During this process, Constantine found it no difficult matter to integrate his old ways -- Mithraism, pagan holidays, rituals, and festivals -- into his new state religion. This includes replacing God's Passover with Easter (named after a pagan goddess), replacing God's Sabbath with Constantine's favorite day, the day of the sun, to name just a few. Admittedly, some of these teachings were already infiltrating the body of Messiah by this time; Constantine merely made it official.
On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for grain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.
-Constantine, dies Solis decree, 320CE
Constantine was also fiercely racist; his hatred and contempt for Jews survive in his writings and decrees to this day.
Unfortunately and sadly, Christianity looks to Constantine and his first Nicaean council and resulting Nicaean Creed as a basic doctrine and statement of faith, even to this day.
If more people read some of transcripts from Nicaea, we'd be less accepting of the trademarks of western gentile Christianity -- Easter, Lent, Christmas, Sunday sabbath. Don't take my word for it, below is a Nicaean transcript regarding Passover, and whether to replace that "despicable, ugly Jewish festival" with something more, errmmm, Christian. You know, something on the day of the sun.
Be forewarned: this central Christian doctrine contains racist language directed towards Jews.
When the question relative to the sacred festival of Easter arose, it was universally thought that it would be convenient that all should keep the feast on one day; for what could be more beautiful and more desirable than to see this festival, through which we receive the hope of immortality, celebrated by all with one accord and in the same manner? It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the holiest of festivals, to follow the customs (the calculation) of the Jews who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and whose minds were blinded. In rejecting their custom we may transmit to our descendants the legitimate mode of celebrating Easter; which we have observed from the time of the Saviour’s passion (according to the day of the week).We ought not therefore to have anything in common with the Jew, for the Saviour has shown us another way; our worship following a more legitimate and more convenient course (the order of the days of the week: And consequently in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest brethren to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jew. For it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without their direction we could not keep this feast. How can they be in the right, they who, after the death of the Saviour, have no longer been led by reason but by wild violence, as their delusion may urge them? They do not possess the truth in this Easter question, for in their blindness and repugnance to all improvements they frequently celebrate two Passovers in the same year. We could not imitate those who are openly in error.
How, then, could we follow these Jews who are most certainly blinded by error? For to celebrate a Passover twice in one year, is totally inadmissible.
But even if this were not so it would still be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communication with such wicked people (the Jews). You should consider not only that the number of churches in these provinces make a majority, but also that it is right to demand what our reason approves, and that we should have nothing in common with the Jews.[1]
Thus, for the last 1700 years, Christians think of Passover as something "Jewish", despite all the apostles, Paul, and Messiah himself keeping God's festival of Passover. We instead celebrate Jesus' resurrection on a day named after a pagan fertility goddess, Easter.
It's no wonder most Jews don't believe in Messiah; these early Christians were so anti-Jewish, they would likely die in horror to find Messiah himself was a Jew.
After the council of Nicaea, Christianity steadily diverted from its Hebrew roots and abandoned most everything the early Messiah-followers were accustomed to: Sabbath keeping, celebrating God's festivals, keeping Torah. It truly became a new religion because of these men, as opposed to "The Way" sect of Judaism it started out as.
To this day, most Christians are still convinced such things are "Jewish" and have no place in the life of a Christian. It is my goal to refute such anti-semitic lies, bring clarity, and restore the Hebrew roots of the modern religion of Christianity.
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Now playing: Meha Shamayim - Shabbat's Coming!
via FoxyTunes
footnotes:
1. Gleaned from Dr. Henry R. Percival’s “The Nicean and post Nicean Fathers”. Vol. XIV Grand Rapid: Erdmans pub. 1979,pgs. 54-55
Hi Judah,
ReplyDeleteConstantine founded the Christian religion. He did exactly what Jesus did not come to do. Jesus died and rose again that we might have a living relationship with God the Father.
Pam
Pam,
ReplyDeleteYes, I think you're right. Constantine formally created an organized religion, which I honestly don't think Messiah came to do. Jesus wasn't inventing anything new; after all, the concept of Messiah is older than Israel itself.
It's interesting: the Jewish folks prior to Jesus and during his time were fighting against Israel's Hellenization (that is, the spread of Greek culture, thoughts, ideas, etc.)
This is precisely what you see with the Maccabees, as well as what you read from the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Greek ideas, Greek gods, Greek thought was taking over God's commandments, especially with Israel being under Assyrian, then Greek, then Roman rule.
It looks like in the end, the Greeks won. They not only took Israel's most prized possession -- Messiah -- but they turned him into something totally Greek and patently gentile, when in fact he was the opposite. And even today, it is gentile nations that pressure Israel to follow western, Greek thought, western culture, political systems like democracy, and western bleeding-heart policies that breed more ill for Israel as a nation.
What's sad is that there was no need to do this, no need to cast of Jewish things or make Messiah appear a gentile; Paul says there's no difference between Jew and Gentile to God, given Messiah, we're equals.
Judah,
ReplyDeleteThere is no difference, we are equal in Christ, but we aren't alike. This conflict is in the NT. I am a Gentile beliver and in Chirst, I have been made holy apart from the Law. I think even you would not say that keeping the Law makes you holy. The Law was a gift to your people and through Christ, I have come to love those same Laws. Yet, I'm still a Gentile and I will never be a Jew and I don't expect you to be a gentile, but in Christ you are my brother. Through Christ God will bless ALL the nations of the earth.
I look forward to the Kingdom and I'm quite certain all Pagan holidays will be a thing of the past as well as the religion of Christianity. I am mostly ignorant regarding the Jewish religion so I hope to practice the perfect religion outlined in the NT, that of 'visiting widows and orphans in their afflication and keeping oneself unspotted by the world'. I also believe that I'm to gather with other believers, take part in the Lord's Supper with them, and be baptized as a proclaimation of my faith in Christ as it symbolizes my new birth in Him. Other than that, there really are no religious requirements upon me according to Paul who is my apostle as I am a Gentile. You get all the other apostles, Judah and I don't think you are required to change your religion!lol! In Christ we both become fulfillers of the Law not just keepers. That is the unity that we have in Jesus/Yeshua.:0)
Pam
p.s. Did you know that many people thought the early Christians were atheists because they did not practice a religion or have temples, shrines, priests, etc.?---That's how my fellow Christians treat me when I don't celebrate Christmas...
"Through Christ God will bless ALL the nations of the earth."
ReplyDeleteI agree, and there is logic behind this, not just NT spiritual speak. God told Avraham long ago that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through him because of his faith.
This promise was passed down to Avraham's son Isaac, and then to his son Jacob, who became Israel.
Now with Messiah, Paul says even gentiles with no lineage to Israel or the Jewish people are grafted into the olive tree -- Israel -- by their faith in Messiah.
Thus, Messiah extended the blessings of Israel to all who come to Messiah and love God with all their heart and soul. That's how it happens that Messiah blesses all.
Good stuff, Pam. Thanks as always for your insightful posts.
It is incredible how God has included so many into the household of faith!
ReplyDeletePam
Judah,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting this again. I was also blessed by re-reading our conversation and I am so glad that God brought you into my life. He has placed a deep love for the Jewish people in my heart by first convicting me that I am to pray for peace in Israel. Over the years, as I grew in Grace and knowledge of Him, I came to understand how important it is for God's chosen people to finally be at full peace with Him. It is important to us all. Then He showed me how Christians are a very important piece to His being able to save all of the Jews and I was overwhelmed by the majesty of God's awesome plan of salvation.
Little brother, you have become the face of the people that God has caused me to love. You are blessed and a blessing and your endevor to educate Christians as to the Hebrew roots of our common faith is an important one. I don't think you will every make me a Jew:0)but my life and my faith has been greatly enriched through our friendship.
Pam