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brian
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Chicago South Burbs, Illinois USA |
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| First Name: | brian | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | methodist, evangelical, anglican, catholic |
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Posted: Tue Feb 20th, 2007 03:42 pm |
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Galatians 4 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
What exactly is Paul warning about here, and how are the seasons and special days of the church not in violation of what He seems to be telling people to avoid? How is it we are not just doing the very thing He was writing to free people from.
Not that I have a problem with it, its just this verse is one I have been wondering about for a long time and forgot to ask about.
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
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Posted: Wed Feb 21st, 2007 02:45 am |
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Brian, St. Paul is warning the Galatian converts about reversion to the worship of idols.
From the Navarre Bible Commentary:
Galatians 4:8–10 St. Paul reminds his readers of the sad situation they were in when they did not know God and adored false gods. They were at the mercy of their passions, slaves of sin (cf. Rom. 1:18–33; Eph. 2:11–12; 4:17ff). Now that they do know God they cannot but love him: it is not possible to know Supreme Goodness and not love him with one’s whole soul. The Apostle corrects himself, pointing out that in fact it is not they who have come to know God, but God who has recognized them; even then, with the initiative coming entirely from God, knowing is also the same as loving. That is, God has loved us. See also the note on Galatians 4:3.
4:3: “The elemental spirits of the universe”: this refers, firstly, to the rites and practices of pagan religions and, more specifically to idolatrous concepts and superstitions which saw the stars and occult forces as custodians of the universe and of human history. Also, by including himself among the slaves of these elements St. Paul seems to be referring to certain ritual precepts of the Mosaic religion. In both cases, the “elemental spirits” subjected man to a slavery of observance of “days, and months, and seasons, and years” (Gal. 4:10; cf. Rom. 14:5; Col. 2:16).
The Gentiles superstitiously sought to placate the gods and the powers of nature. The Jews, on the other hand, observed an explicit precept of God, but this was now no longer in force. The Galatians had lived as slaves to these “elemental spirits” until “when the time had fully come” they were liberated by Christ, in the same kind of way as a child, once he has reached maturity, finds himself free from tutors and custodians.
4:10: St. Paul reproaches the Galatians for continuing to keep these observances which no longer apply.
From antiquity God chose to establish, through a revealed precept, a rule of the natural and moral order, by specifying days to be consecrated to divine worship. In addition to the sabbath he instituted other festivals, to commemorate mercies and wonders he had worked for his people (cf. Lev. 23; Num. 28 and 29).
Just as the New Testament revelation is more perfect than the Old, so the form of worship — both private and public — laid down by Christ is on a much higher level. The rites laid down in connection with the third commandment of the Mosaic Law must give way to those established by the Gospel, which has a new form of worship and special festivals of its own. Thus, “by a tradition handed down from the Apostles, which took its origin from the very day of Christ’s resurrection, the Church celebrates the paschal mystery every seventh day, which day is appropriately called the Lord’s Day or Sunday.…” (Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, 106).
Sometimes anti-Catholics get all worked up about passages such as this, ascribing them to the rites and beliefs of the Catholic Church, which (they are convinced) practices idol worship and celebrates pagan feast days. But as you know, this is just nonsense.
David
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Truthseeker
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
| Posts: | 481 |
| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Wed Feb 21st, 2007 03:45 pm |
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| Is this why JW don't celebrate anything?
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
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Posted: Wed Feb 21st, 2007 03:54 pm |
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Truthseeker wrote:
Is this why JW don't celebrate anything?
I haven’t inquired, but probably it is one of their proof texts. Another, which I actually heard from an ex-JW, was that by forbidding any celebrations the JW seal their members off from any contacts and ideas that might “contaminate” their minds and hearts.
David
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brian
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Chicago South Burbs, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 907 |
| First Name: | brian | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | methodist, evangelical, anglican, catholic |
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Posted: Thu Feb 22nd, 2007 12:28 am |
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| a text they use against birthdays is that John the Baptist was beheaded because of a birthday celebration. also they say it has pagan origins and glorifies man too much. as for the other days, I do not know.
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Ali
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 693 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Feb 22nd, 2007 12:06 pm |
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Truthseeker wrote: Is this why JW don't celebrate anything
No, as far as I know, this isn't one of the scriptures used to back up JW's not celebrating holidays.
What is taught: Most holy days of the Church are based in pagen celebrations, why would good Christrians of today want to give honor to false gods and promote pagan ideals? That and there is no record of either early Jewish people or First Century Christians commemorating Holidays as we know now them to be celebrated.
Secular holidays aren't celebrated 'cause JW's remain "seperate" from the world. Just as Jesus Kingdom was not of this world, neither are the JW's. John 15:19, 18:36, and 1st John 5:19
Ali
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Truthseeker
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
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| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Thu Feb 22nd, 2007 12:14 pm |
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Can you tell me why they celebrate wedding anniversaries?
Thanks - Laura
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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Ali
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
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| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Feb 22nd, 2007 12:23 pm |
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Truthseeker wrote: Can you tell me why they celebrate wedding anniversaries?
Thanks - Laura
LOL, no! It's circular logic, that's for sure. Couple are also allowed to exchange rings during their wedding cermony, that is a *huge* pagan symbol. And wedding parties are known to be quite . . . uh . . . fun  Since they can't celebrate anything else, they tend to go all out for those.
Bridal and baby showers are ok, too. Go figure.
I never even thought to question why those things were ok, but others weren't. It's really eye opening being on the other side.
Ali
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