The physical universe is basically composed of matter, energy, space and time. The ancient Israelites practiced ritual worship based upon these 4 things. The matter was whatever items composed of matter that were used in the rituals, things like food, animals, tithes and sacrifices. Their time and energy was used constantly in the rituals. The space or place to perform the rituals was holy. What we see from all of this is a worship system that was totally physical repeated year after year. We should also know that this shadow type of worship is unacceptable to God. John 4:24 states the worship of God must be IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. Spirit is not physical, mechanical or formalistic. It is from Our human spirit to Gods spirit with no physical thing involved. John 4:23 True worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father seeks such as these to worship Him. Would it be correct then for us to invent practices that are clearly physical and try to worship God with them? There are indeed things people do that do just this thing. They borrow things from paganism and attempt to Christianize them by bringing God and Christ into them. God forbids this kind of practice in Deuteronomy 12:30. Jesus warned about adding traditions of men to the word of God. Christians should not practice the ways of the world for any reason. Keeping of physical days to worship God is incorrect thinking as scripture teaches. We must examine ourselves to see if we are worshipping God in the way Jesus instructed.
General Keeping of Days
- Thread starter LeeB
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We are approaching the holiday season. Christmas is the most kept and revered holiday of the year. It does not matter that it is not the day Christ was born or even the season. It does not matter that there is no command to observe the birth of Jesus but the is one to observe his death. It does not matter that it was formerly kept in paganism as the Saturnalia. The focus is gifts to people rather than Christ. The things like trees, mistletoe, Santa are totally non biblical. People say we should put Christ back in Christmas, how, when he was never in it. Jesus is not the reason for the season. I am aware that this may offend some but that is the nature of the truth, it will either offend you or set you free. False churchianity has other days it keeps that are equally non Christian. If you study what scripture has to say about keeping days you will discover that the Pentecost church did not keep any days. Ancient Israel kept days, months, seasons and years just like the false churches do, if this did not go well for Israel why would anyone think it would for the church. You who were formerly JW’s or WCG knew this and it is one of a few things they had that is correct. Yet both still keep other days so in reality they have learned nothing. Each one must be full convinced in their own mind, let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.
In my little spot within my family, it is still an opportunity to speak of Jesus today.
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Phil 1:15-18
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Phil 1:15-18
Paul differentiates here from the motives of the two methods of preaching, which one seems to be the better. Pretense or truth both speak about Christ but love and truth is seperated from pretense. Selfish ambition, not sincerely, without love. Continue reading Philippians 1:27-30 . Is Paul condoning the preaching of lies or is he just happy that the name of Jesus is spoken ?
My brother, I think that we can understand that we always want the truth - and that is why we are here. However, as Paul said that "whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed." Any reason that I can find an ear to hear is a good one. While this world around me promotes this season, I know that it creates opportunities to call attention to the main character - the Messiah. I can't stop people from this corruption, but I can interrupt their event with whatever time they will give me to speak.