Posted on 04/11/2013 11:16:18 PM PDT by DouglasKC
Again caww, that's the very topic of this article. The rise of a counterfeit Christianity that says they worship the Lord, but don't do the things he says. He created his sabbaths and his holy days for his followers to observe. Saying you are "in Christ" means that you will follow what Christ does and if you allow him he will keep His holy days.
As for the Jewish Holy Days..
Let's make no mistake about who's days these are:
Lev 23:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.
they were ‘shadows’ of the gospel to come....they all ‘pointed to Christ’... until He came.
Actually Paul says they ARE shadows of things to come:
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
There's no doubt that the english equivalent of the greek is "ARE". In other words, Paul, long after Christ had died and had been resurrected, referred to the holy days of the Lord as shadows of things yet to come.
And they ARE. They're predictive and symbolic of past, present and future events.
I would encourage you to check out:
Holidays or Holy Days: Does it Matter Which Days We Observe
God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope For All Mankind
I'm sure these will help with your struggle to understand scripture.
We are “complete” in Him as Christians. Jesus was very clear that these not be forced on the new Gentile believers. Romans 14:3 ...The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.
This is explained in the links above...but the short answer here is that Romans chapter 14 never uses the greek terms for the Lord's holy days or sabbaths. Reading Romans 14 in context shows that Paul is referring to eating practices, likely having to do with with whether or not Christians of the day should eat otherwise clean meat that had been sacrificed to pagan idols and then later purchased in the meat market.
Take care and hope you have a good read...
Like I haven't heard THAT before.
A good study you can undertake is to study how much of an impact "A Christmas Carol" had on how Americans and Brits observe Christmas today. That and Clement Moore's "A Visit From St. Nick" were hugely popular works that shaped and molded the public mind and resurrected nearly dead mythological and pagan idea concerning that time of year.
Prior to this the observance of Christmas in American was generally frowned upon and even banned by Protestant Churches and even in the Catholic church it was considered a relatively minor holiday.
History.com has a rather enlightening series of articles on how modern day Christmas custoems and practices came about.
Thanks for your reply, Ebenezer.. :)
For us it is first of all: Christ-mas. We celebrate the birth of our Savior. And we also celebrate His resurrection from the dead. Read the Paschal homily of Saint John Chrysostom sometime for a classic.
We do this because Christ is God. Not one of two Gods in the God family, that we have days for one and not the other. Maybe that’s the difference.
BTW: can you tell me yet why circumcision is treated differently than holy days for you guys?
Because scripture shows throughout the new testament that the holy days of Jesus Christ were observed by gentiles Christians as well as Jews. In addition the holy days of the Lord were given before the old covenant was struck with Israel. So even though they are included as part of the old covenant, they span all covenants. The observance of the Lords' holy days are also seen in the future millennial kingdom after Christ returns. I realize you will not be able to accept that, but there are plenty of scriptures that show this to be show. I'll provide them if you wish but they're also listed in the links above I gave to caww.
As pointed out earlier the issue of circumcision is well explained and well documented in the new testament. Paul and other Christians did not obviate or do away with circumcision. They only came to the realization that it was not needed for salvation since gentiles received God's spirit without the benefit of physical circumcision. In addition, they discerned through scripture the spiritual equivalent of circumcision, which is circumcision of the heart...a tender and sensitive heart that is critical for obedience and love toward the Lord and toward others.
I think circumcision goes waaaaaay back.
Were all the gentiles observing the jewish holy days and dietary laws?
So Jesus changed it - in scripture?
Mr. Douglas...I am not interested in being “instructed” in what you believe you need to celebrate as Holy Days...I have made it very clear from the beginning that cults and false religions use this very thing to bait and switch people....
Further...it’s beginning to look like you’re far more interested in declaring ‘your doctrines’ of whatever faith you are than in dialogue.....
I choose not to give you a platform for that any further. Were you to engage discussion rather than attempting to “teach” this might have proven to be interesting...however I do believe you seek a platform and that I will not share in.
Thank you,
I’ll bet those are the first images to pop into your head in a long time.
It was the normal, biblical and cultural thing in early Christianity for new gentiles converts to keep the holy days of the Lord Jesus Christ. There were no other alternatives and if anyone had been advocating something different it would have been a huge area of contention and would have generated more controversy in scripture than did the circumcision issue...and the circumcision issue generated a large amount of discussion within the pages of scripture. So the answer is yes, both the the Lord's holy days and his food laws...with the difference being that Christians followed the teaching of Jesus on separating out what was scriptural from what was based on the tradition of men.
Yes. The fact that Jesus Christ gave his holy spirit to gentile Christians without the benefit of circumcision changed it.
Yes. The fact that Jesus Christ gave his holy spirit to gentile Christians without the benefit of circumcision changed it.
I will admit that I find it much more pleasant to proclaim Christ and the things of Christ rather than tear down the beliefs of others. I don't think that works well for witnessing no matter who is doing it. So when I find the opportunity I would rather share my experience.
But I understand so thank you for your contributions and your courtesy and take care....
But never to those without "benefit" of observing holy days and dietary laws?
>> “But never to those without “benefit” of observing holy days and dietary laws?” <<
.
Observing the appointed times is the only way to be “in the know” to avoid the wrath at the end of the trib. They are key to being a “Wise Virgin.”
The dietary inmformation is your blessing from YHVH to remain healthy and live a long life. If you prefer to eat garbage, the consequences are your own.
All early Christians did keep the holy days of Christ and his food laws so the point is moot. Doing so was part of religion, culture and worship of God for thousands of years.
Is it? The history of early Christians and middle Christians and late Christians is full of those who do not keep holy days and food laws, nor circumcision. How about them? Jesus Christ never gave his holy spirit to gentile Christians without "benefit" of observing holy days and dietary laws?
If you’re following Douglas’s posts and the UCG teaching, you know that observing holy days is much more than being “ in the know” and dietary laws much more than a matter of health.
It’s a matter of salvation.
Doesn’t Paul provide an answer to any controversy between believers in Romans?
“He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”
If you’re observing a day or eating/not eating certain foods, doing it for the Lord and giving Him thanks, then it’s good in the eyes of the Lord. That’s how I was taught to understand it, and still understand it that way.
Yes, that is the obvious meaning and understanding of Paul’s teaching concerning these jewish laws. It’s the meaning that’s been taught ever since until today. However..
The UCG turns them upside down somehow so they mean the reverse: Christians still must observe holy days and dietary laws. And... the UCG claims this is what the early Christians did - gentile and jew - back then and up to today.
The rest of us are “counterfeit.”
If they observe a day or do not, do it for the Lord and give Him thanks, then it’s good in the eyes of the Lord. Same with food. Condemnation of fellow Christians for those same things? Not so good. Putting a stumblingblock before their brother, is how I believe it’s described.
Observing feast days and dietary laws can lead to greater understanding of certain Biblical matters, the prophetic in particular though, imho. There is good in it. I won’t criticize someone who feels so led, personally.
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