How Should a Christian View April Fools' Day?

Numerous explanations have been given for the origin of April Fools' Day and it's true origin remains uncertain. But after examining numerous ancient pagan celebrations concerning the month of April and the treatment of the 'fool' on April Fools' Day, some have concluded that April Fools' Day does have it's roots in the ancient pagan customs of this world. (See the 22 March Awake! of 1947, p. 28.)

Even though the Bible does not contain any direct command against observing the traditions of April Fools' Day, one can examine certain Biblical principles to know that God does not approve of tricks (even if innocent and physically harmless) that are designed to embarrass or humiliate others.

When it comes to having fun or playing practical jokes at another's expense, it may prove to be beneficial for Christians to remember the principle that Jesus Christ set forth: "Just as you want men to do to you, do the same way to them." (Luke 6:31) The spirit behind April Fools’ Day is exactly opposite to the Christian way of life.

Pranks played on April Fools’ Day (in the name of harmless fun) are usually set in motion through lies, often leading to misunderstanding and confusion thus violating one of God’s Ten Commandments: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Ex. 20:16; Deut. 5:20)

Before playing a practical joke on someone, ask yourself, “How would I like to be the object of the joke?” The Bible counsels that we should never receive pleasure at the expense of someone else’s embarrassment or hurt:

"Just like someone mad that is shooting fiery missiles, arrows and death, so is the man that has tricked his fellow man and has said: `Was I not having fun?'" (Prov. 26:18, 19)

For more, see:

Holidays (Search For Bible Truths)

Easter Origins, Traditions and Customs - Christian or Pagan?

There are many wonderful occasions that true Christians observe and commemorate. However, many holidays today have adopted traditions and customs with pagan origins or associations. True Christians should want to know that God does not approve of certain customs if they originate with false religion or are against Bible teachings. (Matthew 15:6) God makes it clear through His Word the Bible that if a Christan intentionally participates in a holiday or custom, it must have absolutely no known pagan religion associations. (Deut. 5:7-9; Exodus 23:13; 2 Cor. 6:17)

So what about Easter's Origins, Traditions and Customs? Are they Christian or are they Pagan?

From early childhood you may have been told that Easter is a Christian celebration that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, rather than being a Christian celebration, many authoritative works of history clearly show that Easter is pagan, with roots deep in ancient sex worship. (Read some of these Encyclopedia quotes at: Easter - Pagan and Unscriptural - Excerpts from the 4/15/63 and 3/15/68 Watchtowers)

The majority of this page contains quotes and references concerning the pagan origins and associations in connection with: EASTER, COLORED EGGS and the RABBIT; HOT-CROSS-BUNS / "CAKES OF BREAD" and EASTER FIRES.

EASTER-

What do the name "Easter," colored eggs, hot-cross buns, and bunnies have to do with honoring Jesus and Jehovah God?

The very name of this celebration in English ("Easter") is the name of a pagan goddess! Many of the customs originally used in worshiping this ancient European goddess are the same ones used today in celebrating Easter.

"East'er ..., n. [AS. eastre, pl. eastron, from name of old Teutonic goddess of spring, AS. Eastre.]" - Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 1953.

"... Eastre was the goddess of spring in the religion of the ancient Angles and Saxons. Every April a festival was celebrated in her honor. .... The festival [eventually] was celebrated in honor of the resurrection of Christ but was still known as Easter after the old goddess." p. 215, v. 5, Britannica Junior, 1957.

"(the word Easter is derived from the [Anglo-Saxon] name of Eastre, the Spring-goddess….)" – p. 240, An Encyclopedia of Religion, Virgilius Ferm, The Philosophical Library, 1945.

Easter was

"originally the spring festival in honor of the Teutonic goddess of light and spring known in Anglo-Saxon as Eastre. As early as the 8th century the name was transferred by the Anglo-Saxons to the Christian Festival designed to celebrate the resurrection of Christ." - The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible.

"Rooted in ancient veneration for the moon, the date of Easter was long regarded as symbolizing the rebirth of living things that had passed through the death of winter. Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess who presided over the vernal equinox, eventually gave her name to the Christian [?] festival." - How It Started, Garrison, copyright 1972 by Abingdon Press, pp. 49-50.

"Amongst the Anglo-Saxons the month of April was dedicated to Eostre or Ostara, Goddess of Spring; and her great feast has given its name to our Easter. Here again the Church was quite frank about it, and Bede states that the feast in England was simply `the old [pagan] festival observed with the gladness of a new solemnity.'" - Paganism in our Christianity, Weigall, p. 261, Gordon Press, 1974 (Reprint of the edition published by Putnam, New York.)

"ASHERAH and pl. Asherim in Revised Version, instead of "grove" and "groves" of the Authorized Version [KJV]. This was the name of a sensual Canaanitish goddess Astarte, the feminine of the Assyrian Ishtar. Its symbol was the stem of a tree deprived of its boughs, and rudely shaped into an image, and planted in the ground. Such religious symbols ("groves") are frequently alluded to in Scripture (Exodus 34:13; Judges 6:25; 2 Kings 23:6; 1 Kings 16:33, etc.). These images were also sometimes made of silver or of carved stone (2 Kings 21:7; "the graven image of Asherah," R.V.). (See GROVE [1].). – Easton's Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publ.

"ISHTAR, principal Babylonian and Assyrian goddess, equivalent to the Sumerian Innin and the Phoenician Astarte .... intimately concerned with the giving or spilling of life, was goddess both of sexual activities and of war." - p. 440, Vol. 9, Encyclopedia International, Grolier, 1966.

`Easter' is the North European (and American) name of the same pagan goddess also known as Asherah & Astarte (Canaanite) and Ishtar (Babylonian & Assyrian).

So we see that the Bible's commands and dire warnings about Asherah must certainly include her other names: Astarte, Ishtar, and Easter!

 COLORED EGGS / RABBIT

"Long before the Christian festival of Easter was established, persons of many cultures exchanged eggs at the time of the year when nature wakes up from sleep. Wealthy persons used to cover their gift eggs with gilt or even gold leaf; ordinary persons usually colored them red. Today's [Easter] egg hunt, involving a dozen or hundreds or thousands of decorated or candy eggs, is so gay that it conceals the reverence with which many ancients [pagans] regarded this symbol of `life and death.'" - How It Started, p. 51.

"… the symbol of the egg generated not from Christian observances, but from pagan rituals. From earliest times, the egg has been a symbol of fertility and immortality. During the rites of spring, the pagan nations included it as a symbol of celebrating for the new life promised during the season of planting. The Church only took this ancient sign and applied it as a visual lesson to the resurrection of Christ." – p. 232, The Christian Book of Why, J. C. McCollister (Lutheran pastor and university professor), Jonathan David Publishers, 1983.

"Like the egg, the rabbit has been a symbol of fertility, the observance of which was a part of the Anglo-Saxon mythology and the pagan's celebration of spring, In a blend of Christian and pagan traditions, the rabbit was adopted as part of the festival of Jesus' resurrection celebrated during the spring each year." – pp. 233-234, McCollister.

"A great many pagan customs, celebrating the return of spring, gravitated to Easter. The egg is the emblem of the germinating life of early spring.... The rabbit is a pagan symbol and has always been an emblem of fertility." - The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, Vol. V, p. 227.

So when children hunt for Easter eggs (left by the `Easter Bunny'),
"This is not mere child's play, but the vestige of a [pagan] fertility rite." - Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, Vol. 1, p. 335.

The Encyclopædia Britannica, eleventh edition, volume 8, page 828:

"There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament, or in the writings of the apostolic Fathers. The sanctity of special times was an idea absent from the minds of the first Christians. . . . The ecclesiastical historian Socrates (Hist. Eccl. v. 22) states, with perfect truth, that neither the Lord nor his apostles enjoined the keeping of this or any other festival . . . and he attributes the observance of Easter by the church to the perpetuation of an old usage, `just as many other customs have been established.'"

The `old usage' was the practice by pagans of having a festival in honor of their goddess of spring.

HOT-CROSS-BUNS, EASTER BUNS "CAKES OF BREAD", EASTER FIRES:

"Eating special buns at the festival of the pagan goddess Eostre has long been an established custom among the natives of Britain. Early Christian missionaries who tried to stop this practice got nowhere. Eventually.... converts ... were permitted to continue eating buns at the time of the spring festival...." - How It Started, p. 50.

"Like the Greeks, the [pagan] Romans ate bread marked with a cross ... at public sacrifices, such bread being usually purchased at the doors of the temple and then taken in with them - a custom alluded to by St. Paul in 1 Cor. x. 28. The cross-bread was eaten by pagan Saxons in honour of Easter, their goddess of light. .... The custom, in fact, was practically universal, and the early Church adroitly adopted the practice, grafting it on to the Eucharist and so giving us the hot-cross-bun." - The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1959, Vol. 4, p. 381.

The Rev. Alexander Hislop in his The Two Babylons proved that the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre (or Eastre) was none other than the infamous Ishtar of Babylon, the Queen of the Heavens, and those two names (Eastre and Ishtar) were even pronounced the same: `Ee-star.' He informs us that the worship of Bel and Ishtar was introduced into Britain at a very early date by the Druids. From Bel comes the name of the pagan festival Beltane. Hislop tells us that even as late as the 19th century Beltane was celebrated every year in Britain as follows: The people assemble in a circle and light a fire in the center. Each person places a small piece of oat-cake in a hat. They all sit and draw from the hat. Whoever draws the blackened piece of oat-cake (you'd expect it to be a straw or stick or stone, wouldn't you?) has to jump through the fire in the center of the circle, and pay a penalty fee.

"This is," says Hislop, "in fact, a part of the ancient worship of Baal [Bel], and the person on whom the lot fell was [in earlier times] burnt as a sacrifice. Now, the passing through the fire represents that [earlier human sacrifice]...."Hislop continues, "If Baal [Bel] was thus worshipped in Britain, it will not be difficult to believe that his consort [Ishtar also known as Astarte] was also added by our ancestors, and that from ... Ishtar, the religious solemnities of April ... are [now] called by the name of Easter." Hislop further tells us that the entire month of April (including the last day when the evening Beltane Fires were usually kindled) was called "Easter-monath". - p. 104.

Weiser also tells us that such bonfires were originally banned by the church as being a pagan symbolism (Synod of Mainz, 742 A. D.). However, "Saint" Patrick introduced the practice in Ireland "to supplant the Druidic pagan spring fires with a Christian [?] and religious fire symbol of Christ... This tolerated custom became so popular eventually that the popes incorporated it into the liturgy of the Western Church in the latter part of the ninth century." And so it became popular in much of Western Europe. - The Easter Book, Francis Weiser, S. J.

"In spite of the thin cloak of Christianity thrown over these customs [Easter Fires] we can hardly doubt that they are really of pagan origin." - p. 703, The New Golden Bough by Sir James G. Frazer as revised and edited by Dr. Theodor Gaster, A Mentor Book, 1964 printing.

Frazer relates many accounts of Beltane Fires and "May" Fires in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Sweden, and other northern European countries in the relatively recent past. They often have these things in common: Large fires are kindled (usually on hills) in late April or early May. Sacrificial cakes (often of oats - sometimes with eggs) are used - sometimes ceremonially eaten, sometimes used in other rituals. People (most often children) are "sacrificed" in the fires: Some are actually dragged up to the fire and seemingly about to be thrown in before being stopped; some are actually spread on the ground as though to be cut into quarters before being "thrown into" the fire; and, more often, children and young people jump over the fires often passing through the flames. (These purely pagan customs were still very popular in many places of northern Europe even as late as the mid-1800's. For example, Frazer tells us: "On the first of May, 1837 the Baal fires were, as usual on that day, so numerous as to give the [Isle of Man] the appearance of a general conflagration." And, "On the Hemlock Stone, a natural pillar of sandstone standing on Stapleford Hill in Nottinghamshire, a fire used to be solemnly kindled every year [up into the 1800's] on Beltane Eve." - p. 708, #531, The New Golden Bough.)

The "cakes of bread" have become "hot cross buns" at Easter and the Beltane fires have become Easter Fires, but both clearly betray their pagan-inspired origins in which they, together, honored false gods, notably Ishtar (Easter) and Bel (Baal or Molech).

Yes, the "hot cross bun" commemorates a ritual honoring Ishtar (and Eastre), and the Easter Fires commemorate the ritual fires and terrible human sacrifices that were an essential part of worshipping the god Bel (Baal or Molech) Ishtar's consort.

Now notice how this very same double custom was condemned by God.

In Jeremiah 7 Jehovah God tells that he will destroy "his people" of the southern kingdom of Judah (including Jerusalem and the Temple) because of their disobedience. They honor other gods and then come and stand in God's house which bears his sacred name and say, `We are safe' - - safe to do all these detestable things. And how will it end for them?

"I will thrust you from my presence, just as I did all your brothers [the northern 10 tribes of Israel who had been destroyed or taken away as slaves]."

Why?

"Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven [The NIV Study Bible footnote for this verse says: `Queen of Heaven. A Babylonian title for Ishtar']."

And,

"The people of Judah have built the high places of Topheth [NIVSB footnote: `place of child sacrifice'] in the valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire." - Jeremiah 7:9, 10, 13-15, 30, 31, NIVSB.

"The heathen practice of making children `pass through the fire' was occasionally practiced by the Israelites ... and was included in the condemnations of the prophets." And, "The OT often speaks of the fact that Israelites at times of apostasy made their children `go through the fire to Molech' (2 Kings 23:10; cf. Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5). In some passages the reference is clearly to a deity to whom human sacrifice was made...." - pp. 377, 789, New Bible Dictionary, Second edition, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1982.

So how should we react to the "deceptive words" of those who tell us we can make a pagan ritual into something pleasing to God? Were God's chosen people ever able to do that?

"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD [Jehovah]: `Stand at the gate of [Jehovah's] house and there proclaim this message: "Hear the word of [Jehovah], all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship [Jehovah]. [These people really firmly believe they are God's saved people and that they are worshiping him in an acceptable manner.] This is what [Jehovah] Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say "This is the temple of the LORD [so we are automatically saved no matter what]...."'"'" - Jeremiah 7:1-4, 8, NIVSB
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If pagan ceremonies, customs, god names, etc. are really mixed in with ceremonies, customs, etc. that we use to honor God and Christ, they are not merely unacceptable - - - they are detestable to God. We must completely get away from these unclean things and not even "touch" them. "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." - 2 Cor. 6:17

"I am Jehovah thy God...Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Deut. 5:7-9) ASV

"Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard [in a respectful, or even tolerating, manner] on your lips." Exodus 23:13, NIVSB.
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Also see:

EASTER (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

EASTER—FERTILITY WORSHIP IN DISGUISE (lv chap. 13 pp. 144-159; Watchtower Online Library)

What is the origin of Easter and the customs associated with it? (rs p. 176-p. 182; Watchtower Online Library)

Why Don’t Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate Easter? (JW.ORG)

What Does the Bible Say About Easter? (JW.ORG)

Easter or the Memorial—Which Should You Observe? (JW.ORG)

Easter - Who Does It Really Honor? (Jehovah's Witnesses United)

"What is the meaning and origin of Easter? Who is honored by the holiday? What are its symbols? Were early Christians commanded to celebrate Easter? Should true Christians celebrate Easter today? The first four questions, and more, will be answered in this paper...

Easter - Pagan and Unscriptural (Search For Bible Truths; Excerpts from the 4/15/63 and  3/15/68 Watchtowers)

Easter - What do Colored Eggs, Bunnies and Hot-Cross Buns Have to do With Honoring Jesus and God? (Search For Bible Truths) 

Research: Are Celebrating Holidays Acceptable to God? (Search For Bible Truths)

"Easter" -- And "Babylon the Great" (Babylon the Great)

Holidays (Search For Bible Truths)

Links to related subjects

Paganism (Search For Bible Truths)

Links to related subjects

Should We Celebrate Holidays? (bh p. 222-p. 223; Watchtower Online Library)

“There is no indication of the observance of the Easter festival in the New Testament,” states The Encyclopædia Britannica. How did Easter get started?

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The Memorial of Christ’s Death - Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Observe it Annually?

Jehovah's Witnesses observe the Memorial of Christ’s death (also called “the Lord’s Evening Meal” - 1 Corinthians 11:20) because Christians are commanded to.

Jesus said to "Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:24) But how often?

The Memorial of Jesus’ death is truly a memorial, and memorials are usually observed annually. Additionally, when Jesus was on Earth, Jesus celebrated the Passover with his apostles, and then instituted the Lord’s Evening Meal. Because this meal replaced the Jewish Passover it is appropriate to observe it just once a year.

Does Paul's use of the word "often" mean that the Lord’s Evening Meal should be celebrated more often than once a year?

Referring to the institution of the Memorial of Jesus’ death, Paul wrote: “As often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives.” (1 Corinthians 11:25, 26)

So what did Paul mean here? Did he really mean for Christ's death to be commemorated frequently - more often than once a year?

Notice this excerpt from the w03 1/1 p. 31; Questions From Readers; par. 2:

"In the context of 1 Corinthians 11:25, 26, Paul was discussing, not how often, but how the Memorial should be observed. In the original Greek, he did not use the word pol·la′kis, which means “often” or “frequently.” Rather, he used the word ho·sa′kis, which means “as often as,” an idiom meaning “whenever,” “every time that.” Paul was saying: ‘Every time that you do this, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord.’" -
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2003007

Jehovah's Witnesses Memorial Invitation - March 26th 2013 (Video 2:43)

Memorial of Jesus’ Death

You are warmly invited to meet with us to observe the anniversary of Jesus’ death. Find a meeting location near you.

                      
                     
                          *FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU*

“One Man Died for All”

*Who is this man?

*How does his death help us?

*Why is it important that we remember him?

You are invited to consider answers from the Bible on 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Jesus Christ is widely recognized as the greatest man who ever lived. Yet, he surrendered his life for us 1,980 years ago. Concerning his death, the apostle Paul wrote: “One man died for all.” The apostle John observed: “The blood of Jesus . . . cleanses us from all sin.” (2 Corinthians 5:14; 1 John 1:7) Exactly what do those statements mean? Why do we need cleansing? How can the death of one man so long ago be of any benefit to us today?

The anniversary of Jesus’ death falls on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, after sundown. Jehovah’s Witnesses invite you to meet with them on that date to examine what makes Jesus—and his sacrifice—so vitally important.

SOURCE FOR TEXT ONLY: Memorial of Jesus’ Death (JW.ORG)

Why did Jesus have to sacrifice his life? - What is the Ransom?

To understand, it is first beneficial to know why we die. The Bible says: “Through one man [Adam] sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) We inherited sin and death through our first parents, Adam and Eve.

Because God's Law to ancient Israel required "soul for soul [or, life for life]" (Exodus 21:23), the divine principle that could cover mankind's transgressions would have to equal what the first perfect man (Adam) had lost. Therefore, only the death of another perfect man could pay the wages of sin.

That perfect man was "Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all." (1 Tim. 2:5, 6)

Jesus was originally in heaven, "but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men." (Phil. 2:7) God did this when He transferred the life of His Son Jesus to the womb of Mary. By means of God’s holy spirit, Jesus was born as a perfect human and was not under the penalty of sin. - Luke 1:35

By sacrificing, or giving up, his perfect life in flawless obedience to God, Jesus paid the price for Adam’s sin. Jesus thus brought hope to Adam’s offspring. - Romans 5:19; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22

By means of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, we can receive “the forgiveness of our sins.” (Colossians 1:13, 14) We also have the hope of everlasting life on a paradise earth: “The wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23)

For more, see:

Ransom - Links to Information (INDEX; Watchtower Online Library)

The Ransom—God’s Greatest Gift (JW.ORG)

How Jesus’ Death Can Save You (JW.ORG)

Why Was It Necessary for Jesus to Suffer and Die? - “No One Has Love Greater Than This” (Pastor Russell)

Christ Jesus’ Role as Ransomer (Pastor Russell)

The Ransom and YOU (Pastor Russell)

Do Jehovah's Witnesses deny the Ransom? (Pastor Russell)

Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Jehovah's Witnesses only formally celebrate the one event that Jesus commanded his followers. The memorial of his death (1 Cor. 11:23-26). They also celebrate other events which are referred to favorably in the Scriptures such as marriages, anniversaries, the birth of a baby, graduations and many other happy occasions.

But why don't Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Jehovah's Witnesses take their worship very seriously and insist upon keeping their worship of God undefiled (James 1:27) They know that God does not approve of certain customs if they come from false religion or are against Bible teachings. (Matthew 15:6) If a holiday or custom is being deliberately used in worship by a Christian, it must have absolutely no known pagan religion associations or unscriptural teachings. (2 Cor. 6:16, 17; 1 Thess. 1:9)

There are two main reasons why Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate St. Patrick's Day:


1.) The origin and conception of the primary teaching that St. Patrick promoted (the Trinity Doctrine) is "entirely pagan" and unscriptural.

2.) The Bible makes it clear that there is to be no veneration or adoration of Saints as intercessors with God. Our approach to the Father can only be through Jesus. (John 14:6, 14; 1 Tim. 2:5)


Notice what the following source tells us about St. Patrick's Day:

"The doctrine of Three Gods in One, each separate and distinct, yet each totally God, is claimed by Christians to be a mystery and is accepted on faith. In trying to teach his converts about the Trinity, St. Patrick held up a shamrock explaining that the three leaves represented the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, while the stem was the Godhead itself from which they proceeded. This is said to be the origin of the use of the shamrock which is customarily worn on St. Patrick's Day.

"Scholars have discovered that the shamrock, or trefoil, was initially used in ancient Celtic fertility rites. It represented a triad of goddesses..." - pp. 79-80, Celebrations - The Complete Book of American Holidays, Robert J. Myers, Doubleday; Co., 1972.

Not only does Biblical and historical evidence clearly not support the Trinity, but Historian Will Durant said that

"Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. . . . From Egypt came the ideas of a divine trinity."

And Arthur Weigall stated that

"Nowhere in the New Testament does the word `trinity' appear. The idea was only adopted by the Church three hundred years after the death of our Lord; and the origin of the conception is entirely pagan." - The Paganism in our Christianity, pp. 197, 198.

(For more, see Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Believe in the Trinity?)
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Should we venerate "saints" as intercessors with God?

Notice what Peter's response was to a certain situation in the account of Acts 10:25, 26, JB:

"As Peter reached the house Cornelius went out to meet him, knelt at his feet and prostrated himself. But Peter helped him up. `Stand up,' he said `I am only a man after all!'"

Peter did not approve of such adoration when he was personally present. He understood what Jesus clearly stated in John 14:6, 14 that our approach to the Father can be only through Jesus and that our requests are to be made in Jesus' name:

"Jesus said: `I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.'" (JB)

1 Tim. 2:5: "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (NASB)

Note what Martin Luther wrote concerning the reverence of Roman Catholic Saints:

"The pity is that we are so blind that we do not leave the devil alone to play his tricks in his own way; rather, we support him and multiply them. I wish people would leave the saints in peace, and not mislead humble folk. What spirit was it that gave the pope authority to canonize saints? Who tells him whether they are holy or not? .... God is just in judging us with His wrath and in allowing the devil to lead us hither and thither, to institute pilgrimages, ... to set about canonizing saints and other foolish things." - p. 458, Martin Luther, Selections From His Writings, Dr. John Dillenberger, Anchor Books, Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1961.

For more, see:

Holidays and Jehovah's Witnesses - Links to Information (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)

Beware of Customs That Displease God (w05 1/1 pp. 27-30; Watchtower Online Library)

Can a Pagan Holiday Be Made Christian? (w07 12/15 pp. 8-9; Watchtower Online Library)

What Should a Christian Look For When Deciding Whether to Partake or Not Partake in a Holiday or Celebration? (Search For Bible Truths)

Why is it Important Whether a Holiday Has Pagan Religious Associations? (Search For Bible Truths)

Research: Are Celebrating Holidays Acceptable to God? (Search For Bible Truths)

St. Patrick, The Shamrock and The Trinity

The following quote shows how the great symbol of St. Patrick and St. Patrick's Day (the shamrock or clover) was used to explain the Trinity:

"The doctrine of Three Gods in One, each separate and distinct, yet each totally God, is claimed by Christians to be a mystery and is accepted on faith. In trying to teach his converts about the trinity, St. Patrick held up a shamrock explaining that the three leaves represented the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, while the stem was the Godhead itself from which they proceeded. This is said to be the origin of the use of the shamrock which is customarily worn on St. Patrick's Day.

"Scholars have discovered that the shamrock, or trefoil, was initially used in ancient Celtic fertility rites. It represented a triad of goddesses..." - pp. 79-80, Celebrations - The Complete Book of American Holidays, Robert J. Myers, Doubleday; Co., 1972.

Though it is clear that the shamrock was used as a symbol to explain the Trinity and represented a triad of pagan goddesses, this should in no way associate the clover itself as pagan. The history of the Trinity Doctrine certainly shows that the concept of the only true God being comprised of three persons is not a Bible teaching. It is not found in the Bible and developed gradually over several centuries after Christ.

The Trinity Has Pagan Origins

"The trinity was a major preoccupation of Egyptian theologians .... Three gods are combined and treated as a single being, addressed in the singular. In this way the spiritual force of Egyptian religion shows a direct link with Christian theology." - Egyptian Religion. (For much more, see Trinity And Pagan Influence.)

Historian Will Durant said that

"Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. . . . From Egypt came the ideas of a divine trinity."

And Arthur Weigall stated that

"Nowhere in the New Testament does the word `trinity' appear. The idea was only adopted by the Church three hundred years after the death of our Lord; and the origin of the conception is entirely pagan." - The Paganism in our Christianity, pp. 197, 198.

How Does God View Paganism?

True Christians should avoid pagan associations and view them as serious because God views these things very seriously. (Lev. 19:2) God Himself said: "You must not have any other gods against my face. Because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion." (Ex. 20:1-5) NWT

Notice how exclusive the worship of God must be: "Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips." - Exodus 23:13, NIVSB.

Should We Venerate "Saints" as Intercessors With God?

The Bible makes it clear that there is to be no veneration or adoration of Saints as intercessors with God. Our approach to the Father can only be through Jesus. (John 14:6, 14; 1 Tim. 2:5)

Concerning this, notice what Peter's response was to a certain situation in the account of Acts 10:25, 26, JB:

"As Peter reached the house Cornelius went out to meet him, knelt at his feet and prostrated himself. But Peter helped him up. `Stand up,' he said `I am only a man after all!'"

Peter did not approve of such adoration when he was personally present. He understood what Jesus clearly stated in John 14:6, 14 that our approach to the Father can be only through Jesus and that our requests are to be made in Jesus' name:

"Jesus said: `I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.'" (JB)

1 Tim. 2:5: "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (NASB)

Note what Martin Luther wrote concerning the reverence of Roman Catholic Saints:

"The pity is that we are so blind that we do not leave the devil alone to play his tricks in his own way; rather, we support him and multiply them. I wish people would leave the saints in peace, and not mislead humble folk. What spirit was it that gave the pope authority to canonize saints? Who tells him whether they are holy or not? .... God is just in judging us with His wrath and in allowing the devil to lead us hither and thither, to institute pilgrimages, ... to set about canonizing saints and other foolish things." - p. 458, Martin Luther, Selections From His Writings, Dr. John Dillenberger, Anchor Books, Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1961.

Additional Reading:

Should I Pray to Saints? (JW.ORG)

The Bible’s Viewpoint - Is It Appropriate to Pray to “Saints”? (AWAKE! NOVEMBER 2010; JW.ORG)

Saints (Search Results From the Watchtower Online Library)

Jehovah's Witnesses Memorial Invitation - March 26th 2013

Memorial of Jesus’ Death

You are warmly invited to meet with us to observe the anniversary of Jesus’ death. Find a meeting location near you.

*FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU*

“One Man Died for All”

*Who is this man?

*How does his death help us?

*Why is it important that we remember him?

You are invited to consider answers from the Bible on Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Jesus Christ is widely recognized as the greatest man who ever lived. Yet, he surrendered his life for us 1,980 years ago. Concerning his death, the apostle Paul wrote: “One man died for all.” The apostle John observed: “The blood of Jesus . . . cleanses us from all sin.” (2 Corinthians 5:14; 1 John 1:7) Exactly what do those statements mean? Why do we need cleansing? How can the death of one man so long ago be of any benefit to us today?

The anniversary of Jesus’ death falls on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, after sundown. Jehovah’s Witnesses invite you to meet with them on that date to examine what makes Jesus—and his sacrifice—so vitally important.

SOURCE FOR TEXT ONLY: Memorial of Jesus’ Death (JW.ORG)