows what is best for His children. We struggled for seven long years to help enlighten a local congregation to 'come out' only to watch them, while we were on hiatus, to become more involved in these traditions of men every year as time passed, forcing us to eventually shake the dust from our shoes, walk away, and start Homeward Bound Pilgrims from our home.
1 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Amos 3:3 Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?
2 Corinthians 6:14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
Ephesians 5:7 Therefore do not become partners with them.
2 Corinthians 6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
Isaiah 52:11 Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the LORD’s house.
2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
One flesh:
1 Corinthians 6:16-17 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Is It Possible In This Day and Age to be a Church Like Christ Built and to possess the faith? We believe the answer is a resounding 'Yes', since good seed always reproduces after its own kind when sewn into good soil, the church can exist today just like the one of the first century. The word of God is the spiritual seed (Luke 8:11; 1 Pet. 1:23), and when it is obeyed without addition or subtraction then the characteristics of New Testament covenant's abiding Christianity will be reproduced. That is why we make the appeal, "if we are doing something for which we have no authority, show us by the Bible and we will stop doing it; or if you show us something in the Bible that the apostles taught that we are not practicing we will start doing it." The majority of other churches will not abide by such a stand. They may say it but when confronted with Biblical proofs they sidestep issues, and turn a deaf ear. We are proof of such a situation and why we have dusted off our shoes and are on this narrower path, without them! This attitude toward Bible authority is what makes us unique in the religious world today. We do our best to be as they that were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.(Acts 2:42) We believe it makes a difference with God what we do because Jesus said, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). We have come out from among them, homeward bound, and desire for the Creator of the Universe to be our Master, our Father, for eternity, now and forever, after this long and arduous pilgrimage.
How Is Our Organization Structured? We are like other non-denominational congregations throughout the world, and none of us have our headquarters on earth. As a local church we are independent and self-governing. Christ is our only head (Eph. 1:22-23), and the Bible is our only creed (Gal. 1:6-8; 2 John 1:9). Within the framework of our congregation men are appointed to serve as "elders" (I Tim. 3; Titus 1). They are also called "pastors".. Their authority is only to teach and administer the word of Christ, and their allegiance is solely to Him. The church at this place is free from inter-congregational ties or any kind of centralized oversight from without. Neither do our elders oversee the work of another congregation nor any "brotherhood work". They oversee only the work of the flock God has entrusted to us"among them" as he brings them to us(1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28). We do cooperate in assisting sister congregations when they have need, but we do so in a manner that respects the autonomy of each local church (2 Cor. 8:9).
What Is Our Goal Or Purpose For Existence? We are motivated by a sincere love for God to worship, obey, and serve Him. You will find that in our assemblies we emphasize the reading and studying of God's word, the Bible. Our primary mission is to preach the good news of salvation by grace through faith. If God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, then the least we can do is to make known this love to fellow men and women by bringing lost souls to Christ, teaching the truth of the gospel and repentance, and by encouraging one another to live faithfully unto death according to His will, just as Christians did in the New Testament days. We are careful to do as they did, namely to sing and pray as He did with His disciples; and on the first day of the week we partake of the Lord's Supper and give as God has prospered us (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:15; 1 Cor. 16:2). We try to be equally careful not to add anything to our worship or format that He has not authorized lest we worship in "vain" (Matt. 15:7-9).
How Can One Become A Member Of This Church? Become just a Christian! When one is saved, he is added by the Lord to the church. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Sinners were told, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). We are also told (2 Corinthians 6:16-18) to come out or He would not be our father.
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? We are the temple of God and the emblems and trinkets used in most worship filled traditions of men were and are still based in idolatry and even demon and pagan worship. For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. We dare not over-look this command (James 1:21) Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. Jesus said 'If you love me follow my commandments". We can't pick and chose the verses to follow as other churches do.
It clearly states (Matthew 22:14) 'For many are called, but few are chosen'. That is because most see that the cost of separation here and now from the familiar, regardless of what they are now being told, is so very hard to achieve when their faith is so weak, or their eyes have been blinded. With like minded brothers and sisters our burdens are shared. We can then only pray for those that are unable or refuse to act on the word of God.
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are also asking Him to be our Master, and to help us make the changes in our lives that He requires of us so that we can 'die to self' daily and become a new creature in Him. This concept of wanting and allowing another to permanently alter our personalities, thoughts and goals in any way they deem best for their purposes, and ultimately improve our lives, is so foreign to the philosophies of the world, that many give up, instead of continuing the race. Most new Christians today are like the prodigal son, not wanting to accept the training, provisions, responsibility and such of being a family member and all it entails, and thus rebels against the Father and his 'house rules'. Yet many turn to seek out polishing from charm schools, refinement courses, and speech classes that teach them to change their outer presentation but do next to nothing for the inner being.
There are so many examples, so many verses, in the Bible that address God's 'house rules' and what is expected of us on this matter:
Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Luke 9:23 - And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Revelation 2:14 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.
Galatians 5:24 - And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Mark 8:35 - For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
1 Peter 2:24 - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
2 Corinthians 4:8 - [We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair;
Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
We know that it has been a couple of thousand years since our Savior walked this earth. Many things have changed: travel, education, science, the way we dress and socialize. However,
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
The command to 'come out from among them' which we follow is skimmed over in the vast majority of congregations in the world today. There are dozens of verses in both the Old and New Testaments to know that God is very serious about this matter. So much so that our very souls are at risk if we fail to obey. When the apostles were teaching the Jews and Gentiles the way of Christ, they used every avilable form of communication and example to tell them the truth to salvation. We also know that it says in:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
II Timothy 4:3-4 - For the time will come when they will not endure SOUND doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from truth, and will turn aside to myths.
Sometimes, at first, it is difficult for those new on the path to give up some of their personal sins. There are some sins that can hurt you instantly and long term, as an individual physically like smoking, drinking alcohol, or doing drugs, contracting STD's, and getting tattoos. We all know that we must stop tearing down the temple. There are other sins like gluttony, lust, greed, lying, stealing and coveting that are just as deadly physically, mentally, financially and spiritually, and equally hard to quit. However, when we first learn that the worldly traditions we have enjoyed for a lifetime, with family and friends we love, are not acceptable to God, making the choice to follow God's word and forsake those traditions can be a deal breaker. Unfortunately, just like some of those previous sins mentioned, that choice also includes whether or not you spend eternity with God in Heaven or are forever in agony in Hell. God does not accept compromise or straddling the fence. Either you are on His side or you are not. He mentions many times that some may be required to forsake mother and father, sister and brother. This, my friend, is one of the situations He is referring to!
Philippians 2:14-16a Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
John 14:23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
1 John 2:15-17 ... love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Coming out from among them means to cut ties with those who do not desire to walk uprightly before God as they by either ignoring Him or they are picking and choosing which parts of the Bible, our instruction manual, they decide to follow or not.
If you have co-workers, friends and family in those situations your faith will be tested. It is your job, if you want to maintain the relationship, to reduce involvement in areas where they are sinning and to constantly be witnessing to them, with love, in prayerful determination to lead them to Christ and obedience. Our God is a jealous God and Father who knows what is best for His children. We struggled for seven long years to help enlighten a local congregation to 'come out' only to watch them, while we were on hiatus, to become more involved in these traditions of men every year as time passed, forcing us to eventually shake the dust from our shoes, walk away, and start Homeward Bound Pilgrims from our home.
1 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Amos 3:3 Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?
2 Corinthians 6:14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
Ephesians 5:7 Therefore do not become partners with them.
2 Corinthians 6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
Isaiah 52:11 Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the LORD’s house.
2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
One flesh:
1 Corinthians 6:16-17 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
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If you were already married before getting saved:
1 Corinthians 7:12-13 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
1 Corinthians 7:17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
We urge you to start on that narrower path heading homeward bound today. When a child of God is finally deciding to stop living like the world, bear their cross, and follow the commandments of God, they often are ridiculed, taunted and attacked.
Acts 5:41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
Romans 8:17 And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Romans 8:36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
2 Peter 2:13-19 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed-an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey-an animal without speech-who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's madness. 17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity-for "people are slaves to whatever has mastered them."
2 Corinthians 1:7 And our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin
1 Peter 5:10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
However, should you decide not to join our pilgrimage because you fear the reactions of others, or your love for the traditions and continue to join the world as you practice these annual pagan traditions; your own birthday, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Valentines, World leaders Birthdays, the Tooth Fairy, leprechauns, Friday the thirteenth, etc... BE WARNED: These have their origins in human, pagan, demonic, and / or Roman Catholic foundations and are NOT of God!
Mark 7:8-9 You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition!
Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
2 Corinthians 6:15 And what harmony hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
So what then happens if you do not come out from among them? God will NOT receive you, nor will He be a Father unto you, and ye shall NOT be His sons and daughters, and YOUR SALVATION WILL BE LOST!
Someone recently said that he wished people would get back to the true meaning of Christmas. I instantly wondered if he really believed this, because the “true meaning” of Christmas is rooted in Pagan beliefs. Christmas, as well as Easter and Halloween, are Pagan holidays. If we were to get back to the real meaning of these holidays, we would be worshiping Pagan gods. I wonder if most 'religious' people are aware of this and decide to ignore the fact?”
James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
You may feel that you can celebrate and honor God on this day along with the rest of the world... but because so much of this holiday and many others are steeped in paganism or demonic roots, still having the remains of wickedness and filthiness, your soul will NOT be saved, not even if you keep every commandment and were baptized! There are several 'conditional promises' in the Bible that require your obedience and if you do not comply you are forfeiting your salvation or blessing.
As you see... to honor December 25th as Christ’s birthday, (which date is not mentioned in the Bible) and to recognize it in any way as a commanded Christian holiday (again... which is not mentioned in the Bible except as a birth announcement) and thus as a special holy day, is to speak where the scriptures are silent and to follow the traditions of men rather than the Word of God. This is so clear and yet so many refuse to accept it and obey.
There were only three ordained 'ceremonial or congregational' acts of participation that were commanded in the New Testament to be in effect even today as commanded by Jesus Himself and they were (1) foot washing, (2) baptism, and (3) the Lords Supper, for the remembrance of His death, burial and resurrection. Not once was it ever mentioned by Christ or any of his disciples or apostles that His birthday or any other days be celebrated by believers, ever. To add or celebrate anything else is adding to the word of God and will bring forth the curses mentioned in the Bible upon the lives of those that do so. To read more about this read 'GOD'S GAME BOOK'.
The Old Testament laws were done away with when Christ ushered in the New Covenant as he uttered 'It is finished' as he hung on the cross. (John 19:30) Christians in the first century, under the direction of inspired men, always met on the first day of every week to worship God. This was instituted by Christ and carried out by the apostles, not the Roman Catholic Church or Constantine. The Lord’s Supper, in which the death of Christ for our sins is remembered, was eaten on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Paul commanded that the contribution for the work of the church also be taken up every first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). The first day of the week is the Lord’s day (Revelation 1:10) and the only day we are to celebrate anything at all.
The command that the gospel, (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord is to be remembered and re-enacted by Christians as the disciples did with Jesus, every first day of every week, not just quarterly, semi-annually or one day a year! If we want to be pleasing to God, we must reject everything that comes from man and is combined into worshiping the Lord, especially days and observances which have their origin in paganism. (Mark 7:8,9,13) We dare not add to, nor take away from the inspired teachings of God’s Holy Word (Revelation 22:18-19). If we do so, our worship will be vain and unacceptable to God (Matthew 15:7-13). Our fate is worse than an infidel if we blend paganism with pure worship to God because God will NOT be our father (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).
Should Christians observe any of those other religious holiday which came from man? Absolutely not! Faithful Christians we call Pilgrims will be content to follow God’s Word and joyfully remember the death, burial and resurrection of God’s Son every first day of every week without compromising their future inheritance.
I Peter 4:17-18 Reminds us- For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF GOD? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the Godless man and the sinner?
Should this be a deal breaker for you at this point in a time of your learning, we will be praying for you to come to a full acceptance and understanding of Gods word and one day return to us.
There are many more ways to stumble that can be devastating. Slide over and read about Ways to Lose Your Salvation.
If you see this as just one more way to grow in grace and obedience as part of the body of Christ, then Pilgrim, we will be praying for your stand against the fiery darts of the devil.
II Peter 3:14-17 - Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable DISTORT, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness.
I John 2:3-6 - And by this we know that we have come to know Him, IF we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
I realize I have been hitting hard the curses and punishments and loss of salvation by not obeying God so I want to post these verses that show the rewards for obedience mentioned in the New Testament:
John 14:15-18 NIV “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. {18} I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:23-24 NIV Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
John 15:7-14 NIV If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. {Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
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There are two classes of Christians.
Class one says, “Man has formed many denominations, and I must join one of these (the best one according to my preference) and serve it faithfully.”
The other, Class two says, “God has formed one body and made me a member of it, and I will serve in it according to his word. I dare not be where the word of God does not place me.
As for me and my house... we will remain 'Class Two Christians', Homeward Bound Pilgrims, Children of the Most High God. Won't you join us? Scroll to the bottom to contact us.
Class one says, “Man has formed many denominations, and I must join one of these (the best one according to my preference) and serve it faithfully.”
The other, Class two says, “God has formed one body and made me a member of it, and I will serve in it according to his word. I dare not be where the word of God does not place me.
As for me and my house... we will remain 'Class Two Christians', Homeward Bound Pilgrims, Children of the Most High God. Won't you join us? Scroll to the bottom to contact us.
We Challenge you!
We now ask you to read the following topics and verses, to study and learn for yourself, that what we have presented is honestly required as 1st Commandment obedience. After doing so, please use the form below to tell us how and why this information has changed your stand on man-made traditions, or not.
My wife, Judy, and I believe, plus many churches, especially those in the Bible-belt, are convicted by the many different verses in the Bible that charge a believer that it is a sin to have a Christmas tree and engage in Christmas customs around December 25 (and the same goes for Halloween, Easter, ST. Valentines, and such for that matter) and is a spiritual betrayal much like the physical one of a woman making love to her husband while thinking about another past lover, or with treasured intimate mementos of his in her dresser, or using sexual techniques she learned from him. If you think this is extreme or harsh, read Ezekiel 16 and/or 23 carefully.
1. Adultery is horrible. When a woman gives her body and love to another man for intimate sexual pleasures, she terribly betrays her husband. He is defrauded by having his most personal and prized object treacherously shared with a competitor. Adultery is outrageously wicked (Lev 20:10; Num 5:11-31; Job 31:9-12; Pr 6:32-35).
2. Jealousy is the result. It is the anger, envy, and pain when something dear to you is given to another. It occurs intensely in a husband, when his wife gives her body and love to others. Adultery causes great jealousy, as Scripture and nature show (Num 5:11-31; Prov 6:32-35).
3. God is Jealous. He created and saved His people from serving the devil to be His very own bride. He expects total adoration and perfect obedience. The first and great commandment is to love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. He will not share your love or interest with other things. His name is Jealous, and He burns in jealous rage when His people even flirt with anything else (Ex 20:3-5; 34:14; Deut 4:24; 6:15; 29:20; 32:16; Josh 24:19; Is 42:8; 48:11; I Cor 10:22).
4. God hates idols and icons. God condemned all idols, any graven image or likeness of anything, and any devotion given to them, because He is jealous of any flirting or distraction by His chosen bride with the false gods of paganism. Their gods were bugs, trees, stones, and stars. Today's gods are status, success, money, sports figures, performers, special holidays, sex, physical attributes, talents, and such. He is the invisible Spirit of eternity that reads and judges each persons mind and attitude. He does not want any thing at all getting even indirect attention. He even hated Moses' brass serpent (Ex 20:3-5; Deut 4:15-26; 5:8; II Kgs 18:3-4; Is 40:25; Mark 7:8-9; Jam 1:21).
5. False religion is spiritual adultery. The Old Testament condemned association with false religion as spiritual adultery with false gods in the most graphic terms. Due to the ignorance of most Christians, they are unaware of these awful charges and descriptions in the word of God, and there are a lot of them!```````````` (Ex 34:10-17; Lev 17:1-9; 20:1-8; Num 14:33; 15:37-41; Deut 31:14-21; Judges 2:17; 8:27,33; II Kings 9:22; I Chron 5:25; II Chron 21:12-15; Psalm 73:25-28; 106:34-43; Jer 3:1-5,9; 13:25-27; Ezek 6:8-10; 16:15-38; 20:28-32; 23:1-49; 43:7-10; Hosea 1:1-3; 2:1-5; 4:12-19; 5:1-7; 6:4-11; 9:1; Nah 3:1-7).
6. Props to worship God are condemned. The Lord knew His people would be intrigued by the customs of pagan religion, including the use of green trees. So He condemned any flirting with false gods by His people using their customs in worshiping Him. Their intentions or motives toward Him did not matter! He was extremely jealous of their use of traditions and/or objects from His competitors while professing to love Him only (Ex 32:1-6,26-29; Deut 12:1-4; 12:29-32).
7. Christians cannot flirt with the world. The blessed God plainly condemns friendship with this world as spiritual adultery. If you love the world, then you have betrayed and cheated on the Lord. He hates everything the world loves, and He demands His people to come out from them and not even touch their things, including Christmas, which is the world's favorite religious and commercial festival (II Cor 6:14-17; Luke 16:15; James 4:4; I John 2:15-17; Rev 18:4).
8. Paul's ministerial work, based in godly jealousy and fear, was to present churches and saints as chaste virgins to Christ, pure from fornication with another Jesus, spirit, or gospel. There is another Jesus presented by Satan, but loyal saints will have nothing to do with this pretending seducer. Neither will they be moved by the Christmas spirit that infects so many during the final weeks of the year (II Cor 11:1-4; Eph 5:27; Col 1:28; I John 4:1-6).
9. Compromise is adultery against Christ. We are living in the perilous times of the last days, when an effeminate and compromising brand of Christianity threatens the true saints and churches of Jesus. Most so-called Christians today love the world, its stimulation and the pleasures it can offer more than holy living and doctrinal preaching. They have no heart for earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. They prefer fables of Santa and Christmas dramas at church rather than hard preaching of God's inspired Scriptures. They have turned from the Lover of their soul to entertaining seducers (II Tim 3:1 - 4:5; Jude 1:3).
10. Roman Catholicism is the Great Whore. The Bible describes the church of Rome as a garishly dressed harlot with a chalice full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication, because she adopted many pagan customs to seduce her followers into spiritual adultery. This has been the near universal understanding of God's true saints for 2000 years. But she is not alone, for the churches of the Protestant Reformation are her harlot daughters by retaining many of her sacramental and liturgical corruptions (Dan 7:1-28; II Thess 2:3-12; I Tim 4:1-3; Rev 13:1-18; 17:1-18; 18:1-24; 19:1-4).
11. Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Valentines Day, Mardi Gras, and more have their origins in the Catholic faith. For Bible believers, the name of the winter feast is enough - Christ's Mass. The mass is a Catholic blasphemy in which they pretend to turn a cracker into God on their altars. They bow, worship, and talk to their cracker before eating it. Then they lock the leftover God in a little house made to keep Him safe. The Lord Jesus Christ died once for His elect, and He has never been on the altar of any Catholic Church. He is coming soon to vaporize it with the breath of His mouth (II Thes 2:3-12; I Tim 2:5; Heb 10:10-14).
12. Christmas is pagan idolatry. Superstitious pagans soon invented the worship of agriculture and the sun, for they realized their lives depended on both. Winter celebrations developed long before Jesus to celebrate harvest and the Invincible Sun. It was common to use evergreen branches, wreaths, and trees in their winter festivals. The Bible condemns green trees, especially because they are used to worship God and celebrate the birth of Jesus. The tree is the biggest and most attention getting item in the home, and has nothing to do with worshiping God in the Bible. (Deut 12:1-4; Jer 2:20; 3:6,13; 10:1-16).
13. Christmas is spiritual adultery. Taking an evergreen tree, putting it in your house, decorating it with twinkling lights, sitting in the dark, and adoring it to the tunes of Christmas carols is spiritual adultery. You are professing to love Jesus Christ, but you are doing so with the mementos and techniques brought from other lovers - the world and pagan religion. You are not content with Jesus Christ and His pure gospel found in the New Testament - for there is no Christmas there. You have added seductions of the world to keep you happy in your marriage. Jesus Christ is offended at your whorish ways. (Ex 20:3; Ex 34:14; Hos 4:15; Prov 3:5)
14. Only total rejection will work. God is jealous. He will not let you flirt with His competitors. He will not let you keep mementos from past lovers, like an evergreen tree. He will not let you remember the important dates of past intimacy with paganism, like December 25. He will not let you use a blasphemous combination of His name, like Christ's Mass. He demands that you separate totally from your past lovers, the world, and false religion (Rom 12:1-2; 16:17-18; II Cor 6:14-17; II Thess 3:6; I Tim 6:3-5; II Tim 3:1-5; Titus 3:10-11; Rev 18:4).
There are many scriptures to help. The Bible clearly condemns observing any man made holidays and other holy days of Rome's whitewashed paganism. We are Bible Christians, and our religion is based squarely on the word of God without any regard for human tradition, popular opinion, warm and fuzzy feelings, or the countless compromises and inventions of contemporary Christianity.
My wife, Judy, and I believe, plus many churches, especially those in the Bible-belt, are convicted by the many different verses in the Bible that charge a believer that it is a sin to have a Christmas tree and engage in Christmas customs around December 25 (and the same goes for Halloween, Easter, ST. Valentines, and such for that matter) and is a spiritual betrayal much like the physical one of a woman making love to her husband while thinking about another past lover, or with treasured intimate mementos of his in her dresser, or using sexual techniques she learned from him. If you think this is extreme or harsh, read Ezekiel 16 and/or 23 carefully.
1. Adultery is horrible. When a woman gives her body and love to another man for intimate sexual pleasures, she terribly betrays her husband. He is defrauded by having his most personal and prized object treacherously shared with a competitor. Adultery is outrageously wicked (Lev 20:10; Num 5:11-31; Job 31:9-12; Pr 6:32-35).
2. Jealousy is the result. It is the anger, envy, and pain when something dear to you is given to another. It occurs intensely in a husband, when his wife gives her body and love to others. Adultery causes great jealousy, as Scripture and nature show (Num 5:11-31; Prov 6:32-35).
3. God is Jealous. He created and saved His people from serving the devil to be His very own bride. He expects total adoration and perfect obedience. The first and great commandment is to love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. He will not share your love or interest with other things. His name is Jealous, and He burns in jealous rage when His people even flirt with anything else (Ex 20:3-5; 34:14; Deut 4:24; 6:15; 29:20; 32:16; Josh 24:19; Is 42:8; 48:11; I Cor 10:22).
4. God hates idols and icons. God condemned all idols, any graven image or likeness of anything, and any devotion given to them, because He is jealous of any flirting or distraction by His chosen bride with the false gods of paganism. Their gods were bugs, trees, stones, and stars. Today's gods are status, success, money, sports figures, performers, special holidays, sex, physical attributes, talents, and such. He is the invisible Spirit of eternity that reads and judges each persons mind and attitude. He does not want any thing at all getting even indirect attention. He even hated Moses' brass serpent (Ex 20:3-5; Deut 4:15-26; 5:8; II Kgs 18:3-4; Is 40:25; Mark 7:8-9; Jam 1:21).
5. False religion is spiritual adultery. The Old Testament condemned association with false religion as spiritual adultery with false gods in the most graphic terms. Due to the ignorance of most Christians, they are unaware of these awful charges and descriptions in the word of God, and there are a lot of them!```````````` (Ex 34:10-17; Lev 17:1-9; 20:1-8; Num 14:33; 15:37-41; Deut 31:14-21; Judges 2:17; 8:27,33; II Kings 9:22; I Chron 5:25; II Chron 21:12-15; Psalm 73:25-28; 106:34-43; Jer 3:1-5,9; 13:25-27; Ezek 6:8-10; 16:15-38; 20:28-32; 23:1-49; 43:7-10; Hosea 1:1-3; 2:1-5; 4:12-19; 5:1-7; 6:4-11; 9:1; Nah 3:1-7).
6. Props to worship God are condemned. The Lord knew His people would be intrigued by the customs of pagan religion, including the use of green trees. So He condemned any flirting with false gods by His people using their customs in worshiping Him. Their intentions or motives toward Him did not matter! He was extremely jealous of their use of traditions and/or objects from His competitors while professing to love Him only (Ex 32:1-6,26-29; Deut 12:1-4; 12:29-32).
7. Christians cannot flirt with the world. The blessed God plainly condemns friendship with this world as spiritual adultery. If you love the world, then you have betrayed and cheated on the Lord. He hates everything the world loves, and He demands His people to come out from them and not even touch their things, including Christmas, which is the world's favorite religious and commercial festival (II Cor 6:14-17; Luke 16:15; James 4:4; I John 2:15-17; Rev 18:4).
8. Paul's ministerial work, based in godly jealousy and fear, was to present churches and saints as chaste virgins to Christ, pure from fornication with another Jesus, spirit, or gospel. There is another Jesus presented by Satan, but loyal saints will have nothing to do with this pretending seducer. Neither will they be moved by the Christmas spirit that infects so many during the final weeks of the year (II Cor 11:1-4; Eph 5:27; Col 1:28; I John 4:1-6).
9. Compromise is adultery against Christ. We are living in the perilous times of the last days, when an effeminate and compromising brand of Christianity threatens the true saints and churches of Jesus. Most so-called Christians today love the world, its stimulation and the pleasures it can offer more than holy living and doctrinal preaching. They have no heart for earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. They prefer fables of Santa and Christmas dramas at church rather than hard preaching of God's inspired Scriptures. They have turned from the Lover of their soul to entertaining seducers (II Tim 3:1 - 4:5; Jude 1:3).
10. Roman Catholicism is the Great Whore. The Bible describes the church of Rome as a garishly dressed harlot with a chalice full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication, because she adopted many pagan customs to seduce her followers into spiritual adultery. This has been the near universal understanding of God's true saints for 2000 years. But she is not alone, for the churches of the Protestant Reformation are her harlot daughters by retaining many of her sacramental and liturgical corruptions (Dan 7:1-28; II Thess 2:3-12; I Tim 4:1-3; Rev 13:1-18; 17:1-18; 18:1-24; 19:1-4).
11. Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Valentines Day, Mardi Gras, and more have their origins in the Catholic faith. For Bible believers, the name of the winter feast is enough - Christ's Mass. The mass is a Catholic blasphemy in which they pretend to turn a cracker into God on their altars. They bow, worship, and talk to their cracker before eating it. Then they lock the leftover God in a little house made to keep Him safe. The Lord Jesus Christ died once for His elect, and He has never been on the altar of any Catholic Church. He is coming soon to vaporize it with the breath of His mouth (II Thes 2:3-12; I Tim 2:5; Heb 10:10-14).
12. Christmas is pagan idolatry. Superstitious pagans soon invented the worship of agriculture and the sun, for they realized their lives depended on both. Winter celebrations developed long before Jesus to celebrate harvest and the Invincible Sun. It was common to use evergreen branches, wreaths, and trees in their winter festivals. The Bible condemns green trees, especially because they are used to worship God and celebrate the birth of Jesus. The tree is the biggest and most attention getting item in the home, and has nothing to do with worshiping God in the Bible. (Deut 12:1-4; Jer 2:20; 3:6,13; 10:1-16).
13. Christmas is spiritual adultery. Taking an evergreen tree, putting it in your house, decorating it with twinkling lights, sitting in the dark, and adoring it to the tunes of Christmas carols is spiritual adultery. You are professing to love Jesus Christ, but you are doing so with the mementos and techniques brought from other lovers - the world and pagan religion. You are not content with Jesus Christ and His pure gospel found in the New Testament - for there is no Christmas there. You have added seductions of the world to keep you happy in your marriage. Jesus Christ is offended at your whorish ways. (Ex 20:3; Ex 34:14; Hos 4:15; Prov 3:5)
14. Only total rejection will work. God is jealous. He will not let you flirt with His competitors. He will not let you keep mementos from past lovers, like an evergreen tree. He will not let you remember the important dates of past intimacy with paganism, like December 25. He will not let you use a blasphemous combination of His name, like Christ's Mass. He demands that you separate totally from your past lovers, the world, and false religion (Rom 12:1-2; 16:17-18; II Cor 6:14-17; II Thess 3:6; I Tim 6:3-5; II Tim 3:1-5; Titus 3:10-11; Rev 18:4).
There are many scriptures to help. The Bible clearly condemns observing any man made holidays and other holy days of Rome's whitewashed paganism. We are Bible Christians, and our religion is based squarely on the word of God without any regard for human tradition, popular opinion, warm and fuzzy feelings, or the countless compromises and inventions of contemporary Christianity.
Acts 7:51-53
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him-- 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
Whether this teaching is done in December, April, or July is of little consequence,
but teaching on this topic needs to be done so that this generation of Christians will recognize
that man sins when he creates holy days for the church, whether those holy days
be Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday,
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, or Thanksgiving.
Romans 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else
that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
Romans 14:15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.
Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.
Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
Romans 15:1-2 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
1 Corinthians 5:3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.
As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the
name of our LORD Jesus on the one who has been doing this.
1 Corinthians 5:10-13 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to
judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked person from among you."
Revelation 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people,' so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.
2 Corinthians 12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.
John 8:10-11 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
We praise and thank God because all of His words are true
and His promises are solid!
AMEN!!!!
If you wish to read our E-Book entitled
'Celebrating with Demons: Spiritual POW's of Family Traditions'
it is for sale at Amazon, along with a few of our other published works.
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him-- 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
Whether this teaching is done in December, April, or July is of little consequence,
but teaching on this topic needs to be done so that this generation of Christians will recognize
that man sins when he creates holy days for the church, whether those holy days
be Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Palm Sunday,
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, or Thanksgiving.
Romans 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else
that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
Romans 14:15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.
Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.
Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
Romans 15:1-2 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
1 Corinthians 5:3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit.
As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the
name of our LORD Jesus on the one who has been doing this.
1 Corinthians 5:10-13 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to
judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked person from among you."
Revelation 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people,' so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.
2 Corinthians 12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.
John 8:10-11 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
We praise and thank God because all of His words are true
and His promises are solid!
AMEN!!!!
If you wish to read our E-Book entitled
'Celebrating with Demons: Spiritual POW's of Family Traditions'
it is for sale at Amazon, along with a few of our other published works.