Posted on 04/19/2013 9:44:14 PM PDT by DouglasKC
Why do most people keep holidays that are different from the festivals listed and described in the pages of the Bible?
Why do most people keep holidays that are different from the festivals listed and described in the pages of the Bible? When were the biblical feasts abandoned, and why? How can we be sure which sacred days Christians should observe?
Here are the answers!
Jesus Himself set an example for us (1 John 2:6) in observing the sacred festivals commanded in the Holy Scriptures (Matthew 26:17; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:16, 31; John 7:8-10, 14, 37). His apostles and their converts, walking in His footsteps and following His example, continued observing the same festivals (Acts 2:1; 12:2-4; 16:13; 18:4, 19, 21; 20:6; 27:9; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The Encyclopaedia Britannica (13th edition), under Festivals," states that it is "abundantly clear that Christ and His disciples observed the appointed Jewish feasts."
Faithful Christians continued, for several centuries after Christ's death, to follow His and the apostles' examples in keeping the festivals. But this all changed when a politicized and paganized form of Christianity developed within the Roman Empire.
Historian Stewart Easton explains how and when the change occurred—with the help of the Roman emperors. "Constantine [A.D. 306-337], though not baptized a Christian until he was on his deathbed, took an active interest in the [Christian] religion, presiding over the important Council of Nicea ... During the fourth century, under imperial protection ..., the Christian religion ... made rapid progress, even in the rural areas where the old gods had never altogether lost their appeal. When at the end of the century (A.D. 392) [Emperor] Theodosius I decreed that henceforth Christianity was to be the only religion in the [Roman] empire, the countryside perforce had to submit and adopt at least the forms of Christianity. But it would probably have been difficult for any observer to detect much difference ... It is clear that these folk knew little enough of the teachings or theology of Christianity, and the festivals and ceremonies of paganism for the most part were incorporated directly into the new official religion ( The Heritage of the Past: From the Earliest Times to 1500 , 1964, p. 402, emphasis added).
Charles Guignebert, who was a professor of the history of Christianity at the University of Paris, describes the continuation of the process: "Now at the beginning of the fifth century, the ignorant and the semi-Christians thronged into the Church in numbers ... They had forgotten none of their pagan customs ... The bishops of that period had to content themselves with redressing, as best they could, and in experimental fashion, the shocking malformations of the Christian faith which they perceived around them ... They had to be content with ... postponing until a later date the task of eradicating their superstitions, which they preserved intact ... This 'later date' never arrived, and the Church adapted to herself, as well as she could, them and their customs and beliefs. On their side, they were content to dress up their paganism in a Christian cloak" ( The Early History of Christianity , 1927, pp. 208-210, emphasis added). During this time—in the early centuries after the passing of the original apostles—observance of biblical practices, including the seventh-day Sabbath and God's festivals, practically disappeared from the new and growing religion. They were replaced with other practices and a new set of religious holidays.
Prophecy, however, reveals that God will require the whole world to observe these same biblical festivals in the future. For example, Zechariah prophesies that God will require people to attend the Feast of Tabernacles after Christ returns (Zechariah 14:16). Isaiah prophesies that people of all lands will regularly keep the weekly Sabbath during Christ's millennial reign (Isaiah 66:23 ). Isaiah and Micah prophesy of that time: "Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Micah 4:2; compare Isaiah 2:3).
Some faithful Christians to this day observe the sacred festivals, the same festivals of God that Christ kept. God instituted these annual occasions to keep His people aware of Christ's mission as the Messiah. These sacred days really are Christian festivals in every respect, and Christians everywhere should observe them.
Mat 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Mat 11:30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Did Christ create holy days?
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.
Whose feasts are these?
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.
What does he tell his followers to do?
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.
We're supposed to set them apart, sanctify them...according to Jesus Christ.
That's a light burden and an easy yoke sister... :-)
You got it, Christ has set us free from the old law.
Really? My bible shows the old covenant first being struck with Abraham in Gen 12 and especially Gen. 15. Please direct me to the passages where God's "holy days" were created before that.
Again you are refering to what is part of the old Jewish law.
What do you mean by "Jewish law"?
That's the Abrahamic covenant.
The old covenant is that covenant struck with the children of Israel at Mount Sinai...sometimes also known as the Mosaic Covenant.
I am sure she is referring to the law establish by the Mosaic covenant which applied only to the Children of Israel and their seed. The children of Israel are identified in Ex 1.1
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Okay, we'll see if she agrees and then I'll respond to her separately. Is this also what you think when it comes to "Jewish law"?
There is nothing that says non Jewish Christians are bound by the Mosaic covenant which applied to the Children of Israel. And the Abrahamic covenant is every bit as much a part of the old covenant as the Mosaic covenant and the only one that applies to non-Jewish Christians. Paul says that Christians are part of the Abrahamic covenant. It's the whole point of the book of Galatians. You are preaching the exact same message of the Judiazers who Paul bitterly criticized in Galatians. He said anyone bringing that message is accursed.
Cute...
Yeah, I know...I've heard how awful I am...:-)
Are Christians under any type of covenant with God or Christ?
Christ IS God. And those who have been born again by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (also God)have been saved by faith and are co-heirs with Christ, their head, in the New Covenant. That is the promise which cannot be broken.
Do you have any scripture to back up that we are in the new covenant? I don't doubt you...I'm a scripture kind of guy and I'm not sure where you're coming from on it...
Well scripture guy I suggest you read the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 8:8,13; 9:15, 10:20 and 12:24 all refer to new covenant we are in and Christ is the mediator of it.
In commenting on the words of the Holy Spirit the book of Hebrews says - "In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." Heb 8.13
Can you post Hebrews 8:8 and tell me who the new covenant is made with?
The answer to that is made clear in 2 Cor 3:6 and 1 Cor. 11:25.
“Great! You’re okay with me keeping the holy days of Jesus and advocating that others do the same....appreciate your Christianity!”
Wrong. I don’t CARE if you consider one day more holy than another. But in advocating that others do the same, you miss the point of what the Apostle wrote, for he also pointed out:
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.”
You have no business in passing judgment on those who think you holy days are silly. You might as well argue Christianity is found in being a vegetarian. Those things are NOT what matters.
“13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
If you REALLY believe God would have you keep a Jewish holy day, then for the sake of YOUR conscious, go ahead. But do not attempt to bind others. Do not judge others if they reject your holy days, and do not attempt to make them follow your belief, which is unfounded in scripture:
“16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”
The New Covenant is made with all who accept Christ INCLUDING (but not limited to) the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
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