Quote:
Originally Posted by TRFrance
OK Brother B. I can see where you're coming from on that. But lets take that scenario a step further...
Imagine that, its a thousand years later, and believers in that area have been going to the city square to worship Jesus at 1 am, ... and most of them don't even know the origin of that particular practice (that pagans used to do the same thing), but the Christians do it as unto the Lord....
Then, even if people start coming around and telling the Christians that the 1 am worship practice was copied from pagans, Rom. 14:5-6 still applies here... Because they are worshiping Jesus, not pagans!!
As long as they are doing it unto the Lord, I believe it still honors God and is acceptable with God... But if some of the believers felt uncomfortable with the practice (because pagans were the first one's worshiping every 1 am in the city square) then out of personal conviction, if they decide to not do it any more, thats fine too. But they shouldn't judge the other believers and call them pagan worshipers if they are using the occasion to honor the true God of heaven.
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.
Seems like there's a very basic concept here. Not very difficult at all. |
Basic concept? Roman Catholic Church is based on such a concept.
Prayer beads thousands of years old and yet every devout Roman Catholic uses their prayer beads as unto the Lord.
Some Nuns are sincere and very devout and they keep their traditions as unto the Lord.
Lighting of candles, prayers for the dead, and robed clergy.
All pagan traditions that are thousands of years old and were converted to be done unto the Lord.
Does it make it Biblically correct? No, and that is what the thread title is saying and it's pretty easy to understand.
Xmas was hijacked paganism painted up to look like it belonged.
Romans 14 is speaking of not doing pagan traditions to cause your ex-pagan Brother to stumble. You see he gave up fornication with temple prostitutes, and eating things offered to idols, he is the new convert, and now he is watching you indulging in the name of Lord.
He loses his respect for you and your religion, keep in mind that the pagan was told that you had the TRUTH.
All he sees is that your so called truth is, is partial truth cloaked in his old pagan traditions.
We are living in a Internet anti-Christian world in where people have all kinds of information at their fingertips, and we need to presents good solid arguments to those who want answers and not just chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
In Jesus name
Brother Benincasa
www.OnTimeJournal.com