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Leaving Pagan Traditions Behind
Angel Rivas (Joined the INC in 2016): The other question is, why we couldn’t celebrate Christmas, why we couldn’t celebrate Easter. That was also hard because even though I didn’t know the history, for me, Christmas was a day of family being together or people just getting together.
Voiceover: The idea of walking away from traditions like putting up Christmas trees or joining Easter egg hunts might feel challenging right now. Because why? What harm could it have to celebrate these things? Aren’t they Christian? Aren’t they in the Bible?
Angel Rivas: For me, Easter is just hunting eggs. something that I can take my daughter [to].
Voiceover: But once you open the door to what the Bible says and gain a deeper understanding, you might find yourself rethinking what you’ve believed all your life.
Dan Dygart (Joined the INC in 1980): They started talking about all the holidays, all the pagan rituals. We talked about the Christmas tree and basically worshiping the sun god. What I’ve learned all these years isn’t true. Oh, the Christmas tree is for, you know, celebrating Jesus. No, it’s not.
Voiceover: And while that realization might be hard at first. Once that door is open, it becomes impossible to go back. But it all starts with opening that door.
Angel Rivas: But when I learned the back history of pagan celebrations, it also changed my way of thinking. I don’t want my kids to learn something wrong.
Linda Beug (Joined the INC in 2013): When I knew the truth of the teachings, that we must not celebrate these holidays, I felt like it was my fault somehow for not living that way. And when I knew the truth, I changed what I was saying and never celebrated those holidays.
Voiceover: Change can feel overwhelming, especially when it means letting go of traditions we’ve held dear our entire lives.
But that fear of change. It’s completely normal. Because what’s even scarier is spending your life doing something God may not be happy with. So if you’ve ever wondered what the Bible says about traditions like these, join us for a Bible study.
Belle Canlas ( Joined the INC in 2002): The answers of the questions are coming from the Bible. They’re not adding or they’re not deducting from the Bible so that was kind of eye opening.
Orlando Manuel (Joined the INC in 1987): Everything they said is based on the Bible. Every question that we ask is answered by the Bible.
Dan Dygart: When I first attended the worship service in the Church Of Christ, they read out of the Bible. The Church Of Christ went in depth in explaining what they were talking about in the verses. I didn’t have to sit and guess what was being said.
Voiceover: Set up a time to speak to a minister in the Church Of Christ. All it takes is a few minutes to fill out a form. You can even include your questions about Christmas, Easter, or any holiday you’re not sure about.
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Set up a time to speak with a minister of the gospel
Voiceover: But let’s make today the day you get your answers.
