The influence of Paganism in church worship services is that elephant in the room that modern day Christians have learned to ignore. If we were to look closely at the parallels brought out in this discussion, we would be forced to admit, Paganism is playing a role in modern day worship services. Voodoo and witchcraft has reemerged and is given a seat at the table of respectability, they are now being introduced as the power of God. These processes can either be studied more closely or they can be cast aside as nothing more than the irrelevant rant of an ambiguous old man.
Christians have a long history of being dogmatic, legalistic, and often misusing, mis-locating and misquoting the Scriptures when striving to validate various points. Any question concerning the influence of Paganism in the modern church often digresses into a discussion of Saturday versus Sunday worship services or Christmas and the Easter rabbit. It is almost impossible to discuss the subject from a biblical viewpoint without somebody disagreeing. Each person tends to think of himself or his group as being properly balanced, but the truth is, people of different denominations draw lines in different places, based upon their knowledge or lack of knowledge, thus adding to the overall confusion of Christianity. This level of confusion allowed the Devil to invade the church and install elements of Pagan worship that is acceptable to many, but contrary to the word of God.
Paganism embraces the concept of multiple gods, which is contrary to the Word of God who said, “I am God and there is none other”. Existing first as a non religion, Paganism prided itself on being in tune with the heaven and the earth. The god of the sun and the god of the moon being the dominant gods, but there were gods of war and gods of peace. The days of the week were named after pagan gods, or they originated from pagan cultures. The first day of the week was named to honor the god of the sun, whereas Monday was named to honor the moon god, Tuesday derived its name from the war god, (*Tīwaz (“Tyr, god of war”) + *dagaz (“day”). In the ancient days, no god fearing Pagan would dare go to war or even enter into marriage without first vainly invoking the blessing of their war god or the god of fertility.
Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. It seems as if God is saying do not use my name in settings that do not modify my spirituality. Thou shall not use the name of God in vain worship of men or money. Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Much of the argument that consumes the religious community has already been settled by the scripture, yet it seems to be in the best interest of the religious community to keep these arguments alive. Controversy and confusion, allow those who are seeking power and control to expand their own group. For instance, the confusion that exists concerning the application of the Law could be put in the proper perspective by reading Galatians 3:24-25, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” It is often to the advantage of many to argue the evidence away. Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
One of the most astonishing attempts in the Bible to merge Pagan practices into the worship of God took place while Moses was up on the mountain receiving God’s laws. Moses spent forty days (Exodus 24:18) up on the mountain communing with God, and by the end of that time, the people were beginning to think Moses had died or left them. The people urged Aaron, a leader that was chosen by God, to make a god for them to follow. Their Egyptian upbringing had fostered a false concept of a god that required a visual representation. This was the result of their confused thinking, tainted by the influences of growing up in a Pagan society. Rather than being a strong leader and standing firm against the will of the people, Aaron gave in. He took their gold earrings, which they had brought from Egypt, and melted them down to make a golden idol. (He took their money and made an idol out of it.) The idol he crafted for them was a calf, but Aaron maintained the name of the Lord in connection with it (Exodus 32:5).
A new level of understanding could be open up by reading and rereading the action of Aaron and the people of God. What was it that Aaron did wrong? Lets make several simple observations and agree to discuss them in detail later. He took the people gold and fashioned a golden calf, then he lifted it up before the people. He maintained or claimed that this calf represented the Lord that brought them out of the land of Egypt. He used a natural object to modify a spiritual God, this allowed the people to have a natural and emotional experience with their god. He used the name of the Lord in this obscene practice, and by doing so he felt he could justify his actions. God had already spoken in Exodus 20:4, and said, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:”
Aaron and the people were merging the pagan practices they were familiar with and the worship of the God they were just beginning to be re-acquainted with. Aaron, I repeat for the sakes of reiteration, at the risk of being redundant, was a man chosen by God, called the people together and lied to them, he told them that the golden calf was the god that delivered them from Egypt. If there were any doubters of the action of Aaron or the people, a proclamation of this nature was enough to win them over. Aaron also proved to be envious of Moses position. The people offered sacrifices and then engaged in rituals, to worship this new god image. The Pagan rituals that they were familiar with being, meditation, chanting or singing, drumming, myth- and storytelling, ritual drama, dance, and other acts of emotional ecstasy.
Exodus 32:17-19 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
2 Timothy 3:1-9 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are better, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now, as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Within the last few decades, there has been many strange occurrences within the household of faith that has been touted as the power or spirit of God. The use of snakes in a worship service is nothing new, but encouraging members to get down on their knees and eat grass, while another sent his parishioners throughout the church in search of angel feathers and angel dust introduces a new level of confusion and disbelief. In many church worship services, members are encouraged to throw money on the altar at the foot of the preacher, a practice I first observed in a strip club in my younger days. Positions and entourages are created within the church that places the pastor, praise leaders or others in a lifted up position that demands honor and respect Church and pastor’s anniversaries have taken on a life of their own and the driving force behind salvation is money. Are we guilty of creating a golden calf?
Most Christian messages are geared around convincing the listeners to give more money with a promise that God is going to return their gift one hundred fold. Those on the outside looking in often come to the unsustainable conclusion that from a financial perspective the sinner is poor and the Christians are rich.
It has been said that music is capable of soothing the savage beast. Music can be relaxing or it can be stimulating. In the church often music is viewed as a means to facilitate an encounter with God; it will move us closer to God. In this schema, music becomes a means of mediation between God and man. But is this idea closer to ecstatic pagan practices than in Christian worship? 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Some churches embrace the use of musical instruments, while some churches refrain. According to Paul, Wine is good, but in the hands of a fool it is a mockery.
Often the discussion of pagan worship is centered around what day those who was involved in pagan worship set aside to worship their god or the rituals they used to edify the group. Admittedly, there is a divide within the household of faith on the day of worship or even the celebration of certain holidays. Christmas and Easter usually rank high on the list of pagan influenced holidays. New and modern day studies seeks to destroy the traditions of the past, thus creating a vacuum that is quickly filled by warring spirits. This divide is further amplified by the desire to include selective elements of the Jewish law into the Christian worship. (Galatians 3:23-25).
To Be Continued
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