Pagan practices entered Christian traditions primarily through the mass influx of pagan converts into the church after Constantine, who brought their former religious customs with them.
Les Feldick teaches that the early New Testament converts came out of a world steeped in paganism, idolatry, and immorality. When Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity around 300 A.D., the church exploded in numbers and people came in by droves because it was the sanctioned thing to do. Those converts carried their old pagan customs into the church, and pagan fertility rites tied to the spring equinox became associated with celebrations such as Easter.
Galatians 4:9 — Paul uses this verse to warn Gentile believers who came out of paganism not to turn back to the weak and beggarly elements from which Christ had freed them.
Acts 19:35 — Acts records the pagan world of the New Testament, including the city of Ephesus as a worshipper of the goddess Diana, showing the idolatrous background from which early converts came.
Scripture describes the world into which the Gospel came as steeped in idolatry. Paul reminded the Galatians of their former condition: 'Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods' (Galatians 4:8). Then he asked, 'But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?' (Galatians 4:9). The believers to whom Paul wrote had once worshipped idols that were no gods, and he warned them against returning to their old religious elements. The Book of Acts likewise records the idolatrous environment of the early church. At Ephesus, the city was a worshipper of the great goddess Diana (Acts 19:35), and pagan temples such as those Paul confronted in Acts were part of the culture out of which converts came. Scripture plainly sets forth the pagan idolatry from which the first believers were saved, and it warns them not to go back to their former ways.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the world of the New Testament was saturated with paganism. Paul's converts came out of a religious environment of mythology and idol worship [Clip 1], and many were saved out of abject paganism, idolatry, and immorality [Clip 4]. Pagan worship itself, Les notes, was bound up with gross immorality — pagan temples such as the temple of Diana in Acts were effectively glorified houses of prostitution in the name of religion [Clip 6]. According to Les, the great influx came after Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity around 300 or 315 A.D. The church then exploded in numbers and people came in by droves, not necessarily because of genuine faith, but because Christianity now had the sanction of the emperor and was the thing to do [Clip 5]. These multitudes of people from pagan backgrounds naturally brought their former customs and practices with them into the church. Les also shows how specific traditions were affected. Ancient pagans built their fertility rites around the spring equinox on March 21st and 22nd, when new life in nature spoke of fertility. Easter, which is timed by the Old Testament Passover and Israel's lunar calendar, is likewise associated with the spring equinox, and so the connection between pagan fertility worship and the Christian celebration developed [Clip 0]. In all of this, Les sees the hand of Satan as a counterfeiter, just as pagan animal sacrifices were a satanic counterfeit of the worship God had established with Israel [Clip 7].
Les teaches that shortly after 300 A.D. (or 315 A.D.), Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity. When he did, the church exploded in numbers as people came in by droves, because Christianity now had the sanction of the Emperor and was the thing to do [Clip 5]. These multitudes came out of a world thoroughly steeped in paganism, idolatry, and mythology [Clip 1], and many were saved out of abject paganism, idolatry, and immorality [Clip 4]. This mass influx of people from pagan backgrounds is the setting in which pagan customs found their way into Christian tradition.
Les points out that as spring approached, at the spring equinox around March 21st and 22nd, pagans saw new life popping up all around them, and new life, of course, speaks of fertility [Clip 0]. They therefore formed their fertility rites around the spring equinox. Les also notes that Easter is timed according to the Passover of Israel and Israel's moon-based calendar, yet it is likewise associated with the spring equinox — the same season in which these pagan fertility rites were established [Clip 0].
Les emphasizes that Paul's converts came from paganism — the whole world around Paul was steeped in paganism, mythology, and idol worship [Clip 1]. These were people saved out of abject paganism, idolatry, and immorality [Clip 4]. Les further explains that pagan worship was inseparable from gross immorality: almost every pagan temple, such as the temple to the goddess Diana mentioned in Acts, was nothing more than a glorified house of prostitution in the name of religion [Clip 6]. The believers to whom Paul wrote had been delivered out of this darkness by the grace of God [Clip 4].
Paul's question to the Galatians addresses exactly this danger: 'But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?' (Galatians 4:9). In their past, when they knew not God, they did service unto them which by nature are no gods (Galatians 4:8). Les applies this truth to the early believers, who had recently been steeped in idolatry and paganism and had now come out of the darkness into the light of Paul's gospel [Clip 1].
Easter and the Spring Equinox
Les explains that pagans formed fertility rites around the spring equinox (March 21-22) because springtime new life speaks of fertility, and he connects the celebration of Easter to the same season.
Paul's Converts Came From Paganism
Les stresses that the whole world around Paul was steeped in paganism, mythology, and idol worship, so Paul's converts had only recently come out of that darkness through his gospel.
Why Israel's Fall Opened Heaven's Door for the Gentiles
It loosed them from all of the hang ups, and the detriment to women, and so forth. Christianity did it. And so we better thank our Lord that we too have been brought under this Christian influence rather than under some of these pagan religions that do nothing but keep their people subservient, and in ignorance, and in superstition. You don't believe me? Go to the library. Get history books.
Why the Gospel Is Hidden From Some People — 2 Corinthians 4:1-4
And then there were those who said, And then on top of that, of course, he had that tremendous opposition from Satan throughout, of course, the pagan background, where they, too, were trying to stamp out this new idea. Now, I've often wondered why the Roman Empire, the Roman government, came down so on Christianity when they didn't bother Judaism.
Saved Out of Abject Paganism
Les reminds his readers that the believers in Corinth were saved out of abject paganism, idolatry, and immorality and needed time for nurturing and growth by the grace of God.
Constantine Opens the Floodgates
Les teaches that when Constantine embraced Christianity around 300/315 A.D., the church exploded in numbers as people came in by droves because it carried the emperor's sanction.
Pagan Temples and Gross Immorality
Les notes that pagan worship was bound up with gross immorality — temples like that of Diana in Acts were glorified houses of prostitution in the name of religion.
Pagan Faith as Satanic Counterfeit
Les shows that pagan animal sacrifices were a satanic counterfeit of the sacrificial worship God had established, illustrating the pattern by which paganism imitates true worship.
Galatians 4:8: Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Paul reminds Gentile believers that before knowing God they served idols — gods that by nature are no gods.
Galatians 4:9: But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Paul warns these former pagans not to turn back to the weak and beggarly religious elements from which Christ had freed them.
Acts 19:35: And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
This verse records the idolatrous worship of Diana in Ephesus, the pagan world from which New Testament converts came.
Les Feldick explains that the early church grew explosively after Constantine gave Christianity the emperor's sanction, and people came in by droves [Clip 5]. These multitudes came out of a world steeped in paganism, idolatry, and immorality [Clip 1, Clip 4], and they brought their former customs with them into the church.
Les notes that ancient pagans formed fertility rites around the spring equinox on March 21st and 22nd, because new life in spring speaks of fertility [Clip 0]. Easter is timed according to the Old Testament Passover, but it is also associated with the spring equinox — the same season in which those pagan fertility rites were established [Clip 0].
Once Constantine embraced Christianity around 300 or 315 A.D., Christianity had the sanction of the Emperor. Les says it was the thing to do, so the church exploded in numbers as people came in by droves — but they came from thoroughly pagan backgrounds [Clip 5].
According to Les, pagan worship in Paul's day was inseparable from gross immorality. Almost every pagan temple, including the temple to the goddess Diana in Acts, was effectively a glorified house of prostitution conducted in the name of religion [Clip 6].
Watch the Teaching: God’s Covenant with Abraham: Genesis 12 Bible Study Explained