Holidays

10/28/1995

I think these two thoughts have most affected my perspective on “holidays”...

First, since there’s absolutely nothing real, meaningful, or substantial to live for apart from The Living God and His Church, traditions basically become the thing that hold the pagans’ existence together and give it pseudo meaning. When I started to care where halloween, easter, christmas, etc. had come from and what the rituals meant, I was almost more shocked to realize that I had fully participated in all these things my whole life WITHOUT EVER ASKING WHY, than I was shocked by the truly dark purposes of them all. I know I never asked “why” before because the activities were each somehow pleasing to me ( I got candy, gifts, attention, whatever...) so I really didn’t even care “why.” Well, it may be that the only time anybody will care about the roots of these days is when they really care what Jesus thinks about things, and if I’m serious about following Jesus, I’d better care what He thinks about this and everything else I’d ever do.

Consider this: DO NOT CONFORM ANY LONGER TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD’S WILL IS—HIS GOOD, PLEASING, AND PERFECT WILL (Rom. 12:2).

This leads me right into what’s been the most significant thought for me on this whole subject. It’s my deep desire and also fully within reach as the inheritance of every child of God to live a life in step with our Father in the unseen realm every moment. With this as a “goal,” there’s NO WAY I’m gonna knowingly set up roadblocks to that by having plans and agendas that a) do not reflect God’s values, and b) are not His current thought from Heaven.

...YOU NULLIFY THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR TRADITION (Mat. 15:6).

You can’t live out on earth what the Father’s whispering from heaven if your days are already mapped out, if you know what you’re going to do every December the 25th for the rest of your life. If you want to hear and live His thought for you ANY day, then why not consider EVERY day?!

EARLIER, BEFORE YOU KNEW GOD PERSONALLY, YOU WERE ENSLAVED TO SO CALLED GODS THAT HAD NOTHING OF THE DIVINE ABOUT THEM. BUT NOW THAT YOU KNOW THE REAL GOD—OR RATHER SINCE GOD KNOWS YOU—HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY SUBJECT YOURSELVES AGAIN TO THOSE PAPER TIGERS? FOR THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE INTIMIDATED INTO SCRUPULOUSLY OBSERVING ALL THE TRADITIONS, TABOOS, AND SUPERSTITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIAL DAYS AND SEASONS AND YEARS. I AM AFRAID THAT ALL MY HARD WORK AMONG YOU HAS GONE UP IN A PUFF OF SMOKE!

Just some thoughts that have helped me to see these things a little more clearly. It seems like the “good, moral” people care what the roots of these seasons are because of their standards. Somehow, I think the reason for us to care, as representatives of the heavenly realm and our Father, goes beyond just recognizing the facts about the unquestionable wickedness of where these days came from and all that they produce today. Our ability to represent the Father in any given moment or situation will be hindered if we don’t see that this is part of our role and inheritance and if we are living in ways that block our hearing.

I hope this all makes sense...!

Holidays, part 2

As I reflected on all this some more, this occurred to me as well. While the previous thoughts were definitely directed at those who care what is important to God, I realized two things about this. If you are in a position to be making decisions about what other people are doing on these days (organizing activities at a nursing home, decorating a classroom, visiting relatives, etc.) it doesn’t really matter whether or not THEY care what God thinks. The facts are God is alive and He DOES have a thought about these things. Now whether or not any given person has placed themselves willingly under the authority that God already has in their life, doesn’t really matter. God does have thoughts about these seasonal activities and if you know God and you know some of His thoughts on these matters, then it’s your responsibility to make decisions for those around you accordingly and to let them know why, if possible and profitable for God. So, even though my thoughts were directed more at those who DO care what God thinks, they still apply to the situations around you involving those who don’t yet care.

Secondly, it’s pretty obvious to most people who have looked at this point, that halloween is nothing but dark and evil in intent and purpose. However, it’s kind of helpful to see through the disguise and realize that the same mastermind who birthed halloween also birthed christmas and the others. Do you follow me? Just because it’s not as surface-level-obvious doesn’t mean it’s not made of the same stuff underneath. Halloween is really easy to spot if you’re looking; christmas is harder to see through until you get the right glasses on... they came from the same place, and therefore, are made of the same substance (the destruction of man). So don’t be fooled by appearances and names! Thanks for reading all this!

•  On the Topic of "x-mas"