Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – The Law & Holidays

The origins of Christianity and the original customs thereof come not from pagans. They come from the Holy Bible and ancient Hebrew thought.

Some believe that Christians are in error for not celebrating the Biblical Feasts and even going so far as to call them “lawless” because they don’t believe the law of Moses applies to them as New Covenant believers. However, it can be shown that this belief does not come from “Western Gentiles” who “corrupted” the faith once delivered to the saints. This belief comes from ancient Jewish thought. Ancient Jews believed the Torah would be changed by the Messiah.

The purpose of sharing this aspect of the “pagan origins” subject is not to “strive about the law” but display early Christian interpretation and how it is based upon the Bible and “Hebraic thought”, not paganism.

Christians did not see the institution of holidays like Christmas (Feast of Nativity) and Easter (Pascha) as a negation of God’s law. They saw these as traditions instituted by the Apostles (1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6) who were believed to have authority to institute such celebrations (Matthew 16:16-19; 18:17-20).

If one is convicted not to celebrate Christian holidays or participate in customs such as Christmas trees or Easter eggs they shouldn’t condemn their brothers in Messiah who do so as “pagans” when there isn’t good evidence that the origin of these customs come from paganism. We should receive each other as brothers as God does (Romans 14). If one celebrates or not, as long as they “doing it unto the Lord” then they are glorifying Him and we shouldn’t speak against them and slander them (Psalm 59:19-23).

We are not to condemn our brothers because we are not the judge of their thoughts or hearts, God is (Acts 15:8; Proverbs 24:12; James 2:4, 8-9). When we condemn our brothers, in whom God is working, we are in reality condemning Him (Philippians 2:13; Romans 14:4).

It’s up to each one of us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), being fully persuaded in our own minds (Romans 14:5-6), seeking to not put a stumbling block before our brothers (Romans 14:13-14). We are all going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ and He will judge whether or not someone was doing a custom unto Him or not (Romans 14:10).

Let each person be convinced in his or her own mind and follow the Lord wholeheartedly in that conviction (Romans 14:5-6). We all have to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling so we ought not to point the finger of condemnation at others as each one of us falls or stands according to the Lord, not man (Romans 14:4). Regardless of what ‘side’ one chooses, we are to receive each other as the Lord has received us (Romans 14:1-4), bearing one another in love (Romans 15:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:7).

The Law & Holidays

What about the law? Some would argue that even if the holidays of Easter & Christmas are not founded in paganism, the Church has no Biblical justification for their institution. However, the early Church, who learned from the Apostles, did not interpret the Holy Scriptures in this way.

“As opposed to what the Hebrew Roots movement claims, the New Testament teachings of the Apostle Paul are perfectly clear and self-explanatory. Colossians 2:16,17 says, “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day – things which are a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” Romans 14:5 states, “One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.” Scripture clearly indicates that these issues are a matter of personal choice. These verses and many others give clear evidence that the Mosaic Covenant laws and ordinances have ended. Continuing to teach that the Old Covenant is still in effect in spite of what the New Testament teaches, or twisting the New Testament to agree with the Hebrew Roots beliefs, is false teaching.” {Question: “What is the Hebrew Roots movement?” – got Questions?org}

The early Church, from whom the holidays of Lent, Easter & Christmas come, were not committing apostasy because they didn’t believe in following the law of Moses. They were following their understanding of the writings of the New Testament and which agrees with Hebrew thought of the time.

Again, the purpose of sharing this information is not to bring forth strife and debate about the law (Titus 3:9) but to attempt to display that early Christians were staying faithful to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3) not turning aside to “paganism”.

Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

In upcoming articles we’ll examine this subject in the following sections:

Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Change in Law

Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – The Law of Christ

Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – A New Commandment

Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – God Changes Times and Seasons

Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Binding & Loosing

Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Establishing the Law

Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Fulfillment of the Law

Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Receiving One Another

Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – The Lord’s Day

Hebrew Roots of Christian Holidays – Love Bears All Things