Holy Days or Hidden Darkness? Discerning Holidays, Traditions, Pagan Influences and True Worship in the Light of Scripture

We live in a world filled with celebrations. Some are religious. Some are cultural. Some are national. Some are family traditions. Some have developed over centuries, while others are relatively modern creations. Some carry deeply Christian meanings, while others have emerged from secular culture, commercial interests, folklore or ancient religious traditions. And then there are celebrations whose histories are complicated. A Christian attempting to navigate this landscape can easily become confused. One voice says, "This holiday is pagan." Another says, "There is nothing wrong with it." One person traces a symbol back thousands of years and declares the entire celebration contaminated. Another dismisses every historical concern as irrelevant because the modern celebration no longer resembles its ancient form. Neither extreme provides us with sufficient biblical discernment. The purpose of this book is therefore not to create fear around holidays, nor is it to provide a simplistic list of what Christians may or may not celebrate. It is to ask a deeper question: How should a disciple of Jesus Christ discern the celebrations, traditions and cultural practices in which he or she participates? That question requires both historical honesty and biblical wisdom. Therefore, let us examine everything. Let us test everything. Let us reject what must be rejected, let us retain what is good, and let us refuse both superstition and compromise.