Moedim

Yah’s calendar is central to walking in alignment with His will, particularly through the observance of His appointed Feast Days and the Shabbat. Avoiding pagan holidays is crucial for maintaining holiness and purity in worship, as these holidays often have roots in idolatrous practices. Here’s how Scripture supports this approach:

Call to Holiness

YAH commands His people to be set apart, distinct from the practices of the surrounding nations. This call to holiness includes avoiding pagan customs and focusing on His appointed times.

• Leviticus 19:2: “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘Be set-apart, for I Yahuah your Elohim am set-apart.’”
  This verse emphasizes that YAH’s people are to live in a way that reflects His holiness, which involves separating from unholy practices.

• Deuteronomy 12:29-31: “When Yahuah your Elohim does cut off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones? And let me do so too.’ Do not do so to Yahuah your Elohim, for every abomination which Yahuah hates they have done to their mighty ones, for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their mighty ones.”
  YAH warns His people not to adopt the practices of other nations, especially those associated with idolatry and false worship.

Focusing on Yah’s Appointed Times

Yah’s appointed times, such as the Shabbat and the Feast Days, are clearly outlined in Scripture. These days are meant to be observed as sacred, set-apart times for worship and reflection.

• Leviticus 23:2: “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘The appointed times of Yahuah, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My appointed times, are these:’”
  This verse introduces the concept of Yah’s appointed times, which are to be observed faithfully by His people.

• Exodus 31:13: “And you, speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘My Sabbaths you are to guard, by all means, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, Yahuah, am setting you apart.’”
  The Sabbath is highlighted as a perpetual sign of the covenant between YAH and His people, reinforcing its importance.

Avoiding Pagan Holidays

Many holidays celebrated today have origins in ancient pagan practices. Scripture advises against adopting these customs, as they often contradict the worship of YAH.

• Jeremiah 10:2-4: “Thus said Yahuah, ‘Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be alarmed by the signs of the heavens, for the nations are alarmed by them. For the prescribed customs of these peoples are worthless, for one cuts a tree from the forest, work for the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it does not topple.’”
  This passage warns against adopting customs that are rooted in paganism, such as those resembling modern Christmas traditions.

• Ephesians 5:11: “And have no fellowship with the fruitless works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
  Believers are instructed to distance themselves from practices that are incompatible with the truth and to expose them for what they are.

List of Pagan Holidays to Avoid

Here are some common holidays with pagan origins that believers should avoid:

• Christmas: Derived from pagan winter solstice celebrations such as Saturnalia and Yule, which involved the worship of false gods and the sun.

• Easter: Rooted in the worship of the fertility goddess Ishtar (Astarte), Easter traditions like eggs and rabbits have no connection to Yahusha's resurrection.

• Halloween: Originated from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which involved rituals for the dead and is associated with occult practices.

• Valentine's Day: Linked to the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which involved fertility rites and the worship of gods like Faunus and Juno.

• New Year's Day: Tied to the Roman god Janus, this holiday has origins in pagan rituals for new beginnings and cycles.

• May Day: Associated with the pagan celebration of Beltane, which involved fertility rituals and the worship of nature spirits.

• Thanksgiving: While not as overtly pagan, Thanksgiving's origins can be traced to harvest festivals that were dedicated to various gods and goddesses in different cultures.

Embracing Yah’s Feasts

YAH’s Feast Days are significant times that He has ordained for His people to observe. These days not only commemorate His mighty works but also point to the fulfillment of His redemptive plan through Yahusha. Scripture indicates that these Feasts will continue to be observed in the future by all nations.

• Leviticus 23:4: “These are the appointed times of Yahuah, set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times.”
  This verse reiterates the importance of keeping Yah’s Feast Days as sacred gatherings.

• Zechariah 14:16-19: “And it shall be that all who are left from all the nations which came up against Yerushalayim shall go up from year to year to bow themselves to the Sovereign, Yahuah of hosts, and to observe the Festival of Booths. And it shall be that if any one of the clans of the earth does not come up to Yerushalayim to bow himself to the Sovereign, Yahuah of hosts, on them there is to be no rain. And if the clan of Mitsrayim does not come up and enter in, then there is no rain. On them is the plague with which Yahuah plagues the nations who do not come up to observe the Festival of Booths. This is the punishment of Mitsrayim and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to observe the Festival of Booths.”
  This prophecy highlights the future observance of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) by all nations, demonstrating its ongoing significance.

• Isaiah 66:23: “‘And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ declares Yahuah.”
  This verse points to the future time when all people will observe Yahuah’s Sabbaths and appointed times.

• Ezekiel 45:21: “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you have the Pĕsaḥ, a festival of seven days, unleavened bread is eaten.”
  This indicates the continued observance of Passover and Unleavened Bread in the millennial reign.

• Ezekiel 46:1-3: “Thus said the Master Yahuah, ‘The gate of the inner courtyard facing east is shut the six days of work, but on the Sabbath it is opened, and on the day of the New Moon it is opened. And the prince shall enter by way of the porch of that gate from the outside, and shall stand by the post of the gate. And the priests shall prepare his ascending offering and his peace offerings, and he shall bow himself at the threshold of the gate and shall go out, but the gate is not shut until evening. And the people of the land shall also bow themselves at the entrance to this gate before Yahuah, on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons.’”
  This passage further underscores the future observance of the Sabbaths and New Moons during Yahuah’s kingdom.

Separation and Purity in Worship

Scripture calls for a clear separation from idolatrous practices and a commitment to worshiping YAH in spirit and truth. As Natsarim (guardians of the truth), this separation is crucial to maintaining the purity of worship and following the path set by Yahusha.

• 2 Corinthians 6:14-17: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness? And what agreement has Messiah with Beliya’al? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? And what union has the Dwelling Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said, ‘I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says Yahuah, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you.’”
  This passage calls for a life of separation from unholy practices and influences, reinforcing the need to avoid pagan holidays.

• Revelation 18:4: “And I heard another voice from the heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’”
  This verse calls believers to separate themselves from practices and systems that are contrary to YAH’s commands, including the observance of pagan traditions.

Practical Steps to Avoid Pagan Holidays

To live in accordance with YAH’s will, believers must consciously choose to avoid pagan holidays and instead focus on the times that YAH has appointed.

• Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.”
  This verse encourages believers to renew their minds and resist conforming to worldly practices, including those rooted in paganism.

By grounding your life in these scriptural principles, you honor YAH by observing His appointed times and avoiding the influence of pagan holidays. This approach not only strengthens your faith but also aligns your worship with YAH’s will, as revealed in His Word. The future observance of YAH’s Feast Days by all nations is a powerful testament to their eternal significance in His divine plan.