I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. –Galatians 1:6, 7.
It has now been 22 years since I first discovered the truth about Christmas. It was then another 10 years before I could, with the help of my Christian wife, lay down the holiday completely. We eventually laid down all holidays, even Thanksgiving Day, in obedience to the scriptures. Let me now briefly take you through how we were led to do this.
My conviction about Christmas came about when I discovered the true origin of that holiday, and the many lies that it incorporates. God hates lies! Stated briefly, December 25th has historically been celebrated as the birth of the pagan sun god Baal; this holiday was called Saturnalia in the Roman Empire. God never instructed us to observe Jesus’ earthly birth, and you can read about more problems in our blog, Christians and Christmastime: A Crisis of Faith.
This led me to consider other holidays, and what the Bible had to say about the subject. The Bible is of course referring specifically to religious holidays, not national holidays. Yet we have found great problems with these celebrations, as well. The national holidays tend toward a friendship with, and love for the world (James 4:4 and I John 2:15, 16). Our current religious holidays have descended from ancient pagan festivals-all except for Thanksgiving Day. More on that in a little bit, but for now we’ll look at some scriptural foundation for why we chose to give up holidays. Some underlining is done to distinguish God’s Word from my words.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. –John 3:21. When we claim Jesus Christ to be our LORD (Luke 6:46), we naturally should bring all of our lives before Him. This is the beginning for holiday examination.
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. –Matthew 7:17-20. As Christians, we ought to be able to discern what is of God, and what isn’t; we’ve been given the Holy Ghost, and the mind of Christ (I John 2:27, I Corinthians 2:16). And we hold all things up to the light of God’s Word (II Timothy 3:16, 17).
This next scripture calls for some background information. A dispute arose in the early church when some of the born again Jews asserted that the born again Gentiles needed to also follow the law of Moses to be saved. The law of Moses included various holidays.
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they…For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. –Acts 15:7-11, 28 and 29. And so we see here, that the law of Moses no longer applies to the believer.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. –Galatians 4:7-11. The book of Galatians was written to a church that was showing signs of falling back into a works-based salvation, instead of relying on the righteousness of Christ alone. The observance of annual holidays was an evidence of their stumbling. Our own self-determined religious works cannot please God; ours must be a faith of obedience to our Lord.
O Foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? –Galatians 3:1-3.
If God wanted a special “holiday” observance of any kind, He would indicate this in the Bible. Such instruction would tell us the “how to” and when for each occasion. It is plain to see that God has not authorized any holidays for the New Testament church.
In certain ways, the establishment of a Thanksgiving holiday is a masterful piece of Satanic deception. It poses as a good Christian holiday, meant to thank and praise God, and yet it in no way came from ancient pagan traditions. But even though it may seem noble in purpose, it still stands in stark contradiction to the written instruction of God’s Word. God wants our praise, thanks, and worship all the time, everyday.
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. –Psalm 69:30
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. –Psalm 100:4.
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. –Psalm 107:21, 22.
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; -II Corinthians 9:11, 12.
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; -Ephesians 5:20.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. –Philippians 4:6.
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. –Colossians 2:7.
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; -Colossians 4:2.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.–I Thessalonians 5:18.
I EXHORT therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; -I Timothy 2:1.
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. –Hebrews 13:15.
This was by no means an exhaustive list of scriptures pertaining to the “thanksgiving” theme, but it should be sufficient to make the point. When we especially denote certain religious holidays, we may feel good about ourselves, and the “show” we are making for God. What the Lord wants, however, is a consistent walk with Him EVERY DAY!
But the damage that the Thanksgiving holiday has done extends into other days, too. After all, if we’ve found a way to please God with an acceptable holiday in Thanksgiving, can’t we find a way to make other holidays acceptable?
Historically, pagan holiday traditions like Easter and Christmas came with the beginning of Roman Catholicism: then came the Reformation, which culminated with the King James Bible. The Puritan influence on the church confronted and overcame these ungodly traditions up until the late 1800’s, around the time of the Bible revision work (1871-1881). Thanksgiving Day, as a national holiday, was established through President Lincoln in 1863. By the establishment of an “acceptable” Christian holiday, and the gutting of God’s Word, holidays like Christmas soon made a roaring comeback on all fronts.
In honoring God, Christians really need to pull away from holiday observances. Even days such as Thanksgiving Day are fleshly, indulgent, and huge wastes of time and money. We must strive to honor God with our lives every day of the year, settling for nothing less than the spiritual perfection our Heavenly Father wants for us (Matthew 5:48).
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. –Mark 7:6-9. Bold type added.
