7 PAGAN FESTIVALS WE STILL CELEBRATE TODAY ~ under the guise of Christian celebrations and names.

[Rella ~ I am a woman]

ScottA said:
Would God lower himself and come as a mere man, and dine with sinners and tax collectors?

Heaven forbid!

The wheat are wheat and the tares are tares. Even so, it is not in the heart of the children of God to do evil. God knows.

I don't know... You tell me.... Seems like He did just that when he made Mathew a disciple.
Afterall Mathew was

Matthew the apostle had been a dishonest tax collector driven by greed until Jesus Christ chose him as a disciple. Also called Levi, Matthew was not a stand-out character in the Bible; He is only mentioned by name in the lists of apostles and in the account of his calling. Matthew is traditionally identified as the author of the Gospel of Matthew.

Mark 2

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners​

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

 

[BlessedPeace]

Ye know not what spirit ye speak of . So the question you should be asked is this.
WHILE WE KNOW JESUS dined with sinners,
DO YA THINK HE WOULDhave dressedup in drag to witness to drag queens .
DO YA THINK SO .
NOR SHOULD WE have in part of evil to witness to folks in sin .
AND if you , for one second THINK JESUS WOULD have dressedup on helloween
YOU DONT KNOW JESUS dude . THE CHURCHES SOLD you all out to a lie .
Try and remember what paul said
TO those without the law , as being without the law , BUT NOT WITHOUT law of CHRIST .
PUAL DIDNT SIT around and behave in a sin manner to win those in sin . WE DONT DO THAT SCOTTY .
And paul , JESUS and others when witnessing to the lost , CORRECTED SIN and ERROR .
OOPS . WE BEEN DUPED scotty . Seeker friendly IS OF THE DEVIL INCARNATE HIMSELF
as is this all inclusie new way to evangelize . OF THE DEVIL . OH YES THE DEVIL .
and the churches have bought it . sad days indeed .

Didn't you say that already?

Consider this,given you initiated the drag Jesus hypothetical.

Yes,he did.
Jesus came to save all people, especially those who believe.
1Timothy 4:10
To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.

God calls whom he will and no one comes to Jesus unless God calls them.

The drag queens who bend a knee and repent of their sins,seek faith counseling for their ills,and turn and live for Christ were sought by God by name.

What did Paul say by the power of Christ?
I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.


Halloween becomes in the mind of those who want to see real Devils,in children costumed as one.

Not ancient Pagans celebrations. But that which has a history unrelated to that at all.
Our Thanksgiving mirrors the Pagan meal of thanks for a bountiful harvest.

Is stuffed turkey of Satan? Are the Pilgrims costumes some wear today during that time, celebrating evil?

Truth never reaches a mind closed to it. Especially when their version of faith tells them they must live in fear of demons. Because the peace of Christ is not in them.

The devil in Halloween is that which sits on those people's shoulders and whispers, fear candy loving children because we are everywhere. Even in the polyester of that little baby's Baby Yoda costume.

What a terrible way to live. Dead in fear.

 

[ScottA]

Ye know not what spirit ye speak of . So the question you should be asked is this.
WHILE WE KNOW JESUS dined with sinners,
DO YA THINK HE WOULDhave dressedup in drag to witness to drag queens .
DO YA THINK SO .
NOR SHOULD WE have in part of evil to witness to folks in sin .
AND if you , for one second THINK JESUS WOULD have dressedup on helloween
YOU DONT KNOW JESUS dude . THE CHURCHES SOLD you all out to a lie .
Try and remember what paul said
TO those without the law , as being without the law , BUT NOT WITHOUT law of CHRIST .
PUAL DIDNT SIT around and behave in a sin manner to win those in sin . WE DONT DO THAT SCOTTY .
And paul , JESUS and others when witnessing to the lost , CORRECTED SIN and ERROR .
OOPS . WE BEEN DUPED scotty . Seeker friendly IS OF THE DEVIL INCARNATE HIMSELF
as is this all inclusie new way to evangelize . OF THE DEVIL . OH YES THE DEVIL .
and the churches have bought it . sad days indeed .

The flesh of all mankind born of women (even Christ who was born of Mary a daughter of Eve)--spiritually is the dress of drag.

Do you not understand that this is true of all who being created of God have born the garments of sin in the flesh; and that this is the very thing that Christ defeated in death while He himself remaining sinless?

Even so, your rejection of it is good--as it should be.

But understand that this was the same sort of rejection that caused Peter to say, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You! But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

 

[Ronald Nolette]

So Halloween is ok provided we do it as church o ween, church trick or treat.

many churches do a trunk or treat. It is really up to the individuals and their conscience before God. The biblical principle is found here:

1 Corinthians 8

King James Version

​

8 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

If one has a conscience about the history of all hallows eve- they should refrain. Churches should be sensitive and careful. It is 10/31 and there is nothing inherently evil in candy and going door to door. I have a problem if believing parents allow their kids to dress as ghouls and witches and other such things.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

There are many Christians whose faith requires something to be afraid of and hate. It's tragic they have no peace in Christ.

Well these need to be loved and nurtured and taught about freedom. They are weaker members as Paul says in Romans 14 and we should protect them till they grow.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Britannica...

...The English word Easter, which parallels the German word Ostern, is of uncertain origin. One view, expounded by the Venerable Bede in the 8th century, was that it derived from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility.

Didn’t you ever wonder where the Easter Bunny came from….or the Easter eggs…..? Both are fertility symbols used in the worship of this fertility goddess whose name (pronounced Easter) was not even changed in appropriating a time to celebrate Christ’s resurrection for some reason…..but this is actually giving honor to this particular goddess with her own symbols.

This view presumes—as does the view associating the origin of Christmas on December 25 with pagan celebrations of the winter solstice—that Christians appropriated pagan names and holidays for their highest festivals.

There is no denying that they did……Every celebration in Christendom is borrowed from paganism.
Why do you suppose that there isn’t a single one that Christians were commanded to observe?

Did God allow the Israelites to organize their own festivals? NO! Why? Because of what happened at the foot of Mt Sinai when Israel, freshly delivered from slavery in Egypt, had just vowed to obey God in all things….but when Moses was taking too long in the mountain, they decided to hold “a festival to Jehovah”….except they did it with an image of a golden calf and called that image “Jehovah”…God told Moses to go down and sort them out since they were breaking his laws on worshipping idols. Was God swayEd by the fact that they called it “a festival to Jehovah” while using the trappings of false worship?
3000 Israelites lost their lives that day…..that is how God feels about using the trappings of false worship and directing it to him.

Given the determination with which Christians combated all forms of paganism (the belief in multiple deities), this appears a rather dubious presumption.

What “Christians” are we speaking about? The ones that fell into apostasy not long after the death of the apostles? Jesus said it would happen….does Christendom deny that it happened? They did not combat paganism at all…they assimilated it and simply changed the names of the events so that the pagans would feel at home in the newly declared state religion.

There is now widespread consensus that the word derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in albis, a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”) and became eostarum in Old High German, the precursor of the modern German and English term. The Latin and Greek Pascha (“Passover”) provides the root for Pâques, the French word for Easter.

LOL more justification….who are part of this “widespread consensus” I wonder……? Latin? Don’t you mean Catholic…seriously, you will believe anything that anyone tells you was long as it agrees with what you want to justify.
The memorial of Christ’s death replaced the Jewish Passover because Jesus was the true Passover Lamb, sacrificed once for all time on that same day….the lamb’s blood on the lintels of the Jewish houses saved the Israelites from being put to death when the last of the plagues delivered to a stubborn Pharaoh, took his own firstborn.

More @ Easter - Lent,

Dont get me started on Lent…..

 

[Aunty Jane]

Not even a wedding?

I just love it when people tell others what we believe or what we will, or won’t do……and they don’t even care enough to ask if this is correct.

We see the marriage arrangement as God-given…..it is something to celebrate but it is not strictly religious. It is a personal commitment to a mate, chosen to serve God with, as “one flesh”…..and the ceremony for us can be whatever we think is personally appropriate because we are not forced to follow tradition in the kind of ceremony we choose. It can be a quiet family affair or it can involve as many of our family and friends who want to celebrate this event with us. It can be held at our Kingdom Hall or in a natural setting where God’s creation is part of the backdrop. It’s our choice.

It can also mean whatever people want to do when an anniversary comes up. We can and do celebrate a wedding and even an anniversary of that event because it violates no laws of God.

As for the figures on the cake? I laughed out loud when I heard that because I personally decorated my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding cake with little mice dressed as a bride and groom….they were very cute.
We tried hard not to worship them…..

 

[BlessedPeace]

Well these need to be loved and nurtured and taught about freedom. They are weaker members as Paul says in Romans 14 and we should protect them till they grow.

In many cases yes. Though there those with a doctrinal allegiance that shall remain forever stunted because to grow,they are told,is Satanic.

Those are in my view to be left to God. He knows his own. Even when behind a hedge of ignorance,hatred,and fear.

God's will be done.

 

[BlessedPeace]

I just love it when people tell others what we believe or what we will, or won’t do……and they don’t even care enough to ask if this is correct.

We see the marriage arrangement as God-given…..it is something to celebrate but it is not strictly religious. It is a personal commitment to a mate, chosen to serve God with, as “one flesh”…..and the ceremony for us can be whatever we think is personally appropriate because we are not forced to follow tradition in the kind of ceremony we choose. It can be a quiet family affair or it can involve as many of our family and friends who want to celebrate this event with us. It can be held at our Kingdom Hall or in a natural setting where God’s creation is part of the backdrop. It’s our choice.

It can also mean whatever people want to do when an anniversary comes up. We can and do celebrate a wedding and even an anniversary of that event because it violates no laws of God.

As for the figures on the cake? I laughed out loud when I heard that because I personally decorated my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding cake with little mice dressed as a bride and groom….they were very cute.
We tried hard not to worship them…..

I bet. I know JW's.
They refused to have a wedding cake at their ceremony because it is of pagan origin.
Pagans would take pieces of the cake and throw it at the couple as part of a sympathetic magic fertility ritual.

No wedding veil either. Same reason,Pagan in origin.

Jehovah’s Pagan Witnesses

While condemning other religions for being “steeped in paganism” it’s interesting to see how many pagan things the Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves participate in. Every time …

www.smmcroberts.net

 

[Rella ~ I am a woman]

No wedding veil either. Same reason,Pagan in origin.

Oh my gosh.

From the time I was very young with wedding bells in my mind I was alsways told that the wedding veil was a sign of purity.

WOW!.... and all this time I thought the pagans were morally loose.

OH NO. Wedding bells are pagan too aren't they. Are all bells? Say those in a church steeple? Maybe thats why so many of them (churches) are changing the way they perceive God and worship?

Just sitting here thinks that I think it might be wise for all to become Amish.... or Quakers

 

[Rella ~ I am a woman]

Rella said:
Not even a wedding?

I just love it when people tell others what we believe or what we will, or won’t do……and they don’t even care enough to ask if this is correct.

We see the marriage arrangement as God-given…..it is something to celebrate but it is not strictly religious. It is a personal commitment to a mate, chosen to serve God with, as “one flesh”…..and the ceremony for us can be whatever we think is personally appropriate because we are not forced to follow tradition in the kind of ceremony we choose. It can be a quiet family affair or it can involve as many of our family and friends who want to celebrate this event with us. It can be held at our Kingdom Hall or in a natural setting where God’s creation is part of the backdrop. It’s our choice.

It can also mean whatever people want to do when an anniversary comes up. We can and do celebrate a wedding and even an anniversary of that event because it violates no laws of God.

As for the figures on the cake? I laughed out loud when I heard that because I personally decorated my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding cake with little mice dressed as a bride and groom….they were very cute.
We tried hard not to worship them…..

BTW @Aunty Jane

You replied with this and I had asked the question.. I did not assume anything.

Here is another question...
But one thing I would like to know is.... are there ever any divorces in the JW. I truly pray not because I so disapprove but I am in a minority.

And final one... I think.
Are your marriages arranged? If so, I approve. I think all should be.

 

[dev553344]

I think pagan for holiday is about as incorrectly used as cult for religions.

 

[David in NJ]

Your point,please?

Pagan

 

[David in NJ]

Oh my gosh.

From the time I was very young with wedding bells in my mind I was alsways told that the wedding veil was a sign of purity.

WOW!.... and all this time I thought the pagans were morally loose. View attachment 37103

OH NO. Wedding bells are pagan too aren't they. Are all bells? Say those in a church steeple? Maybe thats why so many of them (churches) are changing the way they perceive God and worship?

Just sitting here thinks that I think it might be wise for all to become Amish.... or Quakers

There were bells on the garment that the High Priest wore when he went into the Holy Place with sacrificial blood.

 

[BlessedPeace]

Pagan

Christian celebration dates don't fall upon nor copy those of Pagans.

You should know this.

 

[BlessedPeace]

I think pagan for holiday is about as incorrectly used as cult for religions.

I think cult has more of an appropriate attachment than does Pagan.

Jim Jones led a cult . David Koresh led a cult.

Pagans predate cults by millennia's.

 

[amigo de christo]

Didn't you say that already?

Consider this,given you initiated the drag Jesus hypothetical.

Yes,he did.
Jesus came to save all people, especially those who believe.
1Timothy 4:10
To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.

God calls whom he will and no one comes to Jesus unless God calls them.

The drag queens who bend a knee and repent of their sins,seek faith counseling for their ills,and turn and live for Christ were sought by God by name.

What did Paul say by the power of Christ?
I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.


Halloween becomes in the mind of those who want to see real Devils,in children costumed as one.

Not ancient Pagans celebrations. But that which has a history unrelated to that at all.
Our Thanksgiving mirrors the Pagan meal of thanks for a bountiful harvest.

Is stuffed turkey of Satan? Are the Pilgrims costumes some wear today during that time, celebrating evil?

Truth never reaches a mind closed to it. Especially when their version of faith tells them they must live in fear of demons. Because the peace of Christ is not in them.

The devil in Halloween is that which sits on those people's shoulders and whispers, fear candy loving children because we are everywhere. Even in the polyester of that little baby's Baby Yoda costume.

What a terrible way to live. Dead in fear.

Speaking of drag queen , IF THEY REPENT OF IT , it means they no longer pratice it and defend it .
BUT i never said otherwise . ANYONE who repents is forgiven . The problem is
todays version of jesus seemth to be ACCEPTING OF SIN and thus IT AINT JESUS .
ITs the DEVIL IN WOOL using the name of JESUS to justify abominations and wickedness .
That has been my whole point the entire time mi lady . mi lady , THAT HAS been my point the entire time .
WE DO gotta correct sin , we do not accept sin nor allow one to remain in SIN . we preach JESUS
we preach truth and we live By the power of THE SPIRIT . Praticing evil or partaking of evil
to win souls , IS EVIL and it wont work . ITS THE LIGHT OF CHRIST we let shine through us
not the embracing of evil . We speak TRUTH . We do TRUTH , we live by the SPIRIT which is TRUTH .
SIN and error MUST be corrected asap fast within the church and never once called good or accepted .
I been saying this the whole time mi lady . SO now a word , SEEKER FRIENDLY CAME from the devil .
But bibical truth came of GOD . ITS HIGH TIME we learn THAT PATTERN FOR EVERYTHING .

 

[David in NJ]

Christian celebration dates don't fall upon nor copy those of Pagans.

You should know this.

Christmas = Winter Solstice Celebration = Pagan

Easter = Ishtar was born from a Egg = Pagan

Halloween = All Saints/Souls(Dead) Day = Pagan

 

[David in NJ]

Two key figures in the origin of Christmas are Nimrod, a great grandson of Noah, and his mother and wife, Semiramis, also known as Ishtar and Isis. Nimrod, known in Egypt as Osiris, was the founder of the first world empire at Babel, later known as Babylon (Genesis 10:8-12; 11:1-9). From ancient sources such as the "Epic of Gilgamesh" and records unearthed by archeologists from long-ruined Mesopotamian and Egyptian cities, we can reconstruct subsequent events.


After Nimrod's death (c. 2167 BC), Semiramis promoted the belief that he was a god. She claimed that she saw a full-grown evergreen tree spring out of the roots of a dead tree stump, symbolizing the springing forth of new life for Nimrod. On the anniversary of his birth, she said, Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts under it. His birthday fell on the winter solstice at the end of December.


A few years later, Semiramis bore a son, Horus or Gilgamesh. She declared that she had been visited by the spirit of Nimrod, who left her pregnant with the boy. Horus, she maintained, was Nimrod reincarnated. With a father, mother, and son deified, a deceptive, perverted trinity was formed.


Semiramis and Horus were worshipped as "Madonna and child." As the generations passed, they were worshipped under other names in different countries and languages. Many of these are recognizable: Fortuna and Jupiter in Rome; Aphrodite and Adonis in Greece; and Ashtoreth/Astarte and Molech/Baal in Canaan.


During the time between Babel and Christ, pagans developed the belief that the days grew shorter in early winter because their sun-god was leaving them. When they saw the length of the day increasing, they celebrated by riotous, unrestrained feasting and orgies. This celebration, known as Saturnalia, was named after Saturn, another name for Nimrod.

 

[David in NJ]

I think cult has more of an appropriate attachment than does Pagan.

Jim Jones led a cult . David Koresh led a cult.

Pagans predate cults by millennia's.

SEE Post #119

Peace to you my Blessed Sister in Christ