Parashot Haazinu

"‘Historians still marvel at the brilliance with which Constantine converted the sun-worshipping pagans to Christianity. By fusing pagan symbols, dates, and rituals into the growing Christian tradition, he created a kind of hybrid religion that was acceptable to both parties.’

‘Transmogrification,’ Langdon said. ‘The vestiges of pagan religion in Christian symbology are undeniable. Egyptian sun disks became the halos of Catholic saints. Pictograms of Isis nursing her miraculously conceived son Horus became the blueprint for our modern images of the Virgin Mary nursing Baby Jesus. And virtually all the elements of the Catholic ritual—the miter, the altar, the doxology, and the communion, the act of ‘God-eating’—were taken directly from earlier pagan mystery religions.’

Teabing groaned. ‘Don’t get a symbologist started on Christian icons. Nothing in Christianity is original. The pre-Christian God Mithras—called the Son of God and the Light of the World—was born on December 25, died, was buried in a rock tomb, and then resurrected in three days. By the way, December 25 is also the birthday of Osiris, Adonis, and Dionysus. The newborn Krishna was presented with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Even Christianity’s weekly holy day was stolen from the pagans.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Originally,’ Langdon said, ‘Christianity honored the Jewish Sabbath of Saturday, but Constantine shifted it to coincide with the pagan’s veneration day of the sun.’ He paused, grinning. ‘To this day, most churchgoers attend services on Sunday morning with no idea that they are there on account of the pagan sun god’s weekly tribute—Sunday.’"

The above quote is from the New York Time’s Best-selling novel called “The Da Vinci Code.” This book written by Dan Brown “masterfully concocts an intelligent and lucid thriller that marries the gusto of an international murder mystery with a collection of fascinating esoteria culled from 2,000 years of Western history. A murder in the silent after-hour halls of the Louvre museum reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected by a clandestine society since the days of Messiah. Brown has created a page-turning thriller that also provides an amazing interpretation of Western history,” says amazon.com. The amazing thing about this book is how much truth it contains. The above quote is in a fiction novel but is not fiction. You wouldn’t know this unless you studied the past, unless you did a little research, or unless you took a deep look at church history.

“Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you,” Devarim 32:7. These words are found in our current parasha titled Hazinu. This is the next to last Torah portion of scripture that is usually read during the synagogue service held on the Sabbath between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur. It is on this Shabbat that most Rabbis give a stirring sermon on the effects of sin and the need for repentance. This Sabbath is aptly called “Shabbat Shuvah” or the “Sabbath of Turning.” With this weekly reading mankind is called to turn from a life of sin and return to life with Yahweh. This parasha, with the song of Moshe in it, calls Yisra’el to remember what YHWH has done, turn from rebellion, and return to YHWH. This is similar to the words of Yahshua in Revelation, “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first,” 2:5.

With the busyness of life, we need a time when we can stop and reflect upon life. This Shabbat is such a time. The High Holy days of this season are also such times. Shabbat Shuvah occurs during the Ten Days of Awe, the space between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. Judaism teaches that it is during these days that the habits of life and spirituality are formed for the next year. During these days of introspection, repentance, and awe we should do as our parasha says and “remember the days of old; consider the generations long past.” We should “ask our Abba” and let him tell us about how life was meant to be. We need to research our past, reject our pagan society, and accept the Torah lifestyle as taught within the Scriptures. We ought to “hate what is evil; cling to what is tov,” Romans 12:9.

Our culture in general, doesn’t inquire about the past. Few study history. Even fewer know about church history. “Ignorance is bliss” for the majority of people that warm pews. Yet the scriptures tell us to “study to show ourselves approved.” “This is what YHWH says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it,’ Yermi’yahu 6:16.

The truth is out there; it just remains to be found by most people. It is sad that millions of people had to be exposed to the pagan roots of the church through a murder and mystery book by Dan Brown. Brown simply wouldn’t have much of a plot if everyone knew the truth.

Another book that brings much enlightenment was written over 100 years ago by the Rev. Alexander Hislop. Hislop’s work is titled “The Two Babylons” and revels the basis for a faith that has been lived out by millions of Catholic and Christian believers for centuries. The Two Babylons reveals the pagan elements in Christian worship and culture. This book proves that much of Christian theology from Christmas to Sunday worship to the sign of the cross has evil pagan roots. "In the unity of that one Only God of the Babylonians, there were three persons, and to symbolize that doctrine of the Trinity, they employed, as the discoveries of Layard prove, the equilateral triangle, just as it is well known the Romish Church does at this day. In both cases such a comparison is most degrading to the King Eternal, and is fitted utterly to pervert the minds of those who contemplate it, as if there was or could be any similitude between such a figure and Him Who hath said, 'To whom will you liken (Elohim), and what likeness will you compare unto Him?'" The Two Babylons, pgs. 16,17.

This book was first published as a pamphlet in 1853 and was greatly expanded in 1858. Since then it has angered and astonished believers all over the world. The pagan roots of church worship is exposed with clarity as Hislop writes from a lifetime of research. “The Two Babylons” can be downloaded for free at www.biblebelievers.com/babylon or can be purchased at most bookstores. It is an interesting read for all truth seekers because of the facts and information it presents. You definitely won’t find the text of Hislop’s book in the “Baptist Faith and Message.” These books are not alone in their expose of the emet about the days of past. There are tons of web sites, blogs, articles, and teachers who have researched and revealing the truth.

Do you question what has been taught to you or do you soak up everything the preacher says like a sponge? Have you ever read “The Two Babylons” or “Fossilized Customs” or any the other books that reveal the pagan roots of various faiths? Do you follow the torah and “remember the days of old; consider the generations long past,” Devarim 32:7. IF so, then continue to learn. If not then it is time to “ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you,” Devarim 32:7.

*for all things biblical go to www.emetministries.com