While MOST ‘Christians’ do not know that Christmas and Easter are actually built on paganism, many ‘Christians’ do know this, but continue to celebrate these days anyway. Beyond the attendance of services, family gatherings are traditionally held during Christmas. The season takes on a life of its own. Those who know the days are of pagan origin protect their position of celebration by claiming the importance of recognizing Christ’s birth and, during the Easter season, His resurrection. Merry Christmas and Happy Easter roll off the lips of people as if it were a mere habit in almost every conversation. What NONE of these people question is if God the Father recognizes these days and His thoughts towards them. Why would they, there has never been a challenge to this consideration, only acceptance and the belief that they are biblical.
Before there can be any discussion whether Christmas and Easter are biblical, another issue needs to be resolved. Without resolution, nothing about faith or belief has any real meaning nor can the title of this article receive an honest answer.
‘Christianity’ as defined over the years and practiced today has a foundational problem. This dilemma is rooted in understanding if the Bible is truly God’s inerrant written word or the fallible words inked by men.
Those who hold the later position automatically have their faith built on sand.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:26-27 (NKJV)
This article and the author holds the position of the former that the Bible is inerrant, but realizes man has corrupted it through the translations and errant religious doctrine, thus deep unbiased study is imperative.
Anyone who claims they are a ‘Christian’ is automatically defining themselves as one who “believes” (in) Jesus Christ. The problem is VERY FEW ‘Christians’ even know who Christ is from the onset because they have been deceived into believing we have a triune Godhead, a belief which encourages confusion. This article will not go into the depth of the deception of this fallacy, but will help establish who He [Christ] is and the gospel of John begins with a complete explanation. Follow the explanation in [brackets] showing each God of the Godhead.
1 In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God [Father], and the Word [Christ] was God [Christ]. 2 He [Christ] was in the beginning with God [Father]. 3 All things were made through Him [Christ], and without Him [Christ] nothing was made that was made.
John 1:1-3 (NKJV) (emphasis and brackets mine)
John clearly lays out the duality of the Godhead. Notice, Christ is God and is with God the Father with no mention of a third person [Holy Spirit]. Had there been a third ‘person’, as the Trinity doctrine proclaims, here is where this would have been confirmed. In fact, if the Bible was meant to be chronological, John 1:1-3 would be the first verses on the first page. Jesus Christ is the God who created (John 1:3) everything to God the Father’s design (John 14:28 below).
16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.”
John 7:16 (NKJV)
28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
John 14:28 (NKJV) (emphasis mine)
John also shared that Christ is the Word. The Bible as defined is the word of God, which destroys any notion and teaching by fallible men claiming errancy in Scripture. There are constant arrows shot at the legitimacy of Scripture by laymen who want to bring their own convoluted beliefs to light making claims against the whole of the Bible. And there are the modern day church leaders who fulfill the role of the Pharisees and Sadducees that teach of the errancy of Scripture in order to defend their iniquities of faith. Scripture is replete with warnings of these false teachers.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Matthew 7:15 (NKJV)
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (NKJV)
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:8 (NKJV)
To show the depth of deception the last verse shared from Galatians, if preached in any modern day church would be under the pretense that this preacher is sharing God’s word and it is others from a different denomination who preach another gospel. It MUST be understood, if this preaching takes place on Sunday, the message is of another gospel! Having said that, you the reader will most likely continue feeding at the Sunday trough for your own reasons even if you finish reading this article.
Because the majority of ‘Christians’ do not believe the Bible is actually God’s word, they have the belief that an all-powerful God would not have the capabilities to make sure His word was structured to His command. The pride man has with this concept is truly striking. Since the Bible is God’s inerrant word, thankfully it provides an answer to how these thoughts can enter minds.
14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
Matthew 15:14 (NKJV)
Spiritually blind ‘Christians’ who attend weekly Sunday services are being taught by their spiritually blind leaders who do not understand there is no separation of message between the Old and New Testaments because (as already pointed out) they do not understand the Godhead and both of their defined roles. Jesus Christ, being the Creator, IS the “God” of the Old Testament.
18 No one has seen God [Father] at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
John 1:18 (NKJV) (emphasis and bracket mine)
Christ is the One who interacted with man, not God the Father. If this is understood, then it should be clear nothing changed in Christ’s teaching which now gives us a point which defines the separation of the two testaments being at the tearing of the veil ending the previous sacrificial system (old covenant) bringing forth grace (new covenant). That is the change, nothing more, nothing less!
37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. 38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Mark 15:37-38 (NKJV)
Animal sacrifice was never going to be accepted as atonement of sin by God (old covenant). Christ became the One and last sacrifice that atones for the sins of man (new covenant). This does not mean that man can freely sin because he now has “grace”. In fact, Christ is clear about this very thing!
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 14:15 (NKJV)
It should now be understood the reason Christ can make this statement; He is the One whose finger wrote the Ten Commandments on the stone tablets.
22 “These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He added no more. And He [Christ] wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
Deuteronomy 5:22 (NKJV) (emphasis and bracket mine)
Any ‘Christian’ who thinks the commandments are now eliminated because they were Old Testament law because of a ‘new’ covenant, needs to really consider their faith. The reality of it all is, most ‘Christians’ live their lives as if the Ten Commandments are mere SUGGESTIONS! They are a nice guide to life unless they do not suit our personal preferences. This is completely understandable since most ‘Christians’ do not read God’s word to begin with and the ones that do, it is with established bias based on their denominational doctrines and personal sin comforts.
To exemplify the point of the commandments being mere suggestions, we need to look no further than the Ten Commandments as written in the Bible and compare them to the Ten Commandments for the head ‘church’ of ‘Christianity’.
For consistency and to eliminate the “which translation did you use?” argument we will use the NCB (New Catholic Bible), sharing the first four commandments from Deuteronomy 5.
7 You shall have no god other than me.
8 You shall not make any idols in the form of anything that dwells in the heavens above or on the earth below or even in the waters below the land. 9 You shall not prostrate yourself to them nor worship them. I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God. I visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 10 but I will show mercy to the thousandth generation on those who love me and observe my commandments.
11 “‘You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain, for the Lord will not consider blameless those who take his name in vain.
12 “‘You shall observe the Sabbath by keeping it holy, as the Lord, your God, has commanded you. 13 You are to labor on six days, doing all of your work then. 14 The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, your God. You shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your ass, nor your cattle, nor even the foreigner living in your town. Thus your manservant and maidservant can rest as well. 15 Remember that you were once a slave in the land of Egypt. The Lord, your God, brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore, the Lord, your God, has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
Deuteronomy 5:7-15 (NCB)
To reiterate, these are the first four of the Ten Commandments taken directly from the New Catholic Bible. Compare with what the head ‘church’ of ‘Christianity’ teaches, taken directly from (Catholic.com) https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-true-ten-commandments. (Feel free to do your own search by typing “catholic ten commandments in order” into any search engine.) This source was chosen because it did not hide the original intent before the devious execution of explaining why the Catholic commandments take precedence over God’s commandments. Can you spot what was eliminated?
Whereas the Catechism’s traditional presentation of the commandments for memorization are:
1. I am the Lord your God: You shall not have strange Gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
4. Honor your father and mother.
It should be quite obvious the second commandment was eliminated. Ask yourself, why would the Catechism of the Catholic Church remove the second commandment? Walk into any Catholic church and other Catholic buildings and you will be surrounded by the very things this commandment embodies. The Catholic church also created a profitable jewelry line for Mary called a rosary. Catholics will argue they do not worship these idols; however, the displays of candles (with money boxes) and kneelers say something different. Catholics believe the dead saints and Mary are omnipresent allowing them to hear prayers. Prayers in any sense are worship, but not in the mind of the Catholic.
For the Protestant believer reading this wondering how their friends can be so deceived, the answer lies in the same commandment. God shares that He will bring generational sin until someone can personally break through; 9 …. I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God. I visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me. With this said, the Protestant has overlooked something within the commandment themselves, which is at the very beginning; 8 You shall not make any. Whether YOU like it or not, this DOES include the cross. The commandment demands that nothing shall be MADE and clearly crosses are made. Any argument you have in this regard is with Scripture, thus God and not the author of this article.
Next we must take a look at the fourth commandment. The Roman Catholic Church has moved this command up one spot to the third spot, so it still exists. Pretending the command still has visibility unlike the removed second commandment, the Catholic Church claims that Sunday is now the Sabbath, thus only the day of the week has changed. The linked article above does proudly point this out by claiming Christ rose on Sunday which now marks this as the “Lord’s Day.” In order to come to this conclusion, everything written in the Bible about this event must be ignored! Yet, most all of ‘Christianity’ follows the church which eliminated the second commandment for their idols to fit the lawlessly ordained worship day of Sunday, the pagan worship day of the sun god. This is how ‘Sunday’ received its name! Nothing to see here all you proclaimed ‘Christians’, move along like good little sheep.
Having established the root of ‘Christian’ doctrine and practices we can now explore if Christmas and Easter are biblical. If they are, then yes these days need to be honored. But if they are not, then every TRUE (biblical) ‘Christian’ MUST eliminate them from their lives.
Everything from this point on only matters for those who believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God. Those of you still reading who believe man is the author, nothing here in after will make sense because you choose to follow what Paul warned against.
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.
Colossians 2:8 (NKJV)
God has laid out His days of recognition in Scripture starting with the Sabbath, which was a set command in the second chapter of Genesis.
2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Genesis 2:2-3 (NKJV) (emphasis mine)
Sanctified means set apart. The seventh day is our Saturday, not Sunday. God did not sanctify the seventh day and then re-sanctify it (change) to the first/eighth day. The first argument made against this will relate to the Sabbath being “Jewish”. Firstly, did we not just cover the commandments or are they mere suggestions to you? Secondly, there were NO JEWS when the Sabbath was set apart (Genesis 2:2-3) !
Does God sanctify other days during the year?
19 I am the Lord your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; 20 hallow My Sabbaths, …
Ezekiel 20:19-20 (NKJV) (emphasis mine)
Since we have established earlier in this article that the Bible is one continuous writing, the commands from Ezekiel are just as relevant today as when they were written and, in fact, even before Ezekiel wrote them through God’s guidance.
If God has His ordained statutes, judgements and Sabbaths, He must have marked them and called out these days in His written word. In fact, He did this exact thing, calling them ‘Holy Convocations’. ‘Convocation’ is Strong’s word number H4744 which means – something called out, public meeting, assembly, calling, convocation, reading.
If God does not say ‘Convocation’, then it is not considered a Holy Day of recognition to Him. There is one other day that is called out as a day of remembrance, but it is not a holy day (we will get to that later).
‘Convocation’ is only written when it comes to certain days, which He dutifully combined in Leviticus 23. There are other places in Scripture where these convocations are mentioned. Here they all are listed for your reference.
Weekly Sabbath: Leviticus 23:3.
Feast of Unleavened Bread: Exodus 12:16, Leviticus 23:7 and 8, Numbers 28:18 and 25.
Feast of Weeks (Pentecost): Leviticus 23:21, Numbers 28:26.
Feast of Trumpets: Leviticus 23:24, Numbers 29:1.
Feast of Atonement: Leviticus 23:27, Numbers 29:7.
Feast of Tabernacles: Leviticus 23:35, Numbers 29:35.
The Last Great Day: Leviticus 23:36, Numbers 29:35 (solemn assembly).
It should be noticed that each of these ‘Convocations’, besides the weekly Sabbath and The Last Great Day, have been designated as Feasts. The weekly Sabbath was established from the beginning as has already been pointed out. The Last Great Day ties in directly with The Feast of Tabernacles which makes this day a part of this Feast. These Feasts are the very ‘statutes’ that are mentioned in Ezekiel 20:19. Each of these Feasts have High Sabbath days tied to them which are Sabbaths beyond the called out weekly Sabbath rest.
Anyone who would take the time to look up Leviticus 23 should notice a Feast missing (Feast of Firstfruits) from this list since it is not a called out ‘Convocation’. This Feast ties in directly with Christ’s resurrection and destroys any context that Easter (and thus Christ’s resurrection) is considered a Holy Convocation.
All of these ‘Convocations’ were set well before there were any “JEWS” which means they are NOT Jewish holy days. It must be understood, these days were set for the tribes of Israel (not the country as known today). The Jews are simply from the tribe of Judah.
Here is where anyone who celebrates Christmas and Easter MUST answer the following questions pointing to these days being biblical.
What day does Scripture (verses) tell us that Christ was born?
What Scripture (verses) tell us that Christ’s birth is a commanded Holy Convocation?
What Scripture (verses) show there were to be commanded yearly birthday celebrations for Jesus?
What Scripture (verses) say Christ rose on Sunday?
What Scripture (verses) tell us there is to be a yearly Holy Convocation celebrating Christ’s resurrection?
What Scripture (verses) tell us that Christ’s resurrection was celebrated by any of the disciples or first ‘Christians’?
There is in fact NOT ONE VERSE for ANY of the questions asked above that answers the questions directly. Thus, what ‘Christians’ celebrate are traditions that were set up by men to follow, while God’s COMMANDED Holy Convocations are ignored under the guise of being Old Testament – Jewish holy days. First off, the Jews themselves have no idea about the reason these days were established as Holy Convocations because each one of them point to Jesus Christ (who they believe was only a prophet). Secondly, the gentiles have been given the opportunity of a lifetime but they are unaware since Scripture is not taught properly.
16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
Romans 11:16-21 (NKJV)
Everyone has been given the opportunity to be grafted into the vine (which is Christ). God’s Holy Convocations play a part of the grafting. Sunday worship, Christmas and Easter are a blockage to being grafted. Leviticus 23 shares God’s plan set into place in Genesis 3.
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
Genesis 3:14-15 (NKJV)
The Feasts are separated by seasons, spring and fall. The spring Feasts are all about Christ’s first coming and the fall Feasts are about His second coming, which will be in the not so distant future. Christ made claim to these Feasts when He said, 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17 NKJV).
The statutes of Leviticus 23 are under the ‘Law’. Christ’s first coming fulfilled the spring Feasts!
It was mentioned earlier there was one day of called recognition but the day itself is not a Holy Convocation. This day is Passover, which is the day Christ died. This happened on Wednesday Nisan 14. Passover is celebrated in conjunction with the Feast of Unleavened Bread and is the one day of the year when communion is to be taken.
Christ, having died on Wednesday afternoon, rose three full days later on the weekly Sabbath before sunset fulfilling His prophetic words, 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40 NKJV). This clearly shows the LIE told to all about Sunday being the Lord’s Day because He rose on Sunday!
However, something happened on that Sunday that very few recognize which relates to the missing Feast of Firstfruits from Leviticus 23 and gives the reason why it was never a Holy Convocation.
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”
John 20:16-17 (NKJV)
Jesus ascended to the Father, fulfilling the Law of the Feast of Firstfruits, the Wave Sheaf Offering! This was a private fulfillment between the two God’s of the Godhead, the Father God and Christ God. Christ was and still is the only One who has overcome death, He is the Firstfruit!
With regard to Christmas, if God the Father wanted Christ’s birth to be recognized, He would have called for a Holy Convocation on the exact day of His birth. Since this date is not in Scripture, it is unknown, and thus the day is not to be celebrated! This DOES NOT mean the story should not be told because it is important, for without the birth the ‘Law’ could not be fulfilled!
Is Christmas and Easter Biblical? – The short answer is NO! They are both pagan, as is Sunday worship, but that is for another day. Since the pagan argument is not strong enough for most ‘Christians’ to eliminate the days of celebration, maybe the facts laid out will be enough to open one’s mind to the destruction of these days and seasons.
Beyond what has been shared, God does not hide His disdain for the non-biblical holy days and asking for forgiveness yet still committing the same sin.
13 Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.
14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
Isaiah 1:13-15 (NKJV)
18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light. 19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him! 20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it? 21 “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. 22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.
Amos 5:18-23 (NKJV)
Again it must be understood there is no separation from the days of Isaiah and Amos and today. In fact, what Amos had written was under the pretense of our day, thus any argument is again with Scripture! The book of Proverbs holds every answer to life, and for the topic of the ‘LAW’ that has just been laid bare, this also holds true.
9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
Proverbs 28:9 (NKJV)
This one verse is equivalent to a punch in the gut! There is nothing that can be said if you did not feel it except…..
The only way for any one of us to be able to break the bondage of false ‘Christianity’ is if God calls us.
14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Matthew 22:14 (NKJV)
Even if called, there is still no guarantee. The pulls of this world are too strong for most to overcome.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
After reading this, your decisions will demonstrate which road (way) you are walking. Will you follow God’s commanded Holy Convocations or continue with the traditions of man?