The biggest problem for believers these days is that most of them cannot read the Bible with propper understanding!!
They read it using the language of their own denomination. That way everything makes sense to them and they feel secure. But this is a false security!
Recently, some people who celebrate Christmas, a feast that has its roots in paganism, refered in conversation with me to a verse from the Letter of Paul to the Colossians.
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day, Col. 2:16.
This text appears to support their right to celebrate Christmas and reassures them in rejecting criticism from others!
But is their understanding correct?
At the time this letter was written, there was no Christmas, only the pagan feast of Saturnalia, therefore Paul wasn’t writing about Christmas. So what was he writing about?
Do not let anyone judge you by:
1. What you eat or drink – believers did not consume the food and drink Jehovah forbids us in the Torah, because they are not healthy.
2. Or with regard to a religious festival – they celebrated the feasts of Jehovah written in the Torah. You can read of this in the gospels – in accordance with the Torah, there are references to Jeshua celebrating twice on Passover, once on Shavuot, once on Sukkot and once on Hanukkah in the Temple!
The Acts of the Apostles also describe the feasts of Jehovah making reference to the pouring out of the Spirit during Shavuot and to Paul travelling between the Feasts of Passover and Shavuot, etc.
3. A New Moon celebration – believers counted the beginning of every month from the sighting of the new moon which forms the basis of the Lunar or Biblical Calendar.
4. A Sabbath day – believers kept the Shabbat!
As can be seen in black and white, this verse is telling believers in Jeshua who are keeping the Torah not to allow anyone to judge them!
IT IS VERY SIMPLE! And completely in keeping with the Word of God!
In order to be able to celebrate Christmas with a clear conscience, you will need to find some other verses but not in the Bible becasue they are not there!
16th December 2019