For true followers of Christ, participation in national and religious holidays is not so obvious. It is necessary to think and consider whether taking part in a given holiday does not violate the principles of Christ.
These are the most important things we should pay attention to:
• do not participate in idolatry, i.e. do not bow or pray to unbiblical gods,
• we can use the principle of conscience,
• do not scandalize others with your attitude,
• do not act against the Holy Spirit.
These are the most important principles. Let’s see what God says about this in the verses.
1 – Prohibition of idolatry
“Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.” – Romans 1:22-23.
“So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” – 1 Corinthians 10:14.
“o, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons!” – 1 Corinthians 10:20.
What is idolatry?
Any follower of the true God can only pray to two Figures: the Father and the Son. Praying to any other spiritual figure or human is idolatry.
https://yeshu.info/post/what-is-idolatry
2 – When does this concern matters of Conscience?
Does conscience allow us to participate in religious and national holidays?
If conscience allows us, then it is our decision. However, the hierarchically higher principles than conscience are the commandments of God. Let us remember not to participate in idolatry and not to scandalize other followers of Christ.
“Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask from Him because we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight. Now this is His command: that we believe in the Name of His Son, Yeshu Christ, and love one another as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commands remains in Him, and He in him. And the way we know that He remains in us is from the Spirit He has given us.” – 1 John 3:21-24.
It all depends on your conscience, awareness, beliefs:
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person. Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience, since the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it. If any of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions for the sake of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This is food from a sacrifice,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another person’s conscience? If I partake with thanksgiving, why am I criticized because of something for which I give thanks? So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the Glory of God. Give no offense to Judeans or Greeks or the church of God, just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.” – 1 Corinthians 10:23-33.
See, reader, how much God allows us to do…
3 – When is it a Sin against the Holy Spirit?
I will just remind you of the most important verses. Below are links to articles that discuss this topic.
“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies (987) they utter. But whoever blasphemes (987) against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” – Mark 3:28-29.
Who belongs to the Holy Spirit?
“Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple (3485) and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys (5331) God’s temple (3485), God will destroy (5331) him; for God’s temple (3485) is Holy, and that is what you are.” – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.
They will not inherit the Kingdom of God:
“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions (1370), factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things — as I warned you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21.
The lukewarm person sins against the Holy Spirit:
“For you say, ‘I’m rich (4145) ; I have become wealthy (4147) and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor (4434) , blind, and naked.” – Revelation 3:17.
https://yeshu.info/post/sin-against-the-holy-spirit
https://objawieniejana.pl/im-going-to-throw-you-up-vomit-you-out-a-lukewarm-person/
4 – Renounce worldly lusts
We are to renounce ungodliness and lust:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and Godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Yeshu Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works. Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” – Titus 2:11-15.
It is forbidden to worship other gods/idols:
“Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party. Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day twenty-three thousand people died.” – 1 Corinthians 10:7-8.
“Early the next morning they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented fellowship offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to party. (…) As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became enraged and threw the tablets out of his hands, smashing them at the base of the mountain.” – Exodus 32:6 and 19.
The love of the world is the lust of the flesh, the eyes and pride:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions — is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17.
5 – We patiently convince them that we are right
“The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness….” – 2 Timothy 2:24-25.
“Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” – 2 Timothy 2:25-26.
“In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Corinthians 4:4
“and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith.” -2 Thessalonians 3:2.
Summary
Participation in religious and national holidays is an individual matter. There will be people who will completely reject participation in all holidays, except for the Memorial of Christ’s Death. And such an attitude should be respected. There will also be people who, in the fight for their loved ones, will agree to participate in the holidays in full or in part. These people should remember not to worship other gods, not to eat from the table of demons and not to scandalize other people if they have different beliefs.
When would our actions be directed against the Holy Spirit?
If we were to forcefully convince others to participate in holidays, knowing that they are unbiblical. If we were to consciously, knowing the truth, command others to believe in doctrines, principles, teachings, holidays that are not in Christ’s commandments.
Acting against the Holy Spirit is pride, lack of love, a struggle for power. In such situations, we are consciously acting against the teachings of Christ.
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