Hollow Weenies

Galatians 4:9-11 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (10) Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (11) I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain. (KJV)

Remember back a couple of months ago when mankind went out and dressed up in all kinds of costumes, most of which resembled dead people and other abominations, going door to door trick or treating? Then we have some professing Christians who get up on their soapbox and condemn this holiday claiming it has nothing to do with God. So how come if you are willing to take a stand with that one, you cave in and celebrate these other manmade holidays that have their origins embedded in pagan worship? Have you taken the time to ever look at the origins of say Christmas and what the word of God says concerning this? Or are you like so many that blindly take it for granted, that just because many others do it then it has to be ok and accepted by God.

Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (KJV)

Where do these traditions originate from and what is the foundation of them? Are they founded on Biblical principles, or maybe these things are propagated by mankind and his desire to make gain by putting people in bondage to a retailer’s celebration which has nothing to do with the Lord. In fact many claim they are celebrating the birth of Jesus, which by the way did not happen on December 25th, another red flag for those that claim to be of God. In fact, if you go back to the origins of these holidays you will find most originated from pagan worship, then it was adopted by the so called church to appease the people. Last time I looked it said the truth would set me free, so would God tell us a lie to promote His truth?

Deuteronomy 12:29-30 When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; (30) Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. (KJV)

Where’s the discernment anymore, and what do we base our lives on? I thought we were supposed to be different from the world; to be separate and base our lives on what the word of God says and not on what man tries to dictate. I thought we were to be imitators of Christ, and not those of the world. And yet having said all this, looking around, all I see is a bunch of false pagan worship based on pleasing man and not God.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)

Conformed; means to fashion after the same pattern. Jesus Christ gave us a perfect example of how to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of the flesh. Yet with the example and writings left to the Church, why are so many patterning their lives after man? Are we oblivious, or do we just choose to ignore the teachings and warnings in His word, thinking that a little fun can’t hurt anything? How true the verse about a little leaven leavens the whole lump! Just look around and see how many have sold out to the world and its way of thinking.

Luke 16:13-15 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (14) And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. (15) And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (KJV)

Here is another red flag; when you see everyone else doing it that should be your first clue that it has nothing to do with the Lord. Are you going to tell me that these traditions and manmade holidays are there for any other reason except to make money, especially this one that takes place in December? No man can serve two masters because in the end you end up selling out totally, either to the Lord or the world. And if we are not faithful in the smaller matters we will not advance and grow into bigger things in the realm of the Lord. In fact eventually, if you are not willing to take a stand, you compromise your belief in God, which will end up in a continual backward process rather than moving forward.

1 John 2:14-17 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (KJV)

How did the young men become strong and able to overcome the wicked one, the prince of the power of the air, the voice of popular opinion and doctrines of man? By not loving the world and the things that are manmade, things that appeal to the lower nature, but are of no profit to the new nature within. They were able to tell the difference between what is of God and what is of man. The world and all its vain empty pursuits are someday going to pass away. The question is, will you pass away with it or will you be a doer and not just a hearer of the word of God?

2 Corinthians 5:16-17 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)

Are old things passing away or are you passing away in the ways of the world which contradict the things of God? Though we have known Christ in the past after the flesh and have allowed our thinking to be limited by our carnal fleshly minds, we should know Him no more in that way; rather all things including our thoughts and deeds should be a new way of life and not an old traditional one.

So before all you hollow weenies get back on your soap box and preach your gospel, you had better make sure you have your own closet clean and not full of a bunch of skeletal remains of manmade traditions and doctrines of the world.

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.