Holiday Tradition Concern

[Desiree Munn]

So, I need some advice….My husband feels convicted to stop participating in certain Easter and Christmas activities – but not necessarily stopping celebrating the holidays entirely. He wants to stop participating in specifically Easter egg hunting and Christmas tree decorating. It is because he learned about the pagan history of these traditions. I want to honor God in all that I do, and never celebrate Easter as anything other than Jesus’ resurrection and Christmas as anything other than Jesus’ birth. Yes, I know that those holidays are not an accurate timeline for those momentous events and have never viewed them as such.
As far as egg hunting for children and Christmas trees…..I honestly do not see the problem with them. I see them as simply a fun activity that is an American tradition (or elsewhere for my international friends) or in the case of the tree, a beautiful (and expensive) decoration. I have always been careful not to allow idols in my life and am very jealous for the God I serve. I honestly don’t know what to do. Does anyone else not celebrate these holiday traditions? Any views, research done, etc….?
If you have stopped and you have young children, how have you explained to them why the sudden stop? I am really torn over this because my kids (ages 6 & 3) love the egg hunts and look forward to them as well as the excitement they get when picking out and decorating a Christmas tree (even myself!). I have talked to my husband and I have prayed about this, but I am still unsure. Again, I am seeking to honor God in all that I do and if allowing my young children to participate in egg hunts (at church and at home) or decorating Christmas trees is keeping me from honoring God, then I want to stop.

[Desiree Munn]

I guess what I am trying to say is, do you have any advice on transitioning children out of something like that? I need help explaining to them why, without going through all the pagan histories of it. I can see this being difficult because they see all of their friends at church (who worship Jesus too) participating and may not understand on the level that we as adults understand. I myself am having a hard time understanding. Don’t misunderstand my primary post though, in no way am I trying to undermine my husband or go against his convictions. I will honor my husband’s concerns. However, I would just like to see if anyone else has dealt with this yet and how you dealt with it. If there are any YouTube videos or articles for me to understand why a born-again believer shouldn’t participate in these specific activities, it would help.

We are travelers and foreigners in this world that is not our home. I realize how different my family is quickly becoming compared to the rest of the world, and even amongst my own brothers and sisters in Yeshua. I literally have no one else I can ask about these things because everyone I know outside of AMTM is still asleep with the wool over their eyes. I want nothing more than for my children to grow up according to God’s Word and ways, even though that way is very narrow. Just looking for some advice and help, if any, or if no one here has thought about this topic yet, maybe we can all research and study it together, praying for discernment from the Holy Spirit who gives wisdom to those who ask.

[Rene’]

Desiree,
I am a single mom and I stopped participating in many holiday activities with what I believe to be pagan roots about six years ago when my son was 10. In learning about the Feast days of the Lord, and celebrating those instead, I was able to transition us both out of Christmas trees and Easter eggs. Instead of Christmas, I celebrate the Fall Feasts, and instead of Easter, I celebrate the Spring Feasts. If you find a congregation where they celebrate the Feast Days with their children, the transition will be a lot easier.
You can look on the map of 119 ministries: http://www.119ministries.com/resources/fellowship-finder/ to find a group.

As far as teachings about the pagan roots of holidays, there are many on YouTube and there is much controversy about the subject. I suggest learning about the Feast days and then you will see how many modern holidays are a counterfeit (in my opinion). Here is a good place to start: http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Introduction/introduction.html

As in all things, ask the Lord how to serve Him best in this area and I know He will show you and help you do what is honoring to Him. Feel free to message me if you’d like to discuss the matter further.

[Angela Georgantas]

I believe the Bible is clear that we should figure out what we believe and celebrate (or not) to our convictions. Romans 14:5-6 “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord;[a] and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.”

I’m of a completely different conviction. I don’t see anything wrong with decorating a Christmas tree or allowing the kiddos to find some eggs as long as the focus is family-togetherness in Christ. If you are ditching trees and eggs, you might as well get rid of fireworks and parades, turkey and stuffing, and birthday cakes and presents. All of these are fun little celebrations in which families get together to enjoy the life that Jesus died for us to live. All of this “pagan roots” stuff is, in my opinion, a ploy by the enemy to weaken American Christian family traditions and give some Christians a stumbling block. Much like the Hebrew-roots movement which insists that Christians give up pork and shellfish, some Christians who give up holiday traditions can get prideful over other Christians. Watch as we get closer to Easter, and you will see the memes and posts come out about how people SHOULDN’T be celebrating, etc. It can actually feel a little like bullying sometimes on Christian forums. I don’t think that’s of Christ.

Whether you celebrate or not, do it unto the Lord. I personally have the best testimony for Christ when I can reach out to the world through these traditions that crossover to unbelievers. How many unbelievers come to church egg hunts for their kids and are exposed to Christ? How many charities receive goods at Christmas in the name of Christ? This new thing of Christians eschewing Christian holidays just isolates them from people who celebrate the fun things but NEED the Savior behind the holiday.

Maybe you could talk to your husband about asking what God would have you do to make the best impact for Him.

[Desiree Munn]

Thanks everyone. I just now saw responses, for some reason I never received an email.

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