Lessons
Fellow Laborers
Saturday Bible Study Class 12-20-2025
The Customs of the Nations
Separating from Pagan Worship & Returning to Covenant Purity
A Sabbath Teaching on Biblical Separation and Covenant Obedience
The Sabbath: A Day of Sacred Alignment
The Purpose of the Sabbath
The Sabbath is far more than a day of rest—it is a divine appointment for alignment with the Most High. It is a time to recalibrate our hearts, renew our minds, and realign our worship according to His covenant standards.
True worship is not measured by emotion or sincerity alone, but by obedience to the commandments of the Almighty. God requires separation from the ways of the nations, not compromise with their customs.
Worship Through Obedience
Our worship is expressed through our obedience to His Word. The Sabbath calls us to examine whether our practices align with Scripture or with the traditions of men.
God does not accept worship that blends His truth with pagan practices. He demands holiness, which means to be set apart for His purposes alone.
The Foundation: Learn Not the Way of the Heathen
"Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."
— Jeremiah 10:2 (KJV)
This divine command establishes the foundation for our entire study. The Almighty explicitly forbids His people from adopting the worship practices, customs, and traditions of the pagan nations. This is not a suggestion—it is a commandment that carries the weight of covenant obedience.
Why This Lesson Matters to Your Walk
Holidays Shape Worship
The celebrations we observe directly influence how we understand and approach God. What we celebrate reveals what we truly value and honor.
Repetition Creates Agreement
Annual observance of traditions trains our hearts to accept and embrace certain beliefs, whether biblical or not. Repetition normalizes practice.
Customs Train Behavior
Cultural traditions shape our actions, thoughts, and spiritual priorities. They create patterns that become deeply embedded in family and community life.
God Judges Worship
The Most High evaluates our worship based on obedience to His Word, not on our personal intentions or feelings. Good intentions cannot sanctify forbidden practices.
The Purpose of This Teaching
01
Expose Pagan Origins
We will examine the historical and spiritual roots of modern holidays to reveal their true foundations in pagan worship systems.
02
Show God's Command
Scripture clearly commands separation from pagan practices. We will explore these divine instructions throughout the Law and the Prophets.
03
Restore Covenant Worship
We seek to return to the worship patterns established by God Himself, according to His appointed times and ordained practices.
04
Call Israel to Obedience
This teaching is a clarion call for the scattered remnant of Israel to return to covenant faithfulness and biblical obedience.
God Commands Absolute Separation
Deuteronomy 12:29–32
"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; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them... and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God..."
Leviticus 18:3
"After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances."
Ezekiel 20:18–19
"But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them."
Understanding God's Warning
The Core Principle
God explicitly forbids His people from learning, adopting, or adapting the worship methods of pagan nations—even if we claim to use those methods to honor Him. The method matters as much as the object of worship.
This is not about cultural preference or personal liberty. This is about covenant obedience and the holiness that God requires from His people. We cannot worship the true God using the tools and traditions designed for false gods.
The question is not whether our hearts are sincere, but whether our practices are sanctioned by Scripture.
What Are "Customs" According to Scripture?
Traditions Passed Down Through Generations
Customs are practices handed down from ancestors, often without questioning their origins or spiritual implications. They become normalized through repetition across generations.
Rituals Originally Tied to False Gods
Many customs originated as acts of worship to pagan deities. Though their original meanings may be forgotten, their spiritual roots remain unchanged.
Cultural Behaviors That Become Normalized
Through widespread acceptance and practice, these traditions become so ingrained in culture that questioning them seems radical or extreme.
Colossians 2:8 — "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
How Customs Shape Our Worship
What We Repeat Becomes Normal
Annual observance of traditions creates familiarity. The more often we participate in a practice, the more natural and acceptable it feels to us.
What Is Normal Becomes Acceptable
Once a practice feels normal, we begin to accept it without critical examination. We assume that widespread practice equals divine approval.
What Is Acceptable Becomes Worship
Eventually, these accepted practices become expressions of our worship—whether God has sanctioned them or not. This is how syncretism takes root in the hearts of God's people.
This progression explains how entire communities can drift from biblical worship into practices that God explicitly condemns, all while believing they are honoring Him.
Introduction to Saturnalia
The Ancient Roman Festival
Saturnalia was one of the most popular festivals in ancient Rome, celebrated annually in honor of the god Saturn. This multi-day festival occurred in late December, marking the winter solstice and the renewal of the sun's power.
The festival was characterized by social disorder, moral license, and the temporary suspension of normal societal rules. It was a time of chaos, excess, and indulgence in honor of a pagan deity.
A Festival Honoring Saturn
Saturn was the Roman god of agriculture, wealth, and time—equivalent to the Greek god Kronos. During Saturnalia, sacrifices were made, temples were opened, and the entire city engaged in revelry.
Understanding Saturnalia is crucial because many of its practices were later absorbed into celebrations that claim to honor the Messiah.
The Practices of Saturnalia
Feasting and Excess
Saturnalia featured elaborate banquets with excessive consumption of food and drink. Gluttony was not only permitted but celebrated as part of the festival's spirit of abundance and indulgence.
Gift Giving
Romans exchanged gifts during Saturnalia, particularly small figurines called sigillaria, candles, and other tokens. This practice was central to the festival's celebration of generosity and social bonds.
Drunkenness
Wine flowed freely during Saturnalia, with public intoxication not only tolerated but expected. The festival was marked by a complete abandonment of sobriety and self-control.
Sexual License
Moral boundaries were deliberately removed during Saturnalia. Sexual immorality was openly practiced as part of the festival's celebration of liberation from social and moral constraints.
Saturnalia and the Inversion of Order
Role Reversal in the Festival
One of the most distinctive features of Saturnalia was the temporary reversal of social roles. Masters would serve their slaves at banquets, and slaves were permitted to speak freely without fear of punishment—behaviors that would be unthinkable during the rest of the year.
Social Order Suspended
Normal rules of conduct, hierarchy, and propriety were deliberately suspended. Courts were closed, schools dismissed, and work ceased. The entire society embraced chaos as a form of worship to Saturn.
Moral Boundaries Removed
The festival celebrated the breaking of moral and social boundaries. What was forbidden became acceptable; what was shameful became celebrated. This inversion was seen as a return to the mythical "Golden Age" when Saturn ruled and all were equal.
Rome's Strategy: Absorption Not Abolition
The Imperial Compromise
When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, pagan practices were not removed—they were renamed and reinterpreted. The empire prioritized political unity and social stability over theological purity.
Rather than calling the masses to separate from their familiar traditions, Roman church leadership chose to "baptize" pagan festivals by giving them Christian names and meanings.
This strategy allowed for mass conversion without requiring genuine repentance from pagan worship. The result was a form of Christianity mixed with the very customs God had commanded His people to avoid.
December 25: Examining the Date
No Biblical Support
Scripture provides no date for the birth of the Messiah. The biblical account includes details that make a December birth highly unlikely, such as shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night—a practice not done in winter.
Chosen for Pagan Alignment
December 25 was deliberately selected because it aligned with existing pagan celebrations. This date already held religious significance in Roman culture, making the transition easier for pagan converts.
Connected to Sun Worship
December 25 was celebrated as the birthday of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun) and coincided with the winter solstice celebrations across pagan cultures. This date honored the sun god, not the Son of God.
God Explicitly Forbids Sun Worship
"And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven."
— Deuteronomy 4:19 (KJV)
The worship of the sun, moon, and stars was among the most common forms of idolatry in the ancient world. God specifically warned Israel against this practice, yet December 25 was deliberately chosen because of its connection to solar worship. We cannot honor God by adopting dates and practices designed to honor the sun.
The Christmas Tree Introduced to Worship
Evergreen Trees in Pagan Worship
Long before the modern Christmas tree, evergreen trees held sacred significance in pagan religions. Because they remained green throughout winter, they were seen as symbols of eternal life, fertility, and the continuation of nature's power even in the darkest season.
Ancient peoples brought evergreen branches into their homes during winter solstice celebrations, believing these plants possessed magical properties that could ward off evil spirits and ensure the return of spring.
Symbols of Fertility and Rebirth
Evergreen trees were particularly associated with fertility gods and goddesses. The tree's ability to remain "alive" during winter made it a powerful symbol in pagan fertility rites and seasonal celebrations.
These trees were decorated, honored, and incorporated into worship practices dedicated to various deities across different pagan cultures.
The Tree Described in Scripture
Jeremiah 10:3–4 (KJV)
"For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."
A tree is cut from the forest
The process begins in the forest, where a living tree is selected and cut down specifically for this purpose.
Worked by the hands of craftsmen
Human hands shape and prepare the tree, making it suitable for display and decoration.
Decorated with silver and gold
The tree is adorned with precious metals and ornaments, making it visually impressive and attractive.
Fastened upright so it will not move
The tree is secured in an upright position, stabilized so it stands prominently in place.
This Is Not Metaphor—This Is Description
A Literal Description
Some argue that Jeremiah 10 is purely poetic language describing idol-making in general. However, the prophet provides specific, detailed steps that precisely describe the preparation of a sacred tree for worship.
Jeremiah is describing an actual practice that was common among the nations surrounding Israel. This was not abstract poetry—it was a contemporary worship practice that God condemned.
The fact that this description perfectly matches modern practices should give us serious pause. We cannot dismiss this passage simply because it exposes traditions we have grown comfortable with.
Who Is Tammuz?
Babylonian Fertility God
Tammuz was a central figure in Babylonian religion, worshipped as a god of fertility, agriculture, and the changing seasons. He was believed to die each year and be resurrected, symbolizing the cycle of vegetation.
Worshipped Through Seasonal Ritual
The worship of Tammuz involved elaborate seasonal rituals, including mourning ceremonies for his "death" and celebrations of his "resurrection." These rituals were tied to agricultural cycles and fertility rites.
Connected to Sacred Trees
Evergreen trees played a significant role in Tammuz worship. The evergreen's ability to remain alive through winter made it a symbol of Tammuz's promised resurrection and the hope of renewed fertility.
Tammuz Worship in the Holy Temple
Ezekiel 8:14 (KJV)
"Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz."
In this devastating vision, the prophet Ezekiel is shown the abominations taking place within the very temple of the Most High God. Women were sitting at the northern gate of the Lord's house, openly mourning for Tammuz—a pagan fertility god.
God's response to this practice is unequivocal: He calls it an abomination. This was not cultural appreciation or innocent tradition. This was the infiltration of pagan worship into the sacred space dedicated to the worship of the one true God.
If God condemned Tammuz worship in His temple then, how can we justify practices connected to Tammuz worship in our homes and congregations today?
Understanding Syncretism
Syncretism Defined
Syncretism is the blending or merging of different religious beliefs and practices. It occurs when elements of pagan worship are combined with the worship of the true God, creating a hybrid form of religion that God does not accept.
Syncretism is not innocent cultural adaptation—it is spiritual adultery. It takes what God has declared holy and mixes it with what He has declared abominable.
Throughout Scripture, God consistently condemns syncretism. He demands pure worship, untainted by the customs and practices of pagan nations. When Israel mixed the worship of God with the worship of Baal, the prophets called it whoredom and adultery against the covenant.
Syncretism in Practice: How It Works
Pagan Dates Renamed
Existing pagan festivals are given new "Christian" names and claimed for biblical purposes, but the dates and their original significance remain unchanged.
Pagan Symbols Reinterpreted
Sacred objects and symbols from pagan worship are given new "Christian" meanings, but their origins in idolatry are not removed—only rebranded.
Pagan Rituals Normalized
Worship practices designed for false gods are incorporated into services claiming to honor the true God, with assurances that "the meaning is different now."
This three-step process is how syncretism takes root. Each step seems small and reasonable, but the cumulative effect is worship that God has explicitly forbidden. We cannot sanctify what God has condemned simply by changing the name we attach to it.
New Year's Day: Roman God Worship
Named After Janus
January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, endings, transitions, and doorways. Janus was invoked at the start of any new venture, harvest, or significant change.
The first day of January was a festival day dedicated to Janus, involving sacrifices, feasting, and the exchange of gifts for good fortune in the coming year.
The Two-Faced God
Janus is depicted with two faces—one looking to the past and one looking to the future. This symbolism made him the perfect deity for marking the transition from one year to the next.
When we celebrate "New Year's Day" on January 1st, we are observing a calendar system designed by pagans to honor a pagan god. This is the calendar of Rome, not the calendar of God.
God Owns Time—Not Rome
Psalm 90:12 (KJV)
"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
The Most High God established His own calendar at creation and refined it through the covenant with Israel. His calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the agricultural seasons of Israel, and His appointed times for worship.
Israel is commanded to follow God's calendar, not the calendar of Rome. God's year begins in the spring (the month of Aviv/Nisan), not in the dead of winter. His holy days are the Feasts of the Lord, not the festivals of pagan gods.
When we organize our worship around Rome's calendar instead of God's calendar, we are making a statement about whose authority we recognize and whose timing we honor.
God's Calendar: Biblical Appointed Times
1
Sabbath Established at Creation
The weekly Sabbath was instituted by God at creation, setting apart the seventh day as holy before sin even entered the world. The Sabbath is eternal, not cultural.
2
Feasts Commanded by God
The biblical feasts—Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles—were commanded by God as perpetual ordinances for His people.
3
Appointed Times Are Holy
These are not "Jewish holidays" but God's appointed times (moedim) for all who are in covenant with Him. They are rehearsals of God's redemptive plan and prophetic fulfillments.
God has given us His calendar. The question is whether we will submit to His timing or continue following the calendar established by a pagan empire.
The Call to Come Out
2 Corinthians 6:14–17 (KJV)
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?... Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."
Revelation 18:4 (KJV)
"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
The call to separation echoes throughout Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. God has always called His people to come out from among the nations and be distinct, holy, and set apart. This call is not optional—it is a condition of covenant relationship with the Most High.
Sabbath Reflection: Examining Our Walk
Does My Worship Align with Scripture?
We must honestly evaluate whether our worship practices are rooted in God's Word or in the traditions of men. If we cannot find biblical support for our practices, we must be willing to release them.
What Customs Must I Unlearn?
Coming out of syncretism requires the courage to unlearn traditions we were taught from childhood. This is not about judging others—it is about our own obedience to God's commands.
What Does Repentance Look Like?
True repentance means turning away from practices God has condemned, even when those practices are culturally acceptable, emotionally meaningful, or widely celebrated. Repentance is costly, but obedience is required.
The Closing Charge: Choose This Day
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
— Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
Joshua issued this challenge to Israel at a pivotal moment in their history, and the same choice stands before us today. We cannot serve God and continue in the customs of the nations. We cannot claim covenant while practicing syncretism.
This is a decision each believer must make personally and deliberately. No one can make this choice for you. But the choice must be made, and it must be followed by corresponding action.
May We Walk in Truth and Obedience
As we conclude this Sabbath teaching, we are reminded that true worship requires both knowledge and courage. We must know what God commands, and we must have the courage to obey Him—even when obedience costs us comfort, tradition, and social acceptance.
The journey toward covenant purity is not easy, but it is necessary. God is calling His people out of mixture and into holiness. He is calling us to examine every practice, every tradition, and every celebration through the lens of His Word.
May the Spirit of Truth guide us as we seek to worship the Most High God in spirit and in truth, according to His commandments and His appointed times. May we have the strength to separate from what He has condemned and embrace what He has sanctified.
Shabbat Shalom — May you walk in the peace and purity of covenant obedience.
Lesson Replay