Worldly Holidays

For all the gods of the nations are idols.Psa.96:5

In the New Testament dispensation are the worldly Holidays (Holy-Days) of God and Christ?  When we participate in celebrating the customs and traditions of holidays are we obeying the doctrine of Christ or of devils?

Let’s start with the Biggest lie holiday against the truth, which is Christmas. It seems to be the world’s most famous and loved.

The word Christmas comes from the words Cristes maesse, or "Christ's Mass." Christmas is the acclaim celebration of the birth of Jesus for members of the Christian religion, making it seem as an important holiday which said started in Rome in 336 A.D. The tradition of gifts seems to have started with the gifts that the wise men (the Magi) brought to Jesus.

As recounted in the Bible's book of Matthew 2nd chapter. "On coming to the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Notice, nowhere did it mention in the bible this act was adopted by   his parents or the holy Apostles to start practicing a yearly celebration, nor did these wise men start passing out gifts to each other or anyone else. Also the bible does not teach us to honor others birthday by this act.  But some make a commandment out of this act, like everyone is obligated to buy and give a gift just because of no power of your own you came into this world!  The bible says that the day of one's death is more better than one's birth.(Eccl.7:1, 8 )

What people fail to realize is that the act of the wise men giving was a gift from God the Father. God was blessing Joseph and Mary with wealth and security, because they were at the time in exile and without family, friends and home. Now by the gifts received they can began to be a secured family in Nazareth. Later in scripture shows that Joseph became a carpenter, and Joseph and Mary began to support a large family.

It is said that the Christian religion leaders in 336 A.D. set the date to December 25th in an attempt to eclipse a popular pagan holiday in Rome, (Saturnalia) that celebrated the winter solstice. This country accepted and made this be a proclaimed date for the birth of the Lord Jesus. Originally, the celebration of Christmas involved a simple mass, but over time Christmas has replaced a number of other holidays in many other countries. U.S.A. adopting it as its last yearly, holy celebration, without biblical instructions. Meaning according to scriptures there is no birth date record of Christ`s birth.

(Recall the prophecy of Jerem.10. "And be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.") Before man learned to measure time in twelve month cycles, time was measured by seasons. They celebrated the seasons with feasts and festivals to make the (gods happy), which in its self is Idolatry. But then man began to gear the beginning of seasons and cycles to fixed astronomical phenomenon--that is, to the position and movement of the sun, moon, and stars. The heathens worshipped the entire solar system.

  It was known that December 25th is the winter solstice. It is the time when the sun, after having been at the lowest point in the heavens, begins to rise over the world with renewed vigor and power. It was the time of heathen festivities in worship of the sun. The vernal equinox is the point where the sun crosses the celetial equator, on about March 20th, making day and night of equal length everywhere. This was the time of pagan spring festivals.
It has been said that Emperor Aurelian had proclaimed Mithraism as the official state religion of the Roman Empire, but "Christianity" became the new religion under Constantine, and the Catholic Church became faced with the struggle to convert the pagans. We will answer these two important questions: (1) Why did the idea of celebrating the birth of Christ arise and how? (2) Why was the date of December 25th chosen for this celebration? The earliest religious groups were not interested in Jesus' birthday, but by the fourth century they had become very much interested. While interested in the man, Christ Jesus, their thoughts and affections did not as yet include the child Jesus. But they came to focus their eyes upon Jesus the infant and Mary his mother. Many people were coming to the notion that his birthday should be observed. This idea came about as the "Religious Church World" began to regard Mary, the mother of Jesus, in a new light, through false prophet teachers. She had long been revered along with the saints and Apostles, but only along with them. But now in this same fourth century she emerges as the QUEEN OF HEAVEN, even though heathen nations were already worshipping the false god, “queen of heaven". (Jerm.44:17-19 ) There never would have been a Christmas if the worship of Mary had not emerged.(roman catholics and protestants) They now put her in Heaven, not merely as an intercessor, but a Queen.

It’s said that, they continue with their Idolatry by worshiping the trees, with ornaments, lights, fake snow and Mylar plastic tinsel?(Jerm.10:3-9) In Victorian times, people had already started decorating trees with candies and cakes hung with ribbon. You see in history the heathen nations used trees (groves) as a part of their idol worship before the alter of their false gods. In 1880, Woolworth's first sold manufactured Christmas tree ornaments, and they caught on very quickly. The first electrically lighted Christmas tree appeared in 1882. In the 1900, they began more and more to worship falsely in songs, which are known today as "Christmas caroling". Calvin Coolidge, in 1923, ceremoniously lit the first outdoor tree at the White House, starting that long pagan tradition.

But, what about the" born again" church of the New Testament saints? Does it matter to God if they participate, if they follow these practices of false gods? Yes! To God it does matter and it’s a SIN.  God demanded and commanded it to Israel and he still commands it through his son, Jesus in the "Church of God" saints.  In Lev.18:3 says-After the doings of the land of Egypt (world of sin), wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan (world of sin), whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. Now also in Col.2:16-20- Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: 17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body (church) is of Christ. 18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19. And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20.Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances.  (Deut.8:19,20/12:30-32/17:2-4/18:9-14)(I.Cor.10:18-22) The church of Jesus Christ lives and worships God after the "faith of the son of God", not by the "doctrine of devils”, which pagan holidays are.(Gal.4:8-11) (Col.2:8,15-23) You see one must understand clearly the truth of God, thats in Christ Jesus. Only God, himself can command a day to be sanctified, which then will make that day a "Holy Day " acceptable before God. God used his son, Jesus, to teach his people what now is acceptable to God. The truth came from Christ and his holy Apostles, which did not follow the world's custom, nor did they call out a certain day to be a Holy day or Holiday. The world cannot call out and sanctify a day (Holiday) before God, which means the church must not obey and follow the world's worship of these days. I.Cor.10:20, 21- "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."  One of the major clues that something is of Satan is that a lie is always involved, always a part of the belief and teachings towards God. (St.Joh.8:44 ) The lie, that God wants us to honor Christ' birthday without the truthful date, and without God commanding us to do so. If we look at the biblical record possibly Mary began her pregnancy in the Six month of( Elul ),that’s our months of August-September, surley this will not make December be nine months for her child`s birth. Luke 1:26. It's possible this will give a time period of May-June for Christ's birth, or another possible month of Nisan for birth.

Another problem is in determining if Jesus was born in the Spring, the Fall or Winter is complicated by the fact that there are two Jewish New Years, the  Sacred New Year beginning in the Spring on Abib or Nisan 1, and the Secular New Year beginning in the Fall on the 1st day of Teshri, the seventh month. So Elizabeth became pregnant in either Sivan, or Kislev, three months into the Sacred, or into the Civil New Year. And Mary, being six months later, would have been Kislev, or Sivan, in the reverse order. So was Jesus born near the first of Abib (Nisan), or near the first of Teshri? One thing to note of the birth argument is that, Father God did not feel it was important to share and us to keep and to be worship on that day.

It’s has become the lie that we must give gifts one to another on this day, the lie of being the seasonal saint, only giving to the poor during this season, the lie of the seasonal songs to sing, the lie about santa claus, rudolph red-nosed reindeer, and the scrooge syndrome to be a giver, the lie, that you need the idol tree in your house, the lie that you need to have all the family together so we all can worship on this day, the lie that it's all good for the kids, let them have the gifts. That’s one of the problems with the church, always watching the world and wanting to act, look, sound, behave, and worship like them! The lack of love and knowledge for the truth causes believers to become unbelievers in bondage. People thinking they have the freedom to do as they please, to worship as they please, and God is just sitting by waiting to accept WHATEVER they want to give him in the name of worship and holiness. When you practice keeping the WorldyHolidays (false holy days) you are bound in religion and not walking in the liberty of salvation. For in Rev.18:4 says-I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Jesus Christ gave the church the spirit of truth and the word of truth, so that we can remain in the faith and be separate from all the error beliefs that are damnation to our souls, but man has failed again going after the proud way of life, through false prophet leaderships. The people of God has failed to sanctify themselves after becoming born again saved from sin and out of the world.(Jude1:10-13 ) For Christ Jesus desires his church in this manner,Eph.5:26- That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. There are five major pagan holidays of false god worship, New Years, Good Friday and Easter, Halloween, and Christmas and there a many minor days, that are simply foolishness to be subject under and to obey, like  for example St. Valentine’s day etc. The world lives for, and loves to celebrate these days. Being ignorant to the spiritual side effects and recompenses for participating , such as, society rate increases for the poor, homelessness, diseases, suicides, thefts, rapes of women and children, deaths and how the rich, year after year pray upon the poor on all the holidays. The "hypocrisies" of the religious holidays are obviously inspired by Satan. That’s why people can't be nice or giving until holiday time, and they don’t care unless they can hide behind a holiday to make themselves feel good and look good. The bible says, "God is light and in Him is no darkness at ALL!" Lies are not a part of God, but they are works and property of Satan. (I.Joh.2:21) No man can say he loves God and Christ, and be willing to have fellowship and worship with pagan beliefs. Satan yearly deceives the world and the church to sin through speaking and acting into the participation of the false religious holidays. For example when you say" Dec.25th is Jesus birthday", then you just spoke out a lie, which deceives its hearers, when you dress up and act out with Halloween, you just became partakers with devils, when you celebrate Easter as Christ`s resurrection, thats giving glory to idolatry of a false god. Easter was originally a pagan festival. It was co-opted by false missionaries. The pagan festival of Eastre occurred at the same time of year as the so-called Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ, merging the two together. The root of Easter honors the heathen’s goddess named, Eastre. Jesus commanded through the Apostles the fellowship of the "Lord's Communion", and acknowledging Christ's body and to keep the remembrance of his death, burial and resurrection of our salvation. Even in this practice there was not commanded a certain day in which to follow. The Apostle Paul said "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." (I.Cor.11:26)

Why would you set aside one day of a year of time to proclaim to God this is "Thanks Giving day", why can’t you see that this is an insult to God, when he knows every single day should be from all of his creation Thanks Giving day unto him for all his love and goodness. What’s even sadder is when you try to tell or teach the saints that they are in error, they foolishly defend themselves to continue their loyalty to these sinful holiday practices. The church is being influence by the worlds errors to sin in the same manner as they do every year, honoring "New Year’s Day", having watch night services. Why and what’s the purpose of this church practice, before God it’s another day he has made, and coming into a new year doesn’t make you better or more righteous and because of a new year it's time for changes. The concern is why are you thinking that it does. The Apostle Paul warns us that this is not the mind of Christ, in Gal.4:9-11-"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years."   (St.Joh.14:21)( I.Cor.10:16-22/II.Cor.6:14-18) Some are so bound in bondage till they think, if my pastor said it’s all right, then it’s good! Sorry, but that’s the wrong judgment to have and that will lead you to do that which is evil.  It’s whether or not God said its right or wrong for you to do. You that are to be spiritual, and lead by the spirit cannot say that God`s spirit leads you to worship and participate on the worldly holidays. If Christ is not a part of the world’s system and neither the worldly holidays, then how can his body be a part of these things. It is seriously sad that the church doesn’t even care to research the history of these Holidays of the world; they don’t care to know if its sin and Idolatry, all they care about is doing it like the world and that everybody else is doing it. You see the world does not care, they care less even if it is unto false gods, just as long as they can worship, eat, drink, and be merry.  Jesus said that the "unbeliever is condemned already" and he says against his church in Rev.2:14-But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

We are guilty for years of worshipping ourselves and our children and demanding others to worship us by giving ourselves a day to be recognized by gifts. Yes, what we call "it’s my birthday!" Your birthday worship comes from the acknowledgement of the Zodiac beliefs of false gods, this belief is not of God, nor scriptural for us to obey. 

If you look at the bible`s record concerning celebrating birthdays, it was not a practice from God for Israel at all. The record does show a few accounts of birthdays honoring by "worldly men or of heathen nations", not the people of God. Celebrating birthdays also comes from the influence of the heathen nations, which practice honoring the life cycle and celebrating with made shrines unto false gods and unto one another and unto dead ancestors. No one is subject or bound to worship, fellowship, celebrate, or give gifts just because of the date of one`s birth!

If you demand and expect others to honor your birthday, then your seeking to be worshipped. If they must give unto you, that’s self-worship, the pride of life and vanity. On your birthday, is a gift from God, for you to know and remember how many days he has given you, to LIVE unto him! After all, God is the creator and maker.  We should look at our birthdate for what it really is. Every year that you live is another year you are dying, we get older or grow old because of sin. Our sin nature that we inherit from Adam causes death. Adam was made good and there was no death in him, neither did he age or grow old before his transgression, but after he sinned against God he died and began to die daily, now what we call ageing. His sin separated him from having spiritual fellowship with God and his body began to age. That’s why all mankind live to grow older and die. So to glory in your birthdate is taking glory in death. It has no positive spiritual meaning at all. In Psa.39;3-Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.(Psa.90:1-17)and Job8:9- For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow. If we all would just obey the 'royal law" that would be the best gift to give each other, which is "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" daily, and to live towards God in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our life. I would rather if someone would always love me and worketh no ill towards me, than for them to give me many gifts.

So in conclusion the will of God for all his saints, that are in Christ Jesus is II.Thess.2:13-But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Also in Rom.12:1,2- 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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Min. Timothy  Irby