Christmas in July: Part 6
Hello dear readers! Last we were together I promised you I would start connecting the dots between King Jeroboam's sin and the tradition of Christmas. I aim to keep my word. If you are new to this series, please ➜ start here with Part 1. It will make much more sense that way! 😀
I have been transparent with you that my original purpose in researching biblical holidays had nothing to do with Christmas. Like you, I have many warm and happy memories of Christmases shared with family and friends. It is not my intent to marginalize those memories of my own OR to make you feel guilty for treasuring your own special memories.
My intent is to share what I have learned.
Squirrel! Do you remember the last time you really "learned" something? Something that you had to work at? There is always a bit of discomfort in it. In the education world, teachers know that they must provide enough challenge to create disequilibrium in their students, while making sure that there is enough support for them to be successful. True learning is a dance. I say all of that to say this.... You may be feeling some disequilibrium right now. You may be feeling overwhelmed. Too much disequilibrium will make a learner shut down. Too little, and there is really no learning taking place. Pay attention to how you are doing right now. Pray. Ask YHVH to provide the support that only He can give you as you continue to pursue this path.
Back to the blog...
If you know what to look for, you will find language referring to YHVH's feasts throughout what we call the New Testament. The earliest believers were Jews, and they continued in Torah observance and feast keeping.
The good news began to overflow to gentiles, and they also were taught to be Torah observant and to keep the feasts. Many believers do not realize this, because we have been told by those in authority over us something different. But, it is a fact that can be proven by reading the Bible. Look for the clues. They are there. (It is not the intent of this series to prove these things, as they are written in your Bible, and it would take a lot of time. BUT, if you absolutely cannot find the proof, please contact me. I can get you started in the right direction).
Now pull out your history books...
Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD, and the people were dispersed.
Rome persecuted Jews.
These new believers began to distance themselves from looking like Jews.
Followers of The Way, Christians, as they came to be called, were also persecuted.
Notice any "calves?"
Does any of this remind you of King Jeroboam and his 8th month festival?
Here we have church leaders and politicians IGNORING the feast of YHVH and instituting their own.
And did you catch WHY they did it?
In order to avoid persecution
In order to distance themselves from Jews
In order to unify Rome politically
In order to pacify the keepers of the pagan religions
Now let me ask you a hard question:
I have been transparent with you that my original purpose in researching biblical holidays had nothing to do with Christmas. Like you, I have many warm and happy memories of Christmases shared with family and friends. It is not my intent to marginalize those memories of my own OR to make you feel guilty for treasuring your own special memories.
My intent is to share what I have learned.
Squirrel! Do you remember the last time you really "learned" something? Something that you had to work at? There is always a bit of discomfort in it. In the education world, teachers know that they must provide enough challenge to create disequilibrium in their students, while making sure that there is enough support for them to be successful. True learning is a dance. I say all of that to say this.... You may be feeling some disequilibrium right now. You may be feeling overwhelmed. Too much disequilibrium will make a learner shut down. Too little, and there is really no learning taking place. Pay attention to how you are doing right now. Pray. Ask YHVH to provide the support that only He can give you as you continue to pursue this path.
Back to the blog...
If you know what to look for, you will find language referring to YHVH's feasts throughout what we call the New Testament. The earliest believers were Jews, and they continued in Torah observance and feast keeping.
The good news began to overflow to gentiles, and they also were taught to be Torah observant and to keep the feasts. Many believers do not realize this, because we have been told by those in authority over us something different. But, it is a fact that can be proven by reading the Bible. Look for the clues. They are there. (It is not the intent of this series to prove these things, as they are written in your Bible, and it would take a lot of time. BUT, if you absolutely cannot find the proof, please contact me. I can get you started in the right direction).
Now pull out your history books...
Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD, and the people were dispersed.
 |
| Arch of Titus Photo credit |
These new believers began to distance themselves from looking like Jews.
Followers of The Way, Christians, as they came to be called, were also persecuted.
To avoid persecution during the Roman pagan festival, early Christians decked their homes with Saturnalia holly. As Christian numbers increased and their customs prevailed, the celebrations took on a Christian observance.
In the year 274 AD, solstice fell on 25th December. Roman Emperor Aurelian proclaimed the date as “Natalis Solis Invicti,” the festival of the birth of the invincible sun. In 320 AD, Pope Julius I specified the 25th of December as the official date of the birth of Jesus Christ.
In 325AD, Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor, introduced Christmas as an immovable feast on 25 December. He also introduced Sunday as a holy day in a new 7-day week, and introduced movable feasts (Easter). In 354AD, Bishop Liberius of Rome officially ordered his members to celebrate the birth of Jesus on 25 December. source
Notice any "calves?"
Does any of this remind you of King Jeroboam and his 8th month festival?
Here we have church leaders and politicians IGNORING the feast of YHVH and instituting their own.
And did you catch WHY they did it?
In order to avoid persecution
In order to distance themselves from Jews
In order to unify Rome politically
In order to pacify the keepers of the pagan religions
Now let me ask you a hard question:
Does this sound like a festival that is pleasing to YHVH?
I have my own convictions about that, but I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.
But Debbie, YHVH knows my heart.
According to scripture, our 💕 hearts 💕 cannot be trusted
The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
[Jer 17:9 KJV]
You may recall that the false festival that Jeroboam created was devised of his own heart.
You see, The Father has given us the Bible. He expects us to read it and discern how to worship Him. He knows that we are easily deceived and that our hearts cannot be trusted. He has given us an outline of His feast days and a roadmap to the Narrow Way. Will we use it? Will we recognize how we have been deceived and return to walk in His ways?
Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? [Mal 3:7 KJV]
Still on the fence?
Come back for Part 7 where I will share more about the ancient pagan traditions that have wedged their way into our celebrations unbeknownst to most believers.
Christmas spirit? It's a thing!
Come Seek With Me!
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I appreciate your sharing all your research!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading!
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