Question:
Why do you celebrate other holidays that aren't in the bible?
blueeyed girl
2009-02-25 05:12:32 UTC
Please answer with respect and candor

As a catholic, I do celebrate lent. It is not pagan as some have described it which I find to be very close minded and disrespectful.

I can understand if your faith does not celebrate lent, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with those who do.

Why do you celebrate Christmas and Easter. Those holidays are not in the bible either. Where in the bible does it say that at Christmas you give presents to friends, family, or whomever. Does that make everyone who participates in this holiday pagan?

What about all the shows that churches put on about the resurrection of Christ on Easter...since when is that biblical? Is that considered pagan too.

I don't find trunk or treat in the bible either yet many children celebrate halloween...are they all pagan?

Youth groups aren't in the bible yet they have been formed.

It isn't pagan to fast, abstain, and reflect on our savior. Catholics do not do this openly for everyone to see, we do not wear sack cloths and look like we are fasting...we just do so quietly in the privacy of our own homes.

Like I stated earlier. I have respect for your traditions, although many of them are not in the bible either. Why can't the same respect be give to those who are Catholic. I don't put down your beliefs...why do you feel the need to put down mine?
Eighteen answers:
dewcoons
2009-02-25 05:53:08 UTC
The Bible actually does have a couple verses that covers this situation. Romans 14:5,6 "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it." Paul repeats the same idea in Colossians 2:16,17 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."



What Paul is saying is that there is no specific law about what days should be worshiped or what holidays should be kept. If you read the New Testament there is not a single commandment anywhere to keep any holidays (including Sunday services.) The requirement to keep special feast days or worship on a certain day of the week was part of the Mosaic Law, and is not carried over to Christianity.



Rather Paul is saying that if a person is convinced that they should keep a holiday as a worship to Christ, then for them it is the right thing, and no other Christian should judge them. They are showing respect and love for God. and celebrating what he did for them. That is never wrong.



However, if a person chooses not to celebrate that day, or does it in a different way, then that is also correct because they are showing their respect and love for God. And no other Christian should judge them.



The keeping of "Easter" can be found in the writing of the early church fathers as far back as the late first century (with 30-40 years of the time Paul completed his writings.) The celebration of the Paschal (as it was called at the time) was done during the same week as the Passover. There was debate on where Christians should celebrate by taking the Passover feast (as it was a Passover feast that was the "Last Supper", and Jesus told them "keep that" until he returned) the evening before, then celebrate the Death of Christ the next day, or whether they should wait and take Communion (the sacrament that comes out of the last Passover meal) and the Sunday of his resurrection. Because the day of the Passover changes each year, it was easier for the church to celebrate the Resurrection on Sundays since they were already meeting then. So by the late second century that was the common practice.



Christmas was actually celebrated by the early churches in mid-January rather then December 25. It is still practiced on that day in many Orthodox churches. As the actual day of Christ's birth is not known, it was decided within the Roman part of the church to celebrate on December 25 (the date of the largest pagan feast in the Roman world) to give the Christians an alternative to celebrate on that day. Kind of like the thousands of churches in the US today that offer "Harvest Celebration" and similar alternative to Halloween parties on October 31. It gives those who do not want to celebrate the pagan holiday an alternative. As there are no instructions saying to celebrate Christmas, nor how to do it, then the giving of presents at that time is just as valid a way to celebrate as any other.



So the rule is simple when it comes to holy days in the Christian faith. Do what honors Christ for you, and everyone else keep their mouth shut, and honor Christ they way they way instead.
anonymous
2009-02-25 13:16:05 UTC
A curious contradiction happens every year. Virtually all the Christian world will observe the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in unison, on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox as decreed by the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. However, if this paschal full moon occurs on a Sunday, Easter is then moved to the next Sunday. The Council of Nicea also decided that the Christian Easter shall never precede or coincide with the Jewish Passover, but must always follow it, a rule still observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church, but not the Western Church. The Eastern Orthodox church also still uses the Julian calendar to calculate Easter, and so frequently does not agree with the Western Church on dates.



This presents a very interesting situation, since the Protestants generally will subscribe to the motto of Sola Scriptura, the Bible only for doctrine, yet the Catholic affirms the authority of Church Tradition.

Now if you strictly follow the Bible as your guide as to when to observe Passover, you would ALWAYS be observing the crucifixion in the middle of the biblical month, very close to the full moon. This is because the biblical month begins with the observation of the new moon, and Passover the Bible tells us, is celebrated on 14 Nisan, the middle of the 29.5 day lunar cycle (the synodic month):
Catholic@Heart
2009-02-25 14:01:09 UTC
<<>>

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/989504/posts

Really? I believe they are. They are central to Christian Belief. Jesus fulfilled the Jewish prophecy of The Messiah. He is the Messiah Christians rejoice in.



Did Jesus celebrate Holiday's?

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,

the disciples approached Jesus and said,

"Where do you want us to prepare

for you to eat the Passover?"

He said,

"Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,

'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near;

in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."'"

The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,

and prepared the Passover.





1Cor chapter 5

7 Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new paste, as you are unleavened. For Christ our pasch is sacrificed.



8 Therefore let us feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but ***with*** the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.



Did you know the alphabet is Pagan in origin? Yep, Pagan symbols.

Did you know mathematics are Pagan in origin? Yep, again the same.

So, every time we read or write or apply mathematics we're performing a Pagan act?

I think not.



Thanksgiving and the 4th of July are not even an issue.



God Bless.
superb9006
2009-02-25 13:22:16 UTC
The only festivals mentioned in the Bible are those of Jewish tradition and custom. I am not Jewish. Easter really comes from the original festival of the passover. We celebrate Easter and Christmas on or about the same times as pagan holidays as a counter celebration. Did you also know that the marriage ceremony is also taken from pagan rituals? The flowers, the ring, both pagan ideas.
SEM
2009-02-25 13:43:26 UTC
Where in the Bible can you find the practice of lent. It is a tradition that you are bound by and do not want to put down. What if God told you that it was not O.K. to do lent? Would you then omit it out of your religious practices? I'm not trying to be disrespectful. I truly want you to see that you are following a pagan practice instituted by man and not God.



It is not my faith. The Bible plainly states there is one Lord and One faith. The Bible is the word of God. If any man come preaching any other he is a thief and a liar the Bible states. There is only one faith but many religions. If you do not follow the words of our Lord Jesus Christ you are just another religious person following another mans doctrine. I follow the doctrine of Jesus. You follow the doctrine of the Catholic. Which is greater ?



I do not celebrate christmas and easter . I observe the passover as Jesus did in the Bible. I do nothing that came from idol worship. I serve Jesus and his way. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the ways are death the Bible says.



Youth groups are good if they follow the word of God. But if it is to please the flesh then it is another design by man. What would Jesus do ? That is a great saying among religous folks. But they do not consider the realism about it. A christian is called a christian because they are suspose to be Christ Like. Do like Jesus. Think like Jesus. Live like Jesus. Not after the order of the world religions.



Agree fasting is good with prayer, seeking the answers from the Lord. But if you do it because the church says it is a religion you are doing it for the wrong reason. God has given you a free will. Not to be bound with man's ideas. That is the reason everyone can have the word of God and read it for them selves. What is truth ? Who is true ? Man or God ? Chose you this day whom will you serve? God or Mammon ? God or the world, the worlds religions. There are many. Many come in my name, and decieve many. Are you being decieved ?



I'm not putting down your belief. I'm trying to show you that Jesus desires you to be in truth. He has opened this door for you to see the light and not to walk in darkness as your fathers have walked. He wants you to be free.He wants you to read your word, study to see if you are in the truth. Broad is the road to destruction, and many go there. We have a world full of religions, but yet the bible says many shall not find the straight and narrow path, because they chose false rather than truth.



Choose you this day who you will serve. God is merciful. God is not willing that any be lost but all should come to him. God Bless !
Andrew K
2009-02-25 13:21:01 UTC
Fasting for a month before the first crops were planted after the vernal equinox was pagan tradition in many places. Lent, like the rest of Christianity, really isn't that original.
pjpackers
2009-02-25 13:33:19 UTC
I celebrate Christmas to recognize the birth of my savior,to acknowledge it,I love Christmas and what it stands for I know Christ was not born on this day more than likely but its a day a celebration of what God did sent himself in the flesh. Easter is also a celebration of the risen savior,I celebrate that he is risen that he died foe us that through him I live again.

Halloween was always un important in our home ,we let kids trick or treat but we talked about what we believe. I believe you don't let kids kids you make them weird,we let them be normal with explanation.

The problem I have with Catholicism is many. I was raised Catholic until age 8 I was told that I was going to hell because we missed a Sunday of church! The hard turn or burn approach. I spent 38 years as an atheist/agnostic because of Catholicism I believe it has turned more people away from Christ as it has towards. Many in your faith do not invite Christ as lord and savior and are led to believe it is by the church they are saved. This is cult teaching and not Biblical. When God led me to him 16 years ago, I was shocked to see these people carrying Bibles as most in your faith do not read it! I do not put down your belief I believe their are many in Catholic faith that are saved and do read the Bible but it is not stressed as needed and many are going to be held accountable by poor doctrine.
Sandra R
2009-02-25 13:21:51 UTC
We celebrate Christmas because that is the birth of Jesus Christ. His birth is in the Bible. And we celebrate Easter because Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave to go and prepare a place for all of us who believe. That is in the Bible too.
goaheadnfireme
2009-02-25 13:39:35 UTC
Hey. I'm Southern Baptist and I celebrate Lent! My dad went to a Catholic school and I LOVE the Lenten Season! I even told my friends about it and they would give up something too!
anonymous
2009-02-25 13:23:22 UTC
Really. My two favorite holidays aren't in the Bible either (Fourth of July and Thanksgiving).



Computers and the internet aren't in the Bible either yet you have no problem using them.
?
2009-02-25 13:34:39 UTC
I don't celebrate holidays that aren't in the Bible; neither do I celebrate holidays that are in the Bible -- if they aren't meant for me. In the Bible or not in the Bible, if you celebrate a holiday -- that's your choice. I refuse to judge; only God sees the heart.
anonymous
2009-02-25 13:20:24 UTC
Who are you talking too here? I haven't criticized your beliefs as far as I know



And I agree - xmas and easter are pagan festivals (they were based on existing pagan beliefs and celebrations)
Blinx: Snarky Version
2009-02-25 13:23:57 UTC
Christmas was origanally a pagan holiday.



Everybody can celebrate any holiday they want, in any way they want.



NEXT!
Fred
2009-02-25 13:17:29 UTC
I do not mean to put down your beliefs. Still, do I not have the right in your eyes to laugh at what I consider to be silly, childish beliefs?
Nomarsaur
2009-02-25 13:16:44 UTC
well i would love to celebrated Valentines day but weman keep running away from me, i tried nailing them to the chair but end up loosening furniture that way.
love
2009-02-25 13:20:20 UTC
If it is not in the word of God
J
2009-02-25 13:16:04 UTC
Hell, I'm an atheist and I celebrate Christian holidays. I figure, they stole their holidays, so why can't I celebrate their stolen holidays too and maybe just insert my own meaning into it?
davidbankole.cole@ymail.com
2009-02-25 13:22:39 UTC
TRUE



TRUE



NO



NO



NO


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
Loading...