VAIN TRADITIONS

CHRISTMAS (CHRIST-MASS) & EASTER (ISHTAR)
“See to it that no one makes a prey of you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary matters of the world, and not according to Messiah.” (Colossians 2:8)

“CHRISTIAN” HOLIDAYS?
Warning signs – Why would “the world” want to celebrate anything to do with Yahushua? Yahushua Himself said that the world would hate Him: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) The world hates Him because He exposes the evil hearts of man. “It is impossible for the world to hate you, but it hates Me because I bear witness of it, that its works are wicked.” (John 7:7)

CHRISTMAS STUFF
Santa Claus – It should be quite obvious to everyone that a rotund, bearded man in a red suit, who is omniscient (knows who’s been bad or good), omnipresent (visits every home in the world simultaneously on christ-mass eve) and is eternal (never grows older) has absolutely nothing to do with the birth of The Messiah, yet it is surprising how many Christians feed their children the lie! “Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city. But outside are the dogs and those who enchant with drugs, and those who whore, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and all who love and do falsehood.” (Revelation 22: 14-15.)

Think how shattering this is to the belief of a child when they learn the truth, and then question if their parents are also lying about the existence of their Creator!

AN EVERGREEN TREE – Why do we adorn a tree with gold and silver balls and put presents under it when Scripture says not to do this? “Thus said YHWH “Do not learn the way of the gentiles, and do not be awed by the signs of the heavens, for the gentiles are awed 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..” (Jeremiah 10:2-4) 
Pagan religions worship the trees and in this case, the Egyptians erected a tree as a phallic symbol of the sun god – Ra, and offer their sacrifices and gifts to him under the tree. “…their idols all around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, wherever they offered sweet incense to all their idols.” (Ezekiel 6:13) 
THE STAR – The symbol of a five pointed star has always been the representation of the sun god (the sun is a star) and many people put a star atop their tree believing it to be the star that led the wise men to baby Yahushua. Ignorance of the Scriptures!!! The astronomers (Scripture doesn’t mention a number) didn’t arrive till approximately two years after His birth! “See to it that no one makes a prey of you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary matters of the world, and not according to Messiah.” (Colossians 2:8)

WHY DECEMBER 25TH?
Nowhere in Scripture do we find and reference to the date of Yahushua’s birth. The one thing Scripture mentions is shepherd watching flocks of sheep at night (Luke 2:8), something that is not done during the cold winters in Israel. It was more likely autumn.

Most in the western world do not realize that December 25th is the birth date of Tammuz, the Babylonian sun god, nor that it is the birthday of the Egyptian sun god Ra. In 168 BC Antiochus Epiphanes occupied Jerusalem and erected a statue of Zeus in the temple claiming Zeus was god on Zeus’ birthday… December 25th. When Rome conquered Persia, the Romans adopted the worship of Mithra, the Persian version of the Babylonian Tammuz using the same symbol, the Babylonian “Tau” or cross, and when they conquered Jerusalem they hung Jewish patriots on the cross of Mithra as sacrifices to the Roman sun god who was born on… you guessed it… December 25th! (Read about Tammuz being an abomination in Ezekiel chapter 8).
After Constantine’s “conversion” (what Believer would mint a coin with his face and the image of a false god on the reverse?) he absorbed the pagan holidays and worship into the Roman Catholic religion.
“…and went after worthlessness, and became worthless, and after the gentiles who were all around them, of whom Yahweh had commanded them not to do like them.” (2 Kings 17:15b) 

THE CATHOLIC LINK
The Catholic institution practices a blasphemy known as “The Mass” where the sacrifice that Yahushua made is supposedly repeated: “When the Church celebrates the Eucharist, she commemorates Christ’s Passover, and it is made present. As often as the sacrifice of the Cross by which Christ our Pasch has been sacrificed is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried out.” (Catholic Catechism, Pg. 343, #1364)
This is blatant blasphemy!!! The Scriptures state: “But He (Yahushua), having offered one slaughter offering for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of Elohim.” (Hebrews 10:12)
This is where the name “christ-mass” comes from, and therefore the name of the “holyday” itself is blasphemous!

WHY DO YOU CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?
A large number of  Christians continue to honour this celebration even though they know some or all of the truth about this celebraion. They respond that they, “do it to honour God” or that they make it a festival for Him…
This is actually a familiar story and in doing so we make ourselves as big a bunch of sinners as those Israelites that rebelled in the wilderness:
“And all the people took off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aharon. And he took this from their hand, and he formed it with an engraving tool, and made a moulded calf. And they said, “This is your mighty one, O Yisra’ĕl, that brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim!” And Aharon saw and built an altar before it. And Aharon called out and said, “Tomorrow is a festival to YHWH.”
(Exodus 32:3-5)
Now ask yourself, what did Yahweh think of this “festival for Himself”? Got the answer?.. Good!
Now ask the same question about the Pagan Christ-Mass YOU have attempted to call His festival.
We are not pointing fingers here, just directing you to the truth.
Many people are ignorant of all these facts (as were we 10 years ago) and still attempt to put a bit of “Christ back into Christmas”, but ask yourself what preoccupies your mind and actions in the weeks surrounding this pagan holiday…
Do you plan how your family will worship Yahweh in sprit and truth, or make big plans for a family party (usually involving gluttony and alcohol)? Is your mind focused on Yahushua, His life, ministry and sacrifice or are you consumed by what presents you must buy to keep your friends and children happy? Are you seeking Yahweh how you can be used to preach the Good News at every opportunity or scrutinizing the T.V. guide so you can absorb the trash on hell-o-vision during your holiday break?

EASTER STUFF 
It does not take a genius to realise that “Easter” is the anglocised pronunciation of the goddess “Astarte” or “Ashtoreth”, goddess of sex, love and fertility; consort and sister of “Ba’al”. Also known as “Ishtar” the wife of “Tammuz”. Neither does it take any more grey-cells to realise that this accounts for all the sexual symbology pertaining to this pagan celebration i.e. Bunnies and eggs (all symbols of reproduction).
All these false mighty ones are warned about in Scripture and are abominable in the eyes of Yahweh (See
Jdg 2:13 “So they forsook YHWH and served Baʽal and the Ashtoreths.” 
Also Eze 8:13 And He said to me, “You are to see still greater abominations which they are doing.” 14 And He brought me to the door of the north gate of the House of YHWH, and I saw women sitting there, weeping for Tammuz.”
Easter is supposed to coincide with PASSOVER and the death and resurrection of the Messiah – Yahushua but Christianity got it all mixed up wit paganism merging with the Roman Calendar date of the Spring Equinox as opposed to the scriptural 14th day of the first Hebrew month of Abib and even more ridiculous; celebrate a “Good Friday” with an “Easter Monday”! Yahushua said “For as Yonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the great fish, so shall the Son of Adam be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matt 12:40. Where’s the three days and nights from F-day night to M-day morning? Hmm…
The symbolism goes even deeper in Catholicism when on Easter morning the shadow of the (pagan) obelisk (phallus) in the Vatican pierces the door of St. Peter’s Basilica (fulfilling the pagan origins of the sun impregnating the mother earth) and nine months later… Dec 25th! See the connection?

HALLOWEEN 
Believe it or not, but many Christian churches hold halloween parties! In the “safe” environment of the Church, children dress up as their favourite character whether it be fairies, witches or Harry Potter – all symbols of magic (some Churches actually promote the Harry Potter books).
Halloween has NOTHING to do with ANYTHING in Scripture yet sadly this celebration is weasling it’s way into the accepted Christian traditions.
Ezekiel 11:12
“And you shall know that I am YHWH, for you have not walked in My laws nor executed My right-rulings, but have done according to the rulings of the gentiles which are all around you.”

Food for thought…
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the esteem of Elohim.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
“Do not love the world nor that which is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)
“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.” (Romans 12:2)
“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with Elohim? Whoever therefore intends to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of Elohim.” (James 4:4)

To find out what pleases Yahweh click the link below: