“This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not learn the ways of the nations …” (Jeremiah 10:2).

When Israel finally entered the Promised Land, God instructed them not to follow the “abominable practices of the nations.” The word ‘nations’ in this verse means goy or gentiles. The Hebrew word goy also means pagan along with pagan practices. The pagan practices of the non-Hebrew nations were considered abominations and God hated them; the practices of pagans disgusted Him.

Many years ago, my seven-year old son and five-year old daughter attended Vacation Bible School at a local church. The week of learning about the life of Jesus began with Christmas –– setting up trees and decorating them. My son became very upset because he had never celebrated Christmas, and removed himself and his little sister from their classes. When he came home, he didn’t want to return. I wanted him to make that decision based on Scripture so I pulled out my New International Version Concordance. I had him look up Christmas, Easter, Sunday, and Halloween. They were not in the Bible. The only entry for ‘Easter,’ said it was a mistranslation of Passover.

Then I had him look up the Biblical holy days that our family celebrated: Passover (77), Unleavened Bread (55), Firstfruits (56), Weeks (34), Trumpets (25), Atonement (10), Tabernacles (46) and Sabbath (154). We found hundreds of entries. When we were finished, my son said, “Mom, they don’t do anything in the Bible. I don’t want to go back.” This is the faith of a child (Matthew 18:2-3).

It is sometimes difficult to accept that most Christian holidays have pagan roots. Well-meaning pastors teach saith the “God sees our hearts,” forgetting that our hearts are deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Personal interpretation has become the standard for what is right and wrong, good and evil, rather than the Word of God. This way of thinking could be compared to the days in Israel when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. To deal with His rebellious people, God sent Judges!

Writing as a gentile who left these pagan practices through many challenges and spiritual battles, it breaks my heart to hear Messianic Jewish ministries in America suggest to new Jewish followers of Yeshua that they should mix the holy and the profane as part of the restoration between Jews and gentiles. This way of thinking is not supported by Torah or the Prophets; it not supported by Yeshua or Paul. God’s people should never be encouraged to combine their rich spiritual heritage with the ways of the nations around them.

According to Romans 11:16, if the root of something is holy then so are the branches that come from the tree. The converse is also true; if the roots are pagan and unholy, then what grows as a beautiful tree from those roots is also pagan and unholy.

These posts cover some of the ‘inherited lies’ and brings light to the false gods still embraced by the world today and defended by Christians under the pretext of ‘that’s not what it means to me’ rather than seriously considering ‘what it means to God.’

If you are not interested in learning about the ‘unholy roots’ of Christianity’s cherished holidays, then this chapter is not for you. If you are ready to come face to face with the other gods rooted in Christian theology and doctrinal history, then proceed.