Many Christians believe that participating in onam is a form of involvement in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness, which is forbidden in Scripture: many believers consider Onam activities of most to be harmless fun. Refraining from Onam Celebration and its activities is the safest and most appropriate response for you as an individual. When a Christian Participating in Onam activities represent that there are some Christians faith is compromised because they could have a background in the occult. Aren’t we diluting our faith when we celebrate Onam that is associated with paganess? Onam has nothing to do with the bible or Jesus Christ. And most of the churches of Kerala competing to celebrate Onam in all splendor and opulence. Some even dressed up as Mahabali and goes around church premises followed by Onam songs and dances which shouldn’t happen in church premises nor celebrated by any Christians. Many of the Kerala churches have compromised their faith and worshipping False Gods directly or indirectly participating. There are Christian clergy and nuns who take mahabali idol inside churches or take selfie with the idols. Ultimately, Christians must decide for themselves and follow the convictions of their own heart.
Ephesians 5:7-15
Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” So be careful how you live.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, – 2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV). See also Isaiah 52:11, Jeremiah 15:17, Revelation 18:4.
I realize this topic is embedded in controversy because people tend to defend the deceptions and traditions of man, rather than biblical principles. The truth is, the devil still wins regardless of your motive or intention for celebrating a pagan, YES PAGAN, holiday. He still got you to participate in a ritual with paganish and evil roots. Satan does not really care how he gets you to compromise, as long as you do it. So, by participating and advocating a pagan holiday, you are a part of his ritual. There is no justification for it at all. It’s kind of like saying, “a little white lie is not the same as a big lie.”
The bible makes it very clear and warns that “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2)”.
There is no doubt, a great work of deception is being wrought by seducing spirits and Satan himself. Jesus warned us: “Take heed that no man deceive you.” -Matthew 24:4. So let me ask you, have you been deceived?
Scripture teaches us that Satan is the father of lies and a deceiver (John 8:44;2 and Thessalonians 2:9) and he cleverly disguises himself as an “angel of light.” And those who follow him, practice the same deceit (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Onam is nothing more than a pagan tradition to honor the practices of the occult. After all, our lives should mirror what GOD wants, not what the world deems acceptable, and most definitely not what Christians dream up as alternatives for celebrating a pagan holiday. Those who practice in the occult will DIE a death not by stoning, but in the everlasting lake of fire.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death -Revelation 21:8
God also gave clear instructions forbidding the mingling or associating with those who participate in any practices associated with the occult:
9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations, the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.13 Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.-Deuteronomy 18:9-14
As Christians, we are not to fear the devil, nor give him a place in our lives. We are called to be separate, shining light on a hill. What kind of witness for Jesus are you being, by participating in a pagan holiday? If you are angry or upset by the reality of these truths, I urge you to strongly consider how satan operates, moreover, how does satan lure people in? Does he not make sinning seem fun and mask its evil? Does he not convince the world that ” it’s not that bad?” Satan lures people in through deceptive practices. He hides evil with veneers of good. When we peel those veneers back, we see the horrifying truths. I pray that the wisdom of JESUS CHRIST be imparted to everyone who reads this. We are children of God. We were bought with a price, and we should remember that we are advocates of Christ, called to be separated from darkness and the world.
Sometimes believers live like the world in one or more areas simply because they don’t know God’s standard. Yet God calls us to “not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance,” but to be holy in all we do (1 Peter 1:13-15). Jesus never compromised His Father’s standards to connect with the crowds. And yet He did “offend” many religious leaders. What is happening to the church today? People want to be popular and spread God word with a worldly attitude and they become offended when you talk to them about why they have to act like the world to draw the souls in. I believe that worldliness within the professing church is a huge problem. It grieves me greatly because we are supposed to be salt and light. The bible exhorts us many times to walk worthy of the gospel of Christ – Colossians 1:10, Ephesians 4:1, Philippians 1:27, 3John 1:6. Our Saviour is WORTHY! Sometimes Christians compromise because they fear being rejected. They fear that if they do not compromise, they will not be invited to events, they won't be welcome in the same circles, they'll be excluded. Don't compromise. Don't be afraid to shine the light of Christ wherever you are and wherever you go. We should follow Jesus Christ-honoring culture and not a God-dishonoring culture. So, we can’t separate ourselves from culture means, we have a choice to isolate ourselves from culture,the culture that doesn't honor one true God, and the one Savior Jesus Christ who died for all of us. We are not to forget the Great Commission as one of our priorities which is a great calling to take the good news of Christ to the nations, to all tribes, to make disciples of the nations, to bring the teaching of Christ to the nations and to build up the church and glorify Christ. You cannot walk with Jesus holding the devil’s hand. You cannot be a part of this world and call yourself a Christian. As the Scripture tells us – Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4.You cannot do the things of this world and think you are pleasing God.
