The history of the Celts is full of unchristian practices and horrors that match only people's darkest dreams. While the Romans certainly developed a reputation for their barbarity, they carried a civilized rule of law to every culture they conquered, Roman Law. The Celts were a grouping of people we would now call the Welsh, Irish, and Scots (Picts). Unlike their British cousins, who are Anglo Saxons and Normans, the Celts did not submit to Roman Rule. The Britons as they would be called adopted Roman practices, particularly in warfare and rule of law, they even accepted Roman Catholicism. The Celts in contrast were a mystical people, their religion was Druidism, a pagan worship of nature, sprites, and the spirits of light, "for Satan (the devil, serpent of old, dragon) disguises himself as an angel of light" (see 2 Corinthians 11:14). The Saxons in England (Angland, Anglo) did not accept Christianity without conditions, they pressured the priests of Roman to keep their paganisms. The Vikings of the Nordic Countries, who would later become known as the Normans (from Norseman) would convert much in same way the Saxons did, by coercion. Saxons Kings and barons would become baptized, and their entire warhorde coverting en masse. The same would happen with the Normans. The Celts however had an entirely different experience.
While certainly the Saxons, Norsemen, Welsh, Picts, Irish, and Scots all had pagan beliefs and supersitions, the Saxons and Norsemen (Vikings) tended to have a paganism of iron and incest. Though perhaps not untouched by the violent moods Vikings knew, the Celts had a deep seated mysticism, especially when it concerned the forests and waters. Druid worship was quite different than the Viking and Anglo-Saxon worship of war gods such as Oiden, Thor, and Ares. The Druids were very mystical, and their practices involved the supernatural and demonic on level that Saxons and others used mostly for war, the average Celt employed their crafts for everyday life as much as pitched battles. When brave missionaries came to Ireland and Scotland, they were faced in supernatural war not too dissimilar to St. Paul's against the pythonesses (Revelation 2:4, 2 Timothy) and they surely had to "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:4). St. Patrick was called to the Irish, and he fought the serpents of Drudism, facing fierce opposition from Druid priests, and in the contest, Patrick proved Christ greater than any other, His name higher than all (Philippians). The Irish converted because Patrick spoke to them simply about the Gospel, He did not impose a Roman system on them, but took from their culture and focused on familiarites, particularly Baptism stirred the Irish Celt, for water was sacred and part of the supernatural world, thus Patrick explaining that God came as Man and was baptized in water and then baptizes others with His blood and water (John 19:34) intrigued them immensely, this and Patrick used the Three pedaled Cloverleaf to explain how the Trinity is Three but One. Patrick's success came to crocendo when He translated the Four Gospels in the tounges of the Irish, in what is called the Book of Kells. Patrick was visionary in this regard, rather than having newly converted Irish learn Latin, he brought the words of Christ into their vernacular. All of this resulted in peaceful conversions, not conquests, but rather the Irish people believed freely.
In Scotland, a man named St. Columba went into the deep Greenland. Columba unlike Patrick approached the Scots in what might be called modern missions. He on island of Iona off the coast of Scotland created a monastery, from there he and his disicples delievered the Gospel. Columba idea of building a central hub for missioanries to go out and make disicples is something we see in modern missions today, and has striking similarties to St. Theresea of Avila, and Protestant Missionary efforts in China. The Scottish converts adopted this missionary method, making monasteries and churches up the river, and from them going out and making disciples. While Patrick had chosen to use the indigenious spirituality to draw people's curisoty to the Christian faith, Columba had created schools and missionary hubs in middle of the people. Both Patrick and Columba's efforts would be seriously undermined by monks and Roman Catholic zealots who would impose the Roman Rite on the Celtic peoples, but the Irish never quite let go. Their very unique brand of Christianity survived despite Roman overreach, however the Scots would surcome as the Saxons and Britons did to the Latin Rites.
The history of Celtic Churches is one of great controversy. On one hand the methods that reached the Celts is often commended, and the fact many of them converted in the tradition of the Apostles (Romans 10:9-10, Acts 4:10,12) oppose to by force is a breath of fresh air in the Early Middle Ages. However, there is great concern about the potential paganisms that were preserved. In particular, the concepts of Druid worship and symbols of Celtic beliefs such as the circle seem to have invaded their churches. Or did they? The truth is that the circle is a universal symbol for God the Creator in many cultures, in Middle East they use it represent that God never begins or ends, that He is eternal. What about the Celtic serpentine roads? Well there is certainly pagan allusions, but upon inspecting Armenian Christian crosses, which date before the Celtic Cross, they too have these serpent roads or knots. Armenian Christians are among the oldest believers, and so it seems unlikely that the Celts influenced Armenians to use the designs of the serpentine roads. In fact, there seems to be a vast amount of misinformation out on internet these days, trying to caste doubt on Christian symbols and practices, and claiming pagan influence, whne upon examination one finds the tradition or symbol does not have pagan undertones. One must remember that the cross itself was symbol of death, a gas chamber and nuclear warhead to both Jew, Greek, and Roman. Jews winced at the cross because it was the primary form of execution for non-Roman citizens, but the Romans hated it too, for Cicero said, "let not the horrible and terrible word of the cross be on any Roman's lips." Much to chargin of Jew and Gentile, Jesus Christ not only turned the symbol into one of sacrifice and enternal life, the tree upon which He died for our sins, but He also instructed us to "take up our cross and follow Him," () mindful no doubt that this was quite a shock to both his Jewish Twelve Disciples and all other followers.
There has been an hypertension over the Celtic Churches. There are those who believe the Celts simply have protected Druid worship in guise of Christian discipleship; that the Irish and Scots preserved the ancient evil practices by mingling those traditions with Christian thought and doctrine. The evidence for this is divided, with strong arguments and facts that support this Paganizing of Christianity and other evidence that claims only the Saxons and Norsemen kept their paganisms because the Roman Church desperately needed the Franks (Normans, French and Germanic Peoples) to defend the Church. There is evidence the Irish converts completely became Christians, discarding their old ways, or in least being Gospel centered and using their old traditions to lead their countrymen and kin to Christ. What I would urge of every Christian brother and sister to recognize is this, "It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice," (Philippians 1:15-18) and "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8). Certainly we must call out any denomination or disciple who errors, so as to put them back on the Narrow Path and restore them. However, we must remember something as important "rebuke, reprove and train in righteousness," (2 Timothy 3:16), that is "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." (Ephesians 4:15). For the Apostle Paul said, "If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2). Our God and Lord Jesus Christ said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35). I recently realized this statement of the LORD applies more profoundly in these end times, for He said elsewhere, "And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold." (Matthew 24:12) thus our love for one another shall seem distrinctly different to people in these last days, marking us as disciples of Christ. Now certainly love rejoices in the Truth and justice (1 Corinthians 13:6-8), but we must remember something when we correct corruptions in churches, we must exhibt the fruit of the spirit, "But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. " (Galatians 5:22-23). We can be kind and polite when we try to correct, and we can show some self control, there is no need to start and Inquisition, instead lets with compassion and care try to correct what is amiss in a church or Christian brother. Remember, we must first "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye," (Luke 6:42), if we may effectively help a brother or sister in Christ. The point is we should put our brother right, but not forget that "to error is human, to forgive is divine."
There is much I find in Celtic Churches that ought not be, just as I find in Roman and even Protestant Churches. There is always something to correct, to help people come to the mature belief, "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you." (Philippians 3:8,15 ). But we must be patient and full of love when we do so. Nothing turns a person faster from your words than to be overbearing, rude, and cruel in your speech, unless of course they know you well enough so you can speak candidly as Christ did when he turn over tables in the Temple (John 2;13-22). People need to know your love while you address the lack, for Christ rebukes us in love, "Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will]," (Revelation 3:19 AMP), we know Chirst loves us because "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). Other brothers and sisters in Christ need to know we love them when we come to correct (2 Timothy 3:16). People aren't projects, programs, or pets for us to push down with a heavy hand, they are images of God (Genesis 1:27), they are Children of God (Galatians 3:26) and we must show respect but remain in the Truth, "But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment (by reproving them). Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault," (Jude 1:20-24). We must appeal and seek to be reconcilers (2 Corinthians 5;11-21) and peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) but not compromise our beliefs in turn (John 14:9, Acts 4:10, 12). Sometimes a stern rebuke, and even strong language known as tough love is just the medicine, but we must be mindful that in other cases just the opposite is true, some people are wounded and need sweetness and tender loving care cloaking correction in form of soft love. The Holy Spirit will guide us to which way is best in each circumstance (He will teach you verse), and the Holy Bible is our guide book to know what to do or not do when the Spirit is not forthcoming at the moment.
It is crucial in these last days that we not malign, and make fun of other Christians. We must seek to be carriers of Christ's love, and to address problems with patience, prudence, and God's power. We must also prepare for when those who are in error will not see the Truth, and remain loving no matter the result of the rebuke. For some it will come like crashing sea wave, the person will see the light of God's truth, and repent, for others it will be a slower process, and finally there are those who are frozen and broken, stuck in their distorted sorceries and strange superstitions. While it is useful to remind those clinging to traditions of pagan past, "And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver (several million dollars.)" (Acts 19:19) and why should any Celtic Christian hold on to any spell or strange belief, if the witches and mystics of the Apostle's days counted them as lost and caste them in he fire? Rightfully so, for every Celt who clings to Druid or strange practice of their ancestry ought to ask, do they want to be counted among the sorcerers, "But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice magic, and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death/But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8 AMP and NIV). In addition every Irish, Scot, or Brit who thinks they can keeps practicing a Gospel that mingles with sorcery in some strange New Age or bizarre cocktail of Christianity and Celtic sorcery (Christian Witchcraft) should heed the words of the Apostle Paul who says, "Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed," (Galatians 1:8-9), "But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.." (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-14). As aforementioned the Apostle Paul makes the point that mature Christian belief centers on counting everything lost, and discarding everything else to gain Christ, "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.[a] For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. " (Philippians 3:8-9, 15). We are called as Christians not to be taken captive by winds of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14), the doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1), or to be seduced by opinions of people still clinging to traditions and arguments from their old paganisms, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ," (2 Corinthians 10:5). In fact, the Apostles tell us we must abandon obsessions with myths, ancestries, and legends that lead men astray from Christ and Gospel, "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty," (1 Peter 1:16), "or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God's work, which is by faith," (1 Timothy 4:8), "For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths," (2 Timothy 4:3-4), "By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and sound instruction you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly, For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come." (1 Timothy 4:6-8), "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified,"(1 Corinthians 2:1-2), "For in Jesus is all wisdom and knowledge," (Colossians 2:2-3), and "But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14). It can be very hard for people to let go of obsessing over their genealogies and myths of their countrymen, but we must take the mature view (Philippians 3:15). If any argument, myth, idea, opinion, practice, or tradition deviates from pure and simple faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3) and lead to idolatry and sorcery (Revelation 21;8) it must be destroyed (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Remember my Celtic brothers and sisters in Christ, the Celts worshiped spirits of light and the Apostle Paul reveals who these spirits are, not Christ or God, but rather the evil one, "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14). Any spirit of light or being made of light that does not confess Jesus Christ is evil, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world," (1 John 4:1-3). Do not listen to spirits or angels of light, but rather listen to the only True Light, Jesus Christ, "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind, The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:4-5) and "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12). Every spirit of God will testify about Jesus and who He is (Colossians 2:9, John 1:1-18, John 17:20-23, 1 John 4:1-3). So I say to you Celtic brothers do not be seduces by spirits of light who are Satan in disguise and who try to make you follow your Druid ancestors who were damned (John 3:18) but instead be thankful that you have been delivered out of darkness into the only true and glorious Light, Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9, Colossians 1:13). Follow what the Holy Bible and Holy Spirit says, not some esoteric spirit or sprite that is Satan's child. The only true Light is Jesus Christ, but He is also love (1 John 4:8), He is Truth (John 14:6), and He is the Great Judge (Matthew 25:3`-46). Jesus is not just some rays of light or an angelic being made of light (see Hebrews Chapter One), He is the Light in the darkness of the devil and fallen world, He is light to the shadows in comparison, for Jesus is God (Colossians 2:9). Jesus Christ created light (Genesis 1:3, 26, John 1:3, Colossians 1:16). So do not be deceived by spirits that have man focused on creation instead of the Creator, " And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen." (Romans 1;23-25). The Celts did this, they worshipped the sun and bodies of light, spirits of light, but Jesus Christ created the sun, and all things (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16) and so you Celts who abandon your Druid traditions and sins, will be following the Creator and God who made all things, rather than worshipping the made things that aren't God and can never do a thing, and are not worthy of worship!
Light, the sun, and even all beings were made by God the Trinity, made through and by Jesus Christ (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16). Why then would anyone worship light, the sun, and all creation wither it be angel or rock, when the God who made all these things and beyond died for your sins (1 Peter 2:24 1 Peter 3:18, Romans 4:25, and Romans 5:8), and loves you, and wants to relate to you and give you eternal life (Romans 10:9, John 6:40, John 4:33-39)? Put your faith in Jesus Christ by which you are saved (Philippians 3:9), and stop lusting after the things of this world, "For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world," (1 John 2:16), and instead count it as lost and discard it, crucifying it, ""Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you." (Philippians 3:8,15) and "As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died./May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14, cross ref Galatians 2:20).
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