Paganism in the Church: Yahuah’s View and the Witness of Scripture
By Hebrew Boy
From the beginning, Yahuah has commanded His people to be set-apart. This is not simply a call to live morally, but to be completely distinct from the nations in worship, customs, and devotion. Paganism in the church is one of the greatest betrayals of that command, for it replaces the pure worship of Yahuah with traditions, symbols, and practices borrowed from the worship of other mighty ones. Scripture reveals not only that Yahuah rejects such mixture, but that He hates it.
In Debarim (Deuteronomy) 12:29-32, Yahuah warns, “When Yahuah your Elohim (Mighty One) does cut off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones? And let me do so too.’ Do not do so to Yahuah your Elohim, for every abomination which Yahuah hates they have done to their mighty ones.” The command is clear. His people must not adopt the ways of the nations in worship.
Yet history shows that many assemblies have done exactly that. The early followers of Yahusha walked in the Torah and guarded the appointed times of Yahuah. But over time, pagan customs crept in, cloaked with new names and rebranded as “Christian” traditions. The celebration of the sun’s rebirth at the winter solstice became “Christmas.” The fertility rites of spring honoring false deities were rebranded as “Easter.” Even the day of worship was shifted from the seventh day, Shabbat, to the first day in honor of the sun. These changes were not from Yahuah.
Yahuah’s position on this blending is unwavering. In Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 10:2-5 He says, “Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be awed by the signs of the heavens, for the nations are awed by them. For the prescribed customs of these peoples are worthless.” He then describes practices tied to idol-making, such as cutting trees, decorating them, and fastening them so they do not topple—things that eerily mirror modern “holiday” traditions that many churches embrace without question.
Yahuah is a qodesh (set-apart) Elohim, and His worship cannot be mixed with that of idols. In Shemoth (Exodus) 32, when the people made a golden calf and declared, “Tomorrow is a festival to Yahuah,” He burned with anger. They had tried to worship Him in the way of the nations, and it brought swift judgment. This shows that even if people claim their pagan-rooted customs are “for Yahuah,” He rejects them.
Yahusha Himself rebuked the traditions of men that set aside the commands of Elohim. In Marqos (Mark) 7:7-9 He said, “And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men. Forsaking the command of Elohim, you hold fast the tradition of men.” Paganism in the church is nothing less than this, abandoning Yahuah’s pure commands for human traditions that originated in the worship of other mighty ones.
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Sha’ul (Paul) asks, “What partnership has righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness? … What agreement has the Dwelling Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said, ‘I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says Yahuah. Do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you.’”
The command remains the same today. Come out from the mixture. Paganism in the church is not a minor issue, it is spiritual adultery. Yahuah desires a bride without spot or blemish, one who worships Him in spirit and truth. That means purging from our assemblies and our lives every custom, symbol, and tradition that did not come from Him.
The call to the remnant is urgent. As Ḥazon (Revelation) 18:4 declares, “Come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” The “her” is the great system of religious and political Babylon, filled with pagan worship disguised as light. Yahuah’s people must flee from it and return to the ancient paths, walking in obedience to His Torah through the power of Yahusha.
Yahuah has spoken. His Word is clear. He hates the blending of His worship with pagan practices. The question is, will we continue to follow the traditions of men, or will we return to Him in purity? The choice will determine whether we stand approved in the day of His judgment.