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Hey everyone,

Thank you to all who have taken the time to read this.  I am in need of some advice as I am, for the first time, scared to tell my family something.  Just a little background for understanding my situation: most of my family is agnostic/atheist, some are catholic, few lutherans, and my parents and one sibling and their spouse and spouse's family are Evangelical.  Me?  I am just a gentile believer in Yeshua.  

For the last 3-4 years I have been struggling to understand the connection between the Church in Acts/the G-d of the Bible and the celebrations of Christmas and Easter.  I used to be a satanist and therefore know full well the meaning and history of Halloween and no longer have Anything to do with it.  After studying the history of those such celebrations, or rather the pagan basis of them and also looking at the Church established by the Messiah...I see no logical or Biblical basis for engaging in such activities.  I have been learning more and more the really Early days of the Church, the first 300 years and how different it was compared to today, let alone how things began to change drastically when anti-semitic gentiles who refused to give up their pagan ways took the belief in Yeshua and added him to their own.

I made the final decision this year to no longer celebrate the pagan festivals of Winter Solstice (Christmas) and Easter (celebrating Ishtar the god of fertility).  But how do I tell my family?  What do I do then?  I have no way of getting to a Messianic Congregation at this time to join in their celebrations, though I have already been invited by the Rabbi.  I live just out of reach at this time.  Do I tell my family I will not "celebrate" but be there in person?  I feel that even if I am physically there I am some how saying that it is ok to engage in those celebrations.  I am really just terrified of the reaction of my evangelical family members.  The others, I believe, will not have a problem with it....but my strongly Evangelical-Free parents who are relying on me to decorate the tree, decorate the "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake, etc...I am so scared.

Please tell help me know what should I do.  I am daily agonizing over HOW to tell them and exactly WHAT to tell them.  I am sure of one thing, I no longer want to be a part of something that is not of G-d.  Now that I know the truth how can I continue in something that is not truth?  Last year I was so bitter about decorating the tree as I felt like I was prostituting myself in some spritual since.  I felt ashamed as G-d was watching me do all those things...I can no longer pretend to enjoy something so wrong for the sake of my family.

Thank you for your time and your advice.
Bassgirl.

Most importantly, do not do anything you are doubtful about, because that will be sin for you.  Your evangelical parents should understand this, especially if you have them read Romans 14.  I suggest that you tell them that you have become aware of the meaning of some Christmas and Easter customs and feel that it is wrong to participate in them.  Hopefully, they will take the attitude commanded in Romans 14 toward the weak brother, even if they think you are wrong in your ideas.  I Corinthians 8 and 10 are also appropriate to this situation.

Hi! I am glad to help on this matter. I was in the same situation not too long ago. My mother has hung up on me many times. My family and husbands family think I am "going overboard" but I don't care. We have to be light to the world. If God is calling you (which it sounds as if he is)...then you should definately hear him and obey him! Pray much and seek his advise as to how to handle certain issues. Go to him for all answers. We are hear to support you and uplift you and can give advise but you should seek him as he knows best of you and your families situations. All I can tell you is many people become alone and isolated when they follow God and his true ways because it is truly not of this world. I have learned this recently. It's easy to cave in to the world and hard to give it up..so you have to stay close to God. However, you can be a light to your family...you can show them the truth and how Jesus fulfilled the spring feasts of the Lord and how he will fulfill the fall feasts when he comes back! This is very eye opening and great for people who will listen and who truly wish to obey and know God.
As for my advice if it were me I would type a letter explaining what I don't believe and why I believe the way I do. I am better explaining myself on paper and it gives them less time to interrupt you, make you uncomfortable,and have you forgetting what you wanted to make certain to say. You will have the time you need to organize your thoughts, pray to God about what to include in it/not include, etc. and you can give scriptures to back you up! I hope this helps and please know God will bless you if  you continue seeking him and obeying him and thirsting after righteousness!

I would Bake the Happy Birthday Yeshua cake now, since His birthday is closer to this season.  That gives you time to explain to them why they are eating their cake early...

I really like the presents![just kidding]. Somewhere it says to observe the customs of the land. I believe whatever day we celebrate the birth of Christ [though December 25th. is not the date], as his birth was hidden from the sensus else he would have been killed[Jeremiah 31:15] Christmas was reformed from a pagan holiday to a day of worship. Didn't Jesus bring New from old, and incorruption from corruption. I choose personally to celebrate it!

God told his people not to learn the way the heathen and say we will worship like them unto him. He called it an abomination. I don't do it anymre because I know it's origins and sacrifice that part of my life to him because I choose to do his holy days which he mandated for his people to know and understand the things which must cone. He says they are a shadow of things to come. Christmas does tree condemned in Jeremiah 10(I believe that's where it is ) and santa is Satan which 2 letters are switched and is same as mithra the sun god...same hat and all and same birthday. Where does light have with darkness and why do something God tells us not to do...I personally believe it's a personal pleasure that someone has to be willing to give up for him.

I also recently found out that birthdays are in itself pagan in nature. I believe this is why Jesus birthday is not know for certain. There are only 2 mentions of birthday party in Bible (one in old and one in new testament) both times celebrated by Pagnol and both times someone was beheaded! Royalty used to be only ones who celebrated but it grew to public. It's based on belief of person being subseptable to demons and people would come together to "protect" that person bring gifts good cheer etc to uplift the person. Cakes and wishes all for demons...wishes going to demons. I don't do this either now...which was hard change with 3 children but I have to teach them right because who else will? So not only is it not right day and pagan in nature but it's even worse than that !

i have christmas with my kids and grandkids and family and friends but have made it clear to them i despise the lies of santa because 1. all liars go to hell and i don't want to participate. 2 it takes away the attention of people ( especialy my little ones ) from the truth of Jesus. 3. it teaches young ones that lying is fun , profitable and completely  accepted by most folks (some of whom might ) try to teach them later it's important to tell the truth, completely confusing things and making them wonder if what they was told about Jesus was the truth or another santa story and making it harder for them to honour their mother and father  who were so clever at establishing the lie in their little hearts.same with easter.i tell them early on ,bunny's don't lay eggs and explain that most of the world loves a lie more than the truth but say we will play hide and seek with the eggs just for the fun of it .it can be used for a teachable opportunity. on passover i put the words of jesus ,in blood red,over my doors to my house and tell them about how god save his chosen people from pharoaoh .every year i change the words. and about easter how Jesus was killed on the cross and rose from the dead 3 days later during passover not easter.

Bassgirl, you do as the spirit leads you, follow that spirit , and He will lead you to truth. It doesn't matter either way, other than your family needs to accept you for you! and if they are Christians ; they will honor your feelings. I have discussed this with others for ever, and some become so wrapped in bondage it 's a wonder they can walk from all the bindings, be free in Jesus , and live. Let His heart lead you. His yolk is light, and burden easy. Maybe you could think of it as a time for family to be together to celebrate Jesus. Where two or more are gathered in his name ; There He is in the midst of us, like now ! Peace in Jesus , Robert

Thank you for your time and your advice.
Bassgirl.
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just tell them the truth. for me i celebrate Christmas ans have no problem with it.

I had heard arugments against christmas saying it pagan because of this and that but as re-serach claims I found anti-christmas  arguments many to be without water, but that just me.

I do not hold to the belief that Christmas copy off the sun god nor is gift giving pagan it self, nor the christmas tree If you want me to explain why i can always Pm you, if so just say sugarman plz pm me in this thread telling why you believe that. ok?