The Importance of Worshipping Correctly: Why Jehovah's Witnesses Do Not Celebrate Holidays

Since the fall of Adam, human beings have developed numerous justifications for participating in various celebrations. Typically, these justifications stem from the question of whether such practices align with God's perspective. When Jehovah led the Israelites into the promised land, He instructed them to distance themselves from the surrounding city-states and their practices. Many of these practices outside of Israel involved ritual acts like constructing "sacred poles" and engaging in immoral sexual acts, such as child sacrifices to fire.

While not all customs were as objectionable as these, some practices involved merely kissing an idol, bowing to it, or placing food or money in front of idols. God did not approve of all customs or practices related to worshiping Him. For instance, the golden calf incident initiated by Aaron and later worshipped by the Israelites did not garner the approval of Jehovah, leading to the loss of many lives as a result.

Modern Practices and Their Origins

Today, a multitude of celebrations exist, many of which carry problematic historical roots. One such celebration is Easter. The practices associated with Easter bear a striking resemblance to those involved with Ishtar, a prominent Semitic pagan goddess. Eggs, commonly associated with Easter, were part of the rituals in which Ishtar was covered with eggs. This demonstrates the pagan roots of many of our modern celebrations, especially where fertility and deity worship are concerned.

Ishtar and Her Symbols: Ishtar was a goddess associated with love, war, and fertility. Her symbol was often depicted as a stationary pole or cross, a representation of a male phallus, and this connection to fertility and sex worship is quite evident. Similarly, Easter bunnies were involved in fertility rituals and sexual worship, further emphasizing the pagan origins of the celebration.

Evaluating National Celebrations

As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we consider a multitude of factors when evaluating our primary citizenship. We emphasize our allegiance to God's Kingdom and acknowledge the freedoms granted in any nation. However, celebrating the founding of a nation through glorifying war, such as the 4th of July in the United States, can be quite distasteful. While the pyrotechnics are beautiful, we do not glorify what it symbolizes.

When explaining our reasoning for not observing these celebrations, we are not condemning those who do. We do not imply that those who engage in such celebrations are wrong. What is important is recognizing that we do not have the authority to dictate right or wrong to others. For example, when my wife and I became engaged, we chose to have chaperones and abstain from any sexual relations until marriage. While a family member questioned our decision, we were not condemning them.

Conclusion

Just as we choose to observe religious practices that align with our beliefs, so too do others have the freedom to observe celebrations that may have origins not in line with our values. It is concerning when people assume that stating the origins of these celebrations puts us in a condemning position. We are absolutely not condemning individuals but rather respecting their freedom to choose. The key is understanding the importance of worshipping correctly and making informed choices that align with one's faith.